I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this: an ode to the family car. I loved it.
Memories can be tied to all sorts of things, and the familyI don't think I've ever read a book quite like this: an ode to the family car. I loved it.
Memories can be tied to all sorts of things, and the family car is an underrated place where key, core memories are formed. From the experience of riding in the car, to whoever is inside the car with us, to the places we go, a car that is with a family for any length of time can elicit some powerful feelings. And to say goodbye to that car can be painful.
Acknowledging the transition from one car to the next, this story offers an opportunity to reflect on what this family object means, and reminds every reader that honoring those kinds of changes can be a needed part of moving on, especially for kids. After the story, the author adds a note about her own childhood family car, as well as glossary, some information on the Tribes in the story, and the publisher encourages the reader to think of things that are meaningful to them.
A lovely and reflective story that encourages further family discussion.
American Indian Lit Youth Award Picture Book Winner, 2024...more
Would be a great readaloud in a classroom with one of those projectors that make the pages and pictures super big. There's some great background detaiWould be a great readaloud in a classroom with one of those projectors that make the pages and pictures super big. There's some great background detail that takes place here that would get lost in a larger group.
Begins with essence of The Giving Tree, but continues with a much simpler relationship of mutual enjoyment. I really enjoyed the watercolor style illuBegins with essence of The Giving Tree, but continues with a much simpler relationship of mutual enjoyment. I really enjoyed the watercolor style illustrations: they evoked the gorgeous nature of the field.
Author's afterward makes the story more of a personal ode to nature itself....more
A Little Girl moves in to a new house, who is NOT HAPPY with his new occupants. Verging on spooky, this takes a hard social/emotional turn when LittleA Little Girl moves in to a new house, who is NOT HAPPY with his new occupants. Verging on spooky, this takes a hard social/emotional turn when Little Girl listens to the house, and validates his feelings about how hard change is and how sad it can be to say goodbye.
A nice mix of sweet and sour, would be fun in a storytime for a group ready for a slightly longer story. This makes me want to find a selection of books that feature animated buildings. (When Architecture Comes to Life!)...more
I have come to the conclusion that I am not a fan of motherhood horror. This was objectively speaking a good read, unlike Baby Te**spoiler alert** 3.5
I have come to the conclusion that I am not a fan of motherhood horror. This was objectively speaking a good read, unlike Baby Teeth which was pure awful, but both use the already fraught experience of being a mother as the seed for a horror setup. And it's too close to the bone for me.
What starts as sibling tension after the sudden deaths of their parents quickly dissolves into a haunted house situation. Or maybe either Mark or Louise (or both of them) are actually psychotic. The jury's out for a hot, tense minute before (view spoiler)[ the puppets really show their hand (ha) and (hide spoiler)] the reader figures out which direction this is going. Louise comes across as a cold realist, with no sympathy for her deadbeat brother, and her brother is depicted as crass and rude and lazy: neither begin as very sympathetic characters.
The story develops in the present moment, highlighting Mark and Louise's relationship, but continually refers back to their mother, their childhood, and Louise's relationship with her own daughter, as well as their past family history. The pacing is well done once the action really gets rolling, with tense (occasionally gory) scenes building up, then everyone's fine for a minute (or mostly fine) and sometimes there's even some humor tucked in there to relieve the tension.
(view spoiler)[ I almost had to put this book down permanently, when Louise is back in California alone with Pupkin and her daughter Poppy. It was too dark. But I was saved when the entire family ends up in Barb's trailer. This much-needed humorous interlude features an effusive woman who spends her time exorcising cursed dolls. They are trying to identify the demon who has cursed Pupkin, the foul puppet that has followed Louise and Mark throughout their childhoods and then deeply buried itself into their current lives. After Pupkin refuses to name the demon who cursed him, they find out that there's actually no demon involved, but Pupkin holds the spirit of Freddie, an uncle who died when he was five.
I really liked the development of Mark and Louise's relationship: the flashbacks were illuminating and demonstrated pretty clearly how they both got to where they are now. Both of them were able to move forward after a long history of distrust and secrets. In the end, no one gets far in this story without working together. Family is both a source of terror and support, but ultimately healthy communication and cooperation gets them all where they need to be. Which is a pretty delightful message for a horror novel. (hide spoiler)]
I found the end of the story both satisfying and sad....more
A hot dog has to escape being eaten for lunch, which is a very funny storyline. But I would really struggle with reading this out loud, or to anyone eA hot dog has to escape being eaten for lunch, which is a very funny storyline. But I would really struggle with reading this out loud, or to anyone else for that matter. My overly immature sense of humor would have me giggling at the anthropomorphic hot dog way more than is advisable....more
The highlight is the facial expression on this rock as it gets picked up -- a.g.a.i.n -- and transported far away. The irritation level is off the chaThe highlight is the facial expression on this rock as it gets picked up -- a.g.a.i.n -- and transported far away. The irritation level is off the charts.
A rock is mistress of her domain until unceremoniously picked up by a dog. And then a boy. And then a bird. And then a boy again. Utterly without control of her own destiny, but relatively philosophical about her circumstances, Petra is incredibly charming....more
More project than story, this book encourages the reader to really make friends with the book. Do things with it. Get involved with it. A cool conceptMore project than story, this book encourages the reader to really make friends with the book. Do things with it. Get involved with it. A cool concept....more
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