shelfmonkeys

I haven't cartooned in a while (other than the one of Michael Stevens taking a picture of himself in a bathroom - what's that all about, Michael?!). I usually do it to relieve stress, but I think that I've been under such stress the past year or so that I just haven't been able to do it. I hope it's starting to let up and I can do a few of these every now and then.
This was an error I made today. The little girl survived and her mom actually thought her bug-eyes were funny. What happens is, the headphones plugs are pulled out just a tiny bit and then the connection is broken and the sound comes straight from the CPU. This drives me absolutely insane. It's especially bad when both game computers are going like this at the same time. I allow it when more than one kid or a kid and a parent are using it together. Otherwise, I rise like thunder and pointedly poke the plug back in.
This time, some previous user had turned the volume all the way up on the headphones, undoubtedly because the volume seemed low (coming as it was from the CPU into ears blocked with headphones).
Oopsie!

Lookybook

I read about this website in the December School Library Journal and thought I'd take a look at it, having just recently reviewed some children's books on Goodreads (and here, of course, but more on Goodreads). I thought, "Oh, goody! A site that will let someone page through books and look at the illustrations!" but within seconds I was disappointed that two worthy author/illustrators were not on their list. /me goes all frowny-face. I know they can't have every author or illustrator listed (and they do have some great ones), but no Tedd Arnold?! Gah! How can I wax eloquent on the fun illustrations in The Roly-Poly Spider? There are currently only about 300 titles available. I might wait a while for the list to grow before using this website.

In the meantime, though, is this cool or is this cool? ...


As of April, Lookybook is no more. :(

On the Lighter Side ...

The Roly Poly Spider by Jill Sardegna

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have to review this book because I don't want people to think I go around looking for things (books, people, just ... things) that annoy me so I can excoriate them on the web. I do, I just don't want you to think that's all I do.

There are some books I like, really like, and this is one of them. I just used it today in a storytime and, as per usual, it went over great. I love it, kids love it, the rest of you can go soak your heads.

What is not to like about this book? First of all, you can pair it with the fingerplay "Eensy-Weensy Spider" (don't try to tell me it's "itsy-bitsy" - my mommy was never wrong) and if you sing the book, it scans perfectly. It's gross, it's funny, and I love Tedd Arnold's illustrations.

What did I learn from this book? Well, the lesson therein that I share with all the children is: "We Don't Eat Our Friends." 'Nuff said. Always keep a copy of this on hand. I do.


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Just Something That Annoyed Me This Morning

The Real Winner: North South Books by C. Neugebauer

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
Preachy, lame, didactic (but with cute pictures)- I don't think any competitive child would be convinced that winning isn't everything (and this book is preachin' to the choir) from reading this load of tapioca.

Rocky (the raccoon - and the author's probably lucky Sir Paul doesn't come gunning for her on that) has to win every race and complains if someone else is ahead with a predictable "Not fair!" His dopey do-good companion keeps stopping to rescue other animals allowing Rocky to win. In the end, Rocky seems to have learned his lesson with a fishing competition. The first one to get a fish wins! Rocky won't stop until he gets one, and when he does (SPOILER ALERT - as if anyone cares) the fish is too small. He's disappointed. He throws the fish back. Allegedly it's to let the little fish grow, emulating the altruistic behavior of Hippo-boy, but we all know it's only because it was too small to be worth keeping and that any real raccoon would have just eaten it as an appetizer.


The real reason not to be like Rocky is that he's such a whiner. It's fine to be competitive (hark at me! - everyone who knows me well is checking the authorship of this review on the strength of that one comment), kids really enjoy it and people love winners. The only one who doesn't enjoy it and is shunned is the one that loses all the time and whines about it. I should know. I was a professional loser for most of my young life and now find it really difficult to compete even though I am capable of winning at some things. "No one loves a whiner!" I was always told.


So what's my complaint: it's an unrealistic children's story about talking animals? Is this another one of my tempests in a teaball? No, it's not the right message and the characterization is garbled. Here's the competition message in a nut's (me) shell: Winners should learn to be gracious, losers should learn to not give up hope, and the mediocre should just get over it.

A better choice for a book about competitiveness is Mia Hamm's Winners Never Quit.



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