Timothy Power's Blog, page 44

Rad wrapping

I can't tell you how many times I've seen someone carefully unwrapping a gift, trying not to tear the wrapping paper in order to save it for later. And I've always wondered WHY? To me, wrapping paper is no big deal. I tear it to pieces in two seconds flat.
But I have come across some homemade wrapping paper that is better than any gift it decorates. It's by printmaking and bookmaking artist Alison Yates, and I would spend as much time as it took to get it safely into a frame, to hang on my wall. Because it is RAD!
Alison's art is influenced by myth and folklore (visit her website here.) The wrapping paper she has created definitely has an epic feel, and would inspire the storyteller in anyone.

(Images (c) Alison Yates)
The story that comes to my mind when I look at this awesome wrapping paper definitely ends with three words:
TO BE CONTINUED!

Reading roundup

I was at the Autry National Center recently, making friends in the Western way, when THIS friend reminded me that it was high time I shared my latest MG book faves in a reading roundup. Thanks, Mr. Longhorn Steer! I'm on it.
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First up is Greg van Eekhout's THE BOY AT THE END OF THE WORLD. This book is so new, it isn't even OUT yet. (I was lucky enough to get an advance reading copy.) It's the story of a boy named Fisher who awakes in the distant future to find that he is the only survivor of a space-age Ark. Joining Fisher on a dangerous mission across what was once the United States to find and awake possible survivors of a mysterious Western Ark are Click, the robot caretaker from HIS Ark, and a friendly pygmy mammoth named Protein that they met along the way.
The story is serious, funny, scary, and suspenseful. Fisher learns a lot from his surprising experiences. When he comes across some old human writing in his journey, he realizes that "to read the thoughts of long-dead people seemed as crucial a part of being human as building a fire."
How right he was about that! If I had to choose between this book and a cozy fire, I would have to think long and hard about it. Have you ever wondered what super-intelligent prairie dogs would think of a custodial robot and a cloned pygmy mammoth? Read THE BOY AT THE END OF THE WORLD to find out.
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My next new fave is Paul Feig's IGNATIUS MACFARLAND: FREQUENCY FREAK-OUT! In this funny, suspenseful adventure, the universe is like a radio, and there are as many different worlds as there are channels. All you have to do to travel from one "frequency" to another is twist the dial of a certain kind of transporter. This is exactly what Iggy and his friend Karen do, and it lands them on a planet where walking, talking trees lord it over walking, talking plants, and they all make war on creeping, crawling weeds.
Shocking but true: Another human visitor has stolen the trees' gold, and the ferocious forest wants to KILL Iggy and Karen for it!
Tree-huggers might think twice before cozying up to a botanical buddy after reading this book. There is only one word to describe the action in IGNATIUS MACFARLAND: FREQUENCY FREAK-OUT! And that is "nonstop."
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Last up is another action/adventure, with emphasis on ACTION. Dee Garretson's WILDFIRE RUN is about a boy named Luke, whose dad just happens to be President of the United States. Luke is on vacation at woodsy Camp David, the historic presidential retreat, along with his friend Theo and not-quite-friend Callie when all heck breaks loose in the form of a devastating earthquake and subsequent wildfire.
The three kids have got to put their differences aside and work together when it turns out that the adults have been pushed out of the picture and escape is up to them. Their very lives are at stake on nearly every page in this suspenseful survival tale. Luckily, Luke, Theo, and Callie are smart and resourceful and up to the task.
☆☆☆
Those are my three latest MG faves. I'm still reading, so there will be another roundup soon. I can't put it off for too long, or I'm sure Mr. Longhorn Steer will be on my case about it. His horns are pointed my way.

Fan mail fan

Today my letter carrier dropped off  something for The Boy Who Howled …a great big stack of FAN MAIL!
Thanks to everyone in Mrs. Wangen's class, Mrs. John-Lewis's class, Mrs. McCann's class, and Ms. Millison's class at Island Park Elementary School in Mercer Island, WA for their wordy and artistic show of support. Keep reading and writing, guys! You rock.

The Boy Who Howled, being hugged by a lot of friendly fifth-grade feeling!

Seuss Wars

Dr. Seuss is famous for his otherworldly characters. From the Lorax …

www.youtube.com/watch?v=66wmmN1GLcs

to the Sneetches …

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMolzESn4oI

there has always been something OUT OF THIS WORLD about his creations.
What if the good doctor had thought up Star Wars in place of the equally ingenious George Lucas?
Well, super cartoonist Adam Watson wondered that very thing! And he answered his own question. He picked up his brush, got his Seuss on, and came up with these fantastic illustrations.

Luke fits in the front pocket of this newfangled Tauntaun. Illustration by Adam Watson. Found at themightyadam.blogspot.com

And …

This Seussy Jabba has a Grinchish grin. Illustration by Adam Watson. Found at the mightyadam.blogspot.com

And finally …

Luke and Chewy, Seuss-style. Illustration by Adam Watson. Found at themightyadam.blogspot.com

Happy New Year!

It's brand new…
It's never been seen before…
2011 is here!
No need to save the wrapping. Just open it up and have the best year ever!

Holiday blessings

"A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near,
A little gift from one held dear,
Best wishes for the coming year." 
John Greenleaf Whittier

I finally meet the big guy

I grew up in a family that celebrated Christmas, and yet I never had my picture taken with Santa.
As, they say, it's never too late!
This historic photo was taken by JayPG Photography, when Santa showed up at a benefit for Moving Arts, a Los Angeles-based theatre company. Ho, ho, ho!

The war on Christmas

George from Portland, OR writes:
Dear T,
I am back with another holiday story. This time it is Randolph, the Red Toed Reindeer. He is the newest most famous reindeer at the North Pole. Obviously, having four red feet beats Rudolph's one red nose. So the two reindeers go at it in a battle to see who gets to lead Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. Only one reindeer can win! Can you guess which one it is?

T replies:
Well, you've done it again, George. You've managed to bring a violent altercation into the peaceful holiday season. All I can say is I hope Randolph and Rudolph make friends and lead Santa's sleigh side by side!

Happy Thanksgiving

We really have to hand it to the turkey at this time of year. Without that American bird, Thanksgiving would not be the same.
And when it comes to drawing pictures of a gobbler, we REALLY hand it to the turkey!

This one has real turkey attitude. Image found at sixuntilme.com

 

Nice feather detail here! The wing earns extra credit. Image found at creativityforkids.com

 

Wing=extra credit, check. CHICKEN HEAD? Points lost! Image found at recklesschef.net

 

This gobbler seems to be looking for something. Maybe the exit? Image found at servegame.org

 

This gobbler's legs ran away, but he's still smiling. Image found at sheknows.com

 

Hello, gobbler! Scribbles work well here. Image found at zoowithroy.com

 

But someone ALWAYS has to be different!

This gobbler chooses to toe the line. Image found at callowlife.posterous.com

It's all about me

I have an interview with writer Jan O'Hara on her Tartitude blog.
Check it out!
See me in my Halloween mustache, and learn what  superpower I'd like to have.