Library of Clean Reads: Dean Griffiths

Showing posts with label Dean Griffiths. Show all posts

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Kid Konnection: The Stowaways by Meghan Marentette

The Stowaways by Meghan Marentette, with illustrations by Dean Griffiths
Pajama Press
ISBN: 978-1927485330
Published October 15, 2013
Hardcover, 240 pages
Ages: 8-12

The Stowaways is a beautiful hardbound book with some illustrations and it’s own red ribbon bookmarker. It’s a middle-grade book about the Stowaway mouse family, a family known for their adventures until Grandpa disappears on one of their journeys. From that moment on, twin brothers Rory and Morgan are not allowed to stray, and Papa refuses to take them farther than a little trip to town.

But feisty Grandma does not believe Grandpa is dead and plans to rescue him. That’s when Rory and Morgan begin a real adventure full of perils and danger. Eventually, their courage and bravery help to unite their family and restore the family’s adventurous spirit.

I began reading this with my almost 10 year-old son and he enjoyed the story until about halfway through. Rory and Morgan are great characters and we could relate to their spats with school friends. Rory has a good relationship with his Grandma and wants to embark on her secret rescue mission. But the rescue mission is a long time in coming. The story includes some long descriptions and my son’s mind tended to wander. He was getting bored. He wanted the adventure to begin.

The author builds the miniature world of the Weedle mice very well, and both my son and I appreciated the inventions of the Stowaway family, from the altered toothbrush broom to the walnut-shell bucket. It was so cute!

Once the rescue mission does start, though, there is more action and the plot thickens. We wonder what will become of Rory and Grandma who get into trouble and how will they ever find Grandpa, if he is still alive. The book includes some black and white illustrations by Dean Griffiths which are classic and simply adorable, but we wished there had been more.

Overall, this a great story, well-written, and reminiscent of E.B. White’s Stuart Little. The ending is touching and realistic. This book will appeal to kids who love adventurous stories with animal characters, but may not appeal as much to reluctant readers because of the high vocabulary level.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Reviewed by Laura & Son

Disclosure: Thanks to Erin Woods from Pajama Press for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Kid Konnection: Tweezle Into Everything by Stephanie McLellan

Tweezle Into Everything by Stephanie McLellan, illustrated by Dean Griffiths
Pajama Press
ISBN: 978-1927485477
Published: August 15, 2013
Hardcover, 32 pages
Ages: 3-7

My 9 year-old son and I thought this book was absolutely adorable! And for several good reasons. Firstly, the author deftly uses metaphors and creative language to bring alive a time in a child's life that signifies growing up changes. Tweezle is the youngest of three, a toddler, in the cute and colorful monster family. His family think he can be annoying sometimes--"You're the lint at the bottom of my pocket!" Pumpkin yells--but mischievous Tweezle has a mind of his own and proves he is growing up when his idea to help a small friend in need succeeds.

Secondly, the portraits of family life in this book, from sibling spats to moments of parental affection are realistic, endearing and attractive to youngsters, including my son who is a middle-grader but was enchanted when reviewing this book with me. We read it twice, pointing to things we loved and laughing at the comical situations and illustrations of Tweezle's troublemaking.

We also loved the illustrations by Dean Griffiths. My son likes to look at the facial expressions of characters, and there are plenty in this book. They are so well portrayed, from the look of older sibling know-it-all to the mother's not-again look of frustration, this book is a delight to read and peruse for little ones and older ones alike. The second time we looked through the book, my son noticed little clues in the pictures that led to Tweezle's actions. Kids always seem to notice things grown-ups miss!

This heartwarming story celebrates the youngest member of a family beautifully. It's a story that every child with an older or younger sibling can relate to. Highly recommended!

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Reviewed by Laura & Son

Disclosure: Thanks to Erin Woods from Pajama Press for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Lumpito and the Painter from Spain by Monica Kulling and Dean Griffiths

Lumpito and the Painter From Spain by Monica Kulling and Dean Griffiths
Pajama Press
ISBN: 978-1927485002
Published Oct 15, 2012
Hardcover, 32 pages, Age 5+

From the publisher:

Lumpito and the Painter from Spain is inspired by the true story of Picasso's love affair with a dachshund named Lump, who came for a visit, refused to leave, and became immortalized in a number of the artist's paintings and drawings.

Our Thoughts:

My son and I enjoyed this story of Pablo Picasso and his beloved dachshund, Lumpito. It's an adventurous story as we follow Lump who lived with a photographer in Italy and travelled with him to a villa in France to visit the famous painter, Picasso. Once there, the dog bonded with the artist who renamed him Lumpito and spent many hours playing together.

My son knows about Pablo Picasso, having studying his art in school. Picasso is portrayed here as a man who loved the antics, the shape and the character of this little dog. One of our favorite illustrations in the book is a two page spread of Picasso lying down on the grass next to Lumpito and stroking the dog's long body.

The author makes good use of similes in her text, conjuring images with few words. The watercolour illustrations bring out Lumpito's character through his facial expressions as well as the delight in Picasso's. And of course, I loved the beautiful European countryside depicted as they travelled. Children who love dogs will especially love Lumpito and his story of how he met Picasso and warmed his way into the Spanish painter's heart and paintings.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Reviewed by Laura and Son

Disclosure: Thanks to Erin Woods from Pajama Press for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.