A dizzying array of magical tales, sure to keep young readers transfixed.
In Bass’ (Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon, 2007, etc.) YA story, a teenager switches bodies with the legendary wizard Merlin.
Fifteen-year-old Gilbert Myrddin, of Topsham, England, is an illustrator of fairy tales written by his father, Henry. They bind and sell the tales at Ye Olde Book & Toy Shoppe, which Henry owns. One day, his father brews a strange concoction from an ancient book titled Myrddin; Gilbert pours it down the drain, but gags on the fumes. Overnight, he becomes wrinkly and grows a long white beard. Henry rushes his son to the hospital, where Gilbert is contacted through a television by none other than the younger version of himself—or so it seems. The boy in the television explains that he’s Merlin, and that Gilbert is his ancestor. “You must follow the gleam,” the wizard says, which is defined as “the ability to see things that are invisible to the average person.”This kicks off a series of magical adventures starring Gilbert, his sister, Marlo, their friend Paul and an increasingly colorful cast of mythical and literary figures. Henry continues penning fairy tales, but with Merlin’s magic contorting their lives, he can’t be sure that he’s fully in control of his writing. Also, a troublesome figure with yellow eyes keeps appearing; can a confrontation inside Henry’s fictional worlds be far behind? Author Bass writes with an energetic, boundless sense of play, mixing the myths of Camelot with those of Santa Claus and King Midas. A body-switching potion has ingredients such as “nuance of newt wing, a suspicion of whistledown...and a dose of vermillion plonk oil,” which will be especially catchy to younger ears. The main narrative is full of Henry’s micro-stories, including “The Magic Touch” and “Evil Fishmaster & the Mermaid,” that give the work the feeling of a classic children’s reader. But Bass’ imagination may be too rambunctious for a single volume; at one point, for example, Marlo’s career as a mime elbows Gilbert’s plight aside. Bass has no shortage of ideas, but perhaps he should have given them more breathing room, across several books.
A dizzying array of magical tales, sure to keep young readers transfixed.Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2013
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: July 10, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A deliciously sweet reminder to try one’s unique best.
This smart cookie wasn’t alwaysa smart cookie.
At the corner of Sweet Street stands a bakery, which a whole range of buns and cakes and treats calls home, including a small cookie who “didn’t feel comfortable speaking up or sharing” any ideas once upon a time. During the early days of gingerbread school, this cookie (with sprinkles on its top half, above its wide eyes and tiny, smiling mouth) never got the best grades, didn’t raise a hand to answer questions, and almost always finished most tests last, despite all best efforts. As a result, the cookie would worry away the nights inside of a cookie jar. Then one day, kind Ms. Biscotti assigns some homework that asks everyone “to create something completely original.” What to do? The cookie’s first attempts (baking, building a birdhouse, sculpting) fail, but an idea strikes soon enough. “A poem!” Titling its opus “My Crumby Days,” the budding cookie poet writes and writes until done. “AHA!” When the time arrives to share the poem with the class, this cookie learns that there’s more than one way to be smart. John and Oswald’s latest installment in the hilarious Food Group series continues to provide plenty of belly laughs (thanks to puns galore!) and mini buns of wisdom in a wholly effervescent package. Oswald’s artwork retains its playful, colorful creative streak. Although slightly less effective than its predecessors due to its rather broad message, this one’s nonetheless an excellent addition to the menu.(This book was reviewed digitally.)
A deliciously sweet reminder to try one’s unique best. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-304540-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
Dizzyingly silly.
The famous superhero returns to fight another villain with all the trademark wit and humor the series is known for.
Despite the title, Captain Underpants is bizarrely absent from most of this adventure. His school-age companions, George and Harold, maintain most of the spotlight. The creative chums fool around with time travel and several wacky inventions before coming upon the evil Turbo Toilet 2000, making its return for vengeance after sitting out a few of the previous books. When the good Captain shows up to save the day, he brings with him dynamic action and wordplay that meet the series’ standards. The Captain Underpants saga maintains its charm even into this, the 11th volume. The epic is filled to the brim with sight gags, toilet humor, flip-o-ramas and anarchic glee. Holding all this nonsense together is the author’s good-natured sense of harmless fun. The humor is never gross or over-the-top, just loud and innocuous. Adults may roll their eyes here and there, but youngsters will eat this up just as quickly as they devoured every other Underpants episode.
Dizzyingly silly. (Humor. 8-10)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-50490-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
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