Tim Capehart's Blog, page 8

Mr Tim Recommends "Andre the Giant: Life and Legend" by Box Brown

I never watched wrestling as a kid. I had friends who did, but I always thought it was pretty silly. The closest I got to watching anything "Pro Wrestling" as a kid was Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" video.

But I knew who Andre the Giant was. I think everyone did. He was a guest on a couple of regular TV shows when I was a kid (though I didn't know he was inside the Bigfoot costume on two of my favorite episodes of Six Million Dollar Man until just this moment looking him up on IMDB)

And when the Princess Bride came out in 1987 everyone really did know who he was.  I liked it. It is sad and funny (probably like the man who inspired it). The artwork is simple and stylized. It's black, white & grey. Apparently Andre was a bit of a drinker...OK he drank A LOT. But he also liked to spend time at his ranch in North Carolina. 

It covers his life from late childhood (a litle bit) to just before his death in 1993 from heart failure (in his native France after attending his father's funeral...) I have always wondered about his life. And when I saw this forthcoming from First Second (who I have loved since their first titles came out in 2006...I remember them at ALA in 06 or 07 with their first titles), I was interested to read it.



There are other wrestling "Stars" in the story of course. Some of them even supplied stories for the book. The source notes at the end are as interesting as the book. It has a good explanation of how the fakeness that is "pro wrestling" works and a good explanation of Acromegaly, Andre's condition. And most importantly for me there is a bit about the filming of the Princess Bride. (I would have liked more).

I can't say that I loved the book. I did like it. Even in graphic form, I am not a fan of multiple time shifts in the narrative. That may be my fault more than the book's. But I will say that if you are at all interested in Andre or the entertainment industry that is "pro wrestling" then you should pick this up when it comes out next month.

Bubble's Book Recommendations and tips for Cat Children of Human People -- "Moe McTooth: an alley cat's tale" by Eileen Spinelli

Daddy Tim knows I used to live wild outside, so I think that is why he brought this book for me to read about Moe McTooth...that and Moe is a handsome orange kitty--except for his snaggle tooth. He should see a dentist about that.

Moe is happy living on the streets and chasing the fish truck (I never saw one of those!) until the weather gets awful...kind of like it is here now. I am glad I am not still an all-times outdoor kitty now. It has been raining for ever! 

One day he is scooped up by a lady who takes him in. And he is happy again. He eats cream from a blue bowl (why don't I get cream?) and he lounges around the geraniums (doesn't his human lady know those are poisonous to kitties? Maybe Moe doesn't like to eat leaves as much as I do--I like to eat salad with my daddies!)...But when the weather gets nice again, he wants to wander.

But outside isn't as nice as it used to be. And he misses his lady human and his bowl and his catnip toys. When he goes back to her, she's very happy. Then she lets him be an indoor cat by day and an outdoor cat by night when the weather is good. She even goes out with him sometimes.

I want a deal like that!

But Daddy Tim says the neighborhood is too full of stinky old dogs and humans who don't know how to drive (or even use their turn signals whatever that is)...oh well, I do like lounging around and looking out at the wildness outside. I will just content myself with my visits to the back yard with my Daddies...when it's sunny...and warm.

So I liked Moe's story. I liked the pictures too by Linda Bronson even though they are loopy and pointy and not too realistic. Moe looks like a happy cat.

Today's tip for Cat Children of Human People (CaCHuPs): Plants can be tasty. Yes, tuna in creamy sauce and crunchies from the pink bag are the BEST kind of foods especially with a side order of treats from the little bag, but leaves are yummy. Some of them even stay down when you swallow them! Daddy Tim lets me have a piece of lettuse when he makes a salad. (Sometimes when he is working on cooking something else, I jump up on the counter and lick the leaves in the bowls. I don't think he has noticed this yet). So CaCHuPs, if you haven't tried a nice leaf of lettuce, give it a try. Daddy Tim even made a movie of me munching lettuce. I'm a star!

Banjo's Book Recommendations and Mousie Recon -- "Three Little Kittens" by Paul Galdone (and Mother Goose)

Daddy Tim brought this strange book home. He said he read it when he was young. He said it is a "Mother Goose Rhyme" which every child learns...no wonder so many humans dress their cats up. They are taught from a very early age that kittens are obsessed with mittens and, perhaps more strangely, that cats love pie.

So, three little kittens lose their mittens... And they cry. Then their mother (who is baking and wearing an apron) says they get no pie because they lost their mittens. This threat gets them to look a little harder and...they find their mittens. Well, yeah...woo-hoo...those are some maniacal little kittens 

They now get pie...which they eat with their mittens on. Now, their mother is mad because they soiled their mittens. (Where was she when they were eating pie with mittens on? She only has herself to blame!) The kittens wash their mittens and hang them up to dry...and this makes Mom happy.

Then she "smells a rat near by" and the story ends...WHAT?! 

What about the rat? And what kind of pie was it? Was it a neighbor rat coming for his piece of pecan pie? Or did the family go off hunting rat for dinner? Or was the first pie a rat pie? And the rat they smell is coming to seek revenge for his brother who was baked in the first pie? Does the story end there because he was a ninja rat and he slaughtered the family? 

Humans are really weird. And they write weird books. Daddy showed me several different versions of the story...I will say that I like Paul Galdone's pictures the best. The happy kittens are great. The cats look, for the most part like real cats...unlike some of the other versions.

The old one Daddy Tim called "Victorian" is great...though the little girl cats in their dresses are kind of creepy.

Then there's the pink cat version. Pink? I'm shaking my head and it isn't because my ear itches.

The chunky illustrations in the third one are ok too. At least there the kittens seem to be playing with the mittens--which is what we would do with them. I have asked Daddy Tim to bring home all the versions he can find to see if anyone ever discovered what happened to the rat.

I guess I give this book two treats. Both are for the illustrations. Cats don't wear mittens or eat pie or wear aprons or wash clothes...and there's really no reason for them to do it in this book either...except that kitten and mitten rhyme....Humans, as I stated, are weird. I never found a listening device in Daddy Tim's slipper... but Blue Ball was in the hall last night just outside the bedroom. New Brown Mousie was IN the bedroom just yesterday. I know the Daddies think Bubble and I are moving these Mousies around, but we aren't. I think I must go lay on Blue Ball until he comes clean and tells me what they are plotting. I will keep you informed!

Mr Tim's Top Ten of Everything -- Best Books in Series

Yes...it has been a LONG time since I had a topic for a top ten and a list on that topic with ten in it! This one took a lot of thought...These books are all in a series. I have read most if not all of the books in the series with them (OK, the only series I haven't read all of represented on the list is Captain Underpants...now you know). These are the ones I like more than the other books in the same series. Only one is a first book (one other is kinda of a first book; just not written first). Two are graphic novels. Two are hybrid graphic/text. And two are SADLY out of print at present. These are series books that prove that not all series (serieses?) are fluffy and sub-par fiction. Try them all--Mr. Tim guarantees they is good books!

Series books

·         Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor PP Poopypants by Dav Pilkey

·         Lamp from the Warlock’s Tomb by John Bellairs

·         Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe

·         Magician’s Nephew by C S Lewis

·         Bad Kitty: Drawn to Trouble by Nick Bruel

·         Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angelberger

·         Ghost in the Third Row by Bruce Coville

·         And Then There Were Gnomes by Colleen AF Venable

·         Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling

·        Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires

 

Mr Tim Recommends "Pearlie in the Park" by Wendy Harmer

Boy did I feel out of the loop when walking through the Exhibits Hall at PLA last week and catching a glimpse of a pink and sparkly book that said "10th Anniversary Edition." Not that I read a lot of pink and sparkly books, but it's been known to happen.

On the inside cover there were 14 other titles featuring the chipper fairy Pearlie...How did I miss these totally?

And then I guessed. Yep, it was published ten years ago in Australia! Ahh. So I snagged a copy of the 10th anniversary edition (and first American release). Turns out Pearlie has a TV series (which has also made it to America) made by the Aussies and the Canadians (probably pretty good since it's Nelvana, they do good stuff...usually)

This first in Pearlie's series introduces her. She's a park fairy (who knew parks had fairies...other than Triangle Park -- ha ha bad Dayton joke...) She decides one day to make a list of all the things each park animal should do, so the animals won't be confused. She hangs the list on the front gate of the park and heads off to bed.

In the night two troublesome rats find the list and plan mischief.

The next day every animal is doing the wrong thing. The Mama Duck is trying to leap from tree to tree (without wings). The spiders are trying to croak on lily pads. The frogs are trying to spin webs with yarn...Pearlie investigates and finds a mixed up list...and when she discovers who made the mess, they get what's coming to them.

Cute. Not deathless literature nor hysterical comedy (which one might expect from one of the Queens of Aussie Comedy) but cute. Mike Zarb's wide-eyed illustrations are a lot of bright fun & a perfect match. Pearlie is a nice spunky female character who gets a diverse supporting cast in future volumes. Worth a try. We're getting them for our pink-and-sparkly fans. Should be great fun for the easing into chapter fans...though there are no chapters...and some of the vocabulary might be outta their reach, so it might work best as a read-together for a first time through!

Banjo's Book Recommendations and Mousie Recon - "Bud and Gabby" by Anne Davis

I know why Daddy Tim brought this book home...it was to explain to me why out trip to the Vet on Friday was a good idea...
Not buying it, Daddy Tim.

He boxed Bubble and me up Friday and dragged us to see Dr Adam. I complained all the way there...I don't think Bubble knew what was going on. She learned pretty quick! Once we were in the smelly room and out of our boxes, she was all hissy...I had to put her in her place by hissing back.

THEN we got poked and squeezed. It was not fun.

I reviewed another Bud and Gabby book ("No Dogs Allowed") back in October. I liked it well enough. I like this one too. This one actually happens before the other one (where they meet a dog named Cookie and Bud gets jealous) In this book big orange Bud and little black and white named Gabby live together. Bud gets the big comfy chair; he says it's because he is the bossy one. Well, I get the Daddy bed...and it has nothing to do with bossiness--I got here first!
Bud likes Gabby because she is the silly one...I can relate. Bubble is a total goofball (and a food hog especially now that she is on a diet).

Bud and Gabby spend their days doing mostly cat things like grooming...
and afternoons for napping...until Gabby gets sick. When the box comes out, Bud knows she is going to the Vet. He misses her while she is gone. (I could use a little vacation from Bubble..I'm just saying!)

When she comes back she smells like the Vet, but she is all well. Bud decides he will share the big comfy chair with her. Well, that's nice of him...but I am not buying the whole share thing either--I will only share the Daddy bed if there are two Daddies in it. I get the first Daddy...Bubble will just have to sleep in her sling if there's only one Daddy on the bed...

I really like the illustrations of Bud and Gabby even though they are not really realistic (Gabby is teaching Bud to knit...that is not what yarn is for!)

I give this book three threat...it probably would have been four, but it is a lesson book...and it includes a trip to the Vet. Yuck!
I have been attacking Daddy Tim's slipper lately...I know he thinks I have entered my second kittenhood, but I am actually doing thorough searches for listening devices. Those mousies are wily and since we spend so much time in the bedroom reading and sleeping...and the mousies live downstairs mostly...I want to make sure they aren't eavesdropping. I didn't find anything, but I must remain vigilant!

Bubble's Book Recommendations and Tips for Cat Children of Human People -- "If you Give a Cat a Cupcake" by Laura Numeroff

Daddy Tim took Banjo and me out in the car Friday to a place that smelled like other kitties where a tall, mean human poked me with something sharp and squeezed me. Daddy called him Dr. Adam and said he was a Veterinarian. That must be another human word for bully. I scratched this "Vet" when he tried to look in my ears...he had no business poking me like that! After we got home I felt blucky for more than a day! I don't want to go back there!

Anyway, while we were waiting for this Vet-human to get done squeezing and poking Banjo, Daddy Tim read me a whole book! Really. I kind of liked it although it was really foolish and obviously made up. Daddy Tim said is was kind of part of a series...when he named some of the other titles ("If You Give a Pig a Pancake" and "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie") I thought how can you make a series out of giving strange things to animals?

In this book a girl gives her cat a cupcake. (It looked chocolate, so I know it wasn't good for him).  And then he wants some sprinkles... He makes a mess with the sprinkles and has to clean up which makes him hot and the girl gives him a bathing suit. That is just odd. I can see giving him sprinkles when he asks, but why give him a swimsuit because he is hot? Won't that just make him hotter? Cat's don't need bathing suits to swim...

So the bathing suit reminds him of the beach so he wants to go to the beach... And then this needy cat drags the poor girl all over...collecting things at the beach and on a merry-go-round and to a science museum...I can't think of any kitty who would act like this. If you give a cat a cupcake, he's just going to play with it like a Mousie, eat some and sick it back up...he's not going to make you take him to the beach.

I know it is a made up book, but it was pretty silly. I guess it would be ok for little humans, but I didn't think much of it. Of course, I didn't read it under the best of circumstances. Maybe it's better than I give it credit for. You give it a read and judge for yourself.

Today's tip for Cat Children of Human People (CaCHuPs): This one is simple: if your human mentions the word "Veterinarian" run for your best hiding place and never come out...even for treats! {It's probably safe to come out after it gets dark...at least wait that long if you can}

Mr Tim Recommends "The Return of Zita the Space Girl" by Ben Hatke

Continuing our Pre-Pub reviews, here is a recommendation for older readers...but make sure they read the whole series! This one won't be out until May, but it's worth the wait.

I fell in love with this series on the first pages of the first book in 2011 (actually 2010, I had and advance of that one too). Zita is an earth girl who gets sucked through a warp into space and has to survive...which she does by making friends.

I met the author at a conference & boy was he a nice humble guy.

We gave the first volume to our niece Taylor in a stack of books one holiday & it was her favorite (mentioned in the thank you note by title!)

"Legends of Zita Space Girl" was ok. I was afraid the series had played out. It just didn't have the spark of the first...Taylor still loved it and since she is the target audience that's what matters most.


This volume which closes the trilogy (but maybe not Zita's story) is just great. It starts with Zita in prison (well on a prison planet; I don't know how legitimate her imprison-er is)...and once again she makes friends (or relies on old ones) for help...but she is a capable hero in her own right. She is off to save another planet...but this time it's Earth!

First-Second just plain ROCKS as a publisher of graphic fiction and non-fiction for everyone from kids to adults. If you don't know them check out their catalog. There is something for everyone (even my Dad who has said he has never been a fan of comics loved their Feynman biography).

Back to Zita...Bright, action- and humor-packed panels keep the pages turning swiftly until the end. Perfect for ANY child who wants to read a longer graphic novel no matter how picky their parents are about content.


I'm just glad it arrived to be slipped into Miss Taylor's birthday prezzie (but shhhh! let it be a surprise!)

Banjo's Book Recomendations and Mousie Recon -- "Rupert Can Dance" by Jules Feiffer

This is another book Daddy brought home from his days away. He says it won't be published for everyone to read until August. That's a long time! 

Here's what I think of it now:

This is the story of Rupert who owns a little human named Mandy. Mandy likes to dance, but what she doesn't know is that when she goes to sleep...her cat Rupert puts on her dancing shoes and dances all night.

(Cats don't need dancing shoes...'nuff said?)

One night she catches him dancing. (Bet you didn't expect that!) And because Rupert is shy about his dancing, he hides under the bed for a long long time.

I like the pictures well enough, but my favorites are of Rupert under the bed. The Feiffer human did a good job of capturing under-the-bedness. It's my go-to alone space too...even though the Daddies recently got a new, slightly scary bed.

Mandy can't think of much else than Rupert (well, that's as it should be! We are the most important part of you lives Humans!) Finally she gets the idea to ask Rupert for his help, and he falls for it. They dance together...from then on and end up on stage. The author-illustrator is really famous. I know Daddy Tim likes his books a lot. I liked this well enough despite the shoes...but in all the pictures (nearly) of him dancing Rupert looked surprised. His mouth was hanging open. Kind of odd...like the shoes (Ok, I will shut up about the shoes).

I give this three treats. It would have probably been two and a half, but Daddy Tim likes the (human guy). The Mousies are still pretty quiet. I have been keeping an eye on them. I thought I would show you that cats dancing with humans isn't a brand new idea... But really (human) people...anyone can see that these are just pictures of cats caught in odd poses that look like their humans dressed in silly clothes...at least the cats weren't dressed in silly clothes. 

When cats dance we are very secretive about it. Like Rupert (but we don't get caught and we don't wear shoes!) As a bonus, for you, I thought I would offer a rare and totally unretouched photo of cats dancing. This is super secret folks. Don't tell anyone you've seen it. Tippy, Agnes-Rose and Fluffer-Nutter would never speak to me again if they knew I'd shown humans this picture of them dancing:

Bubble's Book Recommendations and Tips for Cat Children of Human People "A Bed for Kitty" by Yasmine Surovec

Recently Daddy Tim went away for a few days. I'm conflicted as to what I feel about that. It meant we didn't have a choice in laps or books to review, but Daddy Trent played with us (and by us I mean me) more. Now Daddy Tim is back and he has new books!

You probably remember me reviewing "I See Kitty" it was about a sensible girl named Chloe who really wanted a kitty...wanted one so much she saw kitties everywhere. This is the sequel! Daddy Tim says it's not even out until September. So we get to read it first!

First thing I have to say is if you let your little human be adopted by a kitty...please don't let them name the kitty. That usually results in kitties with names like Fluffy, Pusskins and Cheese (little humans don't have a lot of creativity) Chloe named her adorable orange cat Kitty. 

Despite that, she seems sensible. She notices that her cat loves sleeping. She buys her a present: a big fluffy kitty bed! I don't even have one of those, but I do have a nice furry sling on top of my scratching post that is good for naps...Chloe's kitty Kitty doesn't sleep on the bed, she sleeps on the bag.

Kitty sleeps on Chloe's chair...on the TV...in the litter box. But she doesn't sleep on the bed. Kitty sleeps on mommy's new sweater and daddy's old slippers and in Chloe's sock drawer... EVERYWHERE but on the bed that Chloe bought for her. Chloe is sad...until SHE sleeps on the bed...Kitty sees her, and the two of them snuggle up together on the cat bed. 

I like this book very much. It is obvious that Yasmine Surovec knows kitties very well. And I like the illustrations. Daddy Tim says the book is too new to have many pictures on the Internet for us to pick from...so you will just have to buy the book or get it at your library when it comes out. Your little cat-loving humans will like reading it with you!

Daddy Tim found Yasmine Surovec's webpage www.catversushuman.com and she has a lot to say about kitties and humans...even more to say about where kitties sleep! All of these are fine places to sleep. Banjo and I are teaching Daddy Trent the skill of sleeping anywhere. He mostly sleeps in furniture now in front of the glowey box or with a book...but he's learning. Today's Tip for Cat Children of Human People (CaCHuPs) comes with an illustration thanks to Yasmine Surovec! Humans may need some help learning your schedule. Even if they are asleep, jumping on their human bed will eventually get your dish filled. Jumping on their heads should only be used as a last resort. This is the exact time that I need to be fed. (Yasmine must really have kitties like me!) This training may take a few days or even weeks...but your human will learn if you are persistent. To ward off yelling, be extra loving and cute when they do get up to feed you. This will stop them from making disagreeable noises...and act as positive reinforcement. They'll learn. Humans are very trainable!