The Horn Book » oddities

‘Tis the season (to mock old prom pics)

Katrina Hedeen — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:24:00 +0000

It’s prom season! Sure, most of us have outgrown prom frenzy, but a little reminiscing never hurt anyone (except for Roger, who never went). Author Aimee Ferris does just that, and encourages others to do the same, over at her blog Will Work for Prom Dress—a tie-in to her book with the same title (Egmont), in which two friends, Anne and Quigley, embark on a “Betterment Plan” for the occasion. This includes working odd jobs (starting with stints as frozen pizza assemblers) to raise money for their perfect dresses and seeking equally-perfect dates. The book is light, funny, and timely, great for reluctant readers. Ferris’s blog is the real draw for me—especially the prom photos of well-known authors unveiled one by one leading up to the book’s February release. As to be expected, errors in fashion and hair–judgment abound.

Any brave souls willing to share examples (or memories) of their own? We’ll start:

—Katrina Hedeen

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April Horn Book Magazine starred reviews

Katie Bircher — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Higher! Higher!
by Charlie Sheen
At the playground, young swinger Charlie gets so high that he breaks through Earth’s atmosphere and high-fives a fellow rock star from Mars.

Mommy Loves You More than Your Grades (I Promise)
by Amy “Tiger Mom” Chua
A tiger cub is herded through a jam-packed day of school, homework, violin lessons, tutoring, more violin practice—ending with the much-needed reminder that Mommy pushes her daughter so hard only because she loves her so much.

Tiger Babies
by Sophia and Lulu Chua
When Mom dictates one violin lesson too many, these mischievous twins show their claws!

Tiger Juice
by Charlie Sheen
Hijinks ensue when the irrepressible Charlie talks the gang into offering something special at this summer’s lemonade stand.

Teachers Aren’t Any More Special Than You
by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
A much needed antidote to the unchecked teacher glorification in children’s literature.

You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry: An Autobiography
by Kris Kringle
How the man we now know as “Santa” turned childhood trauma into joy for children worldwide.

Quit Reading and Get Moving!
by Michelle Obama
The First Lady breaks the mold in this inspirational ode to the virtues of exercise, “so much more rewarding than some stupid book.”

i steal becuz i’m sad, a novel in verse
by Lindsay Lohan
An achingly sensitive first novel explores the pain of a naturally reclusive young woman forced against her will into the spotlight.

Our 15 States: Just the Important Ones
by Lerner Capstone
So many states, so little time—what’s a busy child to do? Our 15 States cuts to the chase, providing information only on the really, really important ones.

Glitter, Glitter, Everywhere
by Kate Middleton
How much of a princess are you? Enough to have glitter and mirrors reflecting your image on every single page of the books you read? Glitter, Glitter Everywhere is for you.

Kate Digs for Gold
by Sarah, Duchess of York
Part of the duchess’s Helping Hands Book series. Auntie knows best!

I Ate Number Five
by Pittacus Lore
More revelations about James Frey convinced the publisher to quit while it was ahead, resulting in a satisfying series closer.

YA MAFIA, a collection of short stories
compiled by E. Lockhart and John Green
The cool kids rule in this anthology of tales that leaves the losers behind. And unpublished.

Enwraptured: Book One in the Mummies of Darkwater Falls trilogy
by Elizebeth Raw
High school student Alison Klutze can’t believe she finally has a boyfriend. But when Alison and hottie Derek are finally ready to do it, she’s in for quite a surprise when Derek starts to take off his clothes…

with thanks to Travis Jonker @ http://100scopenotes.com/
image credits:

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Bummer.

Katie Bircher — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:50:00 +0000

Yesterday’s mail brought a letter promoting Henry P. Gravelle’s The Fort Providence Watch. Being a big fan of all things morbid, I’m intrigued by the synopsis:

London surgeon Dr. Paul Barnet’s career is shattered by a botched surgery and brazen attack that nearly takes his life. Because of his downfall from society, loss of skills and the love of his fiancee, Dr. Barnet attempts to regain his lost career, and surgical abilities, through an alter ego—Jack the Ripper.

Jack the Ripper does occasionally show up in children’s fiction, playing a major role in Claudio Apone’s Italian import My Grandfather Jack the Ripper, reincarnated in Ian Beck’s Pastworld, and making a cameo in Rick Yancey’s The Monstrumologist. But I don’t think we’ll be reviewing The Fort Providence Watch (or the publisher’s other stuff), as it seems unlikely that a press called “Damnation Books” publishes many kids’ books.

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I thought you would be a children’s book

Kitty Flynn — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:43:00 +0000

I know we’re not supposed to judge by covers and all, but I’m guessing that the publisher BOOM! Town has us mistaken for some other book review journal.

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Freaks and Zombies

Kitty Flynn — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!: Enter If You Dare! is the seventh compendium of all things bizarre, freakish, and grotesque from around the world. You know the stuff: a sculpture of an Australian actress made with 24,000 peaches, an eighteen-inch-long fingernail, mice kebabs, a turtle with two heads and six legs, a man with 240 body piercings (he’s a retired bank manager, believe it or not). As silly as it all is, I have trouble putting the damn thing down every time I look at it, and I can think of a few ten-year-olds right off the bat who would spend hours soaking up the “information.”

In the same vein (pun intended) is A Zombie’s Guide to the Human Body: Tasty Tidbits from Head to Toe published by Scholastic. Professor Zombie adds his own editorial comments and zombie-centric visuals to basic information about body systems (skeletal, digestive, urinary, muscular, cardiovascular, etc.). Every page is littered with blood splatter, unidentifiable splotches of pus-like gore, drool stains, and zombie photos taped over images of living people. It’s gimmicky and distracting and not at all an essential purchase for libraries, but for a zombie-phile reluctant reader, it might be the perfect match of book and reader. The professor offers such nuggets as “SKULLS HARD! COVER UP BRAIN! SKULLS BAD!” and “BRAIN COMES IN 2 SERVINGS” and “FOR QUICK ENERGY TRY LIVER.” Bon appétit!

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