The Secret Science Alliance

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook

by Eleanor Davis

"The coolest graphics book that I have read in the last few years". That is it - end of review. You need not read any further; just grab, steal or buy the book. For those who are still lingering around (hopefully because you like my reviews - ahem! :)), here is the longer version of the review.

Julian Calendar, 11 year old nerd, is extremely happy about transfer to a new school. He thinks he can start a new chapter in the new school by acting cool, not answering any questions asked by the teachers and playing sports. But, it is just not him and he is found out easily as a nerd by two other kids - Greta Hughes, helmet-wearing kid whom every one is afraid of (including the teachers) and Ben Garza, basket ball player and a chemistry whiz kid. The three of them form a secret science club and invent away during their free time, hidden away from the eyes of the adults. The rest of the book deals with their inventions and how they thwart another evil scientist from stealing stuff from a museum and their own inventions.

The graphics novel is choc-a-bloc of intricate and detailed drawings and information. There are some full page spreads that are so detailed that it made me wonder how long the author took to write and illustrate this book. The book does not follow any specific page layout format and each double page gets its own separate treatment. The first page might contains pictures drawn in traditional comics format with each picture in its pane, while the next page would be completely different with no panes. There is a page where the pictures are shown in between a large clock with a full page dark background. It switches between various panes and formats effortlessly.

A lot of different themes like the insecurities of scientists, the kids who are bright but cannot do well in exams, kids completely against adults - are dealt in a subtle manner. My son loved the character of Ben Garza, who loves basketball and science - just like him. My daughter loved the character of Greta - the feisty girl. They continue to ask when the next book of this series would be released. I am not sure if this is a series, but, I would grab it if there is a next one.

It appeals to the nerd in me; it appeals the kids at home. Eleanor Davis, you are the best.

Go. Get it.

On My Honor



Pic courtesy Goodreads.com

On My Honor
Written by Marion Dane Bauer
Published by Yearling books, an imprint of Random House Children's books.
Ages: 8-12, 12+

Peer pressure. Everyone faces it, children more so. It looms large in their small world, often leading to literally life-and-death situations.

Twelve year old Joel and Tony are 'best friends', very different in temperament, often squabbling and bickering, but inseparable.

Tony- exuberant, fun-loving, risk-taking, with a devil-may-care attitude. Joel, the more cautious of the two, introspecting, sensitive to undercurrents in a situation, a foil for Tony.

On the way to a cliff-climbing trip, (which Joel had earlier tried to wriggle out of, hoping his father would not give him permission to go), the irrepressible Tony had decided he wanted to go swimming in the river instead. The turbulant, treacherous Vermillion river, known for its rapids. Inspite of having promised his father 'on his honor', that he would not do anything dangerous, Joel falls for the bait when Tony accuses him of being over-cautious.

"Sometimes, Bates, you sound just like your old man."
Joel could feel the heat flooding his face. "What's wrong with that?"
" 'Be careful in that tree, son,' " Tony mimicked, " 'you might get hurt. Watch Bobby when he crosses the street. Those drivers never pay any--' "
Joel had been moving closer to Tony as he spoke, and now he gave him a hard shove.

Tony keeps needling Joel, driven by bravado and dare-devilry, goading him to challenge Tony to a swimming race to a sandbar a hundred yards away. With terrible consequences.

Peer pressure. Wanting to fit in. Misplaced confidence. A sense of being indestructible. A devil-may-care attitude. Inability to lose face. Unwillingness to be perceived as a 'coward' when being just sensible and careful. A recipe for disaster?

Marion Dane Bauer has written a fast-paced, racy, but sensitively told story based on a real incident that happenned in the town where she grew up, at the very same place as described in the book. A very short, 90 page book that is very hard-hitting.

Bauer's potrayal of Joel's effort to get out of what is very clearly a fool-hardy venture, without losing face- first hoping that his father would not give his permission, then trying to make Tony see sense is very realistic. It happens ever so often in our own kids' peer-group. The disaster comes on unexpectedly, chillingly, with everything else seemingly the same, unchanged.

The potrayal of Joel's survivor guilt is heart-wrenching. The disbelief, denial, anger, dissociation, grief, a desire to hide, not face the parents, an obsessive 'washing-off of the stench of the river', are powerfully written. It helps, that his father is understanding, trying to help him let go of the paralysing, mind-numbing grief.

The wracking sobs flowed out of him like water.
His father held him for a long time, saying nothing, until Joel's tears came without sound and his breaths were quivering gasps. Even then, his father held him.
"Do you believe in heaven?" he asked at last. "Do you believe Tony's gone there?"
"I don't suppose anybody knows," his father answered gently, "what happens after...I believe there's something about life that goes on. It seems too good to end in a river."

It is a Newbery Honor winner, 1987, and the William Allen White Childrens' book award winner, 1989. A wonderfully written book, that chills me on each reading. Given a thumbs-up by A.

Crossposted here.

Two of a Kind

Recently we read two books which told the same story. But differently. It was a great way to let my almost six year old know that the same story can be made more or less interesting, based on how you narrate/ read / dress it up.

The two books were -
Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman and
Simms Taback's Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Ages 4-8

They are based on a Jewish song/ tale about a resourceful and thrifty ( possibly poor) tailor, Joseph, who 'resurrects' his old coat into a jacket, a vest...... and finally a button. Even this gets lost and what Joseph does is turn the expericne into a song for all to enjoy. Thus creating something from nothing.

The story has been adapted in distinct but equally engaging ways by the author/ illustrators.

Simm’s version is lively, colourful, collage like and quirky. The main character remains a tailor by name Joseph. The art is rather patch-work like in style- photos mixed with paintings, funny one liners ( more for the adult reader) and astonished animals observing Joseph. The book won the Caldecott Medal.

Gilman’s book is historical looking, wood framed, warmly shaded in rusts and browns, full of detail, recreating an era long gone. It captures a lot of what possibly was Eastern European life in a Jewish community and then there is an endearing parallel story in pictures- a mice family which lives beneath the floor, and benefits from the rags that get discarded each time the cloth transforms. The protagonist here is a little boy who treasures his Grandpa’s gift, a blue blanket. The Grandpa is a resourceful tailor who 'fixes it' each time for him.

Across both versions, the message remains the same - one of recycling, yes, but also that of letting a cherished possession go when it is time.

There is repetition and rhythm in the stories- children will find that absorbing, making it easy for them to relate to the tale.

While we are on similar themes, different executions, the other pair of books we encountered are:
A Squash and a Squeeze by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler and
It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale by Margot Zemach
Ages 4-8



A wise man/ rabbi churns out surprising advice to a man/ woman complaining of lack of space in his/ her home. The wise man asks for more animals to be added into the home, to ridiculous effect. When it really gets crowded he suggests for all of them to be removed one by one. Thus the relative feeling of spaciousness makes for joy and the complaints cease.

While the Caldecott honour went to the Zemach version, filled as it is with energetic glory, it is the Julia version, which came later, which is a favourite in our household. With its lilting rhythm and characteristic and hilarious illustrations by Sheffler, it is a winner, like most books by the duo.

The Rabbits

The Rabbits

By John Marsden

Illustrations by Shaun Tan

Many of Shaun Tan's books cannot be categorized as picture books for children. His books are difficult to pin down - allegorical, slightly satirical and surreal. The pictures may be surreal, but carry a strong realistic resonance to the world around us and the history of humankind.

The Rabbits is one of his earlier books, much before his landmark and classic 'The Arrival'; but there are some interesting relationships between them. While The Arrival is about a person's long trudge to a new place and his trials at adjusting to a foreign environment; Rabbits is about a similar travel but with different agenda at heart - an agenda to impose their own will and power in the new environment. While one book talks about adjustment and the other talks about colonization. Although the subject being dwelt is two sides of the same coin; the illustrations between these two books are entirely different. The illustrations for Rabbits is similar in nature to The Red Tree. The Red Tree and The Rabbits deal with anxious and depressing subjects most of the time and the illustrations are bright and surreal. The Arrival is a book of hope, but the illustrations are done in dull sepia tones.

Although the text of the book is written by John Marsden, this book looks like one that can come only from that unique stable of Shaun Tan. His illustrations are over-powering and the text similar in nature to the books that Shaun Tan has himself written.

The Rabbits is told from a perspective and voice of a kangaroo. The kangaroo watches in mild curiosity as some new comers from the across the seas (Rabbits) arrive to their land. They are initially as curious and slowly as their numbers increase, they take over the land. The Rabbits take over the grass and leave it barren and dusty; impose their customs; take their children and basically stamp their footprints all over the new world. The book ends with a heart-rending cry.

The book can be read at multiple levels. The book could be read as a simple story of how rabbits introduced by Europeans took over Australia and how it affected the ecology of the continent - as they bred faster and used the same vegetation for food. It could also be read as allegory to colonization and how it erodes, alienates and totally devastates the local vegetation, culture and people. When the book is read along with the book The Arrival, it did bring to my mind another disturbing thought - when does migration become colonization?

Do I recommend this book - Of course, wholeheartedly. And a warning(This is a fair warning to any book by Shaun Tan) - Do not pick them up for your children because they have pictures and looks like a picture book. As he himself says in his website, it is a for older readers and some children might get a lot out of this book.

Now, let me go back to drooling over the illustrations.

The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred

The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred
by Samantha R. Vamos,
illustrated by Rafael Lopez

Ages 4-8

Published by Charlesbridge (Feb 2011)


This bilingual book presents a cumulative story, much like This is the House that Jack Built, where we not only follow the progressive unfolding of events, but also learn a bit of Spanish.

Each page introduces a new item in English, but on successive pages that item is referred to by the Spanish word, and it gets quite challenging (and fun) to keep up.

We start with the innocuous,
This is the pot that the farm maiden stirred.

Next, we read,
This is the butter that went into the cazuela that the farm maiden stirred..

Then,
This is the goat that churned the cream to make the mantequilla that went into the cazuela that the farm maiden stirred.

There is an underlying reason for everything that happens in this lively sequence: the making of Arroz con Leche, Rice Pudding.

The text flows easily, blending the two languages. The author shares, "As I incorporated Spanish words, the text flowed differently – the words sounded more intimate and tender. The English text with Spanish words woven in resonated because the bilingual manner of speaking reminded me of the way I had heard languages (in addition to English, my father fluently speaks four languages) expressed as a child."

Growing up with 3 different languages, besides English, I could identify with the author's note about having "bilingual on the brain" as shared in this article.

The illustrations are breath-taking, vibrant and rather funny. From stark white background on the first 2 or 3 pages as we focus on the cazuela, mantaquilla and cabra, the images get rusty orange and colorful as the day progresses. The cabra with his toque, the gallina with her apron, the burro with his boots all add to the charm.

As artist Rafael Lopez shares in the post Stirring the Pot of Color, "For me color is an expression of my identity, my heritage and I believe it is the most direct route to the emotions of children and families who will turn the pages of my books". It is his bold colors, arresting images and textures that catch the eye, holding us ransom.

Little touches like the smiling sol looking in through the doorway, the gallina laying the eggs while grating the limon as the campesino tends to her... well, just about every single page is incredibly gorgeous, and complements the text well.

Back of the book has Arroz con Leche recipe and Glossary of Spanish Words.

[image source: author Samantha Vamos website]

Shipwrecked

The following review comes from our guest contributor - Rachna Maneesh Dhir.

Author: Rhoda Blumberg
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Publisher: Harper Collins

I have to honestly say that I picked up “Shipwrecked” at the Strand Book Festival last year out of sheer curiosity as the illustrations looked interesting. However, it turned out to be an extremely fascinating book, for me personally, when I decided to read it, recently. Kindly bear with me as I digress, here.

It would not be incorrect to say that for book lovers, especially children’s book lovers, living in Bangalore, Strand Book Stall’s two sales every year, are among the most awaited family events. For those who have not been to the store itself, full of treasures and charm, I would like to share the fact that it reminds me of 80s tele serial in the US Chejavascript:void(0)ers’ title song, “Where every body knows your name”. On most days, you are greeted by Vidya Virkar, the proprietor, whose father, Mr. T. N. Shanbag, set up the parent store in Mumbai more than 60 years ago. For that matter, where in the world will you get an additional 5% discount on top of the usual 20% in memory of the founder (his death anniversary was on Febraury 27)? What a nice gesture to remember him.

So many of us have found gems at both the store and the book festivals, as regular bloggers have often testified on this site. And the best part is that the helpful staff, inspired by Vidya’s customer service ethic, tries to procure titles even after the sale is over.

Going back to “Shipwrecked”, among the various awards it has won, are:

ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice, Parents' Choice Gold Award, Book Sense 76 Pick,
ALA Notable Children’s Book, New York Public Library's "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing" School Library Journal Best Book, Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies (NCSS/CBC), Judy Lopez Memorial Award

I will begin by quoting what others have said, in praise of this book, before I share my own observations. According to the Publishers Weekly, “Handsomely illustrated with period drawings, sketches and woodblock prints, the text also explains such historical elements as 19th-century Japan's carefully enforced isolation from the Western world, the importance of the American whaling industry and the enormous cultural gaps between Japanese and American societies.”

School Library Journal notes, “The title doesn't begin to hint at the incredibly varied adventures that are compacted here, deserving of a longer and more thorough treatment, but the text does convey the author's enthusiasm and awe of her subject. “

Now, reading about countries in history and geography textbooks is one way for children to learn about their own as well as other cultures. Reading historical fiction is another way of understanding how people lived at certain stage of time in a certain place. What Blumberg does is quite unique – use actual accounts of the life of the first Japanese to set foot in the US.

Along the way, the readers get a peep into daily lives in both the countries in the 1800s. The text is simple enough to be read out to younger children and detailed enough to be enjoyed by young adults. The observations made by the protagonist, Manjiro, in his own words, in his own sketches as well as art work produced under his guidance is mesmerizing. Furthermore, the selection by the author of the illustrations goes beautifully with the text.

In conclusion, I would like to quote the Horn Book “Manjiro’s gifts shine through Blumberg’s lucid narrative”.

What an amazing book this is!

Moin And The Monster

Title : Moin And The Monster

Author : Anushka Ravishankar

Publisher : Puffin

Following one of the monster rules - Rule 17- 'A Monster can be sent to the human world', an invisible monster enters Moin's life.

One night, in the dim darkness of his room, Moin heard something shuffling and sniffling under his bed.

'Who's that?' he squeaked.

'A bonster,' said a shrieky kind of voice.

Moin flashed his torchlight all over the room.

Nothing.

'Abonster, where are you?' he asked in a wobbly wisper.

'A monster, not abonster.'

'A m-m-monster? Where are you?' asked Moin.

'Udder the bed, obviously. Widd a very dusty old suitcase add a pair of blue socks which are horrible add sbelly. That's why I'b holding by dose.'

The monster is invisible but he threatens Moin to draw him as per his instructions to make him visible. But monster finds Moin a challenged artist and Moin thinks the monster does not know how to describe himself. And the end result is a pink colour monster (since Moin ran out of purple crayon and found pink colour closest to purple), with autorickshaw horns, bamboo (drumstick) legs, broom like feet (skis in Moin's terms) - all of this giving him an appearance of rather funny than fearsome and a monster is supposed to be fearsome not funny.

Shocked to see his legs, the monster grumbles - 'These are not bamboos, they're drumsticks. If I don't watch where I'm going, some cook will pluck them off and make a sambhar of them,'

But this is not all. The monster rule 54 says : 'A monster has to stay forever with the human who has given it a body', which means Moin and the monster are now stuck together. The trouble begins for Moin as he has to hide the monster from everybody including his parents. Monster's extreme liking for bananas gets Moin into trouble and monster's craving to sing in (not so) melodious voice makes Moin's parents believe that Moin is very keen on learning music and hence music classes begin for him.

One fine day, Monster decides to accompany Moin to school which leads to some very chaotic and hilarious situations in the school. The head girl considers the Monster as an illustration of an imaginary alien and chooses to stick him on the notice board along with the write up on the UFOs. Even the principal Mr. KuttiKrishnan finds himself in some medical emergency - nothing short of madness, calls the doctor and informs him that he has been seeing pink things and hearing things.

This is not all, the fun goes on till the very last page.

Anushka Ravishankar has successfully created the magic once again with 'Moin and the Monster', which will surely make children laugh heartily on almost every page. And lovely illustrations by Anitha Balachandran work wonderfully in tandem with the text. Clueless Moin while drawing the monster and the pink monster are really endearing to make the readers fall in love with them.

The nonsensical verses that the monster loves to sing reminded me of Dr. Seuss's style.

3-D ABC: A Sculptural Alphabet

3-D ABC: A Sculptural Alphabet
by Bob Raczka

Ages 4-8, All Ages

Publisher: Lerner Publishing (2007)http://www2.blogger.com/img/blank.gif


Despite the 'ABC' in the title, this is not an abecedary book in the ordinary sense. Bob Raczka has brought many great works of art to his readers via the Art Adventures series.

In this book, he shows us specific much-recognized works while describing in few simple statements what a sculpture is. Tying it to a letter of the alphabet in each page is incidental, but, elegantly done.

Starting with A is for Arrow, we learn that, A sculpture is not always something you can recognize. This kind of sculpture is called abstract, with Obus by Alexander Calder as the accompanying art work.

Each page has a visually stimulating arrangement of art and text, with well-chosen words that helps us understand a little more about this art form.

On the page with Carved American Eagle by John Bellamy, we read the expected E is for Eagle, but also learn that it is a relief: This sculpture can be looked at from just one side. It's called a Relief.

The one that fascinated the resident pre-schooler the most was Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, along with "upside down hanging piano" coming a close second - Concert For Anarchy by Rebecca Horn.

As Raczka notes, "A sculpture can mean different things to different people, or it can mean different things to the same person on different days, because the more you look at a sculpture, the more you see." Thus the author encourages the kids to view and appreciate sculpture without the pre-determined notion of what a sculpture should or does represent.

I learnt about not just sculptures, but also about forms of expression, and it inspired me to look up more about at least these 26 works of art that the author has presented in the book. This book is certainly for all ages, especially if one is interested in contemporary art.

[image source: Lerner Books]