Jim Benton

"I'm not calling a cop... He'd probably arrest me. For being super cool without a license"(page 27).

When I was younger, I loved the Dear Dumb Diary books, so I was super excited to read this from the same author. This book was so stupid in the best way possible. I love the cute artwork, the origin story of an unexpected character's former life of crime, and little got-a-bad-attitude-need-to-take-a-nap-with-his-Sharpie-marker-eyebrows-self Clyde. Also, the Granny Turtle is so adorable.

The show more humor's really funny and quirky, and I think it's appealing to both kids and adults. Now, Clyde had a terribly mean mouth and he only sort of kind of learns his lesson by becoming a bad good guy. Y'know a "first they're sour, then they're sweet." but he's a fun character nevertheless.

If you want a quick, fun read around 10 minutes, then I recommend this book. Give me a sequel!
4.5 show less

Clyde is ONE. BAD. BEAR. No, really...he's bad to the bone, and there's nothing you can do about it. He mouths off to moths (who aren't ACTUALLY moths), hurls his grandmother in the pond (she's a turtle; she'll be fine), threatens to do bodily harm with pine cones...and then gets promptly shown what for with a pine cone by a butterfly (hence that "not a moth" comment from earlier). Yes, Clyde is one bad bear, but what we take away from this "charming" story of unusual friendship, wanting to show more be the baddest of the bad, and getting out of small town life to conquer the big bad city, is that being the biggest, meanest, baddest creature in the land is all relative. You can claim the title as long as you want, but there's always gonna be someone bigger, and badder that eventually comes along to knock you off your throne...best to have a few good friends by your side to lighten the fall... or not. I mean, this IS Clyde we're talking about and he was beaten up by a BUTTERFLY for crying out loud! A great pick for fans of the author's HAPPY BUNNY creation. show less

It’s Me. A Graphic Novel
Catwad, Book 1

I Picked Up This Book Because: Needed something quick to read while eating lunch.

Media Type: eBook
Source: Hoopla via HCPL
Dates Read: 3/21/24 - 3/22/24
Stars: 3

The Story:

I think I was trying to relive my Happy Bunny phase, and this was close, but it didn’t quite get me there. I did enjoy Catwad’s sarcasm and Blurmp’s unyielding optimism. Cute overall.

As soon as I read it's opening paragraph, I knew this book was going to be absolute fun. Cherise is a self-made orphan, who methodically eliminates her aunts, one by one (and two at a time in the case of the twin aunts), until she finally runs out of aunts. The illustrations are morbid, drawn only black and white, and reveal a sinister eight-year-old girl with fangs who is very creative with her methods of murder, varying her M.O. from bug spray in the aunt’s tea to stabbing one aunt with show more the Christmas star tree-topper.

Click for full review: http://thekoolaidmom.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/cherise-the-niece-by-j-k-benton/ show less