Author: Steve Voake
Reading level: Ages 7 and up
Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: April 24, 2012

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When I look at this book, it makes me wish I was a 7-8 year old boy again.  This is one of the book that I would have jumped at the chance to read.  Even as an adult, this book is still a good read and very visually engaging. This book reminds me of the drawing of Ralph Steadman in an Hunter S. Thompson novel, with its illustrations spread and intertwined into the book. Throw in a story about friendship and a GIANT shark and I am in!

Welcome to Shrimpton-on-Sea, which is the home of the world’s biggestest sea urchin, where the folks are a bit unusual.  While here you will meet and make friends with Hooey, Twig, Will and Dingbat the dog. It all starts with the kids wanting to purchase a giant chocolate egg.  They devise a plan to catch a giant shark in order to put it on display to make money.  Of course things don’t go the way that they are planned and the boys are in for an adventure.

I was not aware of the Hooey Higgins series but it seems like it is already an established series in Britain.  This is Hooey’s American debut and hopefully this will not be his last adventure. The book is a fast and funny read and comes with sharp text.  Props again need to go to Emma Dodson for her amazing monochromatic ink and gouache illustrations spread throughout. Look forward to book two – “Hooey Higgins and the Tremendous Trousers”.

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Author: Leslie Patricelli
Reading level: Ages 2 and up
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Candlewick
Release Date: April 10, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

With the birth of my daughter, now two weeks, this book really hits home with me. Author/Illustrator Leslie Patricelli animation is amazing. Each page honestly feels like a painted canvas and just feels magical. The animation is colorful yet simple. The book really speaks to the imagination of a preschooler and just what a father would do for his child.

The book’s story is very sweet and simple. It shows the little girl riding her fathers back and as each page going faster! faster! appearing on all different animals like a rabbit, horse and a turtle, of course all of them is just daddy. The last page shows daddy all pooped out and telling the dad that he was fast. Really cute and sweet.

I really can’t wait to share this book with my daughter and I hope it promotes her imagination as much as the little girl in the book. Patricelli is also known for her book “Higher! Higher!”, which features a little girl playing with her mother (another gem, BTW). If you are a new parent I would highly recommend this book.

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Author: R. Kikuo Johnson
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Toon Books
Release Date: April 10, 2012

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to sharks, the minute I see the word on a book or any format I can’t help but pick it up. “The Shark King” is an interesting little title. The story is a simple but it’s message might be a little too much for its aimed target of grades 2-3. The book is setup as an easy-to-read comic and does contains some intriguing illustrations. I give R. Kikuo Johnson credit for creating these characters and really bringing the spirit of Hawaii to the pages.

The story of “The Shark King” takes place in the islands of Hawaii and introduces us to Nanaue. After his mother falls in love with a man, who turns out to be The Shark King, Nanaue is born with a unique yearning. He doesn’t know that his father is the king of the sea but he has this urge to be in the water and a very big appetite for the ocean. Since Nanaue is different, he ends up trying to find out who his truly is.

If you are aware of the story of the Shark King, you know that this was obviously a very kid friendly adaption of it. I enjoyed the simplicity of the book and its illustrations but I couldn’t really get over the fact that the boy had a pair of teeth in his back, kind of put me off. Either way, kids might still enjoy this book with is a quick read but not for me.

Author: Marion Billet
Hardcover: 12 pages
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Release Date: August 1, 2011

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

If you have child then you should definitely known about Noodle.  This isn’t the first book in the series though, Noodle loves many things including cuddling, the Beach, Bedtime, and the farm. In this book we follow Noodle’s love to eat. The book is really great for babies and toddlers ages 1-3.  I really enjoyed the fact that it was extremely colorful and extremely educational.

Marion Billet really scored with these Noddle books.  Her illustrations are just so cute and the use of the touch and feel throughout the book is very smart. Whether it ranges from soft bread to smoochy cheese to bumpy peas, this book really makes eating a fun and also visual journey. I see this book coming in very handy with my daughter over the next few years as she starts learning food (and fussing food, as well). I look forward to what Marion and Nosy Crow have planned next.

Author: Sarah McMenemy
Reading level: Ages 5 and up
Hardcover: 20 pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: April 24, 2012

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have had the privileged of spending out of time in Washington D.C. as I used to commute there to work on a regular basis.  Even though I spent a lot of time there I was never able to see all of the site due to work.  Washington D.C. is known for its wonderful landmarks.  I look forward to taking a trip here with my daughter and wife and experience these wonderful sites together.  Well until that time comes this book is a great way to introduce my daughter to some of the famous site of our nation’s capitol.

Sarah McMenemy’s illustrations continue to provide simply yet elegant views of its focused cities.  Like other 3D Keepsake Cityscape books, this short but sweet accordion book really makes you want to visit D.C..  Out of the dozen landmarks included in this book, some of them include the Capitol Building, the Vietnam Memorial, the Supreme Court and of course,  the White House. I can’t wait till I will be able to share this book with my daughter (now two weeks old) and show her where daddy used to work.  I look forward to future 3D Keepsake Cityscape books from Candlewick.

Author: Sarah McMenemy
Reading level: Ages 5 and up
Hardcover: 20 pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: March 13, 2012

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I personally have never been to Paris there is something about this city that really creates intrigue. This book is aimed at children and succeeds to educate. The book is tiny and only runs 20 pages but delivers some decent information throughout. Once you remove the book from its slipcase, it almost turns into a classic pop-out book with each page contains a famous site from Paris.

Some of the famous sites included are Notre-Dame De Paris, Moulin Rouge, The Opera and of course, The Eiffel Tower. The colors used in the book have a pastel feel but still are simply enough to not feel cartoonish. If are looking to find out or educate your children on the beauties of Paris, this would be a good place to start. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a 3D cityscape for a book but this beautiful designed accordion-fold book really left me satisfied .

Author: Paul Scanlon, Michael Gross
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: May 29, 2012

Our Score: 1 out of 5 stars

“The Book of Alien” was first published in 1978 and has been re-released to match the upcoming release of Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus”. Let’s just say this book is amazing…if you are compare it back to 1978 standards. The softcover book barely runs over 100 pages and looks like it was made on a photo copy machine. The pages include text that are off-center and almost get cut off the page. There are many of tons of other great making-of “Alien” books and I would recommend you check those out…way before you purchase this.

This book is basically a behind-the-scenes art book for the 1978 “Alien” movie. They give some pretty cool concept art images from artists Ron Cobb, Chris Foss and H.R. Giger but they are low quality and the paper stock is very thin. Like many “art-of” books there is no interaction from the cast, production crew.  The information provided besides the images are weak and if you are looking for an in-depth look into the film’s production, you will be disappointed.  If you are looking for the ultimate “Alien” book check out “Alien Vault: The Definitive Story of the Making of the Film”.

James J. Sullos Jr. is the President of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. and Cathy Wilbanks is the Archivist of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. They took out some time to chat with Media Mikes to discuss Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic novel “A Princess of Mars” – the first novel in Burroughs’ Barsoom series and Disney’s film “John Carter”. Both James & Cathy also helped create the bonus feature on the “John Carter” Blu-ray called “100 Years In The Making.”

Mike Gencarelli: What`s the best part of working on Mr. Burroughs’s Legacy?
Jim Sullos: Mr. Burroughs wrote over 70 novels and 40 short stories. There is no end to the literary content that he created. I continually read material that has not been published for quite a few years and yet the storyline are still exciting. That why his legacy is never ending.
Cathy Wilbanks: I really enjoy working with the archives because every day is an opportunity to find treasures. The archives are filled with amazing artifacts from the past and I have the pleasure of discovering each and every one.

MG: What do you think Burroughs would have thought of this adaptation of “John Carter”?
JS: Burroughs would have been pleased that the movie accurately portrayed much of what was in his first novel “A Princess of Mars”. And he would have been amazed that current technology could finally do justice to his vivid imagination which was not possible until CGI was developed.

MG: What scene did you most enjoy in “John Carter”?
JS: It is very difficult to select just one scene that I most enjoyed because the whole movie was an incredible joy to see. Andrew Stanton was a genius in bringing visualization to the entire storyline that had never been seen before. As I watched the movie I could feel the passion he devoted to each segment of the film. Picking one scene would not be fair to so many successful portrayals of this timeless story.
CW: My favorite scene in the movie would have to be when John Carter saves Dejah during the marriage ceremony. My favorite character would have to be John Carter, but Woola is a close second!

MG: This big adaption of “John Carter” was 100 Years In The Making, what was the biggest challenge to get it right?
CW: The biggest challenge was finding an actor to portray Edgar Rice Burroughs. We were able to talk John Burroughs, ERB’s grandson, into taking on the part. When I saw the film for the first time, I was amazed to watch John interact in the background because he resembles ERB so much. It was like ERB was back with us again.

MG: How do you feel that the film “John Carter” interpreted the novel “A Princess of Mars?
JS: I think Andrew Stanton, the fabulous Director, who read all of the 11 Mars books as a youngster gave Dejah Thoris an added dimension as both a scientist and an accomplished fighter, greatly expanding her role with positive effects.

MG: What do you think makes the book “A Princess of Mars” so unique?
JS: At the time this book was written in 1911-1912, the scientific knowledge of planet Mars was limited and scientists had to guess as to the makeup of the surface of the planet. Mr. Burroughs novel gave a vivid description in detail of Mars that persisted for decades as the imaginary life that might exist on any planet in the universe.

MG: What were Burroughs’ sentiments toward filming his works in general?
CW: Edgar Rice Burroughs moved from Chicago to the San Fernando Valley in 1919 so he could be closer to the Hollywood scene. He was very excited and realized that he wanted to move in that direction. However, once filming started, he realized that he had to give up some of the control of how his characters were portrayed. Burroughs was mostly frustrated with the portrayal of Tarzan. He wanted his TARZAN to be portrayed as an intelligent, insightful heroand did not like the line “Me Tarzan, You Jane.”

MG: Can you give us some examples of the artifacts you worked with in the treasure trove of ERB material?
CW: The archives at Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. are filled with historical treasures. I have had the pleasure of holding in my hands many first edition books, a huge variety of comic books, toys, merchandise from around the world, movie props like a pterodactyl, and of course, original art. But some of the most meaningful artifacts include the handwritten TARZAN Of THE APES manuscript as well as the A PRINCESS OF MARS manuscript and personal letters signed by Edgar Rice Burroughs himself.

MG: Despite being a hundred years old, the characters of ‘John Carter’ and the Barsoom series are still relevant and don’t feel the least bit dated. Why do you think that is?
CW: Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the story focusing on human conditions such as love and conflict. He understood that to have a successful story, he must include factors that would have a wide appeal. The ‘John Carter’ character was developed with characteristics like humor, intelligence, emotion and strength. John Carter (Taylor Kitch) is very ‘relate-able’ which makes the story current in today’s world.

MG: We wouldn’t have Star Wars if it wasn’t for Princess of Mars, do you think pop culture gives Burroughs the credit he deserves for being such an influence?
CW: No, I don’t believe pop culture gives Edgar Rice Burroughs enough credit. He was a gifted, prolific writer and unfortunately has not been recognized for his contributions.

MG: Do you think there should be a sequel to John Carter movie? If you had to choose another adaption of Burroughs to be made into a feature, which would it be?
JS: I definitely think a sequel should follow. First, I would hope that the planned sequels will be produced because they will show the path that John Carter took to become the “Warlord of Mars”. There are 11 ‘Mars’ books that can be drawn on to create several more exciting movies. But in addition Mr. Burroughs wrote many other science fiction novels and particularly intriguing is the Venus series which portrays the hero Carson Napier who planned to fly his spaceship to Mars but miscalibrated and ended up on Venus to discover an unknown world.

MG: Will there other movies on the books of Edgar Rice Burroughs?
JS: At the present time Warner Bros. has in development a Tarzan live-action. And Constantin films will release its first Tarzan 3D animated film in 2013. We are currently in discussion with several producers who are looking at other Burroughs novels for potential new films.

Author: G K Stritch
Hardcover: 246 pages
Publisher: Full Court Press

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“CBGB Was My High School” is a coming of age biography written by G K Stritch. The book is being released via Full Court Press and is more than just your normal biography. Not only does Stritch tell her story of growing up and details the trials and tribulations that come with that but she also incorporates the growth of the NY art/music scene during what I feel is one of the City’s most interesting periods.

This book is a fun and quick read that will have the reader not wanting to put this book down. The growth of places like Max’s Kansas City and CBGB’s are seamlessly interspersed with Stritch’s own accounts of her times at these places. Stritch’s words paint a picture that makes you feel like you are a fly on the wall taking it all in.

From abusive relationships to meeting a former first lady author G K Stritch covers it all. “CBGB Was My High School” is an honest look at 70’s/80’s New York told from the perspective of someone who was there. Even if biographies aren’t your thing give this book a chance. I don’t think you will regret it.

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Author: Jenny Lerew
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: May 30, 2012

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I would consider myself one of the biggest fans of Pixar’s work. I even enjoyed “Cars 2”, even though it wasn’t the smartest film they have ever done. Since seeing the trailer to “Brave”, I haven’t been completely wowed yet. It looks decent but I don’t really see the Pixar charm. This book definitely delivers that charm and has totally kick started my interest to see this film. It really draws you in into its artistic world. I felt myself going back and forth within this book trying to soak it all in.  Honestly couldn’t put it down and I know it will be revisited frequently…especially after seeing the film.

For Pixar, “Brave”, which is their thirteenth feature film, is a very important film for them, especially following up “Cars 2”. It is also their first feature film to be driven by a female lead and set in an historical period. In this book we get to meet the Disney’s latest princess Merida and get completely emerged on her journey of magic, danger and adventure and most importantly bonds of family.  You also get an inside look at all of the film’s characters and drawn in by all of the beautiful landscapes that the film takes place in.

When I pick up an “Art of”, I really expect amazing concept art from the film, especially from the talent of Pixar. This book features not only delivers out-of-this-world concept art but also some really interesting behind-the-scenes interviews with the artists and filmmakers from “Brave”. There is also color scripts, sculptures, and storyboards. You really get great insight into this film and its adventure that it will take you on. Once aspect that I really enjoyed was the fact that their was concept art dating back all the way to 2004. It just shows how much work really goes into making a film like “Brave”.

This book is authored by Jenny Lerew, an animation story artist and most recently worked on the DreamWorks Animation film “How to Train Your Dragon”. She really does a great job of wheeling you into the film and giving a great insight into the creative process. I also enjoyed the preface from John Lasseter and foreword from the directors of “Brave”, Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews. Since these people are tightly involved with Pixar, you can tell that this book has the Pixar approval. As always Chronicle Books scored again with there “Art of” books. Look forward to their next release.

Author: Barbara Robertson
Hardcover: 156 pages
Publisher: Insight Editions
Release Date: May 15, 2012

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to animated films, I always love to check out the “Art of” books since they are always the best. “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” is definitely no different. The book is extremely colorful and I really enjoyed reading/looking through it. Dreamworks Animation really has CGI films down also including the “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda” series. I haven’t seen “Madagascar 3” yet but after reading this book, I am now very much more interested to see it. I also really enjoyed the foreword from Chris Rock, it is a great way to kick off this book.

“The Art of Madagascar 3” focuses on all aspects of the film ranging from character design, development art, and special effects. This really showcases the amazing work that the artists at DreamWorks Animation did for this film. There is a breakdown of every new character from this installment including a very detailed descriptions. Since the film is very location based, there is a detailed concept art showing where the film takes place ranging from New York to Monte Carlo. I also really enjoyed the specific focus on the visual effects from various scenes in the film. This book also doesn’t just include CGI pictures from the movie, literally every shot is a unique drawing from the film.

If you are a fan of this series, then you are going to definitely want to check out this book. It really has a little bit for everyone of all ages. For kids it focuses on the film’s notable characters and for adults it includes details aspects from the artists that brought them to life. The images in the book are extremely high quality and really sharp. The colors are the page literally jump off and look really great. Insight Editions succeeds again with this release. They continue to release great “Art of” books for Dreamworks Animation films and they deliver yet another excellent book.

According to author Steve Alten in his May newsletter, he is reporting that his “Domain” series is being turned into a film set for release in November 2012, just in time for the ‘end’ on December 21, 2012.

Here is what Steve reported below:
“Three years ago I optioned the DOMAIN dramatic rights to a film company out of Columbia that has done a few low budget, hi-octane features. DOMAIN would be a big fish for them, but they do quality work. According to their lead producer, they’d film in June and release in November (English, no subtitles). Fingers crossed, updates in June.”

Here is the premise for Steve Alten’s “Domain”:
Archaeologist Julius Gabriel has devoted his life to studying the Mayan calendar, a 2,500-year-old enigma that ends abruptly on December 21, 2012. Many believe this foretells the end of the world. Julius is convinced it’s one of many pieces to a puzzle that could lead to the salvation of our species. He has passed on his knowledge to the only person who ever believed his theories—his son Mick.

It is now the fall of 2012 and Mick is still haunted by his father’s predictions. He’s been committed to a Miami asylum for paranoid schizophrenia, and the dawn of his most feared prophecies is upon him. When inquisitive psychologist Dominique Vazquez joins the team at the South Florida Treatment Center, Mick finds a new listener for his warnings of the coming Apocalypse. What Dominique doesn’t realize is that she is his last hope of saving humanity.

Author: PopMatters
Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: May 1, 2012

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I am one of the biggest fans of Joss Whedon and this is easily the Essential Guide to the Whedonverse.  I just feel like it more accumulated knowledge from the internet, than an actual bio on his career.  The book runs at almost 500 pages and covers everything in Whedon’s career from his TV Series, Movies, Comic Books and more.

Included within this book are essays and interviews about Whedon’s work and also conversations with key collaborators Jane Espenson and Tim Minear.  Since this book is complied by 40 contributors from PopMatters, I feel that the direction of the book is a little confused.  This is why I am never a real big fan of unofficial companions, it just doesn’t seem like the information is original.  I mean, the book definitely contains EVERYTHING you need to know about Joss Whedon but seems to be miss a proper narrative.

Where you are a fan of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Angel”, “Firefly”, “Dollhouse”, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”,  or the upcoming “The Avengers”, this book has it.  I also noticed that there is a lack of illustration in the book.  I would have liked to see images to accompany this vast amount of information.  Even if PopMatters, didn’t have rights to the screenshots, I would have liked to see some fan art…just something to push the book a long.  If you are a die-hard fan of Whedon and his work, you should check this out but don’t expect much besides a bunch of known information about his work.

Author: Ken A. Priebe
Paperback: 329 pages
Publisher: Course Technology PTR
Release Date: June 17, 2010

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have always been a huge fan of stop-motion animation, since I saw the film “The Nightmare Before Christmas” back in 1993. Since then there has been many more films like “Coraline” that have be made in this fantastic field. I also grew up watching Rankin/Bass specials like “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” and “The Year Without Santa Clause”. Click here to read our interview with Arthur Rankin Jr. I just have always been fascinated with animation in general. Be sure to check out the amazing foreword from stop-action legend Henry Selick (“The Nightmare Before Christmas” & “Coraline”).

This book provides a very in-depth look at the art and techniques of stop-motion animation. The obvious aim for this book is more of a teaching tool, then casually viewing but nonetheless it is very informative as well as education. It is also not only to new learners but also helps experienced stop-motion artists explore different methods and new advanced technology used by major film studios today. 2012 actually brings a swarm of stop-motion films including “Pirates! Band of Misfits” and Paranorman” hitting theaters.

Other aspects covered in this book contains the basic principles of animation, focus on status including information on camera rigs, effects, and shooting stop-motion in stereoscopic 3D. There is even focus on puppet design and computer models for stop-motion productions. I personally really enjoyed the thorough history of early feature-length stop-motion films. Overall this book will have something for all different types of artists who are still supporting this format and are behind its revival in today’s history.  The book overall is also very conversational and easy to read, which makes me recommend this book very highly for all people in the animation field.

Author(s): Ray Harryhausen, Tony Dalton
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Aurum Press
Release Date: May 1, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Ray Harryhausen is such a legend and the creator of so many film special effects that were pre-CGI. Some of the classic films he is known for are “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad”, “Clash of the Titans”, “Jason and the Argonauts” and “One Million Years BC”. This book is a must for Harryhausen fans. More importantly this book is authored by Harryhausen himself, so you know that it is the most accurate and up close and personal information available. It is co-authored by Tony Dalton, who has known Ray for more than 30 years. He worked on the publicity for such iconic films such as “The Omen”, “Star Wars”, and “The Towering Inferno”. To sum up, if you are looking for a rare look into Harryhausen work, then look no further than this book.

Showcased in this book are some really amazing never-before-seen film artifacts, which were recently discovered in a garage in Los Angeles. The aspect of this books that I enjoyed the most are various outtake prints from his films, early concept drawings and storyboards.  There is also a lot of personal artifacts such as written letters, production budgets, and even a diary which describes Ray’s first meeting with his mentor Willis O’Brien.  I am fan of production art and there is some really cool publicity posters and rare brochures included also.  A lot of the images included are kind-of raw and provide a unique look into this amazing era of filmmaking. It also covers all of the films that he worked on and even from some projects which where never made like Harryhausen’s version of “War of the Worlds”. I could imagined that film would have been awesome.

Since this is formed in nature of a scrapbook, it really creates an amazing visual journey. The book is setup so beautifully that it is hard to turn the page. Each page feels like a work of art and a lot of love has gone into each one. The images are also extremely vibrant and colorful. If you are a fan of these films you will really jump at the chance to get an inside look into some of these productions whether it is rare pages from the scripts and productions. Also to top off this amazing book is an amazing foreword from writer/director John Landis.  Kudos to Aurum Press on releasing another impressive book covering the work of Harryhausen.