Fantastic Mr. Fox

 Fantastic Mr. Fox, by Roald Dahl, 81 pgs                                                                                                                                                  

My daughter is reading Roald Dahl books and is loving them so much that she's demanding that I read them too. So here we are! I brought Matilda home for her to read and she loved it so much, she said it was one of the best books she's ever read. I miss reading the illustrated kids books now, since she's getting older but I'm learning to love some of the chapter books she's reading. 

    I've never actually read any of Dahl's books but this was a great one to start with. Mr. Fox outwits three mean, ugly farmers and saves not only his wife and family but the families of other animals living underground in the hill. I loved that he gets his tail shot off--so violent. They don't put violence in kids stories like they used to. Just when you think the three mean farmers will capture Mr. Fox, he comes up with an even better plan to rob the farmers of all of their supplies. This is an easy read and the illustrations by Quentin Blake are fun and whimsical. 

Barb The Last Berzerker Series

 Barb the Last Berzerker Series: Book 1, 2 & 3 by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson, 784 pgs. (total)

This is a really fun, easy-to-read-graphic series that follows a plucky, courageous heroine in a wacky, make-believe land. Barb is the last Berzerker, basically modeled off vikings and knights who go around protecting fairies and gnomes from goofy monsters. On her quest, Barb befriends a Yeti named Porkchop who becomes her sidekick. The dialogue is snappy and frequently funny without being smarmy. The world of Bailiwick comes under fire from the evil wizard Witch Head and it's up to Barb and her cast of zany monsters to save the world. Along the way,  Barb makes good choices to save people others won't save, stop bullying in all its monster forms, and show mercy and kindness to all. My daughter loved this series so I had to read it too and it's really great, a lot of great lessons and jokes for 1st-3rd grade kids. Recommended for kids and parents.  

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!

 Don't' Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! by Mo Willems, 40 pgs. 

Is Mo Willems an evil genius? A marketing guru? Or did he just hit the jackpot with his charming doodles? Either way, this is a fun addition to the Pigeon series. Many of Willems' books demand repeated reading and this one will surely become a seasonal classic in due time. I spent so much time reading these books to my daughter, now that she's sort of aged out of them, it's hard for me to put them down as an adult. As always, Willems writes with two audiences in mind: child and parent, so there is much to love for both. Happy holidays! 

The Guncle

 The Guncle by Steven Rowley, 326 pages.

I was introduced to this book by Kara, whose review you can read here.  After his long-term best friend and sister-in-law dies after a long battle with illness Patrick O'Hara is devastated. The last thing he wants is to take in his niece and nephew for the summer while their father is in rehab. But, short of other choices, he does it nonetheless, taking the kids into his large, empty home in Palm Springs. They spend the summer bonding and learning to handle all of their grief, as Patrick tries to move on from both this death and the death of his partner years ago.

This is a good book, although I had a hard time getting into it. Objectively it's perfectly fine, and I'm sure many people would quite like it, but I personally found myself sort of bored. It is very sweet.

Fight Night

 Fight Night / Miriam Toews, read by Miriam and Georgia Toews, 251 pgs.

Swiv is 9 years old, living with her pregnant mom and her loving but aged grandma.  Her dad is no where to be found and so she writes him a letter.  That is basically the whole premise.   She is constantly embarrassed by her mom and grandma who seem to be out only to embarrass her. Swiv is quite precocious, actually a little unbelievable in that way but her adventures are epic.  Maybe she has become such an old soul because she needs to be.  A lovely book well narrated by the author and another Toews.

The Guncle

 

The Guncle / Steven Rowley, read by the author, 326 pgs.

Patrick is semi-retired and mourning his partner. Now his sister-in-law dies...but she is so much more than that.  Sara was his best friend from college.  They were true compatriots, perhaps the perfect team but Patrick is gay.  Sara ended up marrying Patrick's brother Greg so they formally became family.  Now Sara has succumbed to cancer and Greg has some issues of his own.  Everyone's favorite gay uncle ends up taking Maisie and Grant (his niece and nephew) for the summer.  Visits have always been fun but being a true caregiver for an entire summer?  This seems like more than he can manage. And yet, if he doesn't take the kids, they end up with his pushy sister.  There is enough competition there that he agrees to this plan.  The result is an interesting summer with fun and grieving.  I know this doesn't sound all that great, but it is a sweet ride that will leave you with a desire to mix up a cocktail.  Rowley narrates this perfectly.

Dad Is Fat

Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan, 274 pages

In this book, Gaffigan offers up his humorous opinion on all things related to parenting a passel of small children, from becoming parents to losing sleep to having the audacity to have five kids in New York City. I listened to the audiobook on a drive with my parents and kids, and we all enjoyed Gaffigan's "clean" brand of comedy, though there were a few dicey moments when he talked about Santa's lack of reality, as it were. A fun, light book to be enjoyed by all.

Be frank with me

Be frank with me / Julia Claiborne Johnson, read by Tavia Gilbert

A reclusive author gets bilked out of her fortune and returns to writing in hopes to keep the house.  Her publisher sends twenty-four year old Alice out to California to keep her on track and transcribe her book.  Alice arrives to fine M. M. Banning a little odder than she anticipated.  Also on site is her son Frank, a nine year old cinephile who dresses like he is on set in a Hollywood hit from the 30's or 40's.  Alice becomes Frank's companion as the goal it to get his mom to finish her book.  Frank has a lot of rules and isn't all that adept at reading a situation.  He has problems in school, mostly with the other kids, but lights up whenever the mysterious Xander, the globe trotting handyman appears.  Alice is starting to fit in with this oddball group but every time she gets answer, several more questions appear.  I listened to the audio version and found it absolutely delightful.

Lumberjanes, vol. 2: Friendship to the Max

Lumberjanes, vol. 2: Friendship to the Max, written by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, and Shannon Watters, with art by Brooke Allen, 111 pages

Despite the weirdness surrounding Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types, the Lumberjanes are determined to still have the best summer ever. But when they encounter craziness of mythic proportions, even Jen, their by-the-book counselor, finds she has to get involved. Can they survive dinosaur attacks, sibling rivalries, and bear ladies, all while still earning their Friendship to the Craft badges?

This and Ms. Marvel are some of my favorite comics that I read this year. I love the zaniness of Lumberjanes, and as a former Girl Scout, this reminds me of all my favorite memories of camping back in the day. Sadly, we didn't encounter any secret caves filled with anagrams and star maps, but there's a different level of fun when you're roughin' it with you besties. This volume continues the story arc from volume 1, and ends it, tying up all the loose ends tighter than a friendship bracelet. I can't wait to read volume 3 and see what's next for our girls.

Fortunately, the Milk, by Neil Gaiman, 114 pages

Mom's out of town, leaving Dad in charge.  There's no milk, so breakfast can't be eaten and tea can't be drunk, meaning Dad has to go out and get some more.  But when he comes back, later than the kids expected, he spins an incredible tale that includes aliens with questionable taste in home decorating, pirates, a time-traveling dinosaur, the Eye of Splod, ponies, wumpires, and the space police.  If it all sounds too good to be true, then you're not the only one who thinks that.  But maybe it is...

I really enjoyed this book, but then again, I kind of love everything Neil Gaiman writes.  But the story he spins here is pretty fantastic (and fantastical) that you can't help but love what's going on.  The wumpires alone had me in stitches, and Skottie Young's art only adds to the feeling of whimsy that pervades the whole story.  As to appealing to kids and not adults, well, like with everything, that's going to depend on the kid.  I tried reading this to the kids at my other job, and I don't think they quite got it.  But one-on-one with your favorite kiddo, or as a gift to the fantasy-loving child in your life, it would be the perfect choice.