Blundering in Bugtown: The Misadventures of Maybelle

Happy holidays, everyone!  It's official...we are about 2 weeks...14 days...336 hours....20,160 seconds away from Christmas!  Two more of the presents I ordered came yesterday....discreetly added them to my TBW pile (that's To Be Wrapped, just in case you were wondering).  Now I just have to find the time to actually wrap them.  It's not that I mind wrapping....heck, it's even fun!  The pretty paper, the gorgeous bows, curling ribbon....all go together to add up to a fabulous presentation.  The only thing I seriously lack is time this year (really need to work on that formula that will create more time...*jots note to self*). 

With all the hustle and bustle, so much of our traditions can get lost in the rush of it all.  For example, we've had our light display up and on since Thanksgiving night, BUT we still don't have a tree up!  (For those that don't know, that's a first for us....we ALWAYS have a tree up the same night as the lights...)  For whatever reason, every time we try to go buy one...it decides to rain.  Grant it the rain won't melt the tree or anything, but you can't very well bring a wet tree in and string it up with a zillion lights...unless it's really the fourth of July and you are trying to make your own fireworks.  (NOT RECOMMENDED folks!)  I do however aim to rectify the tree situation tonight.....just don't tell Mother Nature.

To add a little more holiday spirit to the mix, I DID manage to find some time late yesterday (okay, so technically it was about 3 AM this morning, but we'll go with yesterday for the sake of the post) to make some Christmas cookies.  Not a big revelation, right?  Except when you add in the fact that they were made from scratch!  (Thank you, THANK YOU...*bows to the crowd and fanfare*...you are too kind!)  I'm usually more the break and bake kind of girl (mom makes the REALLY awesome stuff), but they actually came out really good!  Nestle Toll House milk chocolate chip with chopped walnuts and raisins.  (Hungry yet?) Anywho...

Today's choice is a FLIP ME book.  What does that mean?  To put it simply, it give you two books in one....you just have to FLIP the book upside down to read the second story.  Saves money for both the consumer and the publisher while providing the reader with more reading pleasure.  The book of the day is...

Maybelle in the Soup

(FLIP)

Maybelle Goes to Tea

by

Katie Speck

Now introducing, Maybelle!  Woo-HOO! (and the crowd goes wild...then the crowd goes silent)  Alas, where is Maybelle?  Does anyone see her?  Oh, wait...no wonder.  You are looking for a girl, aren't you?  Well, you are right, she is a girl in gender....not so much in form.  Hmmm, let's see if you can guess what she really is.  (Clues, clues...we need some clues....I know!)  Maybelle lives at Number 10 Grand Street with the Peabody's where everything is "JUST SO".  Her best friend is Henry...he is her voice of reason (for the most part).  Her arch nemesis on most days is Ramona, the light of day (or a lightbulb), and.....shoes!  Oh yes, and last but not least, she lives in the kitchen of her current home, more out of necessity than desire.  So, any guesses?  Oh come on...you must have at least one?  No?  Alright, time for the big reveal..... Ladies and gentlemen, our main character Maybelle is.....a cockroach!  (EEEEEWWWW....I know, but keep reading...)

Yes, my friends, Maybelle is a cockroach, Henry is a flea, Ramona is a cat and well, as for her living quarters in the kitchen, it's more or less under the fridge.  If you haven't been grossed out yet, congratulations!  You just might have the stomach to appreciate this fun little children's tale.  There are three rules that Maybelle must live by....when it's light, stay out of sight; if you're spied, better hide; and never meet with human feet.  You can probably see why these are more than merely mottos for this spunky gal....her very life depends upon them....and yet time and again she finds a reason to break them all. 

(WARNING....THOSE WITH WEAK STOMACHS OR IMAGINATIONS WITHOUT A PAUSE BUTTON, AVOID THE NEXT PARAGRAPH)

Both tales in this book really boil down to one thing causing her such trouble....food.  She is tired of scraps on the floor; she wants to try human food straight from the source.  In Maybelle in the Soup, she has the want and desire to sample the wondrously aromatic soup that Myrtle Peabody is making for the company arriving at any moment.  This just does not work with the "JUST SO" enviroment the couple chooses to keep.  I'll let you imagine the "fun" that insues from finding a Maybelle at your dining table....or in the food!  Our second adventure in food land is Maybelle Goes to Tea.  This story deals with Maybelle's curiousity regarding the Chocolate Surprise Cookies and what exactly the surprise inside is.  (Yeah, let's just say that in the case of one cookie, it's NOT a nougat-ity center.) 

(OKAY EVERYONE....RESUME READING...)

When I received this book in the mail I thought, oh how cute!  When I read about the characters, I was slightly more skepticle.  I mean, I'm not the type of person who handle bugs well.  I totally claim all girly rights to scream, run, and ask someone else to get rid of the little pest.  Thankfully, I was happily surprised by these two stories and despite a less than stellar choice for the cast (for my preferences, not yours), it was really quite enjoyable!  Put aside your normal cringes towards their kind and experience the world from a bugs eye view.  It's amazing what you'll discover when you are less than an inch tall.....

Special thanks to Henry Holt and Company/Macmillan for the review copy!  For more information on the title, just follow the links in this post!  Also, check out the author's website (via the link near the top of this post) as well....it's really rather fun! 

COMMENT CREATOR
Since we've discovered Maybelle's weaknesses (aka food in general), it seems only appropriate to pose a similar question to you?  What one food is your most favorite?  (I know you probably have loads of them, and they rank depending on your mood, but just pick one or two for your answer if you please....)

Until next time....happy holidays and happy reading!

**Please note the additional pictures of Maybelle and her friends are from the author's site.  No copyright infringement intended.  Check out her site for more fun!