Book Review: The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo

The world is dark, and light is precious.

Come closer, dear reader.

You must trust me.

I am telling you a story.

Summary: Despereaux's story might never have been told except for the request of the author's friend's son. He asked Kate DiCamillo to write a story about an unlikely hero with "exceptionally large ears." And so, The Tale of Despereaux: being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread was born. 

This is the story of Despereaux, a mouse who is not like the other castle mice. He does not love crumbs, and scurrying, and the taste of library paste. He loves music. And reading stories. And then, he falls in love with the human Princess Pea. This is also the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who dreams of becoming something that surely she cannot. And, it is also the story of the dungeon rat Roscuro, who lives in the dark but longs for the world above his dreary abode, the one bathed in light. Three different characters. Three different quests. Yet all their paths are destined to cross. To what end? 

For Teachers and Librarians:

First and foremost, your little charges - and the not so little ones - will find themselves completely immersed in this tale of love, and castles, and royalty, and quests, and bravery, and fear, and loyalty, and grief, and learning who one is and where one fits in the world. A side-study of medieval castle life would be an interesting avenue to take along with reading The Tale of Despereaux. Have your students create labeled drawings of what they think the castle Despereaux lives in is like. Or how about completing reports of what the life of a medieval knight was like? Let the kids prepare skits acting out a quest they devise for a young knight in a kingdom of their own imaging. You can discuss themes of being different, of not fitting in, and how to deal with that. Or, since soup figures prominently in this story, how about a fun (and nutritional) aside of creating their own classroom soup? Work together to write up the recipe, then actually make it at school and let them sample their efforts. There are loads of references to dark and light. Perhaps a discussion - or whole-class experiment - on what their feelings are when sitting in a dark classroom with all shades drawn and lights off, as opposed to one with all blinds open and lights on? So many possibilities, but unfortunately not enough space here to list them all. What ideas come to you after reading this book?

For Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers:

Whether you read this one aloud to your sweeties, or whether they read it on their own, The Tale of Despereaux is a book that just has that certain...something. It's a story that grabs you and pulls you in. Despereaux and Miggery Sow and the Princess Pea and Roscuro and all the other characters are so deftly described and shown, that you feel as if you've known them all your life. Your kids will be totally drawn into the story. Be prepared for calls of, "Just one more chapter? Pleeeeeease?" Especially for those kiddos who might feel a bit "out of the loop," a bit "different," or who feel they're not who or what everyone wants them to be, they will see in Despereaux's story what they've been hoping was true: that it is OK to be different. That everyone is here for a reason, and so are they. And that is a good thing.

For the Kids:

Despereaux knows what he likes. He likes books, and music, and he falls in love with the human princess who lives in his castle. But here's the problem: Despereaux is a mouse. And all the other mice make sure he knows he's different. Miggery Sow is a poor human girl who has lived a hard life. Through a happy accident, she finds herself living in the castle, where she believes her life will change in a wonderful way that most others believe is totally not happening. Roscuro is a dungeon rat who wants to live in the light, but can never seem to get there, and he's made fun of for wanting that. All three of these characters don't know it, but their destinies are all twined together. How? You'll have to read The Tale of Despereaux (or get someone to read it to you) and find out!

For Everyone Else:

Children's book it may be, but The Tale of Despereaux is a story that you will not be able to put down. Who among us hasn't felt at one time or another to be the odd one out, a little bit different, or longing for a different life? Careful - you may love this one so much, you'll start seeking out other kid's novels to read. But then, isn't that a good thing? A great story is a great story, no matter who it's written for.

Wrapping Up:

The Tale of Despereaux is the kind of book that can connect to almost any reader of any age, and will have you so engrossed, you'll quite forget where you are for a minute once you're finished reading. You may even find yourself a little sad that it's over. Find your copy today, and you'll see what I mean.

Title: The Tale of Despereaux

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Illustrator: Timothy Basil Ering

Pages: 272

Reading Level: 7-12 years

Publisher and Date: Candlewick Press, 2003

Edition: 1st

Language: English

Published In: United States

Price: $17.99

ISBN-10: 0763617229

ISBN-13: 978-0763617226

Sandcastles, Sculptures and Fun! Oh, My!

Ahhh, sand: You can dig in it. You can bury your toes in it. You can throw it at your sister (though that may not be wise - especially if you're both adults now and she's faster than you...) But the coolest thing about sand is that you can build with it - everything from the most rudimentary castle to the most intricate sculpture. And where there are sand castles and sand sculptures, there are bound to be competitions - and I found plenty:

If You Hurry, You Can Still Catch These:

This year's Sandcastle and Sculpture Day, held annually on Jetties Beach and sponsored by the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce and the Nantucket Island School of Design and the Arts (NISDA), is all set for tomorrow, August 15, 2009. If you registered by the August 14 deadline and paid your $10 fee to compete, you'll be up to your knees and elbows in sand come tomorrow. Missed the deadline? Not gifted with Mad Sculpting Skills? No worries - you can spectate the festivities and cheer on the more artistic among us absolutely free.

Not to be outdone, Crane Beach in Ipswitch, Massachusetts is holding their own sand sculpture competition tomorrow, too: Crane Beach SandBlast! This year's theme is "From Ship to Shore," celebrating Ipswitch's 375th anniversary as well as the town's maritime land and sea history. Enter to join the competition, or watch the masters at work - it sounds fun either way!

Rats! Missed These for This Year, But Thank Goodness For Digital Pics:

Already tired of sand between your toes as Summer 2009

winds down? There's no time like the present to start planning for next year. Here are a few competitions already done for 2009, but check 'em out - you may want to wander to one of these next year:

• Family Sand Sculpture Competition - Held in Ocean Park, Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
• New England Sand Sculpting Festival - Held in Revere Beach, Massachusetts. The link will take you to the event's main page - great pics of past entries that will blow your mind!
• U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition - Held in Imperial Beach, San Diego, California. Here's a Sand Diego News Network article about this year's festivities, complete with fab photos.
• Annual SandSations Sandcastle Competition - Held in Long Beach, Washington. Free Hot dogs! Evening bonfire! Sculptors of all abilities! Fun! Check out the Long Beach Peninsula Visitor's Bureau's website for pics of this year's winners.
• Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest - This June 2009 marked their 45th annual competition - fun for the whole family. Check out cannon-beach.net for pics from past contests.

Monkey See, Monkey Do:

So, now that you've seen all these fantastic creations, do you find yourself yearning to try a little sculpting out yourself, either in your trusty backyard sandbox, or that great big sandbox we like to call "the beach?" Well, do I have just the thing for ya... Here is a great resource for those who want to dig in and get building: Sand Castle Tips by Barbara J. Feldman. This kid-friendly site lists links to other (also kid-friendly) sites with lots of great information to help you build the sandcastle or sculpture idea that's rattling around in your now-inspired brain, no matter what your age or ablility. (Make sure to visit Sand Castle Central - a definite "must-surf-to" filled with lots of sand-castle-y wisdom.)

Virtual Voyeur:

And finally, if you just can't get enough sand sculpture pictures, here's a link to a Google images search for "sandcastle competitions" that brings up lots and lots of amazing sand masterpieces. Gaze and enjoy!

Wonderful Weirdos of Literature Series 2013 - Installment #15

Welcome to the fourth and final post for the Fourth Annual Bugs and Bunnies Wonderful Weirdos of Literature Series. If you missed any of the earlier three posts, no worries; just click on the link above and you'll be all caught up in no time. Go ahead – we'll wait.

Back now? Great! To date, we've explored three different Variations on the Overall Weirdo Theme, and thirteen different books. (Don't be nervous, triskaidekaphobes, we'll rectify that number shortly, by adding four new ones today.)

• Installment #12 was Odd Ducks 
• Installment #13 was Outliers 
• Installment #14 was Orphans in Odd Situations

Today's installment is:

Out of This World

These books have the total complement of weird – weird characters and weird situations, all taking place in weird and wonderful worlds:

Liesl and Po
Written by Lauren Oliver
Illustrated by Kei Acedera
Ages 8 and up

Three nights after the death of her father, Liesl is lying awake in her small attic room when she notices a shadow. It shifts, and suddenly a ghost is standing next to her desk. Its name, she learns, is Po. The ghost is neither boy nor girl, it insists. And it has a pet, Bundle, which is neither cat nor dog. As with Po, Bundle just...is. The three strike up a friendship, as well as a plan for Liesl to escape her attic prison and the stepmother who has locked her away.

The very same night, alchemist's assistant Will detours from his expected path to pause on the street and gaze up, as is his habit, at a small attic window of a house, hoping for a glimpse of the girl who lives there. When he does not see her, he continues, disappointed, to his expected destination. Once there, in his haste to make up for lost time and his exhaustion at being out at so late an hour, Will makes a mistake. Innocent though it is, this mistake incites the wrath of the alchemist, and Will is forced to run.

When the children's and ghosts' flight paths converge, they soon discover that Will's mistake has had great consequences not only for Liesl and Will on the side of the living, but also for Po and Bundle on the Other Side.

Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger
Written by Kevin Bolger
Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
Ages 9 and up

Prince Harry is the only son of his father, King Reginald the Not Very Realistic. Though the king has dreams of Harry's someday life as a knight of the Kingdom of Armpit, Harry is far more interested in practical jokes and making such magic as may be done by sleight-of-hand. (Real magic, of course, can only be made by wizards and enchanters.)

Known about the castle as the Royal Pain, Harry has just angered yet another knight in the castle (Sir Bedwetter) with his not-very-squire-like behavior. With not many knights left who haven't already been subjected to Harry's pranks, Richard begins to despair of his son ever living the knightly life.

But then a famous knight comes calling at the castle. His name? Sir Fartsalot. He's on a quest to find the Foul West Wind – a smell most vile, which blows about the land whenever evil is near. When Sir Fartsalot announces his intention to continue his quest the next morning, the quick-thinking king seizes the opportunity: assigning Harry as the knight's squire.

Before they leave, the brave Sir Fartsalot saves a child from the moat monster. When the child points at the bewildered knight and blurts out, "Booger!", the quick-thinking prince seizes the opportunity: saving the child's mother from mortification, modifying the old knight's quest, and creating some fun for himself in the process – or so he thinks.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Written by Catherynne M. Valente
Illustrations by Ana Juan
Ages 10 and up

Twelve-year-old September is a young girl living an ordinary life in Nebraska, and she is quite tired of it. The Green Wind notices, and decides to swoop in through her kitchen window and offer her an escape. September jumps at the chance, joining the Green Wind on his Leopard of Little Breezes and trying her best to listen to the rules she must follow as they fly on to Fairyland. But the Green Wind can take her only to the border.

Once there, a surly gnome named Betsy Basilstalk pushes September through, but not before flinging some golden jelly in her eyes so she can see Fairyland as it actually is. Once in Fairyland, September encounters witches named Hello, Goodbye, and Manythanks (one of whom is a wairwulf – not to be confused with a werewolf). They send her on a quest to retrieve Goodbye's spoon, stolen from her nine years before by the Marquess – an individual quite young yet greatly feared by those in Fairyland. In return, September asks the witches for safe passage back to her home, as well as a favor as yet unnamed.

Bargain struck, September sets off. Along the way, she befriends a "wyverary" named A-Through-L (who believes he has a wyvern for a mother and a library for a father), a marid named Saturday, and a 112-year-old living paper lantern named Gleam, who all journey with her at one time or another. And it's a good thing she has them, because this quest that she hoped would be very straightforward? Turns out to be anything but.

A Hat Full of Sky
Written by Terry Pratchett
Ages 8 and up

Tiffany Aching, the "big wee hag" of the  six-inch-tall, blue-tattoo-skinned, Nac Mac Feegle – fiercest of the fairy races, has just left the chalk hills of her ancestral home, off to learn to use magic. She is apprenticed to Miss Level, a witch with one mind but two bodies and not – as many mistakenly assume – a pair of twins.

As she travels, something sinister follows Tiffany – a creature without form, drawn by her power. She senses its ominous presence, though she doesn't know what it is, nor does she realize it's coming for her. Rob Anybody, Big Man of the Chalk Hill Feegle Clan, does, though. With the blessing of his Kelda, Rob sets off with his Nac Mac Feegle brothers to try and save Tiffany.

But the only one who can save Tiffany is herself. And this time, it will take a lot more than a frying pan and a fiery spirit.

* * *

That's all for this year! I hope you enjoyed reading about these wonderfully weird literary adventures. Better yet, I hope these posts sent you on a quest to find a few of the books and read them for yourselves.

If you know of any books for young people that you'd like to see featured in next year's celebration (the Fifth Annual!), please drop me a line and let me know about them: bugs and bunnies (at) verizon (dot) net.

Before you go, here's one final rumination on weirdness:

"Be weird. Be random. Be who you are, because you never know who would love the person you hide."
               – Anonymous

Don't Put Away That Sandshovel!

Summer may be winding down, but that doesn't mean you have to abandon playing in the sand. There are still quite a few sand sculpture festivals and competitions yet to be held, both family-friendly and professional:

Sandcastle and Sculpture Day - Held annually on the third Saturday in August, on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. The 2011 competition is this Saturday, August 20th, so if you're hoping to enter, you'd better hop to. The application deadline is Friday, August 19th. 

•  Sand Sculpture Contest - Held annually at Point Reyes National Seashore, California. They'll be holding their 30th annual contest on September 4, 2011.
• North American Sandsculpting Championship - Held as part of Virginia Beach, Virginia's annual Neptune Festival, and spanning several days. This year's celebrations - the 38th annual - are from September 28-October 9, 2011. 
• Sand Castle Days - Held on South Padre Island, Texas. This year's festivities - the 24th annual - run from October 19-23, 2011.  
• The American Sandsculpting Championship Festival - Fort Meyers Beach, Florida's 25th annual competition is set for November 2-6, 2011.

Itching to get building, but not sure how to prepare? No worries. I dug around and found some basic sand sculpture building tips to get you started, courtesy of Sandscapes.com and KarmaKrew.org. These tips are helpful for sand sculptors ranging from tall to small, and everywhere in between:

First, gather your supplies. 

You don't have to go out and get any special gear. Just poke around in your kitchen, garage, anywhere there's miscellaneous stuff, and see what you've got that you could use. First and foremost, you'll need big water buckets - some of those giant 5 gallon plastic paint buckets work well, if you have a few empties hanging 'round the garage. And you'll need shovels - long handled ones with short scoops are ideal - and the more, the better. After that, use your imagination: pastry knife, old paintbrushes, spoons, butter knives, toothpicks, water spray bottles, rakes, ice cream scoopers, drinking straws, funnels...really, anything that looks like it might be even a little bit useful. You should also have a drawing or photo of what you'll be building, so you have a reference to work from.

Next, find your spot.
Pick a spot on the beach. Scoop up a golfball-sized wad of wet sand into your hand and form it in a ball. If that sand ball can roll around on your flat palm without breaking apart, you've found your building spot. You also want to pick a spot close to the water - 'cause you'll need lots of water - but not so close that your masterpiece will get washed away by the next big wave. Check for the high water mark, and use that as a guide for where you want to park your project.


Then, prepare your sand.

You'll need very wet sand. Very wet sand. Did I mention VERY WET sand? Dig a hole close to the water, but not too close (see above suggestion), scooping out that VERY WET sand from the hole and piling it onto the flattened out spot where you've decided to build. If digging a big hole doesn't get you down to the water table for that drippy wet sand, or if you can't get enough sand that way, haul water up from the ocean/lake/body of water with your buckets and dump it on the sand. 

As you pile up the VERY WET sand, form it into a rough approximation of the shape of the thing you're sculpting. (It could be a castle, sure. But, it could also be a mermaid, or a giant spider, or a dragon, or even a life-size sculpture of Chuck Norris. Be creative!) Anyway, pile that sand up, gently jiggling each plop you add to the pile, so that it settles into the sand beneath and it all bonds together - do not pat, punch, stomp the sand. Gently jiggle. Jiggle. Jiggle. Keep plopping and jiggling until your pile looks big enough for what you're planning to carve it into.

Finally, get sculpting.
Carve out the details, and turn that sculpture idea into reality. Here's where you get to use all those odds-and-ends you gathered back in the first step. And don't forget those most wondrous of sculpting tools that you always have on you - your own hands and fingers. 

Keep referring back to your drawing/photo/reference to keep yourself on track as you sculpt the sand. Always start at the top and work your way down, and keep the sand wet (remember that water spray bottle?). And remember: patience. Carve out a little at a time, not in big chunks, and you'll have more control, making your sculpture look just the way you imagined it would. And if something goes wrong, just adapt and go with it. You may find that what you thought was a big mistake takes your work of art into a totally unexpected, yet fantastic direction. And don't forget to take a picture when you're done. Your sandy sculpture won't last forever, but at least your memory of it can.

* * *

 

Now, go have fun!

Book Review: The Sorcerer's Letterbox, by Simon Rose

The Sorcerer's Letterbox begins with a mysterious encounter in England, in 1740, between the queen, and a monk known only as Brother William.  The queen fears for the safety of her son, and has a vision that this monk - who has a reputation as a sorcerer - has something for her that will protect him from harm. He does indeed, and hands her what appears to be an ordinary box before she hurries away.

Who is Brother William?  What was the queen's vision?  And how is an ordinary box going to save her son?

The story jumps forward hundreds of years, to a boy named Jack. Jack's father owns an antique shop, and had long ago given him an antique wooden box that had been in his family for generations.  One day, a small drawer in the box popped open, revealing a scroll, containing a letter written in Middle English.  Later, at his father's shop, a mysterious visitor reveals to Jack - who is the spitting image of the boy king, Edward V - that he is the only one who can respond to the scroll.  "Lives are at stake!"

Overview:

Thus begins a time-traveling thrill ride that pits Jack and Edward against the king's nefarious uncle, who intends to kill Edward and his brother in order to keep the throne for himself.  The two boys are aided in their adventure by a girl named Meg, who knows her way around the hidden passages in the castle where the boy king is imprisoned with his brother.  Together, Jack and Meg work to try and save Edward and his brother from certain doom.

This book is a spine-tingling journey through space and time, filled with danger, evil plots, and seemingly impossible situations, with lots of plot twists, turns and surprises to keep the reader on the edge of their seat!

For Teachers and Librarians:

This book is based on the historical story known as The Princes in the Tower, where King Edward IV of England died, leaving his young son to be crowned King Edward V at 12 years old.  But, Edward IV's brother Richard took the throne for his own by exploiting a technicality, and imprisoned Edward V and his brother in the the Tower of London. They were gradually seen less and less until no one saw them out at all.  The suspicion was that Richard killed his nephews, but it was never proven, and conspiracy theories abound.  This book would be a perfect accompaniment to an English history unit.  Or a unit on the English monarchy.  Or a mystery unit.  The possibilities are endless!  

For Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers:

This is a great book to get reluctant readers excited about reading.  Full of action, adventure, mystery, and a hint of rebelliousness, they can't help but get pulled into the story, either by reading it themselves, or having it read to them.  It is a good way to get them interested in history, as well as mystery books.  Once they've read this, it would be so easy to help them go online or to the library and find out the real details of The Princes in the Tower, and perhaps find more mystery books, to keep them reading.

For Kids:

The Sorcerer's Letterbox has it all: mystery, adventure, kids in charge, time travel...  Imagine, four kids are the only ones who can save the true King of England!  They have to battle evil uncles, wiggle through secret tunnels underneath a moat, sneak through hidden passages in castle walls, escape from peasants hoping to turn them in and collect a reward, all while trying to be sure each of them ends up in their right time without losing their lives in the process.  Do the princes survive?  Does Jack ever get back to his own time?  And how does Meg figure into all of this?  Curious?  Then go pick up the book and get started... you won't be disappointed.

For Everyone Else:

This is a great book for the history buff - history from a kid's perspective is quite different from The Establishment's point of view.  No one really knows what happened to The Princes in the Tower, but the author provides an interesting possibility.  Those who love a good adventure or mystery book will find it equally interesting.  Though written for the 9-12 set, there is a lot here to keep the 12+ set coming back for more, too.

Wrapping Up:

The Sorcerer's Letterbox is the perfect combination of history and fantasy.  Hurry to the store or the library, find it, and start reading!

Title: The Sorcerer's Letterbox

Author: Simon Rose

Cover Illustration: George Juhasz

Pages: 114

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Publisher and Date: Tradewinds, March 2006

Edition: paperback

Language: English

Published in: Canada and the United Kingdom

Price: $7.95

ISBN-10: 1896580521

ISBN-13: 978-1896580524

Q: What do a headless chicken, mountain bikes, dinosaurs, and the season of fall, all have in common?

A: Every one of them is celebrated, in one way or another, in one western United States city:

Fruita, Colorado

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Est. 1884

Population about 13,000

Named after the fruit trees city founder William Pabor hoped to grow there.

Let's start with the one that made you click to this post: the headless chicken. (Yes, it did. You know it did. Who wouldn't click on a link about a headless chicken?)

Mike was a two-and-a-half pound, five-and-a-half-month old Wyandotte rooster when Fruita, Colorado farmer Lloyd Olsen came looking for him for dinner on September 10, 1945. Long story short: the ax fell, but Mike didn't. He strutted. He scratched. He (attempted to) peck at feed. And when night came, he tucked his (missing) head beneath his wing, and went to sleep. When Mike was still alive the next morning, Lloyd took it as a miracle, and kept the rooster alive, feeding him grain and water directly into his esophagus via an eyedropper. 

Fame soon came to Miracle Mike, the headless wonder chicken. He was studied

Photo Credit: Mike the Headless Chicken Festival

by the University of Utah. He was taken on a national tour. He was featured both in Life and Time magazines. Longtime Fruita residents described him as "a big, fat chicken who didn't know he didn't have a head." And he lived like that for a whopping 18 months.

Since then, Mike's story has inspired songs, a sculpture, paintings, and a segment in a PBS show. But what may be the biggest thing to grow out of "the amazing story of one chicken's will to live" is this: The Mike the Headless Chicken Festival, celebrated annually in Fruita, Colorado during the third weekend in May. This year's 15th annual festival is set for May 17-18, 2013. The fun includes events like a chicken dance contest, games, eating contests, food and artisan booths, live music and a 5K run ("Run Like a Headless Chicken"). For this year's "Mikeritaville" theme, they've added volleyball, sand castle building, a tiki bar, and limbo contests.

From the official website:

"Mike's will to live remains an inspiration. It is a great comfort to know you can live a normal life, even after you have lost your mind."

Yes. Yes it is.


Moving on to mountain bikes:
Thanks to the efforts of festival founder Troy Rarick and other mountain bike

Photo Credit: Fruita Fat Tire Festival

enthusiasts, the Fruita Fat Tire Festival has brought the city greater recognition as a go-to place for some great mountain biking fun. The first festival, in 1995, saw about 300 attendees. That number had soared to about 1300 by 2012's 18th annual celebration, with folks coming from all over the US and even abroad.

Celebrated annually the last weekend in April, this laid-back festival marks the unofficial start of Colorado mountain biking season. There are lots of fun events for festival-goers to check out: live music, vendors, mountain bike skills camps, a Clunker Hunt, expos and bike demos, parties, prize drawings and giveaways, and road and trail rides.

From the official website:

"The festival highlights the many mountain biking opportunities in the Fruita area, including the North Fruita Desert and McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, both managed by the BLM Grand Junction Field Office. Rides on surrounding public land trails, for all skill levels, are popular during the festival."

Diggin' the dinosaurs:
In 1901, paleontologist Elmer Riggs and a crew from the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, came to Fruita, Colorado. They did some digging, and found about two-thirds of a brontosaurus skeleton - considered one of the finest specimens known - on what came to be known as Dinosaur Hill.

Since then, many more dinosaur discoveries have been made around Fruita,

Photo Credit: Dinosaur Journey Museum

Colorado and surrounding areas, sparking the designation of the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Historic Byway, the Fruita Paleontological Area, the Dinosaur National Monument and the Rabbit Valley Trail Through Time, among other dinosaur-related places.

Many prehistoric fossils originally found around Fruita and surrounding areas can be viewed in museums all over the USA. Fruita's own Dinosaur Journey Museum hosts not only prehistoric exhibits and events, but also dig expeditions and a variety of Dinosaur Days festivities throughout the year.

From the Dinosaur Journey Museum website:

"Over one hundred years of paleontological work in the area has produced many exotic, beautiful, and scientifically important fossils. As work continues on our paleontological heritage, the people of Mesa County and our neighboring friends can look forward to learning more about our past."

And finally, the Fall:

Photo Credit: 2012 Fruita Fall Festival Poster

From its early beginnings in 1914 as the Cowpunchers Reunion, to the Hunters Roundup and Harvest Carnivals begun after World War II, to the combination of all three in the 1970's to form the festival as it is known today, the Fruita Fall Festival has evolved to become "the granddaddy of festivals on the Western Slope." The largest of Fruita's many festivals, with crowds estimated from 35,000 to 50,000, it's a three-day event celebrating Fruita's harvest and history, and is held annually the last full weekend of September.

For the festival's 99th year, slated for September 27-29, 2013, the theme is "Fruita of Tomorrow," with 2013's official festival poster to be designed by one of Fruita's own (see festival website's main page for details).

Festival participants will have plenty of fun events to enjoy: live music on two stages, carnival rides, street dances, a parade, a bed race, baking and canning contest, youth pet and talent show, a magic show, arts and crafts and food vendors, and a 5K race.

And something special to look forward to after this year: 2014 will mark the Fruita Fall Festival's Centennial celebration. So, a celebration of a celebration - and doesn't that sound like one great big fabulous party-in-the-making?

 * * *

So. Headless chickens. Mountain Bikes. Dinosaurs. Fall. And you can find all of those things, all in one place - just not all at the same time. 

How great is that? 

Sources:

Mike the Headless Chicken Festival - Official Site

Famous headless fowl feted in Fruita, Colorado - DenverPost.com 

Life With Mike the Headless Chicken: Photos of a Famously Tough Fowl - Time/Life

Mike the Headless Chicken - Wikipedia

Mike the Headless Chicken - Fruita, Colorado - ColoradoGuy.com

Fruita, Colorado - Wikipedia 

Fruita Fat Tire Festival - Official Site

Fat Tire Fest rides strong - FruitaTimes.com

Fruita Fat Tire Festival: 18 years and growing! - AspenTimes.com

All About Dinosaurs - Museum of Western Colorado.com 

Dinosaurs - GoFruita.org 

The Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway - Wikipedia

Dinosaur National Monument - Colorado.com

Fruita About Us - Fruita Chamber of Commerce Official Site 

Fruita Fall Festival - Official Site

Fruital Fall Festival History research text from hard-copy festival program - courtesy Robbie Urquhart - Special Projects Coordinator, Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce (Thank you, Robbie!)

 

Wonderful Weirdos of Literature Series 2011 - Installment #7

At last, we come to the last Friday in September. Which is also (sadly) the last day of the Second Annual Wonderful Weirdos of Literature Series. Click the link in the previous sentence if you need to get up to speed. Then come back here and join in the final (for this year) frivolity.

The added twist for this year, instead of the inaugural year's general hodge-podge of wonderfully weird books, is Variations on the Overall Weirdo Theme. So far, we've frolicked through:

• Installment #4: Stinky in Name, Title, or Deed
• Installment #5: The Anthropomorphic
• Installment #6: Magic

Today's Variation reminds us that there's a little bit of weird just about anywhere you look. Even in places you'd think would be nothing but "normal" (whatever that means). So, without further ado, I present to you Installment #7:

Characters Who Just Might Remind You of Someone You Know

Arthur, For the Very First Time, by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrations by Lloyd Bloom
Ages 8 and up

Ten-year-old Arthur's summer isn't starting out so well. His parents are arguing. And a new baby is coming. And nobody seems to be listening to him. But then one day, his parents take him to stay with Great-Uncle Wrisby and Great-Aunt Elda for the summer. When hard-of-hearing Uncle Wrisby grabs Arthur's hand and yells, "What would you like to talk about?" summer starts looking much more interesting. 

Arthur meets Pauline - a chicken who loves French, and Bernadette - a pig who loves to be sung to. Aunt Elda introduces him to a mockingbird with no name, and Uncle Wrisby takes him to bargain with a trader named Yoyo Pratt. He finds new friends in Moira - a scrappy little girl who calls him "Mouse," and her grandfather - a veterinarian whom everyone calls "Moreover." As he spends his summer days and nights with this motley group, Arthur begins to see life in new and unexpected ways.

Another Whole Nother Story, As told by (The Incomparable) Dr. Cuthbert Soup
Ages 8 and up

Mr. Ethan Cheeseman and his three smart, polite, and relatively odor-free children are back in another adventure - with all-new names, of course. Now that they've got the LVR working (the supposedly secret, yet relentlessly sought-after time machine introduced in A Whole Nother Story), the family is all set to travel back in time to just before their beloved wife and mother Olivia Cheeseman meets her unfortunate end at the hands of those seeking to "acquire" the LVR.

But all does not go according to plan. First, they wind up not in the relatively recent past, as they'd planned, but way back in 1668. Worse, their crash landing has damaged the LVR, and unless they can find the proper parts to repair it, the family has no way to return to their own time in the 21st century. As if that weren't trouble enough, the family finds themselves facing suspicion of witchcraft, battling pirates, and navigating a haunted castle. Add to that their tangle with a dangerous nemesis from their present whom they believed they'd seen the last of, and things don't look good. 

Despite these odds, the likeable Cheesemans are not without friends, meeting several helpful souls along the way. But is it enough to help them get out of the distant past, and into the nearer past, so they can save their beloved Olivia Cheeseman, and get back to their own time?

Fish, by Gregory Mone
Ages 8 and up

Maurice "Fish" Reidy is eleven years old when the family horse dies. Without Shamrock, the family can't afford to feed itself, let alone farm their land. Someone has to go into the city to work and send money home. Since Fish is the worst at farming, it's agreed he should be the one to go.

His father arranges for Fish to work for his uncle as a courier. One day, Fish is entrusted with a mysterious package of coins to deliver. But before he can make that delivery, he is robbed. Fish tracks down the thief, who has delivered the package to pirates aboard their ship, the Scurvy Mistress. Determined to get that package back and to its rightful recipient, Fish decides to sneak aboard and join the pirate crew. He soon learns the coins are more than what they seem - possibly the keys to a wondrous treasure, if only the suspected code can be cracked.

As the Scurvy Mistress sets sail, Fish finds himself on an adventure he never saw coming, with friends he never imagined making. It's a journey that promises to change his life - and that of his family - forever.

Franny B. Kranny, There's a Bird in Your Hair! by Harriet Lerner and Susan Goldhor, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Ages 4 and up

Franny B. Kranny's long, frizzy hair gives her a lot of grief. It's always getting tangled, or caught on things. It even makes the girl who sits with her on the bus, sneeze. But Franny loves her hair. She loves the way it boings back out after she flattens it. And she loves the way it makes a little cave for her to pretend to hide in when she brushes it forward.

One day, Franny's mother says she and her sister must go to get their hair done for their big family reunion. Bertha is pleased. Franny is not. She says she doesn't want anyone touching her hair. But the next day she finds herself grumpily sitting in the hairdresser's chair, where he piles her hair up on top of her head. The hairdresser loves it. And her mother loves it. But Franny begins thinking of ways to undo it.

Then something very unusual happens to her hair on the walk home from the beauty parlor. Her family thinks she should undo it. But Franny decides to keep it that way all through the reunion. Everyone at the reunion loves her hair, and when they get home, her family thinks she should keep it that way. But - and you saw this coming, didn't you? Franny has other ideas.

The Napping House, by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood
Ages 4 and up

It's a rainy day, perfect for an afternoon snooze. And in this house, everyone is doing just that. A snoring Granny is napping in the coziest spot in the house. But she isn't alone for long. One by one, the other nappers in the house drowsily find their way to Granny's bed: a dreaming child, a dozing dog, a snoozing cat, and a slumbering mouse. Finally, everyone in the house is happily napping in a big pile with Granny in her cozy bed. Everyone, that is, except for one wakeful flea. And pretty soon, no one is napping at all.

 

Love, Ruby Lavender, by Deborah Wiles
Ages 8 and up

Ruby Lavender is not your average chicken thief. For starters, she's only nine years old. Plus, she wasn't stealing those chickens as much as liberating them from a future lying cooked and crispy on someone's dinner plate. Ruby is looking forward to a summer of caring for her chickens, and spending lots of time with her partner in chicken thievery: getaway driver Miss Eula.

But Ruby's plans quickly unravel when Miss Eula decides to up and leave Halleluia, Mississippi for a while. She's going to Hawaii to visit her new baby granddaughter. She won't be gone forever, but she doesn't know when she'll be back, either. Up until now, Ruby has been Miss Eula's only grandchild, and Ruby is jealous. Plus, how will Ruby care for the chickens and their newly laid eggs, without Miss Eula's help? How will she deal with the torment that is Melba Jane, without Miss Eula to talk her through it? How will she get through helping out at her grumpy Aunt Mattie's general store, without Miss Eula to smooth things over? And who will leave Ruby letters in their secret mailbox, with Miss Eula gone?

As it turns out, that secret mailbox isn't the only way to exchange letters with Miss Eula. And Ruby finds herself spending a summer she never saw coming, and likely will never forget.

* * *

So, here we are at the end of the Second Annual Wonderful Weirdos of Literature Series. If you haven't read any of the books that were featured this month, I hope you do. And if you have read them, even just a few of them, I hope you had as much fun reading these books as I did.

Drop me a comment or shoot me an email if you have any suggestions for inclusion in next year's Bugs and Bunnies Wonderful Weirdos of Literature Series. 

And now, I will leave you with this snippet from the very first BNBWWoLS post:

Remember Merriam-Webster's definition of weirdo? "A person who is extraordinarily strange or eccentric." There is a wide range of Weird in this world. Some of us are more so than others. We Weirdos may be different, but always remember: we are extraordinarily so.