Who has more fun at Halloween than the kids? Maybe the dog! At least that's the idea behind the book, "Hallo-Wiener".
Oscar is a dachshund who's constantly being teased by all the other dogs because he looks like a hot dog. Every day as he goes off to school his mom stands in the front yard and calls him "Little Wiener Schnitzel." which of course doesn't help the teasing.
Oscar is looking forward to Halloween. He can't wait to get home and work on his Trick or Treat costume. Oscar wants to be scary but when he arrives home, he finds his mother has already bought him a costume. Much to his dismay he finds she has chosen a hot dog bun, complete with mustard and ketchup. Oscar hates it, but rather than hurt his mother's feelings, he puts it on.
The other dogs in the neighborhood laugh themselves silly over poor Oscar. Even worse though, is when they all go trick or treating. The costume slows Oscar down so much that by the time he gets to the houses all the treats are gone! This is a terrible Halloween for him.
The dogs are miles ahead of Oscar, going through the old graveyard, when all of the sudden, they see a horrible monster. The dogs run landing into a pond, but Oscar stands his ground, chasing the monster and saving the other dogs!
Dav Pilkey, who wrote this book, is better known for his "Captain Underpants" series. He started writing and illustrating as a child, and has continued his entire life.
Hallo-Wiener is written for the younger set, Kindergarten to maybe second grade, but as far as Halloween stories go, it's a good one not only for children, but for dog lovers as well.
Happy Halloween Everyone! And to the dogs out there, Happy Hallo Wiener!! Woof Woof!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
The Witches
What do you do when you love someone's stories but hate their politics? In my case you read his stories!
Roald Dahl is famous for books such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "James and the Giant Peach" among others. He is also somewhat infamous, for his marriage to actress Patricia Neil and his politics. That being said, he still writes a darn good story. Some of my personal favorites in addition to the ones mentioned are "Danny and the Champion of the World", "The BFG", and keeping within the season, "The Witches".
"The Witches" is a story told in the first person by a young boy. He lives with his grandmother after his parents are killed in a car accident in Norway. The grandmother is a very smart woman who knows all about witches. She warns the boy that the cruelest, most horrible witches in the world live in England. She also tells him how to spot them. One day an entire convention <or is it coven?> of witches turns up at the hotel a boy and his grandmother are staying. They have an evil plot to turn all the children in England into mice. It is up to the boy to foil these wicked witches.
Roald Dahl writes excellent stories, which your slighter older children will especially enjoy for the "gross factor" that runs through them. Some say he writes sexist themed stories, but I don't think that's true. In order to be sexist you have to favor one sex over the other. Roald Dahl had a very clever young lady, Matilda as a heroine for one of his books. The allegations of sexism comes from how he portrays the evil women in his book. But evil men are portrayed equally in his stories too.
When I look at Roald Dahl's writing I see a man who is the product of his times, writing about children, for children, from a child's point of view. That's not to say sweet and innocent. That's the romantic ideal of a child. Real children talk back, pick their noses, swear and defy their elders. That's exactly how Roald Dahl writes.
As for "The Witches," if you are looking for an excellent story for this month, that doesn't emphasize the Halloween theme, this is the one. Enjoy it, but don't let anyone offer you "Formula 86" while you read it!
Roald Dahl is famous for books such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "James and the Giant Peach" among others. He is also somewhat infamous, for his marriage to actress Patricia Neil and his politics. That being said, he still writes a darn good story. Some of my personal favorites in addition to the ones mentioned are "Danny and the Champion of the World", "The BFG", and keeping within the season, "The Witches".
"The Witches" is a story told in the first person by a young boy. He lives with his grandmother after his parents are killed in a car accident in Norway. The grandmother is a very smart woman who knows all about witches. She warns the boy that the cruelest, most horrible witches in the world live in England. She also tells him how to spot them. One day an entire convention <or is it coven?> of witches turns up at the hotel a boy and his grandmother are staying. They have an evil plot to turn all the children in England into mice. It is up to the boy to foil these wicked witches.
Roald Dahl writes excellent stories, which your slighter older children will especially enjoy for the "gross factor" that runs through them. Some say he writes sexist themed stories, but I don't think that's true. In order to be sexist you have to favor one sex over the other. Roald Dahl had a very clever young lady, Matilda as a heroine for one of his books. The allegations of sexism comes from how he portrays the evil women in his book. But evil men are portrayed equally in his stories too.
When I look at Roald Dahl's writing I see a man who is the product of his times, writing about children, for children, from a child's point of view. That's not to say sweet and innocent. That's the romantic ideal of a child. Real children talk back, pick their noses, swear and defy their elders. That's exactly how Roald Dahl writes.
As for "The Witches," if you are looking for an excellent story for this month, that doesn't emphasize the Halloween theme, this is the one. Enjoy it, but don't let anyone offer you "Formula 86" while you read it!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The Best Halloween Ever!
Every town has a family like the Herdmans. A single mother, trying to raise a brood of kids, who works so much she leaves them to their own devices. The problem is their own devices involves trouble of every kind. During Halloween they take the usual mischief up a notch as they steal bags of candy, spray paint children's costumes <with the kids in them!> and do even more to disrupt the season. So this year, the mayor of the town decides to cancel Halloween. No candy, no jack o lanterns. nothing.
Of course this leaves a bunch of very unhappy children, but none bold enough to blame the Herdmans since their punches hurt. However the Herdmans find a way to make it the best Halloween ever, despite the mayor's orders.
Barbara Robinson, who wrote this book is an excellent writer who has written 3 books about the Herdmans. My personal favorite is a Christmas story, which I will save for later since I don't believe Christmas thoughts should start until Santa comes down Times Square in his sled. <Or down Broad Street for my Philly friends>
This is a fun book to read and one that the kids from around 5 and up can enjoy, although it will have to be read to the 5 year olds. From about 7 on they can read it themselves and enjoy it. It has the right element of spookiness to it with a little bit of suspense.
Read it today and find out how, despite their rotten reputation the Herdman's manage to make it the best Halloween Ever!
Of course this leaves a bunch of very unhappy children, but none bold enough to blame the Herdmans since their punches hurt. However the Herdmans find a way to make it the best Halloween ever, despite the mayor's orders.
Barbara Robinson, who wrote this book is an excellent writer who has written 3 books about the Herdmans. My personal favorite is a Christmas story, which I will save for later since I don't believe Christmas thoughts should start until Santa comes down Times Square in his sled. <Or down Broad Street for my Philly friends>
This is a fun book to read and one that the kids from around 5 and up can enjoy, although it will have to be read to the 5 year olds. From about 7 on they can read it themselves and enjoy it. It has the right element of spookiness to it with a little bit of suspense.
Read it today and find out how, despite their rotten reputation the Herdman's manage to make it the best Halloween Ever!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
It's October, and October means Halloween!! A time when Ghosts, and Ghouls can either be a nightmare or child friendly.
Scary houses, haunted hayrides and witches are all a part of the holiday. But none of these things would be possible without the stories that keep us awake at night. Stephen King, Anne Rice and of course the first person of horror, Edgar Allen Poe have given us stories that scare and delight at the same time. However, for the most part they are not child friendly.
Children love to be scared as much as adult. Luckily many good writers have come up with frightening tales to tickle their fancy. R.L. Stine, whom I've written about previously was one. Another author who specialized in late night visits to a parent's bed is Alvin Schwartz, who brought us the books, "Scary Stories to tell in the Dark" and "More Scary Stories to tell in the Dark."
Both of these books are filled with folk tales and urban legends retold on a fourth or fifth grade level. But be warned mom and dad! The stories are not the only terrifying parts of these books. These books come with horribly, delightfully, frightful illustrations, done in black and white graphic novel style. Between the stories and the illustrations, you have a combination sure to wake Junior up around 2 AM with a blood curdling shriek. Stephen Gammell who does the illustrations for these two books is a self taught artist. His phantasmagorical images won him a Caldecott Award. He and Alvin Schwartz are the reason why these two books are high on the banned book list.
If your kids enjoy a good scare, these are the books for them. Many adults still remember where they were the first time they picked up one of these books. Rereading them in a dark room by flashlight with your kids, will remind you how much fun it can be to be scared.
Scary houses, haunted hayrides and witches are all a part of the holiday. But none of these things would be possible without the stories that keep us awake at night. Stephen King, Anne Rice and of course the first person of horror, Edgar Allen Poe have given us stories that scare and delight at the same time. However, for the most part they are not child friendly.
Children love to be scared as much as adult. Luckily many good writers have come up with frightening tales to tickle their fancy. R.L. Stine, whom I've written about previously was one. Another author who specialized in late night visits to a parent's bed is Alvin Schwartz, who brought us the books, "Scary Stories to tell in the Dark" and "More Scary Stories to tell in the Dark."
Both of these books are filled with folk tales and urban legends retold on a fourth or fifth grade level. But be warned mom and dad! The stories are not the only terrifying parts of these books. These books come with horribly, delightfully, frightful illustrations, done in black and white graphic novel style. Between the stories and the illustrations, you have a combination sure to wake Junior up around 2 AM with a blood curdling shriek. Stephen Gammell who does the illustrations for these two books is a self taught artist. His phantasmagorical images won him a Caldecott Award. He and Alvin Schwartz are the reason why these two books are high on the banned book list.
If your kids enjoy a good scare, these are the books for them. Many adults still remember where they were the first time they picked up one of these books. Rereading them in a dark room by flashlight with your kids, will remind you how much fun it can be to be scared.
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