Hi guys and gals!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Betcha thought I forgot about you, right? No new bookish news to feed the reader in your soul for a day or two and BAM, I'm down for the count. Trust me, I'm not down but I have been out seeing as work has been UBER busy and running be ragged. I'm lucky I've been able to enjoy my favorite pastime let alone find the strength of mind and body to blog. But, let's let bygones be bygones and today be a new day...err, night. ^-^
Today on the blog, we're shining the Picture Book Month spotlight on a title from Sky Pony Press. It stars a paranormal creature many readers love while showcasing the power of books, all in an age appropriate setting so even the littlest among you can indulge. Ready or not, here comes today's book of choice...
by
Karin Lefranc
Illustrated by
Tyler Parker
9781634501729
As far as target audience appeal, this one has it in the bag. Little ones will have a blast with the zombie invading school and tearing through the pages of every book it can find. Okay, well maybe not the tearing through the pages part because frankly that gave me a mini heart attack, but I digress....loads of fun for the munchkins. Readers will love how instead of EATING the books, he eventually learns that READING the books is much more enjoyable. Definitely speaks to the adage you've probably heard about how it only takes ONE BOOK to turn a non-reader into a reader. Basically this zombie gets voracious in the sense of the word we avids love! The illustrations are great...unique in style, simple in design, but stand out just the same. I can honestly see young artists out there trying to duplicate their form in order to create their own zombie stories....what fun! Older readers are where the questions come in... *raises hand*
Yes, I am in that category because obviously (at least I hope so), I'm not in the "target audience" range. Does that mean I don't enjoy a good picture/storybook? Hardly! I adore my fair share of them, thank you very much, but I also question different things that jump out at me. Here, I can't help but wonder WHY a zombie. Grant it, I'm not a huge zombie enthusiast but as I am an avid reader, this book practically SCREAMED at me to take it for a spin. The "why the zombie" question actually comes in with the title and the zombies favorite refrain. I want to eat your books... add a Transylvanian accent and some blah blah BLAHs and can't you see this one actually going the way of the vampires? I get the devouring books aspect, whereas they would satiate the zombie because they are knowledge filled just like BRAINS, but the saying is SO CLOSE to the I want to suck your blood that I can't help looking for fangs. Also, what was with the mummy inclusion at story's end? They were in a school library, not a museum. Where on earth did she come from?
Anywho...aside from the random head scratching moments, it wasn't a bad read. Definitely something little Judy or Johnny might clamor for on a weekend afternoon or for a quick trip through the pages before bed. It takes the paranormal craze and makes it accessible to the wee ones while driving home (like stake to the heart...okay, I promise, enough with the vampires) the point that BOOKS ARE GOOOOD food for the brain, no matter how you may have acquired them.
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About the author and illustrator...
Karin Lefranc grew up all over the world, living in Sweden, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, before moving to the U.S. to attend Bard College in New York. She now lives in Connecticut with her three girls and one boy, who all love devouring books in all shapes and sizes. Karin is also a certified children’s yoga teacher.
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Tyler Parker received his BFA in illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art and also has an MA in sequential design and illustration from the University of Brighton. He is the illustrator of more than seven children’s books including Monsters Meet on Mondays and The Ice Cream Shuffle. He currently lives in Seattle, Washington.
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Special thanks to both the author, illustrator, and Bostick Communications for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, future works, or promotions, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title hit store shelves September of this year via Sky Pony Press, so be on the lookout for it near you.
Until next time....happy reading!
2 comments:
This sounds like a cute story, Gina. You raise good points about why a zombie is featured and then with the mummy at a school library instead of a museum part. Despite these, it still sounds like one the very young ones will love to devour.
Sounds like such a sweet read and so much fun. But alas given one of our great-nephew's thing for putting anything and everything in his mouth - yeah, books included - I think I'll pass on this one .... until he is a little older anyway.
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