Tim Capehart's Blog, page 9

Banjo's Book Recommendation and Mousie Recon -- "Here Comes the Easter Cat" by Deborah Underwood

Daddy Tim brought this book home for Bubble. She doesn't know what Easter is yet...I don't even think she has met Sheldon the Easter Cow.

You don't know Sheldon the Easter Cow? Well, that's a story for another time. 

Easter is when Santa's pet rabbit delivers all the eggs the elves' children painted while practicing making toys.

I made that up.

Easter is actually a human excuse for eating extra chocolate which is blecky {Daddy Tim note: Banjo does not know from experience that chocolate is blecky. He just knows it is bad for cats}. But they do also bring home jelly beans which are a lot of fun to play with on hard wood floors.

So, the book...this cat, who again doesn't have a name. I think I will take a page from Bubble's book (since this was supposed to be hers anyway) and  give this cat a name. I name him Spunks McGoo. So, Spunks McGoo is mad about something. The writer who is telling the story asks Spunks what he's mad about...









Turns out he is tired of hearing about the Easter Bunny. He communicates with the writer by using signs on sticks. He's a pretty smart cat.

When the writer asks how Spunks will get around, he indicates that he has some ideas... He says he will use a motorcycle to deliver chocolate bunnies (not hairballs) faster than the Easter Bunny. But then when Spunks yawns...the writer tells Spunks that he can't have a nap.  Spunks says he has already had seven naps and that he needs another. 

The writer says that's not possible, that the Easter Bunny doesn't get naps. 

Spunks finds that appropriately horrific.

And after the Easter Bunny is nice to him (by giving him an egg), Spunks decides that he has a solution to the Bunny's napless trip around the world... I like this book quite a lot. It reinforces with children the smartness of cats and the importance of naps. I like the pictures too by Claudia Rueda. She has a great sense of humor that comes through in the pictures of Spunks. Whether you wait for the Easter Bunny or Sheldon the Easter Cow or the Easter Cat, I think you and your little humans will like this book.

I give this book three and a half treats!
Now, since the mousies have been so quiet lately, I don't have a report...but I DO have an instructional photo for the Humans out there who think it is a good idea to dress kitties up in costumes and clothes...If there is one thing kitties the world over understand it is revenge. As a kitty, I can translate the expression on this kitty's face for you less evolved humans.  It reads: "The pain I will shortly inflict upon you will soon be eclipsed by your horror at my skilled placement of hairballs in locations so surprising and disgusting that your tiny head will explode."  Yes, cats can convey a lot with a single expression. Humans who desire a continued idyllic existence, don't dress cats in bunny ears...please take heed or you will be sorry. 

Bubble's Book Recommendations and Tips for Cat Children of Human People -- "Nini Lost and Found" by Anita Lobel

I think Daddy Tim brought this book home for Banjo (the kitty in it is a grey stripey cat like him & in the other book this week there's an orange cat) but after we read them together, he said I should review this one...I wonder if he is trying to tell me something.

This is the story of Nini who lives in a cozy house, but one day the door is left open and she goes out into the garden. She looks back at the house and thinks how much she likes it with its warm fireplace and tickly yarn and soft couch...but she likes outside too. 

She has fun playing in the grasses and chasing the little animals and insects and scratching on trees...but then night comes and she hears scary noises and smells bad animals. She thinks "I don't like it at all. I want to go home."

She finds a hiding place, but she's still very scared. Then she hears some familiar voices in the night...it's her humans calling her home. She runs out of her hiding place and back home.

She is glad to be home with her humans and her cozy hiding places and mousies. My favorite picture is of her eating under a sign that says "Nini's Corner" and next to another sign that says "Today's Menu: Good Crunchies" (I wonder if Daddy Tim can buy me some Good Crunchies.) The pictures are all very good. This Anita Lobel knows her kitties and her outside very well! I could almost smell the grasses looking at the pictures of Nini.

I like this book. Nini looks like she had some fun adventures outside. I like outside a lot. And I do think Daddy Tim is trying to make me see that outside is best with a Daddy right there to watch over me. I will take it under advisement... Today's Tip for Cat Children of Human People (CaCHuPs): Humans have busy lives. They're so weird. They are always running here and there doing this and that. Even when they are home, they always have to be doing something. The best time of day for me is when I sit in the front window and watch the squirrels on the trees. Or when I sit in the side window and just watch the birds and mice in the garden bed. Try to get your human to slow down. Sit on them if you have to and turn on the cute. They will probably thank you for it later!

Bubble's Book Recommendations and Tips for Cat Children of Human People - "Mr. Tiger Goes Wild" by Peter Brown

Daddy Tim is sick. I have learned that is what it means when humans sit around making goose noises behind little white pieces of paper and moaning. I am going to write today's blog for him, so he can recover. He brought this book home to review himself, but luckily he read it to me. I am the perfect puss to review it because I like to go outside and be wild AND because I am like a tiger...

"PurrrrOAR!" see?

I like this book a lot. Mr Tiger is bored with the other grey animals he lives with. (He's the only one in color) He wants a change. So one day he tries something different...he walks on all fours and immediately it  feels right and better. He runs around town roaring and enjoying himself...but his neighbors don't like that at all (what a buncha fuddy duddies!) He decides to take the next step and takes off his clothes. (Way to go Mr Tiger...see he knows Kitties of any size shouldn't wear clothes!) He runs off into the jungle around town because no one in town approves of his nuditity. But he is lonely after a while in the jungles...I guess I can understand that...I would miss my Daddies and maybe even Banjo if I was all alone in the jungle...and I am pretty sure milk rings don't grow on trees. I would definitely miss milk ring. When Mr Tiger goes back to town...he convinces the other animals that a little freedom is a good thing! What fun, and I especially like the picture where he decides not to wear clothes. He looks so happy! I think all kitties should be able to run around outside whenever they want, but the Daddies don't agree. They can be such boob-heads.

In fact, I like all the pictures in this book...you almost don't need the words to tell the story. Those are the best books because I can look through them by myself and I don't need a Daddy to read to me. 

Try this one! You will like it and so will your small humans.

Today's tip for Cat Children of Human People (CaCHuPs): Sometimes your human will get loud. There's no two ways about it. Most of the time it has nothing to do with you, so you don't always need to run away when they get that way (though you might want to just get out of the way until they get it out of their system). Sometimes they are mad at the glowey box or the little glowey box with all of the buttons...sometimes they are mad at other humans...sometimes they are even mad at their clothes--maybe clothes are a bad idea for everyone. So if you are going to keep a human, you will need to get used to occasional loudness...but the laps and thumbs are worth it!

Banjo's Book Recommendations and Mousie Recon -- "Mr Pusskins: a love story" by Sam Lloyd

I think Daddy Tim brought this home for me to review because I am the exact opposite of Mr Pusskins, and I always have been. 

Mr Pusskins is a British kitty who has his own series of books. This is the first of them. I think I would like to read the others even  though Mr Pusskins and I are so very different. Mr Pusskins owns this really sweet little human named Emily, and she ADORES him. She tries to play games with him and groom him, and she reads to him. However, Mr Pusskins does not appreciate her. He wants more out of life. 

Here's where we differ: I love both my Daddies. I may not always play with them, but it is fun to watch them try...and I am always read for a "read" with Daddy Trent [Daddy Tim editorial note for the uninitiated: "read" often means "nap" in our house especially where Trent and Banjo are concerned]. And I like it when Daddy Tim reads books to me, although I don't always understand him. I adore both my Daddies--jury's still out on the little Sister...

In the book, Mr Pusskins is so annoyed by Emily that he leaves! Through one of those magical cat doors I wish we had... He does all sorts of things he wasn't meant to do in places he wasn't meant to go. He eats out of garbage cans (Yuck!) and destroys flowers (I think he might visit our garden!), and he hangs out with the Pesky Cat Gang.

Soon he feels alone...and then he sees a poster Emily put up of him as a missing cat! He realizes he wasn't very nice to her and he misses her. So he calls the number on the poster from a pay phone...good thing there was change in the phone--but how'd he do that without thumbs?  Emily recognizes his meow and says she'll come get him. He waits and waits, but no one comes. He thinks she doesn't want him back when a car zooms by. But then it screeches to a halt... And they are together again! He loves her back and enjoys his time with Emily. I am looking forward to more Mr Pusskins stories. I like the pictures which are dark and scribbly...but still look like kitties.

I give this four treats. Mr Pusskins and I can share the fifth one when he comes to visit. Bubble has become obsessed with Pink Milk Ring. It's all she wants to play. I think she is learning magic tricks because she seems to be able to make it vanish. The Daddies search everywhere & then it turns up where they already looked! Sunday it was lost on the stairs & poof! appeared there after all of us had looked for it. Last night, she somehow got it behind the book case in the middle (not near the edge or even underneath). Strange things are happening around here. If it keeps up, I may call Binky the Space Cat...now thay she has solved her alien problem...maybe she can help me with these Mousies!

Bubble's Book Recommendations and Tips for Cat Children of Human People -- "A Kitten Tale" by Eric Rohmann

I know just why Daddy Tim brought this home to read me...it's about a kitty who likes snow! (And she's a pretty yellow kitty just like me!)

I just learned what snow was and I can't say I actually love it, but I haven't gotten to play in it like this kitten...but I am getting ahead of myself.

Four kittens are playing with the mail and they see snowy post cards The first says he's scared of snow. The second says she doesn't like the cold. The third says even their tails will be cold...but the fourth says she can't wait!

That would be me. I like to watch the snow fall like yesterday. It was fun.

Later in Fall when they are playing in the leaves, They all pretty much repeat what they said in summer. THEN it snows and the three scaredy cats run and hide. But the fourth kitty runs outside to play! When the others see what fun she is having, they go out and play with her. It looks like fun!

I like this book, but the kitties don't have names! Grrr! What is wrong with these writer-people? 

So I give them names: #1 Pawpaw #2 Pussbaw #3 Pulcifer and #4 Penelope. There!

I have not gotten to sit out in the falling snow like Penelope. She even catches snow on her tongue! But I think I might not like it as much as she seems to. It is cold and wet. Little humans bundle up when they go out in the snow and all we have is our fur (no, don't bundle up your cats; we've had that discussion). SO it's a nice story about a kitty who knows her own mind...and her three friends who learn not to be afraid of snow (which is easy when you have a warm human house to go back to). I really like the simple watercolor illustrations. Penelope and her friends look like real kittens. I would like to play with them! I also think small humans would like the story...but it doesn't have much oomph. It's not something they would like to read again and again...get it once for the pretty pictures!

Today's tip for Cat Children of Human People (CaCHuPs): Don't be afraid when your human yells at the glowey box (either the little one that they poke with their fingers or the big one they stare at each night. They aren't mad at you. They are just angry or very happy about what they see on the glowey box. Daddy Tim was "Playing" with the big glowey box (though he was just sitting in a chair and poking a little piece of plastic ALOT...he wasn't chasing anything or trying to stuff it in his mouth)...and he startled me by growling at whatever the glowey box was showing him...Then much later both Daddies were looking at it and saying "Yeah!" and clapping their hands...Humans are weird and noisy. Anyway, if a glowey box is on and your human yells--just keep doing what you are doing even if you think they might not like it...they are most likely NOT yelling at you.

Mr Tim Recommends "I am Morgan Le Fay" by Nancy Springer

Brilliant re-imagining of the story of Morgan le Fay (though I had always thought it was le Fey). 

This prequel/companion to I Am Mordred again deals with Briton's première dysfunctional family. Morgan resents her half brother Arthur from his birth. He is the offspring of King Uther who murdered her father to sleep with their mother. Arthur is the reason she and her flighty older sister Morgause must flee their castle Tintagel with their nurse who is more than just a nurse. 

Arthur is the object of their mother's obsession when she goes slightly mad after Uther's death. Morgan tries to fight fate and live a happy life away from the world with her true love Sir Thomas, but she loses the fight, her lover, and for a time her mind. 

The characterizations, especially Morgan's, are excellent as is the imagery and writing in general. Morgan's complex relationship with Thomas not to mention what is intimated at the tale's end to occur between ½ siblings Morgause and Arthur push this title on to YA ground unlike it's companion volume...which I guess inevitably ends in patricide, so it skews a bit older too.  

The infusion of figures from mythology is nicely handled too. The author has created a wholly believable world. Worth a look-see whether you are an Arthurian tale fan or not. There are draggy bits, but the last thirty-forty pages are wonderful!

As I said this is a prequel/sequel to "I am Mordred." I loved this and only liked Mordred. But I usually have a soft spot for sorceresses especially those of Arthurian Legend. Try these...but I suggest reading Mordred first.

Bubble's Book Recommendations and Tips for Cat Children of Human People--"Mr. Wuffles" by David Wiesner

Banjo should be reviewing this book. He's the one who is paranoid about the Mousies coming to life and attacking us in our sleep. He is such a dingie-doo! Even if the Mousies DID all come to life, we could take them...maybe with a little help from the Daddies...there ARE a lot of Mousies in the house.

But Banjo stole the book Daddy Tim brought home for me...so I get to review this one. This is one of those weird books without a story--I think the author/illustrator only did half his job! Daddy Tim and I had to make up the word part of the story since it is all told in pictures. There are talk bubbles but they aren't in human words!

So Mr Wuffles is a black and white kitty who doesn't care much for any of his expensive toys (another reason Banjo should have reviewed this--it's him...except for the fur). Then he notices one and plays with it; I think he noticed it because it was making funny sounds Turns out those funny sounds are little green human-like people (Daddy Tim called them aliens)...And Mr Wuffles's playing with them broke their space ship. 

When he falls asleep, the little Greenies make a break for it. I think they decided to try to find new parts for their ship. Mr. Wuffles wakes up and wants to play (Daddy Tim said he probably wanted to play "Tour My Digestive Tract"). He tries to catch the Greenies... But a Ladybug distracts him...I think she saved the Greenies on purpose. They run under the heater and meet the Ants and Ladybugs who live there.

They apparently have to escape Mr Wuffles regularly since they have paintings on their walls about how they do it...And the bugs decide to help the Greenies. The bugs share Cheez-its (Daddy Tim's favorite snack). And after finding spare parts for their ship, the Greenies hatch a plan to distract Mr Wuffles and get back to their ship. There is an epic battle, and Mr Wuffles chases first one group of Greenies and bugs and then another. But the little people finally get to their ship and fix it and escape through a window... Mr Wuffles is not pleased. Ha ha ha. I like this book even if it has almost no words in it. I think little humans who like to make up their own stories will like this book a lot. The pictures are a lot of fun too. Mr Wuffles is like a real cat! I still think Banjo is a goober for thinking the toys will come to life, but I will have to keep an eye on the Ants and Ladybugs I see; they may be smarter than I think.

Daddy Tim said this was a Caldecott honor book. It was one of his two picks for the Caldecott award this year (He thought "Battle Bunny" by Jon Scieszka should have won...he hasn't brought that home for me to read yet...He said he thought the committee was just to chicken to give it to a book that would be controversial--I can't wait to read it!). I think I would give this a Caldecatt as well as a Caldecott.

Today's Tip for Cat Children of Human People (CaCHuPs): Toys are where you find them. Yes your Humans probably buy you Mousies and feathers on strings and ribbons on sticks...but every kitty knows that anything can be a toy. Paperwad is a good example. Daddies crinkle up paper they don't like. Sometimes they throw it...sometimes you have to stick your head in the trash to get to it. It is a lot of fun to bat around especially on the slippery floor. Also, stuff on shelves can make good toys...try knocking stuff on high shelves on to the floor. If it doesn't break, it might be fun to whack around! Socks and ties can be fun in a pinch too. Yesterday I found a fun spinney thing in the Daddy's torture-chamber-and-water-cat-box room; every time I whacked it it spun and gave out a wide white ribbon! Explore and play with everything...your Human won't mind; if they seem to, just turn on the cute--remember you're in charge.

Banjo's Book Recommendations and Mousie Recon --"Spooky Friends" by Jane Feder

Daddy Tim brought this home for Bubble to review, but I wanted to review it because of the illustrations. He brought it home because it is a "reader" that means it is for little humans about Bubble's age (she's about 6 in human years)...I really liked the illustrations by Julie Downing, so I stole this one from Bubble.

This is a collection of three short stories about friends Scarlet and Igor. She's a vampire girl and he's a mummy boy...that's weird on many levels, but only if you over think it...little humans will identify with them. In the first story Scarlet and Igor fight, but make up (of course). Bubble and I always fight. Last night we ran all over the living room while the daddies stared at the glowy box. I don't think we "made up" though...we just kind of move from fight to ignore.

The second story is the one I liked. It's called "Scarlet and Igor Pick a Name." It starts with them looking for their cat. She seems to just be called "Cat" and I feel the same way Bubble does about that! If you are going to write about a cat give it a name! (That's kind of what the whole story is about...but poor Cat never gets a new name--so I name her Dusty because she was found in the bottom of a sarcophagus.) Dusty has a kitten, so Scarlet and Igor fight over what to name it--uh, why don't you name "Cat" first little dead things!

Then Dusty brings in another kitten and another kitten and another...and Scarlet and Igor can use ALL the names they came up with. Cute! And I LOVE the kitten pictures. One looks like Sissie Bruegel and one looks like Auntie Phranc. One looks like Buffy and two look like Bubble and one looks like me! There's even a picture of the one that looks like me laying on one that looks like Bubble. Sometimes I do like to jump on her head. These pictures made me smile!

The last story is about Scarlet and Igor fighting about what to do: draw or paint. I had kind of lost interest in their fighting by this point and I went back to look at the kittens. 

I give this book three and a half treats...pretty much all for the illustrations. I think Julie Downing should do lots of books about cats! Cats with names! That look like me and my Lady Cats.  Bubble still likes milk ring quite a bit, but her favorite toy now seems to be ME! I am not a Mousie--I am the world's last line of defense against Mousies! But Bubble has been starting chases and jumping me when I least expect it...I am thinking Mousie Mind Control. I need to find which of them has taken control of her mind, small job that, and save her before they can enact the next step in their plan!

Mr Tim's Book Recommendations - "Cheese Belongs to You!" by Alexis Deacon

I started reading this out loud to a couple of the Ladies in the Library office without having looked through it. I quickly realized it was a cumulative tale and went with it, reading faster and faster. I think it was one of the best read aloud performances I have put in. It was a hoot. If I use it in story time, I will have to try to replicate that performance.
The book is all about who owns cheese...

"According to Rat Law: Cheese belongs to you. Unless a big rat wants it. Then it belongs to him." "Unless a bigger rat wants it. The it belongs to her." She's bested by a quicker rat who is bested by a stronger rat. Then a scary rat...and a hairy rat and a dirty rat...and then a dirty,hairy rat...who is beat out by a dirty,hairy, scary rat.

"If a big, quick, strong, scary, hairy, dirty rat wants it, then cheese belongs to her. "

"Unless a gang of rats wants it." "If the boss of the biggest, quickest, strongest, scariest, hairiest, dirtiest rats wants it, then cheese belongs to him. Unless...someone else wants to be boss." Then it's all out rat war...And in the end Cheese belongs to you (being the last one standing)...And being a nice rat, you offer to share...and we close on a very civilized rat dinner party.

A very strange British import (the book, not the cheese), but quite a lot of fun nonetheless. Viviane Schwarz's illustrations of red and black rats scrabbling around a photo of real cheese are a great representation of the text and augment it's humor with goofy, crazy touches.

Listeners will definitely ask for a second helping and read just right...it's a fun tongue-twister read.

Banjo's Book Recommendations and Mousie Recon - "Lost Cat" by C Roger Mader

I think this might be a horror story!

This poor cat, Slipper, lived with a nice old lady. He had his own rug next to her bed and good food and soft slippers to snuggle with (sleeping with daddies ON the bed is much nicer...but maybe old ladies aren't as good to snuggle with as daddies) He had this great life...but one day the old lady decided to move. My daddies did this a long time ago. And it is scary. When we got to the new house, and it smelled like dog...thankfully there was no dog here! And we have been here for years...now it is very comfortable because it smells like me! When the old lady moves, they misplace Slipper!! 

I know my Daddies would never do that. We are more important to them than ANYTHING... but I can suspend my disbelief for this story. Slipper tries running after the van, but gets tired...so he starts looking for another person to live with. Ms Muddy Boots seems nice but she has a dog! Mr Cowboy Boots lives in a noisy truck. Mr Big Boots scoops Slipper up for a fast scary ride on a motor cycle...that lands Slipper in a town.

He follows some shiny shoes and asks their owner to adopt him... And when she takes him home...his old lady with the slippers is Miss Shiny Shoes' grandma! So Slipper gets to curl up on his old rug with the same old slippers in a new house. What a happy ending! 

I like the illustrations of Slipper...he looks like a real cat and the whole book is from a cat's eye view (sort of). I give Slipper's story four treats. He can have the other since he has had such a strenuous journey! (Daddy Tim just pointed out to me that Slipper is supposed to be a girl in the book...I maintain otherwise; he was painted like a boy cat!) Pink Sparkly Ball is still missing. Daddy Tim told me that a couple nights ago, he dreamed about her...I wonder if that could mean she is coming back...or that she is hiding somewhere in the house and has exerted mind control over Daddy Tim! I know she smells like Bubble slobber...like so many other toys. I will have to see if I can find that ratty old thing and make her talk. These Mousies are getting too much for me to handle. Maybe I better see if Bubble will help...