The Horror! The Horror! Comic Books the Government Didn’t Want You to Read!

The Horror! The Horror! Comic Books the Government Didn’t Want You to Read!

Jim Trombetta

Abrams ComicArts, 2010

$21.95, Softcover

978-0810955950

Genre: Nonfiction, Graphic Novels

Age: 14+

Description: The Horror! The Horror! is a nonfiction look at the pre-Comics Code Authority horror comics of the 1950s (and earlier). This book is quite large (in format and pages—300) and detailed. It has a number of chapters that focus on a variety of subjects (censorship, zombies, vampires, werewolves, sex, and so on) that open with a detailed essay by Trombetta and then includes tons of cover images from his own personal comic book collection and reprinted stories.

Opinion: This look at the awesome pre-CCA horror comics isn’t as good as other books, such as Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics by Greg Sadowski and John Benson. The author’s essays are written in very small font in double columns which is hard on the eyes and there are more cover images than actual stories reprinted. I wouldn’t suggest this really for teens unless they are diehard fans because it is definitely more of a scholarly work (the writing is very elevated and might go over some readers’ heads). However, I do recommend the first few essays for any comic book fan or teen interested in literary censorship. The chapters on Wertham’s Seduction of the Innocent which lead to the Senate trials and the creation of the CCA are an important part of comic book history and a great look at book censorship. The book also comes with a 25-minute DVD of a rare TV special called Confidential File, which aired in 1955 about the evils of comic books and their effect on juvenile delinquency. Teens would get a kick out of how “blown out of proportion” these censorship cases seem to nowadays readers.

Mango Languages

Mango Languages

Database

Plot Summary: N/A

Critical Evaluation: Mango is a language learning database that is great for both public and school libraries. The Mango course utilizes an engaging interface and interactive tools to give patrons practical conversational skills and cultural insight into a foreign language. According to Mango, “lessons include strategically placed memory-building exercises to help users remember what they are learning in addition to critical thinking exercises which help them to intuitively understand the language and adapt it to similar conversations” (Mango Languages, 2012). The great thing is that it is totally self-paced so, unlike a classroom, individuals can work at the own speed which is good since all learners learn at different paces. Mango Language lessons consist of interactive programs that make language learning easier where users can listen, respond, and practice. One aspect of the program that is great is that teens can speak into a microphone and Mango can check their speech for accuracy and fluency. Instead of sitting in a classroom with 20 other students, Mango can really help teens get one-on-one attention. Not only will teens have fun using Mango but it can also help them build self-esteem and teach them about the customs of various cultures, making it not only interactive but educational on many levels as well.

Reader's Annotation: N/A

Author Information: N/A

Genre: N/A

Curriculum Ties:  Language

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age: 10+

Challenge Issues: N/A

Challenge Defense: N/A

Reason for Inclusion: My teens love this database so much so we actually have a Mango Club, where bi-monthly we get the computer lab in the evening to get together and learn different languages. Teens can start out with something simple, like pirate, to get to know the Mango interface and then move on to more complex language lessons. Teens also have the ability to log into the database from home and track their progress in a language if they sign in with their library account.  

References: 

Mango Languages. (2012). About us. Retrieved from http://www.mangolanguages.com/about/

Around the World with Mouk

Around the World with Mouk

Marc Boutavant

Chronicle, 2009

$17.99, Hardcover

978-0811869263

March 26^th, 2012

Genre: Humor, Interactive, Nonfiction—Travel

Age: 7+

Description: Mouk the bear is going traveling! He meets up with his friends, Popo and Chavapa, to tell them of his around the world trip and promises to write to them. The story then follows Mouk as he travels through 11 different countries—Finland, Greece, Libya, West Africa, Madagascar, India, China, Australia, Japan, Peru, New York, and then home (which we’ll assume is France since this book is a French import).

Opinion: This is a unique book—it is part fantasy (talking animals), part nonfiction (a travel guide), part search and find, part sticker adventure book, and totally humorous. This is a French import I found and ordered for my library—not knowing about the sticker part—because I thought my tweens and teens would go crazy for Mouk and his cute world (and they have). The book itself is a large oversized volume. The opening endpapers show Mouk getting ready to travel while the back endpapers show him arriving home. The rest of the book is made up of huge, jam packed double page spreads, each devoted to one country Mouk visits. The pages are made of super glossy material so the stickers can stick to the pages. All of Mouk’s travels follow the same format—you first read a letter/postcard he writes back home to his friends telling about his visit to the country and then you get to investigate the full color pictures of various animals doing things in that country. As you read the speech balloons and other information presented among the scene you’ll discover there are a number of I Spy or search and find elements to the double page spreads. For example in one scene, a girl has lost her shoe and if you look closely you can find where it is lost. There are also continuations from country to country as well. For example, when a chipmunk in Madagascar sends a coconut boat out to sea Mouk later finds the coconut boat on the beach shore while he’s in Australia. Many common words for each country’s language are used and explained so readers can learn things (such as hello, thank you, etc.) Many of the animals that are drawn are culturally specific to their country (like lemurs in Madagascar, the sacred cow in India, tanuki (raccoons) in Japan). Lots of cultural foods are mentioned—a character might say something about liking this food and use its proper name and another character will clarify in his speech what the food is in English so readers keep learning about the cultures. The stickers included are 50 of those plastic reusable stickers (like the kind that came in the Colorform toys of the 1980s/1990s) and are in a common double page sheet in the middle of the book. The stickers all feature things specific to the countries and are labeled and grouped together by country on the page. I’m not an animal expert but my cataloger is an amateur expert who also works part-time at a docent at our Henry Doorly Zoo sees many nonfiction books for children get animal facts wrong which makes her mad and she actually, for a cartoon drawn book, was really impressed with the pictures and the information about the native animals presented here.

RavensBlight Haunted Papercrafts

RavensBlight Haunted Papercrafts

Ray O’Bannon

Website: http://ravensblight.com/papertoys.html

Free simple and advanced haunted papercraft templates

March 26^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction—Crafting (Website)

Age: 10+

Description: RavensBlight is an awesome papercraft site for teens who love horror and all things creepy. Ray O’Bannon designs all of these templates (with new ones appearing quite often) and allows people to download the PDFs of each design for free.

Opinion: RavensBlight offers a variety of haunted paper toys for various skill levels. There are simple designs, such as haunted creatures, origami-like books, and haunted board games, that don’t take much skill or time to construct. There are also more complex designs that take some patience, such as the moving papercrafts and many of the more advanced haunted houses and pirate ships. A teen-tested and approved design is the various 3-D coffins, which average about 30 minutes to construct. Instructions are very detailed. I highly recommend printing out the PDFs on 11 x 17 paper which greatly enlarges the image making the final project larger and much easier to put together. 

Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt

Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt

Megan Nicolay

Workman Publishing Company, 2006

$15.95, Paperback

978-0-761-13785-6

March 26^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction—Crafting

Age: 12+

Description: Generation T (and its companion book Beyond Fashion) is a must have for teens who like to recycle old shirts into something fabulously new! The first book includes more than 100 projects (with 200 variations) to make new shirts, tank tops, tube tops, skirts, blankets, handbags, leg warmers and more! The companion book includes many projects beyond fashion such as items for pets, bedroom décor, and a whole chapter on things guys can make.

Opinion: These books are nearly 300 pages each of fun designs that go from super simple to more complex. At the beginning of each design it clearly states if the project is a no sew or sew design. There is a good mixture of both. The only downside is that not every design is in color (there are colored middle inserts but they don’t model off every design). Color photos would have been more helpful. However, there is something here for everyone, including a wedding dress! Favorite projects include the Two-Tiered Peasant Skirt.

Zombie Felties: How to Raise 16 Gruesome Felt Creatures from the Undead

Zombie Felties: How to Raise 16 Gruesome Felt Creatures from the Undead

Nicola Tedman & Sarah Skeate

Andrew McMeel Publishing, 2010

$14.95, Paperback

978-0-740-79764-4

March 26^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction—Crafting

Age: 11+

Description: This felting book includes projects for teens to make 16 different undead creatures, including animals (zombie dog, cat, duck), a zombie baby, a zombie surfer, a pumpkin head, vampire zombie, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and even a template to make a felt coffin for your undead creation.

Opinion: The introduction goes into great detail the tools one will need and how to go about the basic stitches required to construct the monsters. Each zombie does require sewing (but this could be bypassed by using strong craft glue if doing as a program). Each project includes a list of what you need, a template that can be photocopied and cut out to measure the felt pieces, and detailed textual and pictorial step-by-step instructions. A favorite project is the Zombie Undertaker—he’s decked out in all black with cute skeletal fingers and his brains pouring out from under his tall hat.

Candy Construction: How to Build Edible Race Cars, Castles, and Other Cool Stuff Out of Store-Bought Candy!

Candy Construction: How to Build Edible Race Cars, Castles, and Other Cool Stuff Out of Store-Bought Candy!

Sharon Bowers

Storey Publishing, 2010

$14.95, Paperback

978-1-603-42548-3

March 19^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction—Cooking

Age: 10+

Description: You’d be surprised but teens love cooking! This is a great book to accompany Iron Chef or Gummi Surgery programs. Teens love food, especially if candy is involved so what could be more fun that taking everyday store bought candy and creating edible masterpieces you can play with before eating? A nice introduction gives some background on constructing with candy and includes some recipes for frosting mortar, glue icing, etc.

Opinion: This book will cause a sugar overload! While many of the projects are solely for home constructing, there are a very that can be used in a candy program (such as jewelry). It includes chapters on moving objects, flying objects, holiday objects, and unnatural objects. Favorite projects include the Fudge Brownie Steam Train (made with brownies, Ho-Hos, and peppermint pieces), the Formula One car (made of Oreos, Hersey pieces, fruit slices and candy berries), and a gigantic wafer cookie castle!

Stick It!: 99 D.I.Y. Duct Tape Projects

Stick It!: 99 D.I.Y. Duct Tape Projects

T.L. Bonaddio

Running Press Kids, 2009

$16.95, Spiral-bound Hardcover

978-0-762-43494-7

March 19^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction—Crafting

Age: 9+

Description: Duct tape projects are a much have for only tween craft programs. Stick It! is a great beginner’s guide to duct tape projects. It can give the YA librarian lots of ideas for individual duct tape programs. The book is split into eight chapter categories. Each project is given a difficulty level of one to four asterisks. A forward includes detailed instructions of general tools needed.

Opinion: Including projects for duct tape wallets, jewelry, bags and purse, wild wearables, goods and room décor, and more this book will keep the duct tape crafter busy for a long time. Asides from the traditional wallet design, some favorites include “Namesake” – making cursive words out of tape; “Grand” – a messenger bag resembling piano keys; and “Time Lapse” – a four-paneled hanging picture frame great for photo booth pictures.

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty

Written by G. Neri, illustrated by Randy Duburke

Lee & Low Books, 2010

$16.95, Paperback

978-1-584-30267-4

February 15^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction

Age: 14+

Description: Yummy tells the real-life story of Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, an 11-year-old Chicago Black Disciples gang member who became famous in 1994 when he accidentally shot and killed a 14-year-old girl in a shooting gone wrong and eventually was executed by his own gang when they felt the hunt for Yummy was drawing too much attention to their activities. The story is told from the point-of-view of Roger, a fictional classmate.

Opinion: This is a great nonfiction graphic novel that could be used to interest reluctant readers and those learning about gang violence. The art is just as gritty and violent as the story. The story is not very action-packed; it is more a poignant look at Yummy’s life and death which brings up questions of if he was a criminal or a victim himself. Neri also includes an author’s note on why and how he wrote the story and a reference list. Awards: Nearly 25 awards and counting. For a full list see:  http://gregneri.com/yummy.html

Earth’s Biomes

Earth’s Biomes (Sci-Hi: Life Science)

Donna Latham

$32.65, LB

Heinemann-Raintree, 2009

978-1410933294

January 14^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction

Age: 12+

Description: An introduction to the different physical elements that make each biome area unique and how these different biomes have influenced the evolution of all living things.

Opinion: The Sci-Hi series of books is awesome and I recommend them for any nonfiction collection aimed at tweens and teens. All books in the series are put together like high-interest magazines but deal with scientific topics. Each book features colorful spreads, visually stimulating photographs and clear artwork, suggested science activities and projects, two-page glossaries, and further information for those interested. Earth’s Biomes presents the information in a logical way where one page builds on the information presented in the previous pages. Topics for this book include defining a biome, adaptation and biomes, threats to biomes, deciduous forests, rain forests, grasslands, savannahs, deserts, tundra, marine regions, and more. It also includes information presented like real newspaper articles. The approach is great for showing the similarities and differences among the various biomes and also in showing how adaptation has affected the species living in the areas. I like the Sci-Hi series because the books are not only visually appealing and stimulating but the spines of the books themselves stick out among the shelves and grab your attention. If a student needs just a basic introduction into a scientific concept this series is great especially for harder things like chemistry and physics. The only downside I saw was a little repetition (sometimes even in the same section) but this is likely because of the method of introducing a general concept (like classification) and then moving into more detailed explanations (such as the seven levels individually) so the information gets more detailed as you continue reading the books.

Classification of Animals

Classification of Animals (Sci-Hi: Life Science)

Casey Rand

$32.65, LB

Heinemann-Raintree, 2009

978-1410933256

January 14^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction

Age: 12+

Description: Part of the Sci-Hi Life Science set, Classification of Animals explains how animals are grouped and named by certain common characteristics.

Opinion: The Sci-Hi series of books is awesome and I recommend them for any nonfiction collection aimed at tweens and teens. All books in the series are put together like high-interest magazines but deal with scientific topics. Each book features colorful spreads, visually stimulating photographs and clear artwork, suggested science activities and projects, two-page glossaries, and further information for those interested. Classification of Animals presents the information in a logical way where one page builds on the information presented in the previous pages. We begin learning the basic definition of classification and the man behind the original system still used today—Carl Linnaeus. Pictures introduce additional information along with “Did You Know” sidebars. We learn the basic seven levels of classification. The rest of the book looks at those levels in more detail to help us learn how animals are “named” with a first and last name, usually from the genus and the species. We then learn about animal kingdom and are given information about those in more detail. We are also told how scientists use keys to classify animals (we even get to practice on a few dinosaurs). Other topics include information on the animal kingdom, invertebrates and vertebrates, arthropada, evolution, how DNA aided classification, phylum, classes, orders, families, genus, and species—all levels explained with an in depth look at a type of kingdom (orders of reptiles, families of birds, etc.). The book ends with a discussion on recently discovered new species and includes a review. I like the Sci-Hi series because the books are not only visually appealing and stimulating but the spines of the books themselves stick out among the shelves and grab your attention. If a student needs just a basic introduction into a scientific concept this series is great especially for harder things like chemistry and physics. The only downside I saw was a little repetition (sometimes even in the same section) but this is likely because of the method of introducing a general concept (like classification) and then moving into more detailed explanations (such as the seven levels individually) so the information gets more detailed as you continue reading the books.

Comics and Graphic Novels

Comics and Graphic Novels (Art off the Wall Series)

Richard Spilsbury

$33.50, LB

Heinemann-Raintree, 2007

978-1403482860

January 13^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction

Age: 12+

Description: An art book (somewhat oversized too) about the history of comics and graphic novels, being a comic book artist, and tips on creating your own comic books.

Opinion: An oversized volume, Comics and Graphic Novels is a short introduction to the history of the medium along with an artistic introduction into producing your own comics. It begins with an introduction into what comics and graphic novels are, taking into consideration even non-print picture stories (like the Bayeux Tapestry) and comic strips. It features information on the birth of superheroes, how comics can be used in school to teach vocabulary, and how graphic novels differ from comic books. Getting more technical, it includes information on the elements of a comic (panels, gutters, word balloons/bubbles, etc.) and then gets into more artistic endeavors with instruction on the tools of a graphic artist, traditional versus digital mediums, etc. There is a whole section on the first steps to making a comic, including plotting and other ways to make your story come alive. The book ends with a chapter that discusses tips on how to get into the comic book field. The book includes a four-page glossary (no pronunciation guide though), a two-page further reading list, and an index. This book is definitely geared more to those interested in the art behind comics. The oversized layout allows for a lot of information and graphics to be laid out on the same page without causing too much clutter. Throughout all the chapters there are sidebars with additional facts and “try it yourself” suggestions with exercises to test your artistic abilities. It is a visually appealing book for beginner artists to consult.

Monster Science

Ghosts and Atoms

Jodi Lyn Wheeler-Toppen, illustrated by Estudio Haus

$29.99, LB

Capstone, 2011

978-1429665810

January 13^th, 2012

Aliens and Energy

Agnieszka Biskup

$29.99, LB

Capstone, 2011

978-1429665803

January 13^th, 2012

Zombies and Forces and Motion

Mark Andrew Weakland

$29.99, LB

Capstone, 2011

978-1429665773

January 13^th, 2012

Bigfoot and Adaptation

Terry Lee Collins, illustrated by Cristian Mallea

$29.99, LB

Capstone, 2011

978-1429665797

January 13^th, 2012

Werewolves and States of Matter

Janet Slingerland Hammond, illustrated by Angel Mosquito

$29.99, LB

Capstone, 2011

978-1429665780

January 13^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction (Monster Science Series)

Age: 10+

Description: Monster Science is an awesome nonfiction graphic novel science series! In comic book format (of about 30 pages each), various science concepts are explained in a simple to understand and entertaining manner.

Opinion: With the love of the supernatural and graphic novels, tweens and teens will flock to this nonfiction series which helps to easily explain tricky scientific concepts. Each book is written by a different author, but they do overlap on a few concepts. The best of the series is the zombie book which is hilarious while the most disappointing was the Bigfoot book (because the illustrations aren’t as crisp as the other books). I never really learned science in school so a lot of concepts in these books were new to me so I can attest to the fact that I actually learned a lot and the fun combination of comic book story with nonfiction concepts made the content easy to follow and understand. Zombie and Forces and Motion was the best of the series in which the author used zombies to explain Newton’s three laws. For example, in describing momentum a zombie is chasing two boys who are driving a car. He grabs a hold of the bumper and while the car goes forward he tries to pull it back. The scene reads: “The car’s forward momentum will overpower the zombie’s backward pull. Hanging on, the zombie will get dragged along or its arms will be torn off.” This is followed by a picture of the car zooming away to safety with the zombie’s arms still attached to the bumper while the zombie, armless, cries out, “There go my arms!” These are quick and quirky reads with eye-popping illustrations. All the books are also humorous in their telling too. Each book includes a glossary, a further reading list, Facthound.com list of sites, and an index. This series is highly recommended for engaging science nonfiction. 

The Electrifying, Action-Packed, Unusual History of Video Games

The Electrifying, Action-Packed, Unusual History of Video Games (Unusual Histories Series)

Thomas James Maltman

$31.32, Hardcover

Capstone, 2010

978-1429647922

January 13^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction

Age: 9+

Description: A short history of the emergence of video games.

Opinion: Chapter 1 discusses the beginning of consoles and the first video games, arcade fever, the Magnavox Odyssey (the first at-home system), and famous arcade games (such as Space Invaders and Pac-Man). Chapter 2 focuses on how home consoles got their start with Atari. It also discusses the evolution of computer graphics which made video games better and better and the creation of “Easter Eggs”. Chapter 3 talks about the war in popularity among different brands in the mid-1980s and how Nintendo NES filled the void and brought games back from the brink of extinction. It talks about the importance of the Gameboy—the first handheld console. Chapter 4 touches on the controversy of video games and violence. Chapter 5 discusses the current state of competition among the Wii, PS3, and Xbox. Chapter 6 looks at the future and discusses Internet gaming. The back of the book has a glossary with pronunciations and definitions along with a further reading list and a link to Facthound.com for more Internet sites. It also includes an index. Interesting Fact: The creator of Atari went on to create the Chuck E. Cheese franchise!

The Captivating, Creative, Unusual History of Comic Books

The Captivating, Creative, Unusual History of Comic Books (Unusual Histories Series)

Jennifer Besel (don’t know why the cover says Marc Tyler Nobleman)

$31.32, Hardcover

Capstone, 2010

978-1429647908

January 13^th, 2012

Genre: Nonfiction

Age: 9+

Description: A short history of comic books.

Opinion: This history is a good introduction to comic book forms. I knew most of the information myself as a scholar and collector of comic books, so I can say that it was a good introduction to comic book history. It starts with a bit of information on the origins of comic books, including classics such as the Katzenjammer Kids, and other newspaper comic strips. Chapter 2 focuses on the debut of popular characters, especially superheroes in the 1930s. It also discusses superhero teams and supervillians.  A timeline of Famous Firsts is given. Chapter 3 “The Changing Face of Comics” talks about the major eras in comic book history with major events. It also mentions comix, the indie movement, and manga. It also explains the difference between “comic book” and “graphic novel.” Chapter 4 talks about controversy and comic books and mentions some major legal disputes (such as Siegel and Shuster selling the rights to Superman for $130 when the publisher went on to make millions) and the history of the Comics Code Authority. Chapter 5 is on comics and culture—especially fan culture with conventions and how comics eventually matured (including comments on when Green Arrow’s sidekick got addicted to drugs and Gwen Stacy, of Spiderman fame, was murdered). The back of the book has a glossary with pronunciations and definitions along with a further reading list and a link to Facthound.com for more Internet sites. It also includes an index.