friday fast 5

I spent last weekend reading all the children's books and books pretending to be children's books (you'll see lol) from my TBR shelf, so I thought I would write some mini’s for my Friday Fast 5 this week.

1.

Ben Fox: Squirrel Zombie Specialist at Your Service

by Daisy Whitney

Source: Publisher via BEA14

Published: October 14th 2014 - 128 pages

Goodreads

My thoughts:

Super cute story of 10 year old Ben Fox, who loves his super playful dog, Captain Sparkles, but not his sister’s grumpy Siamese cat, named Percy.

Turns out Percy is raising an army of zombie squirrels in the backyard and in 3 days they will be able to use the portal (the new dog door) to start the Animal Zombie Apocalypse.

Ben Fox: Squirrel Zombie Specialist at Your Service touches on disability - Ben has Cerebral Palsy and wears leg braces - sibling relationships, bullying, science, responsibility and diabolical cats.

Charming, funny and would make a cute Halloween read for kids, ages 7-12.

2.

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear

by Lindsay Mattick, Illustrations by Sophie Blackwell

Published: October 20, 2015 – 54 pages

Source: Purchased

Goodreads

My thoughts:

This is the true story of Harry Colebourn, the veterinarian who bought a tiny bear that would go on to be the inspiration for A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.

I loved how the author wove the story of Harry, who rescues Winnie just before going off to war, to care for the horses, leading to the tale of the Christopher Robin and the Winnie-the-Pooh we all know, then coming full circle tying it to her family heritage (she is Colebourn's great-granddaughter) as she tells the tale to her son Cole.. 

"Sometimes," I said, "you have to let one story end so that the next one can begin.”

The photographs and diary entries of Winnie and Harry's time together at the end of the book were also a nice touch as I already had my hand on my phone ready to Google to verify the story lol

I wasn’t too thrilled with Winnie spending her entire life in a London zoo, giving rides to children. It sounds awful - but I had to kind of let that go and just roll with it.

Finding Winnie was so sweet and the illustrations are just gorgeous.

3.

The Thing Beneath the Bed (The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Wiffle #1)

by Patrick Rothfuss, Illustrations by  Nate Taylor

Published: June 21, 2010 – 72 pages

Source: Freebie with another book purchase from Subterranean Press

Goodreads

My thoughts:

There are multiple warning that despite looking like a children's book this is NOT a children's book and I gotta say - this is not a children's book. lol At first I was thinking this isn't so bad. A cute little story of a girl and her bear, having adventures, being afraid of things you can’t see under the bed.

There are a few scary elements but nothing that doesn't turn itself around and inspire an awwww -

that's cute. But then things take an unfortunate turn and yeah...not a children's book. lol

There are three separate endings. You can read each one and be satisfied but then the next story builds on the previous and has it’s own ending.

It's too short to hold the interest of most adults IMO but probably a fun coffee table book to have lying around to lure in unsuspected people into a bit of fun reading with a diabolical twist.

4.

There’s  a Hair in My Dirt: A Worm’s Story

by Gary Larson

Published: April 15, 1998 – 65 pages

Source: Gift

Goodreads

My thoughts:

My sister-in-law bought this book for me and I give it a re-read every once in awhile. If you’ve read and enjoy the Far Side comics by Gary Larson, you’ll enjoy this one.

A young worm finds a hair in his dirt and besides being grossed out, starts to have a little worm existential crisis about the meaning of his life. The dad worm tells him a tale of girl named Harriet who loves nature but doesn’t always respect the natural balance.

There’s a Hair in My Dirt has kind of quirky, sarcastic humor and maybe isn’t the best book for real young kids since there’s swearing, death and mention of sex. This is more satire than sweet but it does a great job of explaining eco-systems and our place in them without ever being preachy.

“…loving nature is not the same as understanding it. And Harriet not only misunderstood the things she saw – vilifying some creatures while romanticizing other – but also her own connection between them”

“That’s the fateful key that Harriet missed, the key to understanding the natural world.”

5.

?

This is awkward…It’s Friday Fast 5 but I only read 4 books. So here’s your chance to recommend your favorite children’s book (or slightly adult book masquerading as a children’s book).