The Dunderheads - Behind Bars by Paul Fleischman and David Roberts (Walker Books)

"dunderhead [Duhn-dur-hed]

n

a stupid or slow-witted person; dunce Also called dunderpate
[probably from Dutch donder thunder + head; compare blockhead]
dunderheaded adj
dunderheadedness n"

Oh that's harsh. If you've previously met "The Dunderheads" in the first book by Paul Fleischman and David Roberts, you'll know that they really aren't stupid, definitely aren't slow witted and are by no means a bunch of dunces. This plucky gang of kids return for a second run, this time they're kicking their heels during the long school summer holiday, so our review is timely indeed!

Einstein (the brains of the outfit) finds out that teen star Ashley Throbb-Hart is in town to film a new movie, and auditions are being held in town. Grabbing his friend Hollywood along the way, and the rest of the Dunderhead crew (Spider, Wheels, Nails, Spitball, Google-Eyes, Clips and Junkyard), the children narrowly avoid a run-in with the fearsome Miss Breakbone (think Miss Trunchbull but meatier, if that's even possible!) and her disturbingly identical (but male) twin Inspector Breakbone. 

The kids are successful in their bid for stardom, but frustratingly still don't get to hob-nob with the stars. 

When there's a local break in and jewellery is stolen, somehow Spider ends up implicated and is soon on the wrong side of a rather nasty set of bars, with a would-be cannibal as a cell-mate. EEK!

Behind this crazy knockabout story that's told at a rip-roaring pace, I thought there was a rather poignant symbolic tale of unfair incarceration and the struggle for justice and freedom tucked neatly behind, like a shy teen. Certain cues in David Roberts' sublime visuals (like the orange suit Spider has to wear in prison - which looks eerily like...

Camp X-Ray, Guantanamo Bay

I won't ruin the end of the story but it's one of those moments (if you read the story as I did) where you realise just how powerful children's books have become as a voice to reflect the best and also sometimes the very worst things that happen in the world. For Charlotte, the story was enjoyable and she liked the great mix of characters and the hectic pace. For me it felt like a book that had something more important to whisper to grown ups and the way we treat others (and also the way we're far too prone to jumping to conclusions about things). 

Charlotte's best bit: Hollywood's utterly awesome film collection. I think we need shelves like that at home. She also loved Ashley Throbb-Hart's amazing taste in fashion. 

Daddy's favourite bit: Subtle, clever, whispering in multi-tones. A book that is definitely no dunderhead. 

(Very kindly sent to us for review by those utterly brilliant folk at The Letterbox Library)

#ReaditMD13 Magazines and Comics Week - Spotlight on Bayard's awesome "Box" magazines (Story Box, Discovery Box and Adventure Box)

As well as taking a look at Comics this week, we've also been looking at fabulous magazines for children that engage their imaginations, tax their brains and don't involve even a whiff of nasty little plastic things sellotaped to the covers.

To that end we were fortunate enough to be sent the amazing "Box" range from Bayard Magazines, a range of brilliant mags for children of all ages.

Cleverly, the range is split into three distinct title categories.

Story Box

Ideal for children aged 3-6 (though we'd like to point out that all three ranges have fairly loose age guidance, and are interchangeable depending on your child's interests / abilities) Story Box isn't just about brilliantly written and illustrated children's stories (from a wealth of writing and artistic talent) it's also about engaging activities and great little puzzle games for little ones to enjoy.

The Story Box range investigates cool scientific stuff, introduces early learning concepts and games, and also has two brilliant apps to compliment the print magazine range too. Best of all, one of our favourite wordless story characters, the awesome Polo, regularly crops up in Story Box. Yay!

Adventure Box

For slightly older children (ages 6-9 but again great for Charlotte who is 5 and liked this range best), Adventure Box is perfect for children who crave a bit more excitement and want to investigate our amazing world a bit more through fascinating facts and a closer look at nature.

There are stories too for readers who are gaining in confidence and can tackle more text (again with brilliant illustrations throughout). Adventure Box appeals to boys and girls, with a trickier selection of puzzles to compliment the rest of the awesome content. If adventure is your thing, this is the range to look at.


Discovery Box

Suitable for children aged 9-12, Discovery Box is packed full of exciting content, brilliant historical stories based on factual events, and with tons of brilliant photos and illustrations to make this an eye-catching magazine that feels more like the stuff grown ups get to read. The format is attractive and there are also some fantastic comic strips like Space School or the Adventures of Ben and Blip.

Again, Charlotte actually really liked Discovery Box - mainly because the non-fiction content was very nicely presented and full of interesting facts, a great jumping off point for discussions and activities in class too.


We've briefly touched on the Story Box apps. Bayard also produce some great little Early Years games that are worth taking a look at.

Here are some links to Story Box 1 and 2

Story Box 1 (iTunes App Store)

Story Box 2 (iTunes App Store)

The Little Brown Bear Interactive (iTunes App Store)

Take a look at Bayard's website where you can see some sample pages from each of the Box magazines, and check out their subscription rates. They're fun, eye-catching, absolutely chock full of brilliant content and the perfect antidote to dreary licensed-character-based free-gift magazines.

(We received issues of each magazine in the range, and the apps to review)

#ReadItMD13 Comics Week - The Radically Awesome Adventures of the Animal Princess (Balloon Toons) by Pranas T. Naujokaitis (Blue Apple Books)

We're dipping back into the Balloon Toons range as part of our celebration of comics and magazines for #ReadItMD13. This is a tiddly little comic that packs a massive punch, and contains some of Charlotte's most favourite things.

1) Princesses
2) Animals
3) Princesses that can become animals
4) Super powers!

So mix that heady cocktail together in Pranas T. Naujokaitis' brilliant and action-packed strip and let mayhem commence. We learn all about the Animal Princess, a gifted girl who can assume the form of various animals just by donning the cutest little animal onesies you've ever seen.

Faced with terrible peril and some of the most dastardly foes known to man (or princess), our heroine defends the Waffle Kingdom. Just as long as she's not forced to wear that HORRIBLE PINK DRESS! Bleuchhh!

As you've probably guessed, this is the sort of comic that I beg, nay PLEAD parents of plucky adventuresome girls (like Charlotte) to go and pick up. There's no winsome staring into mirrors, trying on pretty clothes until a handsome rich Prince happens by, this is action-packed stuff that will be an instant hit with girls (and boys) who love dressing up as superheroes and kicking up dickens!

Brilliant stuff, go get!

Charlotte's best bit: The Radically Awesome Animal Princess's transformation sequences. RIP!

Daddy's favourite bit: A refreshingly different Princess heroine always goes down a treat at home, and RadAn (as we call her for short) is mighty in all the right places. Awesome stuff! Ka-POW!

(Kindly sent to us for review by the awesome Mat at PGUK / Blue Apple Books)

#ReadItMD13 - "Comics and Magazines Week" - My Friend Fred the Plant by Daniel Cleary and Kanako Usui (Blue Apple Books)

We're celebrating brilliant comics and magazines as part of our #ReadItMD13 (ReadItMummiesandDaddies2013) campaign so we thought we'd look at some comics that are suitable for the very young. It's actually a bit of a struggle to find truly child-friendly comics that demonstrate perfectly how a comic strip narrative can deliver a combination of a great story when coupled with strip-format visuals.

In "My Friend Fred, the Plant" - a book from the Blue Apple "Bubble Toons" range by various authors and artists, you have two characters and a plant - and that's it. But because of the format, and because of the exchange of dialogue between the two main characters, you get a tale that describes perfectly that "imaginary friend" thing that some children go through, here symbolised by a fun-loving ginger moggy who befriends a lovely sunflower.

Another cat is passing by, and wonders just who the ginger moggy is talking to. When ginger tells him, he scoffs at first but when he's tasked with looking after Fred (the plant), things take an unexpected turn.

The fun here is in the exchanges between Ginger and Fred (Do they dance? You'll have to read the book to find out!) Children will love the two sides of the 'disagreement' as the uber-cynical cat doesn't believe Ginger's claims that he can converse with Fred. Soon though, the cynical cat learns that friendship can sometimes be weird, but it's strong and worthwhile nonetheless.

Kanako Usui's Kawaii art style compliments the easy flowing text, and this book is tidy and tiny enough to tuck into a back pocket or an overnight bag for those long summer stays at relatives or friends.

We'll be taking another look at the Bubble Toons range very soon. Definitely check them out if you're looking for a nice easy way to introduce children to a comic strip format.

Charlotte's best bit: Cynical cat's panic when Fred starts to wilt in the sun.

Daddy's favourite bit: A great easy read (comic strips aren't always the easiest thing to read aloud), and a nice little moral tale.

(Kindly sent to us for review by the awesome Mat at PGUK / Blue Apple)

#ReadItMD13 "Why Kids Need Comics" - a fantastic comics perspective from Louie Stowell

Comics aren’t new. Humans have always been flexible creatures when it comes to telling stories, and, until recently, pictures have been an important part of storytelling.

Now, telling stories with just pictures is as old as caves.

Cederberg Rock Art

But telling stories with words AND pictures also crops up long before the invention of the word “comics”. 

The Bayeux Tapestry. 

Using combinations of words and images to tell stories mean you can do things you can’t do with text alone. And this one of many reasons why kids need comics.

Often comics are touted as the “easy” option, something that you start off with then graduate to “proper” books. But comics have their own value when it comes to shaping growing minds and equipping them for the big wide world out there.

Comics teach visual literacy - the ability to unlock meaning from images and symbols. This is something all humans need in an increasingly picture-driven world. Think about how often you have to navigate a set of symbols on a screen to unlock information (I’m looking at my iphone, realizing that I don’t look for the words, I look for the symbols, when I’m seeking out an app).

But, the educational benefits of comics are just icing on a wonderful cake. Comics can be hilarious (though they don’t have to be). Comics can be beautiful (though not always in a traditional sense – I think there’s something lovely about XKCD, for example, even though it’s just made up of stick men).

Or they can be lush, like this double page, single panel spread from Superman for All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (photo by me, doesn’t quite do it justice perhaps).

Luscious double page spread from "Superman For All Seasons" (DC Comics)

Comics can be terrifying and unsettling (Maus, I’m looking at you). They can touch on the deepest, darkest parts of human life but they can also just be bloomin’ good fun.

But it can be hard to find the comics that are suitable for kids among the more grown up titles. So here are a few starting points.

The Phoenix – a weekly comic for kids full of stories plus games and no plastic tat (which might be welcome for parents who’ve stabbed their feet too many times on cover mounted items). Just reading (and drawing and writing) fun. Here’s the Phoenix’s blog, with lots of drawing challenges for young comics artists:

http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/blog-of-awesome/

Zita the Spacegirl - a collection of webcomics by Ben Hatke about Zita the Spacegirl. Free to read, though I imagine anyone reading them will then want to go and buy the books.

http://zitaspacegirl.com/webcomics-2/

Sarah McIntyre’s blog – a kids’ comics creator who writes many interesting musings on kidlit of all kinds, with plenty of discussion of comics and photos from workshops. Also, hats. Who doesn’t love hats?

http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/

And here’s a list of kid-friendly comics I’ve been building up on my blog – more suggestions always welcome, do @ me on twitter (@louiestowell) or comment on the blog with your additions:

http://loustow.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/a-bird-on-fire-and-other-comics-for-kids/

Louie Stowell writes and edits children's books and interactive fiction. She also draws a webcomic about gods living in suburbia - http://godsnextdoor.wordpress.com and blogs about comics, publishing, politics and stories of all kinds. 

http://loustow.wordpress.com/

#ReadItMD13 - This week's theme is "Children's Comics and Magazines"

Happily living on Phoenix Island :)

This week's #ReadItMD13 theme is a celebration of children's comics and magazines. Not the sort that usually come with a nasty little plastic toy, and are just glorified TV ads wrapped up between glossy covers, but the sort of comics and magazines that tap into the most amazing resource on the planet. A child's imagination.

As you can see from the header pic, Charlotte is slowly building up her fab collection of The Phoenix Comic, probably one of the best things to happen to the Britcomic scene in a very long time. The Phoenix first caught my attention a year or so back, and we bought a couple of copies to check it out. Since then we've signed up and subscribed, and Charlotte's reaction to the strips (and seeing that wonderfully decorated envelope slide through the letterbox every Friday) reminds me of my reaction every time I used to nip round to the local newsagents to pick up my copy of the Galaxy's other greatest comic, 2000AD (Featuring Judge Dredd, of course!)

The Galaxy's Greatest Comic - Still going strong!

If your children are a bit older, you can still buy this epic comic and it's never too late to start appreciating the sheer thrill power.

Back when I was a kid, comics were seen as 'low brow' reading, always frowned upon and definitely discouraged in schools. Now it feels like it's taken a long time for early years specialists to see the value in comics and periodicals as a way to engage reluctant readers, and deliver a potent combination of a storyline that feels immediate and approachable, wrapped around visuals that spur the imagination into life.

The "Comics for Phonics" range of early years / early reader books from Pearson are a range we've previously shouted about. They're an excellent range of children's phonics books that lay out stories in comic-strip-style formats that feel exciting and nicely paced, for a range of reading abilities.

Comics are great for developing a child's narrative and visual skills. I largely learned to draw the sort of things I liked to draw purely by copying bits of comics and then making up my own stuff. Similarly with stories, drawing comics allows a child to deliver the narrative of their characters without needing to fuss and muss around too much with "he said, she said, he exclaimed, she sighed" - In fact the time honoured method of dialogue delivery (the speech balloon) has started to creep into Charlotte's drawings at school (something I'm no doubt going to be in hot water about at some point! Eep!)

Comics aren't for everyone, and so we'll also be taking a look at magazines this week. Children that prefer a great mix of fact and fiction as well as an absolute TON of content, activities and brilliant art and writing could do far worse than check out the utterly sublime Anorak Magazine - the happy mag for kids (and happy it most certainly is!)

Anorak Magazine. As beautiful inside as it is outside

Developed to be the perfect antidote for those aforementioned 'plastic tat' magazines, Anorak is definitely worth taking out a subscription to if you want a little bit more from your children's periodicals. Every issue seems to get better and better, wrapping together some of the best artists, writers and crafters in the business to come up with a constant deluge of engaging content.

In a similar vein we've also been introduced to the fabulous "Box" Magazines from Bayard. We'll be showing you a bit more of these later in the week but check their website out. They do three magazine ranges to cover toddlers right up to teens.

Story Box for younger readers. Featuring one of our fave textless story characters, Polo!

There are also apps from Bayard to compliment the print magazines. Like Anorak these wrap together a brilliant mix of facts, stories, activities, brilliant puzzle games and fabulous artwork to stimulate young minds.

We're only just looking at the very tip of the comics and magazines iceberg here. Stay with us during the week to find out a lot more about child-friendly comics and magazines as we'll be taking a more in-depth look at a few we think are rather special, and also (hopefully) featuring a couple of guest articles to show parents (and kids) that comics are definitely not for dummies, and magazines needn't be shallow, gift-dependent and destined for the recycle bin.

Katie Morag and the Big Boy Cousins by Mairi Hedderwick (Red Fox Picture Books)

If you're anything like me, the thought of spending summer in idyllic solitude is actually quite appealing. Heading up to the Scottish Islands for a summer of tranquility, rather than shouldering your way through the crowds at the airport or ending up in a hotel with a room above a herd of elephants who trumpet long into the night.

Such is Katie Morag's life, she lives on the island of Struay and it's a peaceful community.

Alas, every summer the "Big Boy Cousins" come to visit, and the villagers (who know their antics well) inwardly groan while Katie Morag finds their company exciting and full of adventure.

The Big Boy Cousins aren't interested in helping out around Granny Island's farm, they're more interested in playing silly tricks on the locals. Katie Morag is easily led astray by the big boy cousins, so to fit in with 'The Team' she joins them in their mischievous antics.

But is that the right thing to do?

Without being too finger-waggling moralistic, Katie Morag and the Big Boy Cousins tells a tale that could've been ripped from my childhood. Though I didn't spend summer on a remote Scottish island I'd often go and stay with my cousins (in Wales or in Wiltshire, they moved around a lot) and we'd inevitably get up to all sorts of shenanigans as the weeks rolled on.

Mairi Hedderwick writes with tenderness and an obvious great love of the highlands. Books like this are the perfect escape and Charlotte absolutely loved Katie Morag, a character who knows the right thing to do in the end to set things straight.

Charlotte's best bit: Roasting marshmallows on a camp fire (save the biggest one for her!)

Daddy's favourite bit: An idyllic setting, great knockabout characters and Katie Morag herself - star of many books in the series, and a great character to wrap such a wonderful story around.

ReadItDaddy's Book of the Week - Week Ending 14th June 2013 - "Splash! Anna Hibiscus" by Atinuke and Lauren Tobia (Walker Books)

When books speak to Charlotte in her own language, about things that she experiences herself, they're usually a big hit. When books like "Splash!" by Atinuke and Lauren Tobia arrive on our doormat, with its utterly charming and joyful cover (a book that does indeed 'talk' to Charlotte in her own language), they're an even bigger hit - or should we say a big splash?

This book has been in great demand and it's easy to see why. For starters, Anna Hibiscus is such a fantastic character. A little younger than Charlotte perhaps but with the same joie de vivre and the same love of the seaside. Secondly this book doesn't care that the weather is yucky and storm clouds keep chasing the sunshine away, it's a beautiful blue-sky book that is like carrying your own summer around in your book bag.

Thirdly, and this is the important bit, it talks about family and though Anna's family is different to our own, Charlotte could recognise the same characteristics. Big boy cousins who don't really want anything to do with girls, big girl cousins who are a bit too old to play Barbie Washing Hair or splash around in the sea.

So this tale is woven from colourful threads. Anna Hibiscus is enjoying a brilliant day by the seaside but no one wants to splash in the waves with her. Mum and Dad are busy as are her aunties and uncles. Grandma and Grandad are fast asleep (as usual!) and her cousins are wrapped up in their own games, so poor Anna feels a little lonely and neglected.

The lure of the sea is too tempting to pass up on a boiling hot sunny day so Anna can't wait any longer. If no one will play with her then perhaps...perhaps the sea will!

Soon she is busy happily frolicking in the surf, much to everyone else's amusement. What happens next? Well that's the best thing about going to the seaside with your family and friends - We bet you can guess what happens. Better still go and grab this book and if you're wistfully staring out of the window at the rain, or are stuck in a dismal office at work or covered in glitter and glue at school, long for hot sunny days and wrap yourself up in this brilliantly told and beautifully illustrated story.

There's a whole truckload more Anna Hibiscus stories to enjoy. We're latecomers but we'll be sure to catch up with Anna again as soon as we can.

Charlotte's best bit: Big Girl Cousins on their mobile phones (probably texting each other even though they're sitting right next to each other!)

Daddy's favourite bit: A brilliant inclusive book, beautifully told and with the sort of illustrations that make you long for sandy summers at the beach and the thrill of dipping a toe in the briny deep.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Lauren Tobia)

Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss (HarperCollins Children's Books)

What do bugs and creepy crawlies get up to every day? Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss have already given us a fascinating insight into Annelid behaviour in "Diary of a Worm" but now they turn to arachnids in "Diary of a Spider" as we find out just how exciting and amazing a young spider's life can be.

Laid out like illustrated diary entries (you figured that much from the title, right?) Spider tells us all about his best friend (a fly, as it happens!) and his adventuresome Grandad who loves to travel the world on the tradewinds, suspended from a long line of silken thread.

Charlotte is obsessed with all things that creep and crawl at the moment (at school they have regular 'minibeasts' sessions, and pet snails! Lovely!) so this book was a wonderful deftly woven tale and a real joy to read. We find out what spiders fear the most (people with big feet!) and what they like to do when they're feeling a bit mischievous (yes we've all walked into your webs first thing in the morning, thank you spiderfolk!)

Best of all, there's a really neat little understated back story telling us how spiders and flies were once enemies but are now friends. Pick at that backstory for a while, and Grandad's involvement. Neat little allegory that and something you'll blink and miss if you're not careful.

A brilliant book for your bug fiends!

Charlotte's best bit: Grandad claiming he flies around the world (but actually cheats and sets up a web in comfy first class compartments on aeroplanes instead!)

Daddy's favourite bit: That backstory. Subtle and clever. Love it when children's authors do things like that. Nice one Doreen!

Stick! By Andy Pritchett (Walker Books)

The bold stand-out cover of this book attracted Charlotte on our recent library trawl. Stick! is really suitable for younger readers but for Charlotte, taking her first faltering steps into self reading, it was a nice easy book to work through. Each beautiful double page illustration comes with a simple word or two as we follow a dog's adventures meeting lots of interesting characters as he chases his stick through the book.

Andy Pritchett's art style is colourful and great for little peepers who will love the puppy and his enthusiasm for chasing his stick.

Friendship is the central theme here, who could possibly share puppy's happiness and laughter?

Only one way to find out, dive in!

Charlotte's best bit: Bird (who we thought was a bit stand-offish and grumpy. Silly worm eating thing!)

Daddy's favourite bit: A great way of building confidence in early readers who will breeze through this. Suitable for younger children but even a busy 5 year old can enjoy it.