Middle Grade Monday: Winter Blunderland by James Patterson and Brian Sites

Image: Hachette Book Group

Winter Blunderland by James Patterson and Brian Sitts. Middle School #15. Jimmy Patterson Books/ Little, Brown and Company,  November, 2022. 9780316500203. (Review of finished book borrowed from public library.)

Happy Monday! With possible snow in our forecast, today is a good time to feature Winter Blunderland by James Patterson and Brian Sitts as our Middle Grade Monday entry. I honestly lost track of the Middle Grade series. TMS library has up to book 13, From Zero to Hero. This is book 15.

Rafe has the opportunity to spend Christmas break in Alaska with Penelope and Dr. Deerwin researching polar bears. Getting to spend time with Penelope is a dream come true for Rafe, but he doesn't like sharing her with Panuk and his sister Uki. Panuk is confident and handsome and drives a cool snow-mobile. Can Rafe compete with that? And, oh yeah, there's the dark and the cold and polar bears and scary poachers to deal with. Fans won't be disappointed.

November is Picture Book Month! Review: A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett

Image: Candlewick Press 

A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Shawn Harris. unpgd. Candlewick Press, October, 2020. 9781536203967. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

A polar bear emerges from a snow den and lumbers across the snowscape in search of...what? That is the question that is repeated throughout this engaging, fun and intriguing new book by Mac Barnett. The cover with its embossed title and irresistible cut-paper polar bear has immediate appeal.

Mac Barnett is a minimalist. Make no mistake though. Therein lies his genius. There is depth here. Shawn Harris is a minimalist as well and the two styles work well here. Each spread begs the reader to linger. While this would make for a fantastic read aloud, it's perfect for a snuggling one-on-one read. Brilliant and absolutely enchanting! Truly a first-purchase! 

         

Middle Grade Monday Review & Giveaway: Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made by Stephan Pastis

Image: Candlewick Press

Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made by Stephan Pastis. (Movie Tie-in Edition) Timmy Failure series #1. 293 p. Candlewick Press, February, 2020.  9781536209075. (Review of finished paperback courtesy of publisher.)

Middle Grade Monday features Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made by Stephan Pastis. Our narrator, Timmy Failure runs a detective agency, Total Failure, which he hopes will soon become a Fortune500 company. The only problem is, he's a clueless, inept detective. His partner, a polar bear named Total, is only interested in garbage and not much help to Timmy. Still, he soldiers on. School is a nuisance. He has no use for Scantron tests, except to create dot-to-dot pictures, which of course, causes him to fail, much to the consternation of his group. His single mom is caring but trying hard to stay afloat financially and probably doesn't pay enough attention to Timmy. Then, there's the new boyfriend.

There's a lot of humor in this illustrated novel/ hybrid graphic novel, some of it is kind of sad. There's depth too, along with the hijinks. One might believe that Timmy's delusions are a sign of mental instability. I submit that they are a survival mechanism. Thank goodness for the humor! Just as I would melt with sympathy, Pastis lightened the mood. I haven't felt this much emotional whiplash since... Hm, since watching Charlie Chaplin movies.

Adding to the appeal, there's plenty of visual humor in the copious spot art, featuring round-eyed characters. Mistakes were Made was originally published in 2013. My library's copy hasn't been checked out in a while. Perhaps the Disney movie will re-ignite interest in the series. I hope so. Timmy Failure endears.

Thanks to Candlewick Press, I am hosting a giveaway. Comment on this review by Wednesday morning, April 1 and you're entered for a chance at winning a movie tie-in edition of Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made! U.S. & Canada only and no P.O. Boxes. I can give away two copies. Please understand that delivery may be delayed slightly.