Be afraid...be VERY afraid! It's...Pinocula by Obert Skye!

Hi there!

Welcome back to the site that aims to please the reader in you EVERY day of the week...and EVERY season of the year....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today's selection is a classic mashup on the Children's Fiction side of things marking the third installment in an ever growing series aimed at Middle Grade readers but suitable for those well beyond in years.  The fabulousness of this one comes in the fact that it introduces young minds (and reminds those with more seasoned minds) to the classics of old in a new way, leaving room for further exploration after the read is through.  Ready to meet today's featured title?  Let's!  Get the garlic ready for this puppet has no strings to hold him down, it's time to introduce...

The Creature from My Closet:

Pinocula

by

Obert Skye

Henry Holt / Christy Ottaviano Books

9780805096897

About the book...

For Rob Burnside, things are going pretty well. His friends are behaving, school isn’t too bad, his family’s getting along, and Janae, the girl of his dreams, occasionally notices him. Yep, life’s okay—until the lying starts.  Meet Pinocula, the new creature from Rob’s closet. He is a liar and a jokester and is determined to drive Rob crazy. 

....something which he accomplishes time and time again but never to the extent that Rob forgets his mission, well...not completely anyway.

It's a story right from the pages of literature with a moral for today's generation...lying gets you nothing but a BIG nose and if you don't sleep in your own home sweet home, you may just turn into an inanimate block of wood!  Hard lessons for anyone to learn.  (hehe)  Seriously though, through Robs trials and tribulation in dealing with his little brother, addressing his crush on the neighbor girl (when WILL that ever work out for the poor lad!) without his fingers crossed and fessing up to every little thing he blows out of proportion in order to impress people that don't even truly need impressing...readers are treated to a real life look at how things can snowball into the h-e-double-hockey-stick of wrongness, and still be righted in the end.  That's not to say that Rob gets off scott free because really, he doesn't, plus there's the fact that we never know just what Beardy has in store for him next time the closet opens...but in the end, he'll be ready for it because he's growing up not only in age but in character.  What else could we possibly want from a work of Children's Fiction when all is said and done?

Author Obert Skye

In conclusion, another great installment in this growing series that will have readers of all ages clamoring to their local bookstores for another peek inside the closet.  The journal like entries complete with illustrations will capture the eye of readers young and old for their whimsy but also humor...a few snaps of which I shared myself on Twitter.  Could not resist!  If you're looking for a fun romp through the pages of not just one book but technically THREE, this is definitely one to set your sites on...and with the length of the story, it makes a quick read so take a reading break in your day and see just what happens when you cross a creature of the night with a boy made of wood.  Curious results...curious results indeed...

ARC for review received courtesy of Ksenia at MacMillian Children's Publishing Group.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this series as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their official site, like them on Facebook or follow along on Twitter.  To discover more of author Obert Skye's world, check out his site, Facebook page, or Twitter feed.

Until next time...happy reading!

Do the Monster Mash...Literary Style!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the places that wishes you and yours a safe, happy, fun, and SPOOKY Halloween!  Whether you're heading out for tricks and tricks tonight, taking the kiddos or designated as the official candy-giver-outer (the same as moi....*passes spare sash of status*), enjoy yourself and spread the good cheer.

Quick reminder...we've got ONE LAST CONTEST (for now) running on the site with room for more entries! Don't miss your chance to score a copy of RETURN OF THE LIBRARY DRAGON by sharing your reading experiences, library memories and what not...and if you read the post really close, you'll see a chance to win an even BIGGER prize pack from Peachtree Publishers!  Just click on the right hand sidebar under Current Contests for more details.  Now, back to today's post....

We've already teased up my current read, but with today being Halloween, I couldn't let the day pass without something monstrous, something surprising, something...monster mash-uppy only literary style.  *raises eyebrows...twice*  It's a 2-for-1 book review post with some alternative reading fun for the holiday.  Alternative how?  Well, it includes monsters but only just and they are definitely family friendly but they also have a unique aspect that will leave "trick or readers" clamoring for your bookshelves or bookstores after tonight.  How so?  You'll se.  Let's get to the stars of the show, shall we?  Today's featured series is The Creature from My Closet by Obert Skye.  Book one...

Wonkenstein

Twelve-year-old underachiever Rob has better things to do than read. His parents give him lots of books but most of them just end up in the messy pile of junk he keeps locked in his closet that once doubled as a makeshift science laboratory. One day, Rob hears weird sounds coming from behind his closet door and discovers a funny little creature that seems to be a cross between two characters from books he’s tried to ignore. He names him Wonkenstein.
Keeping track of “Wonk” is hard work. But with help from friends and a little off-the-wall magic, Rob and Wonkenstein’s crazy adventures set the stage for great laughs . . . and Rob might even read some good books along the way.

Basically we start out with Rob and his messy room...I mean, closet.  You see, once upon a time it was his "lab".  You know how that kid at school always use to mix their leftover food together to see what would become of it (or perhaps you were the one doing the mixing)?  Yeah, take that and add in a dash more enthusiasm and you have Rob's former lab now turned dump for all things he doesn't have or make time for...including reading. _faints_  ...   *revives*

That's right.  Rob isn't a big reader but little does he know...he's about to become one, or else be saddled with strange creatures that he can't make heads or tails out of for life.  His choice.  Guess which one he chooses? ^_^


.......now on to book two....

Potterwookiee

The latest creature to emerge from Rob’s closet is a cross between Chewbacca from Star Wars and Harry Potter. Rob names him “Potterwookiee” (“Hairy” for short) and soon Rob finds himself treading water as he tries to figure out how to care for his mixed-up friend. Great laughs and great books help Rob along the way.

Again, a mixed up tale that's one part Star Wars and two parts Harry Potter resulting in an adventure that's out of this world...okay, not really, but he does have some fun times with his friends and with a little help from Hairy discovers that the bigger the bully, the harder they fall...and even the littlest of guys (aka his kid brother) has their day (never underestimate the might of the tike!).

Both adventures offer readers young and old a chance to experience some of their favorite reads of days gone by (but not THAT long ago) while introducing a new audience to those same worlds...both classic reads and more current pop culture choices.  Trust me, when Rob breaks out the books to help understand his little creations, it's a memorable moment for all and one that will impact the young readers in your life.  Turning a non-reader into a reader or even a sometimes-reader is a task and a half, but the easiest way to do that is find a connection between them and what they are reading.  Whether it be an interest in magic (Harry Potter!), movies (Star Wars anyone?), sweet treats (Willy Wonka!), or scary monsters (Frankenstein!), there's bound to be a common thread found amongst this crazy fun assortment....not to mention the next installment Pinnocula! Who knows?  When they finish these crazy fun filled titles, they may even want to check out the books mentioned within....and from there, the sky's the limit!

Overall, a fabulous series thus far and one I'd highly recommended to readers of all ages.  The delivery of the story through text and illustrations takes it a step above storybooks in depth but still leaves room for those not ready for the jump to picture-less reads (think Diary of a Wimpy Kid or MacKenzie Blue!).  These books are available now with the second installment having been released just last month so be on the lookout for them on a bookstore or library shelf near you!

Review copy and ARC received courtesy of Ksenia at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.  (THANKS!)  For more information on these titles, click through the links scattered throughout the post.  To discover more about the publisher and their full catalog of wonders, visit them online, like them on Facebook or follow along on Twitter.  To enter the world of author Obert Skye on another level, check out his official site (seriously do...the man eats, breathes and sleeps funny!), like his Facebook page or follow his Twitter feed.

Until next time...HAPPY HALLOWEEN...and happy reading!

Things That Make You Say...WHAT?!: Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo by Obert Skye

Hello, everyone! I took a small break from the blogging world, but as in most ongoing gags.....I'M BAAAACCCKKK! Have you ever run across a book title that just made you stop and think, "What?!?". I mean a title that makes you stop in your tracks, proceed two steps back and pick the book in question off the shelf just to see what it's about. Think hard...you'll probably come up with several. Today's choice fits this bill quite well, so without further ado...

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo

by

Obert Skye

Books : Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo : Excerpts

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Leven Thumps is a young orphaned boy. Badly mistreated by his current "family", he unwittingly begins to uncover true facts about his mysterious past. Once upon a time, his ancestors, namely grandpa Hector Thumps, built a gateway to the world of dreams, simply called Foo. The land of Foo is in great danger as shadow minions reek havoc in their quest to rule. Dreams are not the only things in danger though. Sabine, the darkest being in Foo, wants to rule both the dream world AND our world by using the hidden gateway to cross over into our reality. Unless the gateway is destroyed, the future is indeed tainted black.

Recently finding the backbone he needed for years, Leven sets out on a quest to save both worlds....but he is not alone. With the help of Winter Frore, a Nit, able to freeze things at will; Clover Ernest, a sycophant, who has Leven as his burn (master), there to guide and hinder (you'll see) in his quest to save Foo; and Geth, the rightful heir to Foo, currently in the form of a walking, talking toothpick (don't question it, just go with it)...does either world stand a chance of surviving? Will these "crusaders" live to tell their tale? Who would believe them?

This is the first book in a four part (currently) series. I will only alude to the fact that it definitely gets more adventurous as the story progresses, however since I will be reviewing the additional titles later on, I will refrain from additional spoilers. You of course are welcome to spoil away...so long as you have or are reading the books! I definitely recommend being in the right mindset before starting this book. You really have to want to read a true fantasy tale. I would liken it in story style to a lightweight 'Lord of the Rings'. Why? Well, simply for the fact that you have to climb into the world created by the author body and soul. Stop packing your bags...you're not taking a vacation! I just mean that the author created the world these characters are in, the time they are in, the language they use. In order to truly enjoy the story, you really have to learn the verbiage.

Feel free to share your comments and feedback!

Until next time...happy reading!