Zombiekins

Zombiekins

Written by Kevin Bolger

Illustrated by Aaron Blecha

J BOL

Who can resist the cutely creepy Zombiekins, the titular character of Kevin Bolger’s wacky new book? I couldn’t. When I saw the cover of Zombiekins, I knew I had to read it.

Stanley Nudelman and his friend Miranda are fourth-graders living in the town of Dementedyville. As the story opens, Stanley and Miranda are walking home from school when they see that the eccentric Widow Imavitch is having a yard sale. While perusing the items for sale, Stanley finds a toy called Zombiekins in its original packaging. The Widow Imavitch tells Stanley that Zombiekins is full of surprises and advises him to read the instructions on the back of the package. When Stanley purchases the “freaky” toy, the Widow Imavitch gives him a bag of taffy that might “come in handy.” Naturally, Stanley discards the package shortly after leaving without reading the instructions.

There is a full moon that night. When the moonlight shines into the playroom, Zombiekins comes to life

Stump!—scri-i-i-i-i-itch… Stump!—scri-i-i-i-i-itch… Stump!—scri-i-i-i-i-itch…

and attacks Stanley’s sister’s toys. Among these toys is Schlemmo, a “furry orange toy far too adorable to be called a monster.”

The next day Stanley takes Zombiekins to school. Mr. Baldengrumpy, Stanley’s teacher, shows a film called Our Neighbor, the Moon. The moonlight from the film awakens Zombiekins. He bites Stanley’s tattle-telling do-gooder classmate Felicity and escapes. Within hours, half the school has been transformed into Zombies. Stanley must find the courage he has never had before and find Zombiekins and figure out a cure for the Zombie plague before his teacher notices there is a problem and gives him detention.

Aaron Blecha’s illustrations fill in some gaps in the text. They also serve to clarify and even contradict the text. Bolger’s sense of humor can be rather sarcastic and understated, though the story is over-the-top in wackiness.

Zombiekins is a wacky spoof of the zombie genre. For instance, there is a scene where Stanley and Miranda are trapped in the teacher’s lounge trying to keep zombies from breaking in. Stanley is concerned about hiding in a room with only one way out. Miranda reassures him, “Oh they always find you. But trust me, this is just the way it’s done.”

Zombiekins is not for those who get grossed out easily. Nothing is too offensive, but this is a zombie book, so there are going to be some gross scenes here and there. The storyline starts to get repetitive towards the end. However, Zombiekins is an entertaining, ridiculous read. I will be reading the sequel when it comes out.

Recommended for fans of Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Bunnicula, and books by Daniel Pinkwater.

The video below is a trailer for the book Zombiekins

Reviewed by Margaret Ballard

Heart of a Shepherd

Heart of a Shepherd
by Rosanne Parry
J PAR


A few weeks ago, I was asked several questions about finding good Christian literature for children. I recommended the usual: C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series (some of the best Christian literature for any age) and Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind: The Kids series (which, if it is anything like the adult series, is truly awful and I cringe to recommend it, but that is what people want). I’ve also been recommending Roseanne Parry’s 2009 novel Heart of a Shepherd, which had been on my reading list for some time. I finally sat down to read Heart of a Shepherd, with my fingers crossed that it is worth recommending to other children. It is.


Ignatius “Brother” Alderman, a sixth-grader, lives on a ranch in rural Oregon with his father, paternal grandparents, and four older brothers. At the beginning of the story, Brother’s father, who is in the army reserves, is deployed to command his battalion in Iraq. His oldest brother is sent to an Army base in another state, and his other brothers head off to school miles away. This leaves Brother, his two grandparents , and hired hand Ernesto, to keep the ranch running smoothly.


Brother works hard on the ranch tending to his sheep and his other chores. He doubts whether he was called to either a rancher’s life or a soldier’s life, the traditional vocations of his family. One day while tending to his sickly sheep, Ernesto tells Brother that he has “the heart of a shepherd.” Brother grows into his role as “man of the house” and earns the respect of his brothers. He learns how to handle difficult situations with prayer, strength and resolve. When a fire comes and threatens the Alderman family and ranch, Brother is able to do what needs to be done, though it is not easy (or quite believable.)


Author Rosanne Parry is the wife of a Desert Storm veteran. Her experiences helped her to write a poignant novel about those left behind when a loved one is sent to war.


Reviewed by Margaret Ballard

I'm Your Bus

I'm Your Bus

by Marylin Singer

E SIN

School buses with personalities and smiling faces rush through the city carrying children to school and back.  This story is cheerful and light, told in verse, and repeats the refrain "You can always count on us.  // Daytime, nighttime I'm your bus." 

The humorous illustrations by Evan Polenghi, of buses with eyes in their front windshields, fit the mood of the book perfectly.

Reviewed by J'Ann Alvarado