Showing posts with label humor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humor. Show all posts
10/18/11
9/27/11
9/19/11
9/16/11
Series: Pals in Peril - Author: M.T. Anderson - Ages 9+
About The Series
Pals in Peril are the funny, offbeat stories of three friends who find crazy adventures in the strangest places.
Lily, Katie and Jasper are best friends who live in the not so quiet community of Pelt. When they're not fighting radioactive squirrels or killer mimes, Lily, Katie and Jasper try to have some
normal everyday fun, but it isn't long before they are off on another adventure, saving the world from intelligent spiders or alien librarians or whatever else the universe throws at them.
As long as they face it together as friends, the universe doesn't have a chance.
Whales on Stilts!
Book 1
Book 1
Summary - It was just supposed to be one of those mildly boring trips to her fathers office for Career Day. At least, that was the kind of trip Lily expected, but she got a little more than she bargained for. It turns out, Lily's dad worked for Larry, an evil genius who's plan to take over the world was just about ready.
Lily told her dad and she tried to tell the authorities, but of course no one wanted to believe a kid, so she did the only other thing she could do. She asked her two best friends for help.
Under normal circumstances, three kids might have trouble defeating an evil genius but Lily's friends weren't normal. Jasper Dash was once the hero in his own series of kids adventure books and he has seen his share of evil geniuses over the years and Katie Mulligan was a heroine in a series of books written about her crazy life in Horrow Hollow, a freaky little community filled with vampire cats and flesh eating mailmen.
These three kids are now determined to to stop Larry and his stilt wearing cetaceans from destroying the human race and ruining a perfectly good summer vacation.
Reviews
"Does the plot sound outlandish? That’s only half the fun. With author asides, rambling footnotes, and inserted advertisements for the fictitious series starring Lily’s friends, this book garners loads of laughs and eye-rolls." - Lemon's Wedge
"Anderson's humor is a step beyond that of Lemony Snicket, fearlessly poking fun at the details while never discounting our heroes' courage in the face of danger. That approach makes for a novel to entertain both young readers, who may happily take it at face value, and older folks, who'll find a tasty multilayered satire which does the good deed of never talking down to its readers." - SF Site
"This is not one of those books that tries too hard to be clever. This is one of those books that just simply IS clever. The very embodiment of it." - Bright Copper Penny
"Two added bonuses; the story is peppered with interesting facts about whales and there is a hilarious discussion guide provided at the end of the book." - Story Snoops
The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen
Book 2
Book 2
Reviews
"Uh, yeah. I get the joke. I think I get the joke of The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen. Some of it was very funny. But did we have to discuss snot for so long, in so much detail?" - Semicolon
"While there are not as many jokes and outrageous author asides as in the first in the series, Whales on Stilts!, Anderson's humor still shines through, especially in the characters staying at the Moose Tongue Lodge and Resort". - Bookloons
"There are annoying characters, crazy characters, silly characters, ghostly appearances, bad jokes, and anything else you can think of, including the liberation of stuffed animal heads." - Rave Mysteries
"Before it's all over, there's a jewelry heist, stolen taxidermy, broken chairs, a cocoa splurge, uncomfortable Bavarian clothing, a near death experience involving chunky snot and numerous people will be poked with pointy antlers. This is not your mommy's Nancy Drew." - Phineas Farnum
Jasper Dash & the Flame-Pits of Delaware
Book 3
Book 3
Reviews
"...While at times I thought the descriptions of the impossibly strange indigenous creatures of Delaware went on a bit too long, and the bickering between Jasper and Katie was sometimes more dull than droll, there is plenty of goofy fun and laugh-out loud moments (the face-off between the pacifist monks and the cliche-spouting Jersey gangsters is not to be missed)" - Not Just For Kids
"Not every kid is going to get these books, but if your child has a quirky sense of humor, reads voraciously, and likes sci-fi/fantasy and adventure/suspense, give the series a try. Because where else are you going to meet the kangaroo-riding cannibals of Delaware but in Anderson's East Coast jungle?" - Book Aunt
Agent Q, or The Smell of Danger!
Book 4
Book 4
Reviews
"Agent Q, or the Smell of Danger! (I love writing out that title) gets four and a half cupcakes. These books aren’t for everyone, but they are definitely for me, and I can’t wait for the next one." - Active Voice
"It would be tempting to skip writing a review of Anderson's latest and instead fill this space with many of the endlessly delightful quotes that fill its pages. It's the kind of book that will have readers laughing like maniacs and then begging to read hilarious passages aloud to curious onlookers. But I'll resist the urge." - Kids Reads
Zombie Mommy!
Book 5
Book 5
Reviews
"Ridiculous in all the best ways." - Kirkus Reviews
"ZOMBIE MOMMY is the fifth book in M. T. Anderson's Pals in Perilseries, and probably one of the best. The focused plot helps keep the absurdity under control, resulting in just the right level of zaniness - Kids Reads
Official Illustrators Sites
Kurt Cyrus - This is the guy who does all the funny interior illustrations for Pals in Peril
Brandon Dorman - This is the guy who paints the covers for the series. Dorman also has a sketch blog where he shows you stuff he's currently working on.
Videos
9/15/11
Series: Oggie Cooder - Author: Sarah Weeks - Ages 8+
Oggie Cooder
What's the Story?
Oggie Cooder has a talent -- he can charve better than anyone else in Truman Elementary School. (Charving, for the uninitiated, is the carving of a piece of cheese with one's teeth.) Oggie doesn't think this is anything special -- but his whole school will soon be disagreeing with him. Because after he inadvertantly charves during a nationwide hunt for unusual talents, his charving puts him on the path to fame and forture. Suddenly, he's the star of the school . . . but he's not sure that he wants to shine that way.
What's the Buzz?
"Oggie's adventure delivers a message about staying true to oneself, but the lesson is never cheesy; it is as light-hearted and tasty as Oggie's charving lessons." - Kids Reads
“Oggie Cooder successfully brings the silly, but it is not fluff. An imaginative story about friendships and the urge to be popular. Oh, and also charving American cheese slices into the shape of states." - 100 Scope Notes
"The message of being true to yourself is a good one and Oggie is a good kid and a good role model (though you know hes going to be teased about the seersucker pants and the plaid stuff he wears forever)." - YA Books Central
"This is the best book I've read so far because I think charving is so cool. I haven't tried it yet because we don't have big enough pieces of cheese in our house. Also, when we do have cheese, Mom keeps it in the fridge and it would be too cold. Some day I'm going to charve." - Parker for Dog Eared Book Blog @ National Geographic
Oggie Cooder, Party Animal
Reviews
"The author gently works through the problems encountered by Oggie and shows his strengths throughout the story resulting in his total success and acceptance in the end. I would recommend this book for this reason and also for its humor along the way." - Southwest Ohio Libraries
"The novel deals with peer pressure, cliques, and personal quirks in a way that makes everyone triumphant, especially Oggie." - Challenging the Bookworm
Official Author's Site - Sarah Weeks
9/14/11
Series: Nana - Author: Kathleen Lane - Ages 8+
Nana Cracks the Case
Summary - Nana is not your ordinary grandma. She never wears cloppy shoes, drinks prune juice, or worries about slippery surfaces. Eufala and Bog's nana would much rather join the circus, work as a backhoe operator, or maybe become a detective. Which is exactly what happens in this very funny chapter book. When Nana answers an ad in the local newspaper for a detective, she arrives at the police department just in time to investigate the theft of one entire case of delicious Yumdums candy. Can one little old lady find a way to save the day and stop the candy thief from striking again?
Reviews
"Every once in a while a children’s book author presents a little old lady (or, less often, a little old man) as a sort of pseudo-kid or pseudo-adult—both, really. Considering how small, brilliant, and mischievous my own grandmother was clear into her nineties, this makes perfect sense to me." - Book Aunt
"Nana’s crime fighting skills and clueless demeanor are reminiscent of the Pink Panther’s Inspector Clouseau." - Curled Up Kids
"This speed read is probably most appealing to readers aged nine or younger. Nana and her grandchildren are odd, goofy characters and the story is filled with implausible situations." - Story Snoops
"This quirky, silly who-dun-it for the early chapter book reader will draw smirks and giggles from its young readers." - Feathered Quill
Nana Takes the Reins!
Reviews
"My daughters and I spent the majority of the time laughing through this book. It’s a great wacky adventure that is enhanced by the zany artwork of Sarah Horne. I can’t imagine reading this story without the illustrations. They’re perfect." - Children's & Teens Book Connection
"In this zany adventure, you never know what to expect from Nana... The illustrations are fun and wacky too, only adding to the fun! " - My Four Monkeys
9/13/11
Trilogy: The Mad Misadventures of Emmaline and Rubberbones - Author: Howard Whitehouse - Ages 10+
The Strictist School in the World
Being the Tale of a Clever Girl, a Rubber Boy
&
a Collection of Flying Machines, Mostly Broken
What's the Story?
In the kick-off novel in the Mad Misadventures series, 14-year-old pioneering aviatrix Emmaline Cayley is afraid of one thing: plummeting to her doom. Fortunately, 12-year-old Robert Burns, an indestructible village boy, is not. Absurdly unafraid of bodily harm, "Rubberbones" is the ideal pilot for Emmaline's experiments with flight. But before Emmaline can perfect a flying machine with the aid of her new friend, she is sent off to St. Grimelda's School for Young Ladies -- to be cured of her decidedly unladylike ways. It is a school so strict, so severe, so forbidding that it makes the brutal misery in the tales of Charles Dickens look cheery by comparison. With a horrifying headmistress, terrifying teachers and food that is even worse than Aunt Lucy's, this medieval stronghold also houses a terrible secret and a mysterious way of keeping its prisoners, er, its students in line. All Emmaline can think of is escape. But no one has ever escaped from St. Grimelda's. And our heroine soon realizes that the only way out is to face her greatest fear.
In the kick-off novel in the Mad Misadventures series, 14-year-old pioneering aviatrix Emmaline Cayley is afraid of one thing: plummeting to her doom. Fortunately, 12-year-old Robert Burns, an indestructible village boy, is not. Absurdly unafraid of bodily harm, "Rubberbones" is the ideal pilot for Emmaline's experiments with flight. But before Emmaline can perfect a flying machine with the aid of her new friend, she is sent off to St. Grimelda's School for Young Ladies -- to be cured of her decidedly unladylike ways. It is a school so strict, so severe, so forbidding that it makes the brutal misery in the tales of Charles Dickens look cheery by comparison. With a horrifying headmistress, terrifying teachers and food that is even worse than Aunt Lucy's, this medieval stronghold also houses a terrible secret and a mysterious way of keeping its prisoners, er, its students in line. All Emmaline can think of is escape. But no one has ever escaped from St. Grimelda's. And our heroine soon realizes that the only way out is to face her greatest fear.
Reviews
"The Mad Misadventures of Emmaline and Rubberbones, needs more attention. The Strictest School in the World, The Faceless Fiend, and The Island of Mad Scientists are terrific fun." - Educating Alice
"It's a Middle Grade adventure story involving a daring girl, a crazy aunt, a Dickensian boarding school, and flying machines. What more could you want? ... Give this one to a Middle Grade reader today! - Big A Little a
"Don’t even waste your time reading this review. Just go find a copy and start reading!" - 5 Minutes for Books
"...readers will be delighted to follow along as Emmaline, Rubberbones, Aunt Lucy, and their colorful selection of friends try to find ways to rescue Emmaline from the world's strictest school." - Looking Glass Review
The Faceless Fiend
Being the Tale of a Criminal Mastermind, His Masked Minions
&
a Princess with a Butter Knife, Involving Explosives
&
a Certain Amount of Pushing
&
Shoving
Reviews
"Readers will never know what to expect, and they will have to stay alert to keep up with Emmaline and her decidedly peculiar friends." - Looking Glass Review
"It is full of fun, adventure and amazing exploits with some very suspenseful and tense moments interspersed. " - Weavings
"The gypsy cameo will make no sense if you have not read the first book, and not much more if you have." - Zubon Book Reviews
"The Faceless Fiend is quick-paced, occasionally clunky but otherwise clever, and surprisingly engaging... While not as strong as its predecessor, The Faceless Fiend is still laugh-out-loud funny in places and definitely worth picking up." - Matchstick
The Island of Mad Scientists
Being an Excursion to the Wilds of Scotland, Involving Many Marvels of Experimental Invention, Pirates, a Heroic Cat, a Mechanical Man
&
a Monkey
Reviews
"The subtitle just about says it all. This book made me laugh out loud and reminded me of M.T. Anderson’s series of Thrilling Tales" - Semicolon
"this book is a grand romp. Hilarious, milk-snorting-through-nose funny, I can't remember when I've had so much fun reading. It's full of grand asides, amusing language, silly situations... everything a comic novel should have." - The Book Nut
"Once again I laughed. Outloud. Multiple times and in multiple places. Are you still waiting to go and buy the first book in the series? Why? Give me one good reason." - Reading to Know
Extras
Neither the author or his books have a website, but I did manage to track down an Interview with Mr. Whitehouse @ Reading To Know.
Video
Okay, strictly speaking this video has nothing to do with the book Strictest School series but it is funny and it's about planes which makes a little more sense if you've read the first book and even more sense if you read the interview above. Anyway, here's a video showing film clips of early attempts at flying. Yes, these are all real. Stupid-but real.
Carry on.
9/5/11
Series - The Genius Files - Dan Gutman - Ages 9+
Mission Unstoppable
What's the Story?
Megapopular author Dan Gutman brings on the excitement with an action-packed new series that's nothing short of dynamite. Join Coke and Pep on their quest to uncover just what it means to be part of The Genius Files . . . if you dare!
What's the Buzz?
What Else Ya Got?
There isn't an official site for the book series but once the series gets rolling, maybe that will change. In the mean time, publisher Harper Collins has a few games based on the Genius Files here. They also have the first few chapters of Mission Unstoppable you can read here
There isn't an official site for the book series but once the series gets rolling, maybe that will change. In the mean time, publisher Harper Collins has a few games based on the Genius Files here. They also have the first few chapters of Mission Unstoppable you can read here
Official Author Site
Videos
In the first video below, author Dan Gutman talks a little about his baseball card series and My Weird School and finishes with a bit about The Genius Files. In the video below that, Mr. Gutman gives you a little taste of what's coming in Genius Files #2.
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