A Dog Needs a Bone

A Dog Needs A Bone
Author/Illustrator: Audrey Wood
Publisher: The Blue Sky Press, an imprint of Scholastic
ISBN-10: 054500005X
ISBN-13: 978-0545000055


A Dog Needs a Bone follows a needy pooch on his long quest for a bone. Told entirely in rhyme, it’s a very fun book to read to little ones.

“Mistress, kind mistress, please give me a bone, and I’ll stay by your side, no more will I roam.”

The reader follows the dog on his quest, listing promise after promise if he’ll only get a bone. Anyone that has a dog will recognize the single-mindedness of a dog after food. I especially loved the picture of the dog digging into the trashcan. It made me laugh as much as the drawing of the dog gazing sadly out the window when his mistress leaves made me say awwwww.

The drawings by Audrey Wood are completely adorable and give such a sense of silliness to the dog’s quest for a bone. Each drawing looks like it’s been done in crayon and give the sense of a child’s drawings, which will further endear young ones. I’m finding through my grandchildren that the drawings that remind them of their own beginning attempts at it bring a special smile and closeness.



Book Description from the publisher
Follow the plight of this bone-obsessed, lovable mutt as she spends her day waiting, pleading, and plotting for a bone from her mistress. Readers will delight in the humor and irresistible charm of this incorrigible canine as she tries to stave off her desire until at last she gets her long-awaited bone. Young readers will be drawn to the simple rhyming text and playful crayon illustrations of this bestselling author.

I'm at Comic-con!

I'll be popping in and out of AmoXcalli in the next few days with links to the dedicated Comic-Con blog my co-workers and I are working on over at AWN. Here's my first day of fun.

Informed Art - Comic-con Revealed

I was most happy to see all the great books and authors there!

Dragonology: Tracking and Taming Dragons: A Deluxe Book and Model Set

Dragonology: Tracking and Taming Dragons: A Deluxe Book and Model Set
Author: Dr. Ernest Drake
Editor: Dugald Steer
Publisher: Candlewick Press

The latest in the Dragonolgy series, Tracking and Taming Dragons has a wonderful little guide that has all you need to know about finding these magical creatures. The model is fun and easy to put together. My grandchildren and I had a blast doing it. The lovely green dragon with golden scales now hangs proudly in my bedroom so that when they come over it’s the first thing they see.

The accompanying handbook is wonderfully illustrated and as usual packed with interesting facts about dragons. We loved the section that showed how to make casts of dragon footprints. I’m sure it will prove very useful in our jaunts to the park. I had to promise to buy the stuff and I expect we’ll be spending some time making casts of the various neighborhood dog and cat paw prints this summer.


I think this set is very educational, whimsical and fun as well as a wonderful addition to the Ologies series.

Twice Upon a Time #1: Rapunzel, The One with All the Hair

Twice Upon A Time #1
Rapunzel: The One with All the Hair
Author: Wendy Mass
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0439796563
ISBN-13: 978-0439796569

Book DescriptionRapunzel is having the ultimate bad day. She's been stolen from home by an evil witch, locked in an incredibly high tower, and doesn't even have a decent brush for her hair. Prince Benjamin is in a pretty uncomfortable situation himself. His father wants him to be more kingly, his mother wants him to never leave her sight, and his cousin wants to get him into as much trouble as possible. Plus, there's the little matter of prearranged marriages. . . . Both Rapunzel and Prince Benjamin are trapped . . . in very different ways. It's only when their paths cross that things change.


Rapunzel, The One with All the Hair is a fun take on an old fairy tale. Told in alternating chapters by both Rapunzel and Prince Benjamin, it is funny, witty and intelligent. I loved that it gave a refreshing modern view on this classic tale. I loved that it showed how much Rapunzel loved and missed her parents while being locked away in that tower. She really cares about her parents and is willing to battle her way out of that tower to get back to them. This Rapunzel is feisty!

The other thing I loved about the story is having the Prince’s side in all this. In fairy tales you never get the Prince’s side. He just shows up gives the obligatory kiss, hacks through brambles or climbs a tower and boom – happily ever after. That’s always bothered me. The story is all about the princess, then here comes Prince Charming, whom we know nothing about, has no personality, he saves her and suddenly, she’s complete. ARGH! It drives me crazy and I love fairy tales! This story gives Prince Charming not only a name, but a personality. We get to know Benjamin and we actually care about him, root for him. Prince Charming has become a person.

This book is highly recommended. I think girls, especially in the 9-13 age range are going to love it because it’s modern, funny and light hearted. It gives a strong message that girls are just as intelligent and strong as boys, sometimes more so in different ways. It tells girls not to just wait around for Prince Charming to save you, save yourself. It really packs a punch in a backpacked sized paperback.

Neil Gaiman's Magical Oracle

Neil Gaiman has a simply wondrous oracle of divination on his site: Head on over and shake it! You'll be amazed!

http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2007/02/now-we-are-six.html

Congratulations on turning 6 Neil!