Kirsten Mayer

I love gnomes, and I'm glad that there's a picture book out there, but man, it seems hard to do gnomes well. This is more of a beard appreciation story than anything else... but I did really like the illustrations, even if the story was a little odd.

As much as I love Adventure Time, this was not a very good book. It really only took parts from the show and mashed them together in a book. I'm also very unsure as to whom the audience is, as she talks about how you need to be "hot" for someone to notice you. I'm not sure I would like my child to be taking advice like that from a beloved character. The artwork in this book is great, but that's only because it's straight from the show. I would not read this book to any child.

[MOVIE -- Despicable Me]
Despicable me follows Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell) as he attempts to re-instate himself as the world's best villain.
Gru, a vaguely eastern-european looking hulk of a man, is a villain. His home, with it's stuffed monsters, various weapons, and villainous underground lair full of minnions, is a testament to this fact. So when a new, hotshot villain strolls into town and takes his title, Gru must find a way to remain the world's greatest villain. His plan: steal the show more moon, and sabotage his rival in the process. In order to do so, Gru takes in three young charges, believing their cookie-selling ways will give him a way in. It's only a matter of time, though, before this super-villain falls in love with these three little girls, and finds his heart.

Despicable Me is the classic tale of the villain with the heart of gold. The story itself isn't all that original, but it's done in such a way, and with such clever plot twists, that it feels as though it is. Adopting three little girls so they can sell super-engineered girl scout cookies to your nemesis is pretty ingenious. Although the movie uses the obvious device of an adorable, sweet, lisping little girl with huge eyes to melt the villain's heart, the story feels real enough, and somehow makes you care enough about the characters, that such things are overlooked. It's also quite funny, especially the minions (one of the best scenes is when Gru cracks a minion like a glo-stick, shakes him, and lets him light the way out of an air-duct). All things considered, it is a fun, light, good-looking movie with a heart. I would recommend this movie for children ages 5 and up, and I am fairly certain even their parents will enjoy it. show less

Wanting to be known for something other than “her curly hair”, Ginger decides to compete in the Winter Gnome Games. “Everygnome in the garden is excited for the Winter Gnome Games”. Although she is great in every event including sledding, figure skating and curling, her unorthodox style gets her disqualified her every time. But when her friend Al is accidentally carried away by a startled squirrel, Ginger’s skills save him and the crowd names her the “fastest gnome ever!” show more Ginger, now known for something other than her red hair, receives a hero’s welcome at home where her brothers and sisters announce that they want to be in the gnome games too.
Although Horton’s illustrations give nice detail to differentiate all of the gnomes, it would have also have been nice to see gnomes of color within the book. show less