Todd's TV Book Review

By James Proimos

****

"Todd loved his parents. But he had grown much closer to his TV." This quote says it all, Todd's TV is a hilarious story of what can happen if you constantly place your child in front of the television. Todd's parents just couldn't help it, they were both busy the night of parent-teacher conferences. When the TV offers to go with Todd instead they decide that it does make sense since he spends more time with Todd then they do, so they allow it. Soon TV is making breakfast, driving Todd to school, and giving advice... But one day the TV goes too far for Todd's parents and they become extremely jealous and try to win back Todd's favour.

James Proimos has written and illustrated another fabulous adventure with Todd's TV. Children will belly laugh (as parents nervously giggle) at the reality of this story. Proimos' style hasn't changed a bit with this book, his plot is still ridiculous and funny and his illustrations still simple. A fabulous characteristic of Proimos' work is the character's dialog in speech bubbles, it gives this story a great comic book feel. The only thing disappointing about this book is when they turn off the TV (sorry for the spoiler) because Proimos built up such an amazing friendship between Todd and the TV... The TV really was a good caretaker, it was sad to see him off.

Todd's TV is a great giggly read for everyone of every age. A great silly warning story for parents to be careful how busy you are and how much you plop the kids in front of the TV, you might just find your child chosing the TV over you!

The Reluctant Dragon Book Review

By Kenneth Grahame
Illustrated by E. H. Shepard

****

One night a shepherd spots a scaly creature sleeping in a cave nearby his flock. He arrives home in a panic to tell his family, at which his son replys, "It's all right, father. Don't you worry. It's only a dragon. And I'll stroll up to-morrow morning--no, in the morning I can't, I've got a whole heap of things to do--well, perhaps in the evening, if I am quite free, I'll go up and have a talk to him, and you'll find out it'll be all right." When the boy goes up to see the dragon, he finds that he is quite agreeable to get along with and even writes poetry.

But what happens when the people of the village find out about the creature living in the cave? They create horrible stories, and call for Saint George to defeat him in a fight! St. George isn't fond of killing, and the boy wants to help his friend, so together they devise a plan to please the crowds as well as stay true to who they really are.

Author The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame creates another fantastic tale of friendship and love in The Reluctant Dragon. The language is very English and intellectual, so this book is best for children of the mid-upper grades. Ideal for children who love fairy tales and stories from the middle ages. The Reluctant Dragon has such lovable characters with the most simplistic of titles, such as boy and dragon. Once you are introduced to them, you will be turning page after page to find out how they can stick together is such a tricky situation. Although it is a slim book, that certainly doesn't reflect the value of it's content.

The Wish Giver Book Review

By Bill Brittain

****

What would you say if you could get you anything you asked for in exchange for 50 cents? At the Coven Tree Church Social, three children and one man meet a strange little man named Thaddeus Blinn who gives them this offer. Upon giving Thaddeus Blinn their 50 cents they are each handed a card with a red spot in the middle. They are instructed to place their thumb on the spot and make their wish, only one, and they would never see Thaddeus Blinn again.

Each child makes a wish for something they want, they do get their wish, but not exactly in the way that would be expected. Newbery Award Winner The Wish Giver is a childlike spin off of the old horror classic The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs. It is a fun, thrilling, fast read appropriate for mid-grade children. It teaches the lesson of 'be careful what you wish for' as well as other moral lessons about how children should behave and to be grateful. Unlike The Monkey's Paw, The Wish Giver has a positive (yet predictable) ending.

Ideal for the lovers of Goosebumps and other children's chillers. There are some scary ideas and situations in this book, so it is not a suggested for the easily scared or nightmare prone. The Wish Giver is told in a series of short stories that are intertwined together. Once you read one story, you won't want to wait to hear what the next child wishes for. This is a fabulous adaptation of a horrific classic that has become appropriate for children.