My local library had this book shelved in the Comic Book section. I found it when checking out the Tin Tin’s and Calvin and Hobbes Collections that we regularly consume. Perhaps it is a comic book – certainly the art and panel layouts owe everything to that genre. But it the line between picture book and comic book is, at some point, rather fine. And I would have been less surprised to find this book in with all the other kids picture books.
It’s been said that the key to a good children’s book is being of interest to adults as well as kids. I don’t know about that. But this book is a blast for adults. At least those who grew up loving Star Trek and the even goofier and cheesier science fiction that abounded in the fifties, sixties and seventies.
The basic plot line is simple – the main characters are technologically advanced dinosaurs. And when they detect a space ship landing on a nearby moon, it’s Captain Raptor and his stalwart crew they call on to discover what’s up. After a scale-raising crash landing (Could this be the end of Captain Raptor?) and a chilling undersea encounter with Octocollosus (Could this be the end of Captain Raptor?), they confront the strange beings who have landed on their planet.
It’s humans of course. And when a wild Pteraspikadon (you got to love these names) grabs the human commander and flies off, Captain Raptor soars to the rescue. There is one last dangerous encounter – altogether now – Could this be the end of Captain Raptor?
I certainly hope not.
This must have a hoot to write and draw – and I hope did well enough to warrant a sequel.
My girls were suspicious of this book when I first brought it home. They aren’t especially into cowboys and the cover artwork didn’t intrigue them (it isn’t bad – but you have to get into the story to appreciate it). So it languished on our "library" shelf until I read it over breakfast one day without giving them a choice of books. I never had to force feed it to them again!
The story is high-silliness – with Cowboy McCoy the very greenest of greenhorns. The story is slight and of morals (thankfully) there are none. The main joy is in the slapstick character of McCoy’s predicaments (trying to lasso a horse, mount a horse, ride a horse, go to sleep, etc.) coupled with the frolicking, high-spirited language.
McCoy has a silly expression for every occasion and a genial goofiness to match. After a wildly bumpy stagecoach ride, here is the dialog…
Lasso Lou brushed off his jeans. "I am glad to be off that stagecoachy."
"And I am glad not to be smooshed," cried Cowboy McCoy. "Yahoo-ski-doo!"
This is giggle-worthy stuff for sure. Yahoo-ski-doo!
Sunny Boy - The Life and Times of a Tortoise
Both my girls bonded immediately with "Sunny Boy," the Tortoise and hero whose life and times are "documented" in this exuberant picture book. Based very loosely (think Oliver Stone and reality) on the tale of a turtle whose madcap adventures include a plunge over Niagara Falls. The irony – Sunny Boy loves the quiet life – horticulture, Latin verbs and stamp collection. But after outliving three scholars, he passes into the hands of a thrill-seeking but failure-ridden daredevil named (of course) Biff.
His misery culminates when he’s shoved into the barrel for the big ride over the Falls – a near catastrophe that convinces Biff to give up senseless daredevil stunts for the life of…an explorer. Fortunately, Sunny Boy is left in the keeping of a young girl who shares his sedate interests. The final twist in this satisfying mini-epic? Sunny Boy has discovered a bit of taste for thrills in that wild plunge over Niagara – so he’s happy to have Biff home now and then for an occasional wild, flag-waving ride with Biff and his motorcycle!
There’s plenty of action, colorful pictures that provide many unusual and dynamic frames, and a story that works for a wide range of ages. Both my girls are big fans. Isabella liked Sunny Boy enough to write her own stories about him. And Ilise will regularly pick this one from a stack of alternatives. Perfect for ages 4-6.
Like most bloggers, I have no credentials for this column other than a love of books, two children (girls – ages 6 and 4) and enough time (I hope) to write about the combination. In truth, I wouldn’t believe that I have enough time except that I’ve been doing a blog on web analytics for my company for the past year as well as publishing quite a few technical articles in that space. It’s gotten me writing again, something I’ve always loved, but frankly the subject matter while interesting in its way is undeniably dry.
So here’s the deal. I going to write about the childrens books I’m reading with and to my girls. Since I work next door to a library, I check out about 10 books a week and we usually read them all more than once. So I’m not going to focus on new books or old books or any other kind of children’s books. Mostly, I’m going to focus on books we like. I’m not going to write about books that I don’t think are worth reading unless a book is well-known and particularly obnoxious (very rare!).
Mainly, I hope to give other parents some ideas for good books when they go to the library. That’s about it. So if you have books you think we’d enjoy or if you violently (dis)agree with anything in the blog – please let me know. Comments are very welcome – suggestions even more so!
I just went and checked our current library selection – looking for a good book to lead off the blog with. I wanted something really good – but a trifle off the beaten path. What I picked was The Huckabuck Family (Pictures by David Small). Written by Carl Sandburg (yes, the "broad-shouldered" poet) this is a single story from a larger collection (the Rootabaga stories). We’ve read the collection, but the Huckabuck Family is probably the best of the lot – and since it’s extracted in this version it gets a full pictorial treatment that makes it work for younger kids. For a long time, this book was my oldest daughter, Isabella’s, favorite picture book. Why? The language. Sandburg’s rollicking rhythms are unlike anything else in children’s literature:
…there was a shine of silver. And Pony Pony wondered why silver should be in a squash. She picked and plunged with her fingers till she pulled it out.
"It’s a buckle," she said, "a silver buckle, a Chinese silver slipper buckle."
It’s a great read aloud – a blast to roll off your tongue. Most children’s poetry suffers from cuteness, simplicity and lack of story. Sandburg gives big, muscular poetry right inside a wonderful story of popcorn farming gone awry.
If you want to give your young children a taste of real writing, I can hardly think of a better book. And kudos, too, to David Small whose pictures capture the tone, style and era perfectly. I don’t know enough about art to say how he creates this perfect period effect, but I can recognize a master of his craft at work.