Muppet King Arthur (Muppet Graphic Novels) #BookReview

muppet-king-arthur by Christopher Jimenez

Bibliographic Info

FROM WORLDCAT
Title: Muppet King Arthur
Author: Paul Benjamin; Dave Alvarez; Patrick Storck; James Silvani
Publisher: Los Angeles, CA : Boom Studios, 2010.
Edition/Format: Print book : Graphic : Fiction : Juvenile audience
Genre/Form: Graphic novels, Fiction, Juvenile works, Juvenile fiction
Material Type: Fiction, Graphic, Juvenile audience
Document Type: eBook
All Authors / Contributors: Paul Benjamin; Dave Alvarez; Patrick Storck; James Silvani
ISBN: 1608865568 9781608865567 9781608865550 160886555X
OCLC Number: 875958645
Description: 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations
Responsibility: writers Paul Benjamin and Patrick Storck ; artists Dave Alvarez (issue 1) ; James Silvani (issues 2-4).
Subjects:
Arthur, -- King -- Juvenile fiction.
Arthur, -- King.
Muppets (Fictitious characters) -- Juvenile fiction.

Background

I love The Muppets. I love everything Muppets. Real quick: Muppet Movie, Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets From Space, The Muppets; all classics. The latest Muppet movie sucked. I saw it, I enjoyed it for what it was... but it was not a classic.

So I was browsing Hoopla again, looking at whatever they had and I saw this Muppet King Arthur graphic novel. I knew that I had to experience the graphic novel series. So I borrowed this from my public library and downloaded the ebook to my phone.

NOTE: The bibliographic info is for the physical edition. I got lazy and didn't locate the e-edition. But don't worry, you can use this info to get it yourself, no problem!

Review

Of course, our lovable green frog friend is the protagonist of this story. Arthur is propelled onto the throne when, as a squire tasked with fetching a sword for Sam of Eagle, the lady of the lake directs him to Excalibur. Arthur the Frog pulls the sword from the stone and is destined to rule all of England.

Sam of Eagle is the main antagonist who is determined to follow the American Democratic process rather than some mystic monarchy. So Arthur is aided by Merlin to assemble his knights by hosting a talent show. They proceed to battle Sam of Eagle, go on a quest and bring civility to England.

As a big fan of the franchise, my expectations might have been too high. I felt that the jokes got a little annoying. I know, the jokes are corny and they are supposed to be corny. But it just felt a little more forced than farce and that is an easy pitfall for this kind of humor.

It was an entertaining read for an afternoon or two, but it's not exactly a "must-add" to my library.

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How to send ebooks straight from Gutenberg to Kindle

Intro

Every librarian loves/hates Project Gutenberg. It's an incredible resource which has offers way more pros than cons. However, some warranted feedback on the site has to do with its cumbersome nature. Books have to be found, downloaded, and then sideloaded. It's much quicker and easier to just click on a magic Amazon button and have it magically whisper-synched to your device. I've found a way to do just that!

What you will need

• DROPBOX - You can get it here.
• IFTTT - The big workhorse
• GMAIL - You might be able to use another email provider on IFTTT's list (Yahoo?) but this is the one I used.
• KINDLE EMAIL - You can find it in your Amazon settings, it's going to be username@kindle.com. Also, make sure your Gmail is authorized to send attachments to your Kindle.

The basic concept

We are going to use Dropbox and IFTTT to automate the process of loading the .mobi file into your Kindle via email. The Gutenberg website has Dropbox functionality baked into it. Kindles allow you to email files from an authorized account. IFTTT will bring these two processes together.

NOTE: you will need to set up the following before going through these steps. Call them your pre-requisites, if you will.

• Make sure your Gmail is an authorized sender to your Kindle.
• Make sure your Dropbox and Gmail channels are activated in IFTTT.

Step by Step

1. Log into IFTTT and make a new recipe.
2. Start with Dropbox. Fire this recipe off with IF a new file is uploaded. Note that the folder is/will be: Apps/gutenberg.
3. THEN we will trigger GMAIL to send an email with the attachment. The attachment will be sent to your Kindle email address. The recipe is now created. and should look like this:



What the IFTTT Recipe should look like

4. Go to Gutenberg and find an ebook that you would like to read. You will have the option to save the .mobi (Kindle) to Dropbox / Drive / OneDrive. Choose Dropbox.
5. You will be taken to Dropbox, where Gutenberg will install as an app. This will create the Apps/gutenberg directory. Your ebook will be saved there.
6. IFTTT should take over and automatically email the file from Dropbox to your Kindle using your own email address.
7. Your Kindle should automatically download the file, making it instantly available for reading.

BONUS: Grab the Dropbox email (no-reply@dropboxcom) and add it to your Kindle approved senders list. Then, you can resend the ebook file to your Kindle by clicking on share. You could just do this and forget about IFTTT, but it won't be automated.

DOUBLE BONUS: I have made this recipe public so you can just go the lazy route and just take it from my IFTTT profile.

Conclusion

And that's it! You can freely browse the treasure trove of literature that is Project Gutenberg and know that any title on there can be auto-delivered to your Kindle. I would love to read your comments below. Suggestions for improvement or other recipes are appreciated.

Bossypants - Book Review

Book:  Bossypants

Author:  Tina Fey

This title is intriguing. At least, it drew me in. I am a fan of SNL and 30 Rock. Tina Fey played a large role in both. So why not?

Further, my previous boss teased me about this book without mercy. I remembered seeing someone whose look reminded me of Tina. (It's the classic librarian look, she says so in the book.) At the time, there was a huge display featuring Bossypants in Barnes & Noble. We got coffee every morning. So, of course, I got teased every morning.

So here's to my former boss. Thanks.

The Book

The prose was not great, so I'd have to give it 2.5 stars on my scale to 5. Right smack dab in the middle. A few grains of salt: I listened to the audiobook and did not read the traditional medium.

Yet, I don't think the format hurt my experience. In fact, I feel like it may have enhanced it. Tina writes in a conversational style. Though I assume editors made modifications to account for the medium. One liners. Jokes. Anecdotes. These all lend themselves to auditory medium.

Further, Tina Fey lent her voice talents to the production of this audiobook edition. Since the author was also the reader, the listener reaps the following benefits:

1. Timing was impeccable. Granted, this could have been due to editing/work in the studio. Listening to certain chapters of this book sometimes felt like watching an SNL skit.
2. Hearing the text read as the author would have it read. Again, directors could have changed the text for greater appeal. Please, leave me the pleasure of imagining that this is how she wanted it read.
3. Listening to it in the author's voice. I might have done this anyways (in my head), but it's actually reinforced. This is an autobiography after all!

The Review

It is always interesting to learn about the people, places and events that shaped the lives of public figures. Tina Fey describes er breakthrough experiences in Bossypants.

Being a man, sections of several chapters described things to which I cannot relate. I feel that I could react to these moments in one of two ways:

1. I could dismiss them and consider the book disappointing.
2. I could learn to empathize with and gain respect for women in society.

Either way, I did not have the option to simply laugh or read for pleasure. Gender colored some of the jokes. Perhaps a late 20-year-old, professional man was not the target audience of this book.

Chapters of note were those dealing with Tina Fey's early experiences with Christianity, the cult following 30 Rock garnered, SNL (and Tina's relationship with Sarah Palin) and the description of Mr. Fey.

My favorite chapter was the last one described. Yes, the SNL/30 Rock chapters were fun and amusing. But the chapter on Tina Fey's dad was poignant and rich. Maybe I'm just being sentimental because I am a new father to two young girls. But it was nice to hear of the love shared between a daughter and her father--even with an imperfect relationship.

Bossypants was an easy listen. I suggest you pick it up and give it a try.

Book Review - Dream Team

** I just completed a Young Adult literature course and have read and reviewed several materials using a new format. This review follows a template given to me by my professor.**

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Name: Christopher M. Jimenez	Media Format: Book (ebook)
Title: Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever	Genre: Sports, Non-fiction, Biography
Author: Jack McCallum	Selection Source: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher: Random House, LLC	Recommended Audience Age: 12 - Adult
-	Reading Recommendation: 4
-	Curriculum Connections: Physical Education, Health, Leisure, History

Review

Jack McCallum is the journalist who was assigned by Sports Illustrated to cover the 1992 Dream Team during their whirlwind tour of the Barcelona Olympics. As a first-hand observer with access to closed practices and personal interviews with the players, Jack tells the riveting story of how the personalities came together and played for the love of the game.

Evaluation

This history reads like the biography of the 1992 Men’s Olympic Basketball team. It talks about the introduction of the NBA to an international game, fierce competitors that love basketball more than their own pride and the controversy swirling around Magic Johnson and his AIDS diagnosis. This book could easily supplement a discussion of the historical significance of the Olympics and its role in world diplomacy.

Book Review - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

** I just completed a Young Adult literature course and have read and reviewed several materials using a new format. This review follows a template given to me by my professor.**

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Name: Christopher M. Jimenez	Media Format: Book (ebook)
Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian	Genre: Memoir, Ethnic, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Sports
Author: Sherman Alexie	Selection Source: 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers	Recommended Audience Age: 12 - Adult
-	Reading Recommendation: 5
-	Curriculum Connections: History, Civics, Culture

Review

When Junior decides to leave the reservation to pursue his high school education, he feels opposition from both the white people at the school and the red people on the rez. He tries to honor his heritage while rejecting stereotypical vices. Along the way, he earns respect from both worlds and sets himself up for a promising future.

Evaluation

This novel serves as a glimpse into a new culture for most YAs. It is important to note the opposition that Junior feels on every front, and how he rises above it. The book is also satirical and illustrates the oppression that Native Americans have endured throughout history.

Book Review - What Happened to Goodbye

** I just completed a Young Adult literature course and have read and reviewed several materials using a new format. This review follows a template given to me by my professor.**

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Name: Christopher M. Jimenez	Media Format: Book (ebook)
Title: What Happened to Goodbye	Genre: Sports, Strong Female Lead, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Author: Sarah Dessen	Selection Source: VOYA’s Perfect 10, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated	Recommended Audience Age: 12 - Adult
-	Reading Recommendation: 4
-	Curriculum Connections: Literature. Leisure, Civics, Business, Health

Review

After an ugly divorce, Mclean decides to live with her dad who travels from town to town fixing failed restaurants. In every city, Mclean creates a new identity in order to cope with her troubled life. However, through the influence of Basketball, a cast of friends and Dave, a romantic influence, Mclean faces her true self and the emotions of the last few years of her life.

Evaluation

This is an excellent novel that deals with identity, particularly with social media and the ease of creating a fake persona. It is important to open the discussion of healthy self-expression for the YA audience. Civics comes into play when considering the “juvenile delinquent” program that operates out of the restaurant’s top floor.

Book Review - Salvage the Bones

** I just completed a Young Adult literature course and have read and reviewed several materials using a new format. This review follows a template given to me by my professor.**

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Name: Christopher M. Jimenez	Media Format: Book (ebook)
Title: Salvage the Bones	Genre: Ethnic, Strong Female Lead, Realistic Fiction, Tragedy
Author: Jesmyn Ward	Selection Source: ALA Alex Award 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA	Recommended Audience Age: 16 - Adult
-	Reading Recommendation: 3
-	Curriculum Connections: Weather, History, Cultural Studies, Health

Review

Esh and her family prepare for hurricane Katrina while dealing with a difficult family situation. Esh just finds out she is pregnant at the age of fourteen and struggles with the realization that her life has changed. Her brother, Skeetah, feebly tries to keep his pit-bull puppies alive for sale. The entire family suffers from the loss of their mother.

Evaluation

This tragic tale allows the reader to enter a world that may be different from their own. In the classroom, discussions may center on hurricane Katrina’s terrifying events. This novel also opens potential discussions on teenage pregnancy and preventative measures.

Moon Over Manifest - Book Review

** I am currently taking a Young Adult literature course and I will be reading and reviewing several materials using a new format. This review follows a template given to me by my professor.**

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Publication Information

Name: Christopher Jimenez	Media Format: Book (eBook)
Title: Moon Over Manifest	Genre: Realistic fiction, Historical fiction, Mystery
Author: Clare Vanderpool	Selection Source: 2011 Newbery Medal
Publisher: Yearling	Recommended Audience Age: 8-12
	Reading Recommendation: 3 out of 5
	Curriculum Connections: Literature, Leisure, History, Politics

Review

Abilene Tucker was sent to the town of Manifest, KS by her father, Gideon Tucker. She jumps off the train and into a town with a rich past and a bright future. At first, she s cold to the town and its residents, but after a while her story becomes entwined with the likes of Sister Redemptia, Miss Sadie, Jinx and Ned and the Rattler--a mysterious entity who floats in and out of the narrative.

Clare Vanderpool weaves Prohibition, World War I and a town of immigrants into a historical fiction about a town that rediscovers its roots by retelling the stories of their neighbors.

Evaluation

While Abilene Tucker is not necessarily an orphan, she is abandoned by her father for the length of the story. He leaves her in the town of manifest and does not engage her in the story. She is left to wonder about the whys, whens, whats, and wheres of the town and his relationship with it.

This story is replete with literary devices like symbolism and foreshadow. The elements that are introduced in the first few chapters are shelved and reintroduced later on to complete the circle. This title would make an excellent companion to a literature class that is currently teaching these devices.

The Graveyard Book - Book Review

** I am currently taking a Young Adult literature course and I will be reading and reviewing several materials using a new format. This review follows a template given to me by my professor.**

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Publication Information

Name: Christopher Jimenez	Media Format: Book (ebook)
Title: The Graveyard Book	Genre: Horror, Coming of Age
Author: Neil Gaiman	Selection Source: 2009 Best Books for Young Adults
Publisher: Harper Collins	Recommended Audience Age: 10-16
	Reading Recommendation: 3 out of 5
	Curriculum Connections: Leisure, Literature,

Review

A gruesome murder takes place in a quiet little town. An entire family is killed—all but the youngest, who is able to escape to a cemetery. The child is given a new name, Nobody Owens, and given the protection of the cemetery. The boy grows, learns and confronts dangers both inside and outside the graveyard.

This novel has earned the following distinctions:

• YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
• 2009 Hugo Award (Best Novel)
• 2009 Newbery Medal
• Library Service to Children Notable Children's Books
• YALSA Teen's Top Ten

Evaluation

With a name like "Nobody Owens," it is clear that the child is struggling to find his place in this world. He is literally in between the living and the dead, not quite fitting in with either group. This is also a coming of age story. With each chapter, Nobody grows older and wiser and must face the real world by the end. There are positive themes of sacrifice for the benefit of others.

Wildwood - Book Review

** I am currently taking a Young Adult literature course and I will be reading and reviewing several materials using a new format. This review follows a template given to me by my professor.**

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Publication Information

Name: Christopher Jimenez	Media Format: Book (ebook)
Title: Wildwook	Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Author: Colin Meloy	Selection Source: VOYA Perfect Tens 2011
Publisher: Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins	Recommended Audience Age: 10-16
	Reading Recommendation: 4 out of 5
	Curriculum Connections: Leisure, Literature, Politics

Review

A murder of crows kidnap Prue's brother, and she sets out into the impassable wilderness to bring him back. Curtis, Prue's neighbor, follows her and takes part in the great adventure. Little do they know, they have just stumbled into the middle of major conflict which involves every member of Wildwood, regardless of their world view.

Evaluation

This novel explores the tested, important concept of belonging. Neither Prue nor Curtis feel like they belong in their world. Yet, throughout the course of this journey, they finally find a place where they belong. This concept is paramount to Teens. In addition, this novel serves as a commentary on various political systems. One can clearly see how each region of Wildwood is governed and evaluate how effective their form of government is.

What do librarians do? THIS!

I can't wait 'till I get to do this stuff for a living! Remember, you can't do this with an eBook...

http://jmnz.us/14czhCJ

Greener on Top of Us

This was an interesting quote from today's class meeting. It was in reference to libraries being a battle ground for Amazon & Publishers to duke it out over eBooks. I found it witty & sadly true.