Monster Books for Kids - Oh, My!

Last week for my monthly post on the group blog: INK Interesting Nonfiction for Kids, the topic that I chose to write about was on Monster Books for Kids.
Here's the article:

Monster Nonfiction for Kids - Oh, my!

One of my current super secret projects has a little something to do with monsters. (Oh, my!) In a quest to hunt out a vast array of curious creatures, I scurried over to my local library to find some fact-filled nonfiction books on the subject of monsters. While ravaging the bookshelves, I pondered a few things about monsters and books about them. (By the way, I didn't ravage the bookshelves --- just a little too into the theme.)

1.  Are monsters fiction or nonfiction? If they can be found in the nonfiction shelves, does that make monsters real? At my library, I found one title shelved in fiction, and, in another library, the same book was shelved in nonfiction. One of my favorite monster books is Everything I Know About Monsters by Tom Lichtenheld. Tom writes "The most important thing I know about monsters is that there really are no such things!... But, monsters DO exist in our imaginations." Don't you just love our imaginations?

2.  How scary is too scary for kids? I don't have an answer - just a thought. So, I'm wondering if this wise group of INK contributors and readers of this blog have some comments to share. From my experience, I think some of the nonfiction books about monsters would have scared the heck out of my daughter, now a graduating senior. Of course, the picture book that all three of my kids had to have read to them every night was The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone (author) and Michael Smollin (illustrator). 
And, in writing this, I discovered that there's a new book:

Another Monster at the End of This Book   
by Jon Stone (author) and Michael Smollin (illustrator)
(I think I found a great addition to add to my favorite "new baby" gift, aka basket full o' books.) 



(Sorry, back to the subject at claw... I mean, hand.)
 
3. Where does a green-haired 1,000 pound three-eyed monster sleep?*


A few good general reference nonfiction books I found were:
Encyclopedia horrifica : the terrifying truth! about vampires, ghosts, monsters, and more  
Scholastic 2007
by Joshua Gee
Monster hunt : the guide to cryptozoology
Sterling 2008
by Rory Storm
What a beast! : a look-it-up guide to the monsters and mutants of mythology! 
Franklin Watts/ Scholastic 2010
by Sophia Kelly
Monsterology: The Complete Book of Monstrous Beasts
Candlewick 2009
by Dr. Ernest Drake
I found this book shelved in both fiction and nonfiction.

*Answer to question #3: Anywhere he wants to!

In writing this post, I think I answered my own questions. Adding humor to books about monsters might make them seem just a little less scary. But, you still might need some monster spray at night --- a spritz under the bed and a sprinkle into the closet should do the trick... at least it did in my house.

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Avatar toys: Action figure line for girls

New article on my National Children's Toys Examiner page:

Avatar toys: Action figure line for girls

Here's part of the article:
Like most of the nation, my family went to see Avatar the first week it opened. Per my fifteen-year-old’s “seeing Avatar was a life changing experience” recommendation, we pre-ordered tickets for the Imax theater. Even though, we tried to get to the theater early, only five seats in the third row were available. Not a big fan of 3D glasses or the third row, surprisingly, I was not uncomfortable for one second during the movie. Totally captivated by the movie experience, for over two and a half hours, I was lost in the world that James Cameron created. Only for one fleeting second. I thought outside that realm. My epiphany: Toys are a perfect pairing with the movie. Finally, a movie that isn’t made for a toy line. Avatar action figures and the ensuing play patterns are made for this movie.

James Cameron's Avatar Na'vi Neytiri Action Figure  Currently the top selling Avatar action figure on Amazon.
James Cameron's Avatar Na'vi Leonopteryx Collectible Figure

James Cameron's Avatar Na'vi Dire Horse Creature

For the entire article go here:

Avatar toys: Action figure line for girls

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Smithsonian Channel: Original Programming in HD and On Demand: All Dolled Up: Collectible Dolls

Smithsonian Channel: Original Programming in HD and On Demand: All Dolled Up: Collectible Dolls

Can't wait for this!

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Great new books out this week!
Check 'em out! 


Children’s Book Reviews: 1/11/2010
New picture books this week from Ashley Bryan, Cynthia Lord and Derek Anderson, Bob Shea, and Jonah Winter and Red Nose Studio. Plus: fiction from Caroline B. Cooney, Walter Dean Myers, Francisco X. Stork, Melina Marchetta, and more.

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CL!CK: A LEGO Short Film

Fantastic new video from LEGO in conjunction with their new community: LEGO CLICK

Very creative!

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Let the New Year's Eve games begin!

Let the New Year's Eve games begin!

Posted using ShareThis

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Zhu Zhu pets hot for wish lists

From my National Children's Toys Examiner page:

When Toys “R” Us announced their 2009 Hot Holiday Toy List last week, one toy on the list was not a surprise. Zhu Zhu Pets by Cepia (formerly called Go Go Pets) were first released this past May with a launch in Phoenix AZ. I loved the video. I loved the idea. I wanted a Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster!

From a mom’s perspective, Zhu Zhu hamsters are great because:

• Zhu Zhu’s don’t bite. One story that will go down in Lewis family history is the year #1 son had to have a hamster. Begging, pleading, crying ensued for months. “I promise to take care of the hamster.” “It will show how responsible I can be.” Thinking back, I remember that the obsession started when son became fascinated by a hamster named Hamtaro. He had  Hamtaro children’s books and loved the Hamtaro TV show. Who wouldn’t want a little friend to play with? But the first time my son took his new best friend out of his cage, “Butterfinger” bit him.
• Zhu Zhu hamsters don’t need to have their cages cleaned out. Yes, because “Butterfinger” was a biter, he didn’t get his cage cleaned out on a regular basis. Which led to the next reason Zhu Zhu’s are great.
• Zhu Zhu hamsters don’t die. Within three months, Butterfinger got tail rot or wet tail and eventually died. The average life span of a hamster is two years.
• Zhu Zhu hamsters are not too expensive.
  

From a toy inventor’s perspective, Zhu Zhu hamsters are great because:

• They appeal to both girls and boys.
• They have a long age span appeal. I see four year olds and 14 year olds loving this toy.
• They have a wide-open play pattern for creative play.

AT THIS MOMENT (10 am October 3, 2009)
Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters hold all but one the top 15 spots on the Amazon Toys & Games Sales Rank. That’s amazing!
#1 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Pipsqueek - Yellow
#2 Zu Zhu Pets Hamster Mr. Squiggles - Light Brown
#3 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster NumNums
#4 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Chunk - White
#5 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Funhouse
#6 Zhu Zhu Pets Adventure Ball
#7 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster 2 Pack
#8 Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Garage
#9 Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Hamster Wheel
#11 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Accessory Kit Carrier & Blanket
#12 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster 2 Pack
#13 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Deluxe Accessory Kit Surfboard & Sleep Dome
#14 Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Ramp and Slide
#15 Zhu Zhu Ppets Hamster Blanket & Bed
Curious which toy is the only non-Zhu Zhu toy on the top 15 list?
#10 Bananagrams
I love Bananagrams!

The word on the street is that many stores are sold out of this toy and there are long lines at stores as the delivery truck pulls up. Looks like a few children won’t be getting Zhu Zhu Hamsters for Christmas.

For the rest of this article, go to my National Children's Toys Examiner page.

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