Tiny Invaders: The Crash by Eric James Walbrecht

 

Tiny Invaders: The Crash by Eric James Walbrecht
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book has an "age limit" of 7-18 years on it but really, it's appropriate and fun for anyone 7+ years of age!! A UFO has landed on Earth and some very interesting and quirky invaders are here to show earthlings how things are done. This book is hilarious! The illustrations are vivid and very well done too!

A great read for all ages!

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So Stinkin' Hot by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl

 

So Stinkin' Hot by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The wild animals living on the safari are very hot, so they decide to take a trip to Chicago. Once there, they realize that things are very different and they can't wait to go back home.

Cool point (no pun intended): you can learn to draw Zippy at the end of the story.

Not so cool point: I found the characters to be a bit whiny. Kids can be whiny though.

Overall, cute book for kids but likely adults will find it a bit annoying.

View all my reviews

A to Z Wednesday: C is for Calamity Jack

Welcome to A-Z Wednesday!!
To join, here's all you have to do: Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.
Post:
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)
4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments.
If you've already reviewed this book you can add it also.
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment.
(We all love comments, don't we?)
Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEKS LETTER IS: "C"

Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale with illustrations by Nathan Hale

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-9–The Hales follow up Rapunzel's Revenge (Bloomsbury, 2008) with this fast-moving story focusing on Jack. It begins in the city of Shyport with his birth. Even as a child, Jack tends toward scheming, conning, and thievery with various accomplices, including Pru, a hat-fancying pixie. One scheme involving magical beans and the wealthy and corrupt giant Blunderboar goes awry, leaving Jack's tenement and his mother's bakery destroyed. Jack's mother orders him to go, and go he does with a certain goose under his arm. After the events recounted in Rapunzel's Revenge, Jack and Rapunzel head back to Shyport to set things right. They arrive to find that Jack's mother is being held prisoner by Blunderboar, who is virtually running the city. They team up with Pru and Freddie Sparksmith, a young journalist, to save Jack's mom and the day. Nathan Hale's artwork again places the action in a fairy-tale version of the American West, now with the city as backdrop. His character sketches are delightfully expressive, and the book has the same rich palette as the previous story. It should satisfy readers who enjoy adventure, fairy tales, and anyone who loves a rogue. Some fans of Bill Willingham's Jack of Fables series (Vertigo) may also enjoy this take on the Jack stories for a younger audience.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Please take a minute to read my review of this book!

Interview with Nathan Hale, Illustrator of Calamity Jack

This is coming a little later than planned, but the Hale's and Nathan Hale have been on a whirlwind tour promoting their book, Calamity Jack. I have previously included an interview with Shannon and Dean Hale. I just received Nathan's response back today and wanted to share it with you!

FOR NATHAN: What is your favorite drawing technique?

I don't have one. I'm always changing formats, media. I paint, I draw,
do some watercolor, digital, pretty much everything. I try to fit the
drawing/painting style to whatever project I'm working on.

I highly recommend you going out and getting a copy of Calamity Jack! Or, you can win an ARC copy right here on my blog! Best of wishes and happy reading!

Bloggy Birthday Giveaway #4: Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale, Nathan Hale

Earlier this week, I reviewed my ARC copy of Calamity Jack. Now it's your chance to read it too! This giveaway will end on Feb. 1 at 11:59 PM EST. You must fill out the form to qualify. Comments left in the comment box are comments only and not entries into the contest. Best of wishes! I'll choose the winner via random.org!

The Lunar Antics Presents: Boy, I'd Hate to Be Made Out of That Stuff! by Robert Walters

The Lunar Antics Presents: Boy I'd Hate to be Made Out of That Stuff! by Robert Walters


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is the story of four beings who choose to visit Earth in the hopes of imparting superior knowledge to humans. These four youngsters prove just how stupid Earthlings can be at times. I mean, why pay 23% interest on a credit card? That's insane! Zed points out how we eat way too many calories in our meals (7,234,742 to be exact) and then wonder how we gain so much weight. It is also pointed out that Earthlings watch far too much television and therefore rot out their brains. Join Zeno, Zed, Linda, and Drusus for a jolly good time along with the Earthling Professor Philip Zachary Jones to learn just what these Lunar Beings can teach us silly Earthlings!

Overall, this just wasn't my kind of book. That's not to say that it won't be something you would enjoy! This is my second graphic novel read and it was unlike the other one that I really enjoyed. This is a series of comics that do not make a complete story, rather like reading several Sunday papers in succession. I was looking for continuity, as in reading a complete novel. There were parts that I really did enjoy and the humor is appropriate for age groups 12+ years. There are some points that I just did "not get" and I'm not sure why. It's probably just me. I'm not an overly funny person and I tend to not get many jokes. There are many plays on words that are humorous and did cause me to giggle! Overall, an enjoyable book but probably much more for someone who tends to learn towards this type of book.

Book is in stores today!


Now for the giveaway...I'm giving away an ARC copy of this book on Feb. 7 at 11:59 PM EST. You may enter by using the form below. Entries left in the comment field will not count.



View all my reviews >>

Calamity Jack: The Wrap Up

In the final day of the Kidz Book Buzz tour, I am going to feature the other works of Shannon, Dean, and Nathan. I have not read any of their other books but I most certainly plan to in the future!


Book of a Thousand Days

Princess Academy

The Books of Bayern
Rapunzel's Revenge

The Actor and the Housewife


Austenland






Check out these other bloggers on tour as well!

Sally Apokedak, Reading is my Superpower, firesidemusings.blogspot.com, Through the Looking Glass Book Review , Booking Mama, Cafe of Dreams, Becky’s Book Reviews, The Hungry Readers, The Friendly Book Book, My Own Little Corner of the World, Book Blather, GreenBeanTeenQueen, Book Crumbs , Abby (the) Librarian, Dolce Bellezza, Homeschoolbuzz.com, The Book Cellar, Carrie’s YA Bookshelf, Bookshelf Monstrosity, Everyday Reading, Frenetic Reader, KidzBookBuzz.com, Maw Books


Thank you to the publisher for providing my review copy of this book!

I am an Amazon Associate. By clicking on links to books and making a purchase, you are helping to support my book buying habit, albeit very minimally.

Calamity Jack Day 2: What Sold Me

Today we continue on with the Kidz Book Buzz featuring an action-packed, adventurous, fun-filled new release by husband and wife, Shannon and Dean Hale, with Nathan Hale (no relation) as the illustrator. These authors and illustrator are very well know for their work and this one is no exception! I have not read anything by them before but I already have my Amazon shopping cart filled with the rest of their collection!

Today, I want to focus on what sold me on Calamity Jack. As previously mentioned, this is the first graphic novel I've reviewed. I get it, take it out of the envelope it was shipped in and I see this remarkable cover. Very bright and exciting! There is this crazy looking ghostbuster kinda guy, a guy in a suit that reminds me of a gambler, and a feisty red headed girl. Then I open the next page and the page is in black and white (common for ARC copy). It was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! It is obvious that Nathan put his heart into this book. The drawing are so intricate and I looked at it for quite some time just taking in all the different "little things" that was going to make this book. I was not disappointed after that either. Each page brought forth the story to life in a way that I could not have imagined on my own. Don't get me wrong, the story is great...I loved it! The graphics are what absolutely sold me though!

I can see using this book for the reluctant reader and I can also see it being used as a tool for the artist who hasn't fully discovered his potential yet. A thorough study of this book could lead to many artistic understandings. I will use this book in my homeschooling with my children.

Our featured authors/illustrator have really cool websites that I hope you'll take a few minutes to check out. Just look at the addresses and know that you are in for a treat!

Shannon’s: http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html

Dean’s: http://www.dreadcrumbs.com/

Nathan’s: http://spacestationnathan.blogspot.com/
(This is one awesome blog. Be sure to click back on older posts for a really fun interview!)

I also recommend you check out these other bloggers featuring this book this week! You're in for a treat when seeing what they have to say!

Sally Apokedak, Reading is my Superpower, firesidemusings.blogspot.com, Through the Looking Glass Book Review , Booking Mama, Cafe of Dreams, Becky’s Book Reviews, The Hungry Readers, The Friendly Book Book, My Own Little Corner of the World, Book Blather, GreenBeanTeenQueen, Book Crumbs , Abby (the) Librarian, Dolce Bellezza, Homeschoolbuzz.com, The Book Cellar, Carrie’s YA Bookshelf, Bookshelf Monstrosity, Everyday Reading, Frenetic Reader, KidzBookBuzz.com, Maw Books


Thank you to the publisher for providing my review copy of this book!

I am an Amazon Associate. By clicking on links to books and making a purchase, you are helping to support my book buying habit, albeit very minimally.

Kidz Book Buzz Tour Announces Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale, Illustrated by Nathan Hale

This week, Kidz Book Buzz will be featuring an action-packed, adventurous, fun-filled new release by husband and wife, Shannon and Dean Hale, with Nathan Hale (no relation) as the illustrator. I hope you've heard of Shannon before...she's the 2006 recipient of a Newbery Honor Award for her Princess Academy! I had not heard of her before reading this book, but I will definately be searching out more of her work!

Calamity Jack is sure to please readers young and old! I can even see giving this book to a reluctant reader and getting them to enjoy the world of reading!

Calamity Jack is a creative story that weaves Jack and the Beanstalk characters with those of Rapunzel. This is a fast moving story about Jack, the young teenage boy who's nothing but trouble (at least in his opinion). He is doing his best to help out his momma but he only complicates matters when his magic beans create a beanstalk to the giants castle. He climbs the beanstalk to give this ogre a piece of his mind about how he is treating the townsfolk. The beanstalk crashes and ruins his mom's store among other things. Jack escapes with his trusty (?) sidekick, Prudence the fairy. Along the way, he runs into the braid slinging heroine Rapunzel, who does everything she can to save Jack's behind. Can they prevent the human eating ants and giants from taking over the city? Will Jack ever be in his mother's good graces again?

Run out today and grab your copy of Calamity Jack! The authors have done a great job weaving this creative story together and the illustrations are mind-blowing! This is my first graphic novel review and I absolutely LOVED it!

Our featured authors/illustrator have really cool websites that I hope you'll take a few minutes to check out. Just look at the addresses and know that you are in for a treat!

Shannon’s: http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html

Dean’s: http://www.dreadcrumbs.com/

Nathan’s: http://spacestationnathan.blogspot.com/
(This is one awesome blog. Be sure to click back on older posts for a really fun interview!)

I also recommend you check out these other bloggers featuring this book this week! You're in for a treat when seeing what they have to say!

Sally Apokedak, Reading is my Superpower, firesidemusings.blogspot.com, Through the Looking Glass Book Review , Booking Mama, Cafe of Dreams, Becky’s Book Reviews, The Hungry Readers, The Friendly Book Book, My Own Little Corner of the World, Book Blather, GreenBeanTeenQueen, Book Crumbs , Abby (the) Librarian, Dolce Bellezza, Homeschoolbuzz.com, The Book Cellar, Carrie’s YA Bookshelf, Bookshelf Monstrosity, Everyday Reading, Frenetic Reader, KidzBookBuzz.com, Maw Books


Thank you to the publisher for providing my review copy of this book!

I am an Amazon Associate. By clicking on links to books and making a purchase, you are helping to support my book buying habit, albeit very minimally.