Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played with Puppets

Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played with Puppets
by Kathleen Krull, Steve Johnson, and Lou Fancher (illus.)

Growing up, Jim Henson’s favorite thing to do was to make people laugh.  He put on small productions at home for his family, and eventually acted in school.  He was captivated by the movies.  But by and large, his favorite medium to work with were puppets.  But could a puppeteer actually make a living in the world?  Did people even want to see them on TV?  Well, I think we all know the answer to that one.  Along with his future wife, Jane, they created an ensemble of creatures called Muppets – a combination of marionettes and puppets – who ended up on TV and made the whole family laugh.  But Jim didn’t stop there; he believed TV could be educational as well as entertaining.  Back to the drawing board, he created another cast of Muppety friends and gave them a home on Sesame Street.  People really did want to see puppets on TV and in their movies, and it looks like they still do.

I chose to review this book in honor of the newest Muppet Movie that was released last week.  The Muppets hold a special place in my heart.  It just doesn’t feel like Christmas to me without at least 3 viewings of The Muppet Christmas Carol (1 down, 2 to go) or hearing Beaker’s verse in the Muppet 12 Days of Christmas.  And I wish that The Muppet Babies were still on TV… but that’s neither here nor there right now.  This is a lovely biography that focuses on the surprisingly quiet man behind the Muppets.  While not in-depth enough for a substantial report for school, it’s definitely interesting and timely.  Unfortunately I think that more adults who fondly remember the Muppets will be more inclined to pick this up and read it for pleasure.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

Fandango Stew

Fandango Stew
by David Davis and Ben Galbraith

Fandango Stew is a western-style retelling of the classic tale “Stone Soup.”  When Slim and Luis, two desperados, ride into the town of Skinflint, there’s not much welcome.  The mayor thinks they’re scoundrels looking for a free meal.  But they say all they want to do is make some Fandango Stew – they’ve already got the Fandango Bean, they just need to borrow a kettle.  Well as the pot simmers and Slim and Luis compare this Fandango Stew to the ones made in other towns, the townsfolk will not be outdone by their neighbors.  Soon there’s salt, pepper, onions, potatoes, rice, and anything that looks like a vegetable (even the okra) simmering with the Fandango Bean.  Everyone joins these two travelers in their catchy chorus: “Chilli’s good, so is barbecue, but nothing is FINER than FANDANGO STEW!”

This picture book would make a great read aloud.  The western theme opens up the door for silly voices, and a repeating chorus makes sure all the kids will join in.  This also has some great beginning bilingual possibilities: there are Spanish words strewn throughout the text, but not so many that it’s overwhelming.  This picture book is a great addition to my library.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

After

After
by Amy Efaw

When After opens, we meet Devon Davenport, 15, bleeding profusely, and hiding under a blanket.  That Night was a horrible night, and she’s not entirely sure what happened.  Her mom comes home from the night shift.  She starts talking about this abandoned baby they found in the trash can.  Who could do such a thing?  The police show up.  The find Devon.  They take her away.  What is going on?  It turns out Devon did that: she delivered a baby and threw it in the trash.  She didn’t even know she was pregnant!  Could she really be that kind of person?  Now she finds herself in a juvenile detention center.  She is facing her first trial: whether or not she should be tried as an adult because of the severity of the crime.  She must talk to her lawyer and psychologist, but nothing could make her relive That Night.

This book was haunting.  I know I use that word a lot to describe YA literature, but let me tell you why it was haunting.  I didn’t stop thinking about these characters for 3 days (well into my next book).  The night I finished this book, I dreamed about it.  I dreamed that I went through That Night like Devon did, and it was petrifying.  Honestly, how could someone not know they were pregnant?  Efaw has done some fantastic research and has created a plausible scenario in which someone might not know they were pregnant until they were delivering, and in the shock, dispose of the baby.  It’s not excusable, but it’s absolutely fascinating.  The psychology behind Devon’s story is mind-blowing.  While Devon as a character can be frustrating and kind of flat (a character in shock isn’t really going to be able to show you her emotions), the courtroom scenes kept me on the edge of my page.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

Octopus Soup

Octopus Soup
by Mercer Mayer

Octopus Soup is the wordless misadventure (because as everyone knows, octopi can’t talk!) of a young octopus who leaves his mother and father in search of his own destiny.  After climbing out of the ocean and being tossed about by anthropomorphic animals who are just grossed out by him, he catches the eye of the walrus chef.  The walrus chef is bent on making octopus soup, having seen the young cephalopod running amok.  Will the little octopus escape the tusked terror?

I am usually split on wordless picture books.  They are not easy for me to use as part of a story time, but they are excellent for one-on-one reading and getting your child to glean a story from the pictures and to learn storytelling.  Octopus Soup serves this purpose very well for the older picture book audience.  The panels are busy at best, riotous at worst.  They fit the chaotic nature of the story, but this isn’t for everyone.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

Happy Pig Day!

Happy Pig Day!
by Mo Willems

Piggie is so excited because it’s the best day of the year – Happy Pig Day!  That means there must be a pig party with pig songs and pig food and pig games!  And it’s a great time to practice speaking pig – oink!  There are pigs partying everywhere! But Gerald quickly starts feeling left out.  He didn’t know it was Happy Pig Day, and he doesn’t know how to speak pig.  How can he be happy for his friend when he doesn’t feel like he fits in?

I get excited for new Mo Willems books like some people get excited about new CDs from their favorite bands. The Elephant and Piggie franchise may be my favorite of his works.  Happy Pig Day! does not disappoint.  It’s everything you come to expect from these clever, emotional characters in terse, expressive sentences.  Solid.

I would also like to share my Halloween costume with you, readers.  An homage.

Book image taken from http://www.amazon.com.