Little Children: A Novel

Average customer rating:

A Home Run!! Superb!!

Decent.

Brilliant Novel. A Must Read.

Amazing

Very Engrossing -- I loved it!

Little Children: A Novel
Tom Perrotta
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312315732

Book Description

Tom Perrotta's thirty-ish parents of young children are a varied and surprising bunch. There's Todd, the handsome stay-at-home dad dubbed "The Prom King" by the moms of the playground; Sarah, a lapsed feminist with a bisexual past, who seems to have stumbled into a traditional marriage; Richard, Sarah's husband, who has found himself more and more involved with a fantasy life on the internet than with the flesh and blood in his own house; and Mary Ann, who thinks she has it all figured out, down to scheduling a weekly roll in the hay with her husband, every Tuesday at 9pm. They all raise their kids in the kind of sleepy American suburb where nothing ever seems to happen-at least until one eventful summer, when a convicted child molester moves back to town, and two restless parents begin an affair that goes further than either of them could have imagined. Unexpectedly suspenseful, but written with all the fluency and dark humor of Perrotta's previous novels, Little Children exposes the adult dramas unfolding amidst the swingsets and slides of an ordinary American playground.

Customer Reviews:

A Home Run!! Superb!!.......2007-09-28

I'm not saying that this is THE great American novel, but it is A great American novel. Tom Perrotta has woven a compelling tale of trouble and life in affluent suburbia.

Parallel and intersecting themes include:
* Sarah, a suburban housewife with a dead marriage
* Todd, the "Prom King" and ex-football jock who grapples with his role as a stay at home Dad and his wife's expectations of passing the Bar exam
* Larry Moon, retired on disability from the police force and his obsessive rage against the town perv
* Randy McGorvey, a convicted child pederast trying to get his footing after serving time in jail

These strands intersect and weave together. The characters are finely drawn. The tale will at times make you laugh and at other times, make you cry. A brilliant tour de force!

It is unusual for both the movie and the book to be superb, but for anyone who has not seen the movie adaptation, I strongly recommend it!

Decent........2007-09-18

Perotta has a great writing style - it's sardonic and sharp-witted. He does a good job with characters in this one and giving everyone a voice. Worth reading. Quite a fast read.

Brilliant Novel. A Must Read........2007-09-09

Sleek and sexy, Tom Perrotta's Little Children tells the intertwining tales of 30-something parents. Connected at first only through their children, the angsty parents begin to explore new relationships and ways to define themselves outside of their children. When the parents aren't trying to reinvent themselves, they are keeping an eye on Ronnie, the neighborhood pedophile.

I picked this novel up on a complete whim, and I am glad that I did. Don't open this novel expecting a surprise ending, or even a happy ending. Perrotta's main goal is to explore the relationship between parent and child. Does having a child fundamentally change who you are? Does it make you do, think, feel things you never would have before? Don't expect to be bored by this novel, either. Perrotta's writing style is infectious. I had a hard time putting this novel down.

Amazing.......2007-08-30

Little Children is the best book I've read in a long, long while. Funny, poignant, dark, insightful...this book has it all. As a snapshot of the dissatisfaction of suburban living and the difficulty of transitiong to settled, family life, this book is second to none. This book says everything we've all realized about ourselves but were afraid to admit.

Very Engrossing -- I loved it!.......2007-07-31

This book pulled me and kept me captivated from the first paragraphs through to the very end. I found it thoroughly enjoyable -- a great voyeuristic glimpse into a (very real) specific niche of everyday suburban life...from the perspective of individuals who find themselves lost, floundering and/or who are otherwise unfullfilled.

Little House in the Ozarks: A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler : The Rediscovered Writings

Average customer rating:

Great

Little House in the Ozarks: A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler : The Rediscovered Writings
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0840775970

Customer Reviews:

Great.......2002-05-09

I received this book as a gift when I was fourteen, but have only begun to appreciate it as an adult. Organized by subject, this is a wonderful look into Laura Ingalls Wilder as an adult. Contains many anecdotes from her life that provide that window. Definately worth the time of anyone wanting a closer look into Laura's home life, as well as her political views.

Big Fat Little Lit (Picture Puffin Books)

Average customer rating:

Uneven
Easy intro to comics for kids
There's No Knocking This Pup's Pedigree

Big Fat Little Lit (Picture Puffin Books)

Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0142407062
Release Date: 2006-09-07

Book Description

New in paperback for the very first time comes the New York Times bestselling Little Lit series! Choice comic stories culled from the three bestselling comic collections edited by Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly: Little Lit: Once Upon a Time, Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids, and Little Lit: It Was a Dark and Silly Night. The gorgeous paperback features flaps and beautifully reproduced full-color interiors. Hilarious and charming, the collection contains comics from such award-winning and bestselling authors and artists as Harry Bliss, Daniel Clowes, Ian Falconer, Jules Feiffer, Neil Gaiman, Crockett Johnson, Barbara McClintock, David Sedaris, J. Otto Seibold, Maurice Sendak, Lemony Snicket, and Art Spiegelman.

Customer Reviews:

Uneven.......2007-04-10

Big Fat Little Lit has an all star cast of contributers, but it is a bit uneven in its results. Some parts are great, but others are not. The thing about it is that my kids aren't rereading it like they do with other graphic novels such as the Mighty Skullboy Army.

Easy intro to comics for kids.......2006-12-21

This collection--culled from three previous Little Lit anthologies--is, of course, literary and brilliant and oh-so-eclectic, and if you know nothing about the genre, it's an easy intro. Fairy tales nestle comfortably next to horror stories and folklore, and my four-year-old easily adapted to the diverse narrative styles and voices: after all, he could SEE the differences.

Looking at the big picture, pardon the pun, I was struck by how many were told with forceful moral underpinnings. More than a few protagonists must face the gloomy consequences of their misdeeds and I didn't spot a single story where evil prevailed. Naughtiness, maybe, but not genuine eat-your-family badness.

That's not to say it's all goody-two-shoes fluff. Like the original Grimm's Fairy Tales, many of these tales venture into nightmare territory, where mothers-in-law try to devour grandchildren, stuffy noses explode with dopplegangers and cute kitties come from alternate worlds, and little that seems comfortable and safe turns out to be so.

I get the distinct impression these are stories written by actual parents who have braved the wild terrain of a child's imagination to chart both its twisted roads and startling flora.

There's No Knocking This Pup's Pedigree.......2006-12-16

Let's say that you've heard of the "Little Lit" books, edited by Art Spiegelman and his wife Francoise Mouly, but that you've never actually gone so far as to pick one up. Let us also say, while we are at it, that you are aware of the massive loads of talent that have gone into the series, but that this was still not quite enough to draw you in. Well, my lovelies, I have an answer for you. Like yourself, I somehow managed to catch a snatch of a comic strip here or a lovingly drawn panel there without actually sitting down and reading the "Little Lit" books cover to cover. Then, out of the bright blue sky, "Big Fat Little Lit" falls into my lap. So I read it through with not a little skepticism. Truth be told, I've always suspected that the books were written for adults rather than children. You can cast a book in a childish shell and claim your artists are working with the younger set in mind but will kids actually read what you create? Slowly I've come to the conclusion that yes, there is definitely an audience for this series that is under the age of 21. Still, if you're gonna hand them a "Little Lit" collection, better to go for the best. Give them a compendium of selected past works. Give them "Big Fat Little Lit", the best of the best, and save yourself some time.

Behold before you thirty-six comics created by thirty-three "of the world's most beloved authors and artists", or so says the backflap. Compiled from parts of the three "Little Lit" collections already in existence (with some extra goodies for spice) "Big Fat Little Lit" has it all. Ghouls and fools and fables both traditional and with a twist all working together to fill this 144 page beauty. You'll find old classics like Crockett Johnson's, "Barnaby" alongside all new tales by people as varied as Daniel Clowes or David Macaulay. The result is eye-popping jaw-dropping assortment of stories of varying styles and macabre natures. Puzzles too pop up between comics that can range anywhere between one to nine pages.

The sheer weight of celebrity is both a boon and an drag on enterprises like "Little Lit". On the one hand, adults like me are bound to go gaga over the luminaries who've worked on this puppy. Where else can you find David Sedaris working with Ian Falconer (outside of The New Yorker, of course)? Neil Gaiman and Gahan Wilson? Heck, forget the pairings. They have two William Joyce offerings, Maurice Sendak unleashed, Jules Feiffer, and God knows who else. Illustrators that work primarily in the realm of children's books like Barbara McClintok pair with kid-only authors like Lemony Snicket (as opposed to Daniel Handler, of course). Most impressive to my eyes (and proof that I never examined the original collection it appeared in closely enough) is a Walt Kelly piece. Publishers out there might do very well if they were to republish Kelly's non-Pogo related fairy tales in a compendium, seeing as how they work so nicely here and all. So that's on the one hand. On the other hand, it's sometimes hard not to get the feeling that child readers sometimes come across as a secondary concern. Since Spiegelman and Mouly founded "RAW", the alternative comics magazine, is it fair to think of this as a slightly watered down version of that magazine's material? Or is it its own separate beastie? I can answer the question of whether or not any kid is reading this collection, but nothing's simple.

I once worked in a Greenwich Village library where I would proudly display the first collection of "Little Lit" on the top of my bookshelves where it was easy to pluck and check out. No takers. That book sat solitary and untouched for weeks on end. At the time I blamed the publication itself. Then I moved to a different library branch. In my new location I created a Graphic Novel shelf and put the exact same publication there, visible for all to see. Within mere minutes that puppy flew off the shelf. What I deduce from all of this (aside from the average Greenwich Village native's reluctance to disturb book displays) is that if you put "Little Lit" out there without any explanation, the viewing public isn't going to know what to do with it. They've slowly been acclimated to the idea of what a graphic novel is, sure. But thrust something with pages the size of dinner mats in their face and they go all to pieces. Is it a picture book? A comic book? Fairy tales? So my advice to you is to make it crystal clear to people that this is a beastie like no other. No, it's not really a graphic novel. But if you put it under that heading then at least people will have some kind of a context to work with.

But do CHILDREN read it? I direct you, in this case, to a conversation I had just today. I spoke to a homeschooler and her mother who were recently in my library, and the subject of graphic novels came up. When I mentioned "Little Lit" in passing, the two lit up. Apparently the girl was given the first collection when she was two and has been read them ever since at bedtime. Hearing this I was, to put it mildly, stunned. Then a co-worker informed me that her son likes the books because he likes fairy tales and he likes comics. Apparently the only way he can justify reading the one is if it is combined with the other. It bears some thought. I think that another reason that "Big Fat Little Lit" succeeds where its predecessors merely did okay is that due to the sheer volume of twisted puzzles, games, and I Spy-like ventures, this book can sit down and seriously court fans of "Highlights" everywhere.

The collection doesn't contain all the past "Little Lit" ventures, which is logical. I was very very sad, however, to see that Chris Ware didn't make the cut. His "Fairy Tale Road Rage" board game is not included, much to the chagrin of my Ware-lovin' heart. Still, I was able to come to terms with his disappearance. Then I was perturbed by the reduced size of the individual comics in this book. Overall I think it was a very wise choice to reduce the size of "Little Lit". The large size of the earlier collections, while they evoke the comic pages of our youth, are bulky and hard to fit on personal and public bookshelves. Unfortunately with this new size we now face a problem that comic artists face nationwide whenever a newspaper wants to fit in more copy. Small panels can sometimes crush otherwise perfectly nice reading matter rendering it difficult to see. In general this isn't a noticeable problem until you come to Barbara McClintock's, "The Princess and the Pea". McClintock's delicate lines and meticulous details have been scrunched and shrunken down so far in this book that the reader definitely loses something in the process. Ah well.

Now if your child/neice/nephew/grandchild/what-have-you already owns one of the "Little Lit" collections (or all of them, for that matter) then perhaps this gift might come across as a tad repetitive. Then again, there is new material to be found here that you could not locate elsewhere. Did I mention to you that the talents of Martin Handford are utilized here? Don't know who Handforth is? Does the name "Where's Waldo" mean anything to you? Aw yeah, baby. He's here and he is, as the blurb on the back of this book states in general, "in top form". By and large, I'm a skeptic when it comes to this many sophisticates pooling their talents to bring small children joy. All that aside, this is undoubtedly my favorite "Little Lit" of the lot and is undoubtedly THE best way to enjoy the series. If you're gonna give a kid some comics, make `em read "Big Fat Little Lit". I seriously doubt it'll take much prodding.

Strange Stories for Strange Kids (Little Lit, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Father in search of graphic art for kids
Great Art, so-so writing
More eclectic....high profile creators!
A slip in the series?
Perfect book for the slightly skewed no matter their age!

Strange Stories for Strange Kids (Little Lit, Book 2)

Manufacturer: Joanna Cotler
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060286261
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Editors Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly have packed so much top-notch talent into this flabbergastingly funny all-ages comic collection that you'll have a terrible time deciding what to read first. Just as with the previous Little Lit book, Folklore & Fairy Tale Funnies, you'll find some of the most hilarious, intelligent, and diverse short comics around inside these pages: Maurice Sendak's omnivorous infant gobbles up everything in sight in "Cereal Baby Keller"; David Sedaris pairs up with Ian Falconer to define true cuteness; "Where's Waldo?" creator Martin Handford searches for old socks; Paul Auster (yes, that Paul Auster) and Jacques de Loustal's offering follows a man who's found he's disappeared; Crockett Johnson (Harold and the Purple Crayon) brings back the beginning of his classic '40s strip, "Barnaby" (a favorite of Duke Ellington and Dorothy Parker, among others); and Spiegelman himself takes on "The Several Selves of Selby Sheldrake." And that's not even the half of it. This downright quirky collection will charm comic fans of all ages--and, no doubt, make fans out of those who weren't already. Even the endpapers are funny, thanks to Kaz of "Underworld." (All ages after 9 or so) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

The second groundbreaking anthology from the New York Times best-selling team of Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly is here! The everyday world is turned upside down and the ordinary becomes extraordinary in this collection of the strangest tales. From Art Spiegelman's The Several Lives of Selby Sheldrake to Maurice Sendak's Cereal Baby Keller to Jules Feiffer's Trapped in a Comic Book, these stories are sure to entice any young reader. Also included are comics and features by Ian Falconer and David Sedaris, Paul Auster and Jacques de Loustal, Crockett Johnson, Richard McGuire, and Barbara McClintock, a puzzle by Lewis Trondheim, and make-your-own comic-book endpapers from Kaz. Little Lit Strange Stories for Strange Kids continues the tradition of bringing the pleasure of books and reading into the hands and minds of kids.

Customer Reviews:

Father in search of graphic art for kids.......2006-03-08

Just the graphic art book I was looking for to entertain my daughter. She has enjoyed all three in the series so far.

Great Art, so-so writing.......2003-10-14

Given the names associated with this book, I really expected it to be great. And, the artwork is wonderful. However, the writing is really lacking. The stories seem hastily put together and lack that mystery of Where the Wild Things Are and other childrens books that captivate both with art and writing. Honestly, my four-year old doesn't complain. He really likes the art work, and it's a book that he often looks at by himself -- though he can't read. Any book that he'll look at by himself is a good book. However, it's not a book that I ever want to read to him. I'll read it if he asks, but I don't find myself enjoying it as I do some of my son's other books. Sometimes I will purposely choose Where the Wild Things Are and ask him if he wants it read to him. I never do this with this book.

More eclectic....high profile creators!.......2002-07-08

The stories in Volume One of this series were based on fairy tales. Volume Two is far more eclectic, with a wide variety of styles and some pretty high profile creators.

Kaz teaches you some "Strange Cartoon Lessons" on the endpapers, Maurice (Where The Wild Things Are) Sendak offers "Cereal Baby Keller," Jules Fieffer gets you "Trapped In A Comic Book" and Crockett (Harold and the Purple Crayon) Johnson tells the tales of "Barnaby." My favorite story by far is "Pretty Ugly" by Ian Falconer and David Sedaris.

I'm not quite sure that Volume Two lives up to the standard created by Volume One. That's not to say it's not a great book, but it seems a lot less focused (not necessarily a bad thing though...). But, like Volume One, it's fun-fun-fun for all ages!

Highly recommended!

A slip in the series?.......2002-07-04

I really wanted to like this entry into the series. However, as fond as I was of the first one based on folk & fairy tales. (see my review) I confess I was somewhat disappointed by this one, it lacked some of the sparkle and good humor that the first Little Lit book has. The art is still creative & cutting edge, but the story lines were weak and not very engaging. As a Kim Deitch fan, I was delighted to see his surreal paean to felines. Buy it, if you want to collect the series. But start with #1. Be that as it may- I can't wait for #3 to appear!

Perfect book for the slightly skewed no matter their age!.......2002-02-28

Is there a child in your life who might answer the question "What did you do today?" by saying "Resisted entropy." ?

Are you a fan of "Raw" and would you like your nieces and nephews to grow up like you (to spite your siblings)?

Even if you're just looking for a good thought-provoking read, this is a great book to buy...it'll even decorate your coffee table nicely. Ian Falconer (Caldecott Honor author/illustartor of "Olivia") teams with essayist David Sedaris (that alone should make you hop up to go investigate!) Barbara McClintock, Maurice Sendak, Jules Feiffer--what, you still haven't hit the "add to shopping cart" button? They all have their pages or stories in this wonderful collection.

This is what children's books should be! A brother and sister defeat evil Jack Frost with a hair drier, a young boy gets trapped in a comic book (can you imagine how boring the fights would get after a while?) games...maze-stories in which YOU decide the ending...

Customer Reviews:

Nice Compilation, but why not all 9?.......2007-08-22

For those looking for a nice reading collection of the Little house books, this is a great start. One large book containing the first 5 novels in the little house series.

The illustrations are somewhat sparse, but well done. The writing of course is unchanged from the original books. It's very nice to have them all in one large book, but I wish they had all been included - as of this time I'm unable to find a similar such collection for the remaining 4 books.

The text size is generous and the two column format is easy to read with kids clustered around.

A Little House Collection: The First Five Novels (Little House).......2007-03-21

My children and I love this book. I grew up watching Little House on The Prairie when I was little and wanted to share this delightful experience with them. They both enjoy the unfolding tale, particularly my 7 year old. She is eager for tomorrow and the next episode! There is great attention to detail in the writing, yet there is a feeling of it being easy to read and take in.

Little Lit: Folklore and Fairy Tale Funnies

Average customer rating:

The Child in us all
Adult sophistication wrapped in childlike simplicity...
A Smorgasbord of Fun.....
Fun for All Ages
Great initiative. Let's see more like it!

Little Lit: Folklore and Fairy Tale Funnies

Manufacturer: RAW Junior / Joanna Cotler
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060286245

Amazon.com

These days, most comics really aren't for kids. But Little Lit fixes that with funny and fractured all-ages fairy tales by some of the best comic artists around. Annoying magic pumpkins, a horrible ogre queen, and strangely hungry horses are just some of the strange characters guaranteed to delight both children and adults.

Twelve great tales, some new and some retold classics, with weird and wacky pictures fill the pages of Little Lit. Comic fans will recognize the talents of Dan Clowes, Kaz, Joost Swarte, and many more. Kids will love the unexpected twists on old favorites, like the lions who populate Barbara McClintock's "The Princess and the Pea." Like all good fairy tales, many of these stories have lessons hidden in them. Maus creator Art Spiegelman tells the story of a young prince who finds out he doesn't have to change the thing he likes best about himself in "Prince Rooster." And Harry Bliss's "The Baker's Daughter" finds out the hard way that she shouldn't be stingy.

Walt Kelly's 1943 "The Gingerbread Man" gives today's kids a taste of the comic books of yesteryear. There are even activities, like Charles Burns's "Spookyland" and Bruce McCall's silly "What's Wrong with this Picture?" But the very best part of the whole wonderful package is the hilarious game included on the endpapers. It's called "Fairy Tale Road Rage," and it's beautifully illustrated with the exquisite, nostalgic art of Chris Ware (Jimmy Corrigan). Players race to complete a silly story. Bedtime was never better! (All ages) --Therese Littleton

Book Description

A treasure and a treasury!

Innovative cartoonist and renowned children's book artists from around the world have gathered to bring you the magic of fairy tales through the wonder of comics. The stories range from old favorites to new discoveries, from the profound to the silly. A treat for all ages, these picture stories unlock the enchanted door into the pleasures of books and reading!

Best Children's Books 2000 (PW)

Customer Reviews:

The Child in us all.......2002-06-15

Let's face it, any child and any adult who's honest, loved the macabre and grotesque in reading and listening to fairy and folk tales while growing up. In the delicious discomfort of feeling scared and enchanted, made life a little more understandable as well as providing that "suspension of disbelief" that served to teach us the world is a far more enchanted place than authority figures and institutions would have us believe. And I do not think I'm alone in this perception, or fantasy and science fiction would not be as popular among adults as they are now. This collection by some of the world's foremost under/aboveground cartoonists transports you back to those "Grimm" days of childhood when something was alive and magic was afoot. This is too wonderful a collection for just kids. I hope the artists and editors will continue this series. Highly recommended.

Adult sophistication wrapped in childlike simplicity..........2001-12-23

Little Lit offers a fabulous and varied collection of 16 contemporary artists' comics-style interpretations of folklore and fairy-tales. The makers of comics, comix and children's picture books number among the contributors, including Art Spiegelman, Walt Kelly, David Macaulay, William Joyce, Kaz, Charles Burns, Peter Bagge (Hate), J. Otto Seibold (Olive the Other Reindeer), and Daniel Clowes (Ghost World). Each uses a unique style of sequential art to interpret a fairy tale, either an original story using traditional motifs or a familiar tale.

Some of the retellings like Daniel Clowes's sequel to "Sleeping Beauty" are told in formal language, others like Barbara McClintock's "The Princess and the Pea" are tongue-in-cheek. There are familiar formatted strips along with one and two page puzzles. Chris Ware contributes a "Fairy Tale Road Rage" game to play on the endpapers, complete with push-out game pieces. The imaginatively designed and carefully produced book is in large format to allow space for even the most detailed artwork.

Little Lit is a sophisticated collection masquerading as a simple children's book. It's a hybrid of childlike simplicity and adult imagination. Very highly recommended!

A Smorgasbord of Fun............2001-11-15

Where have all the old fashioned comics and comic books gone? You know, the ones with humorous and entertaining story lines, and busy, splashy pictures that kids would pore over, mesmerized, for hours. They seem to have all but disappeared. Fortunately, Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly have remedied this situation with their marvelously creative book, Little Lit. They've collected folklore, fairy tales, games, and puzzles from the best and brightest cartoonists, children's book authors, and illustrators and compiled them into one oversized book of endless fun. From Kaz's The Hungry Horse, and Barbara McClintock's The Princess And The Pea, Joost Swarte's The Leafless Tree, and Walt Kelly's The Gingerbread Man, to What's Wrong With This Picture, Spookyland and even an inventive board game, complete with pieces, these stories and activities range from the outrageous, to the thoughtful, silly, and funny, but all include amazing bold, and intricately detailed artwork that captures the imagination and almost spills off the pages. Perfect for youngsters 9 and older, Little Lit is an innovative treasure to read and share, that will entrance your kids and keep them busy for hours.

Fun for All Ages.......2001-06-14

Good writing and good illustration always have universal appeal. Unfortunately this is something that has been forgotten in the comic book industry lately. It used to be that you could find comics that were fun reading for people of all ages, but that is a rarity these days in which comics are largely marketed to either an adult audience or to adolescent males who equate being "adult" with reading about violence and aggression and anatomically incorrect women in tights. This book (ironically labelled "Comics aren't just for adults anymore" in an echo of DC Comic's mid-1980s "Comics aren't just for kids" ad campaign) is a nice reminder of the way things used to be.

All the stories are wonderfully written and illustrated. The "Jack (and his Mother) and the Beanstalk" would have been better if it diverged less from the traditional in my opinion, but "The Princess and the Pea", which takes hillarious stabs at the original story while being beautifully illustrated in a traditionally romantic style, is effective at poking fun at itself. Most of the stories have obvious morals and can just be taken at their face value, and therefore can't be read on a different level by adults, but they are still enjoyable. The one exception to this is Chris Ware's wonderful original (though depressing) fairy tale and his board game (the instructions are priceless!) which utilizes his usual sardonic and cynical sense of humour very effectively, and I agree with the reviewer below that Charles Burns' Bosch inspired double-page spread might be a little disturbing to adults, but seen through innocent eyes I believe kids will find it more humourous.

Great initiative. Let's see more like it!.......2000-10-28

LITTLE LIT, the brainchild of comics master Art Spiegelman, was created to fill a void in comics: There is nothing out there anymore for kids. He looked around himself and saw talent brimming over the surface, but no one creating for the people who made comics popular in the first place. On the back, it says, "COMICS -- They're not just for grown-ups anymore!" The oversize hardcover is a collection of seventeen artists -- some comics creators, some illustrators, some children's book authors -- for this book of fairy tales. Let me say straight out that the art is downright beautiful. Gorgeous. Breathtaking. However, with the exception of one Japanese folk tale, there is absolutely no diversity: All white, and mostly male. There is no excuse for that. Beyond that, however, most of this book is solid gold.

Firstly, it's designed by Chip "BATMAN: ANIMATED" Kidd. He is, quite simply, the best graphic designer in the business. In this volume, he strikes the perfect balance between old-fashioned and avant-garde design. And the covers (no dust jacket -- just the leather hardcover) are by Art Spiegelman. The paper is thick and matte. The only problem here is that the book seems a little fragile, like the pages will come out at the slightest provocation. But I could be wrong about that.

"Prince Rooster" (Spiegelman), "The Leafless Tree" (Joost Swarte), "The Two Hunchbacks" (Lorenzo Mattotti), "The Baker's Daughter" (Harry Bliss), and "The Princess and the Pea" are all lushly drawn, fairly simple fairy tales. "Humpty Trouble" (William Joyce) and "Jack and the Beanstalk" (David Macaulay) are light satires. "The Hungry Horse" (Kaz) is a wonderful story, my favorite *story* of the batch, but "The Fisherman and the Sea Princess" (David Mazzuchelli), the Japanese folk tale is my favorite overall. The only story here that I don't like is "The Sleeping Beauty" (the ending that nobody knows) by Daniel Clowes, because he can't draw people who look good or smile or anything that you need in a fairy tale. Also thrown in is a lost Walt Kelly cartoon, "The Gingerbread Man," originally from FAIRY TALE PARADE (?!) in the 40's. Shorter features are a memory game, a laugh-out-loud "What's Wrong With This Picture," find the twins, and Spookyland (Charles Burns), which is absolutely terrifying -- I think it's too scary for little kids myself. In the front and back is FAIRY TALE ROAD RAGE (Chris Ware), a game with little cars to assemble and chits to punch out and instructions to read. Essentially, you move around the board and create a story by picking random chits and putting them in the appropriate places on your card. When it fills up, you read the story and make up a moral. It's a lot of fun. And the pictures and instructions are absolutely hilarious.

All in all, this book is highly recommended for small children of any age! :)

Amazon.com

Maus creator Art Spiegelman and art editor of The New Yorker Françoise Mouly created a gorgeous splash with their deliciously oversized comic art collections Little Lit and Strange Stories for Strange Kids. In their latest compilation It Was a Dark and Silly Night... fans will find darkly delightful comics by Lemony Snicket and Richard Sala, William Joyce, Neil Gaiman and Gahan Wilson, J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh, Carlos Nine, Kaz, and more. The editors asked this talented crew of cartoonists, novelists, and children's book illustrators and authors to begin a story "It was a dark and silly night." Lemony Snicket took "silly" to stand for "Somewhat Intelligent, Largely Laconic Yeti." William Joyce tells the story of "Art Aimesworth, boy crimefighter and all around whiz-kid" who attempts to isolate Giggle-illium, the long-searched-for silly atom. Neil Gaiman begins his dark and silly night with "a light and grumpy afternoon." Kaz spins the tale of a bizarre upside-down family that only rights itself when a gas explosion blows the house up, in both senses. As with the other Little Lit collections, readers will be amazed, amused, baffled, turned upside-down and righted again, all in the course of a happy afternoon of browsing. (All ages over 9 or so) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

We planted a seed in some of the most fertile minds of the planet: cartoonists, novelists, and children's book artists. We asked them to start a story with the words:

It Was a Dark and Silly Night...

We wanted to know...What happened next???

What grew from the seed is this generous, chock-full, over-the-top jungle of silly comic book stories that show how rich the human imagination is. Lemony Snicket and Richard Sala imagined a dark and silly night where a young girl chases after a Yeti. Neil Gaiman and Gahan Wilson imagined a dark and silly night where kids throw the greatest party they ever had...in a graveyard! William Joyce tells us about kids whose Silly Ray saves the world from warrior florists. This collection of wild and silly imaginings will tickle your funny bone for years to come.

Featuring: Lemony Snicket • Neil Gaiman • William Joyce • Kaz • Art Spiegelman • J. Otto Seibold • Vivian Walsh • Gahan Wilson • Barbara McClintock • Richard Sala • Martin Handford • R. Sikoryak • Patrick McDonnell • Tony Millionaire • Carlos Nine • Basil Wolverton • Joost Swarte

Customer Reviews:

A great book - a review by Eli (age 7).......2006-07-28

This is a great book. I especially like the graphics on the inside cover, they are very funny and greatly illustrated. the stories are funny too. My favorite stories are "Jumpin Jupiter" by Basil Wolveton and the one by Neil Gaiman and Gahan Wilson. I like the general idea of the book -- that all the stories start with the same line and each author/illustrator creates a completely different story.

Father in search of graphic art for kids.......2006-03-08

Just the graphic art book I was looking for to entertain my daughter. She has enjoyed all three in the series so far.

Cute, if not deep.......2003-10-31

I have reached a point, as a reader, where I will devour virtually anything by Neil Gaiman, and when I heard he was part of this anthology of "silly" tales, I had to pick it up. It was a nice added bonus to find a comic book story by Lemony Snicket and a classic by Basil Wolverton among the offerings in this volume.

Most of the other entries, I'm afraid, I found just to be okay. One or two were even a tad boring -- but keep in mind, this is from the perspective of an adult reader. I have a great appreciation for children's stories, but I tend towards the ones that are layered in such a fashion that adults can appreciate them as well. Most of the stories in this book aren't. Kids will probably love it, though.

The puzzles are fun and a nice inclusion, and the front and back art pieces by the creator of "Where's Waldo" were a riot. If you're a big-time Gaiman fan like me and just have to get anything he does, you can probably justify getting this book. If you've got kids, you don't need to justify it -- it's well worth it.

Great for Kids.......2003-10-26

While the first two Little Lit books appealed equally to adults and children, it would appear that this third book will appeal more strongly to children. Maybe the editors felt guilty about starting battles between parents and children over who got to read their books first. It isn't that the stories are any less intelligent. And most of the artwork continues to be quite stunning (although William Joyce's contribution is my least favourite, he does an excellent job of imitating the art of Winsor McCay). The problem appears to be with the book's theme: silliness.

All of the stories (except for the fun Basil Wolverton reprint) are entitled "It Was a Dark and Silly Night", and are quite nonsensical. Maybe adults are too serious to appreciate silliness unless it is hip or postmodern. Kids, however, never seem to grow tired of silly stories, perhaps because they are good at engaging the imagination. But regardless of the reasons why this book is less enjoyable for adults, you could do far worse than giving young children a copy.

Desipte the fact that this book will appeal more to younger readers, I still enjoyed some of the stories. The entry by Lemony Snicket and Richard Sala begins with awkward narration, but its humourous take on the yeti legend is interesting and has a great, bizarre punchline. The story by Neil Gaiman and Gahan Wilson is slight, but it should be able to cheer up anyone (I've always had a soft spot for silly monsters). And Patrick McDonnell, whose contribution's silliness is matched by its lyrical beauty, demonstrates why he is currently the only person producing a consistently good comic strip for newspapers (Mutts).

However, my personal favourite is the story by Kaz. With its extremely surreal imagery and humour, this one reminded me of some of the more outrageous, anarchistic Looney Tunes cartoons of which I was especially fond, such the one that takes place in the land of the Dodo bird. Except for its length, and the fact that it is kid-friendly, this contribution would not be out of place amongst Kaz' Underworld cartoons.

The only story I wish was left out is the one by Joost Swarte, but I've never liked his work.

I doubt any adult will enjoy everything in this volume (these books are for children at any rate), but I still highly recommend this book to anyone who has kids and to those adults who like to remember what it was like being a kid.

Not as Good as the First Two.......2003-10-22

The third in the Little Lit series and not nearly as good as the previous two. While the earlier books had each had at least one contribution that would justify the purchase of the book for just about any audience -- from kids reading to themselves, to parents reading to kids, or to avid comic fans of just about any genre or age, this volume is _just_ silly and will probably satisfy none of these audiences. Don't be fooled by the star billing either. Lemony Snicket's contribution is good, but certainly not up to the standards of the Unfortunate Events series. Neil Gaiman's contribution is no Coraline. If you haven't purchased the other two volumes yet, start with either of those instead. If you have them, you may want to skim this one in the bookstore, and leave it there.

Little Lulu Volume 14: Queen Lulu (Little Lulu (Graphic Novels))

Average customer rating:

Little Lulu Volume 14: Queen Lulu (Little Lulu (Graphic Novels))
John Stanley , and Irving Tripp
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Dark Horse | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 1593076835

Book Description

Happy times are here again with another laugh-riot volume of classic stories staring America's suburban sweetheart - Little Lulu! Have a hoot at the silly circumstances and crazy conundrums Lulu and her pals get themselves into, the diminutive heroes and heroines of a place called Main Street. Whether it's growing worms in her parents' bedroom, coming up with creative uses for custard pies or nabbing a jewel thief, Lulu and the gang fearlessly face some of the funniest fiascos ever concocted.

Average customer rating:

ALG are sooo funny
Great Gift for my Angry Little Teenager :-}
expected more cynicism
hysterical!
wonderful!!!

Angry Little Girls
Lela Lee
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Cartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Love, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0810958686

Book Description

This hilarious collection introduces the online comic started by Lela Lee when she was a sophomore at U.C. Berkeley in 1997. The comic now has a dedicated following of thousands of fans, and Angry Little Girls products are showing up everywhere as hot new licensed merchandise.

At the center of Angry Little Girls is Kim, the little Asian girl who's so angry she shakes. There's also Deborah, the disenchanted princess ("Dear Diary," Deborah writes, "I feel fat"); Maria, the crazy little Latina given to overly profound thoughts; Wanda, the fresh little soul sistah who can be just a bit too upbeat; and Xyla, who's so full of doom and gloom that a cloud of rain follows her. The book also features a problematic boyfriend and a quiz to determine "What kind of angry are you?" AUTHOR BIO: Lela Lee is an actress who has appeared on such shows as Will & Grace, Friends, Scrubs, and Sci-Fi Channel's Tremors. She lives in Los Angeles.

Customer Reviews:

ALG are sooo funny.......2007-04-01

i think this book is so funny and cute. it is a hardcover book with cartoons in them. i really like it. it is funny. not a children's book so if you want to buy it for your kid find them something else. it is cute for a teenager or adult.

Great Gift for my Angry Little Teenager :-}.......2007-03-17

I purchased these postcards as a gift for my 16 year old and she absolutely loved them. The 'Angry Little Girls' books help to bring a lighter side to the very roller coaster life of a teenage girl. Even though they are silly and fun, they really created a common iterest between me and my daughter. Also, she loves sharing the postcards and the books with her girlfriends. Both make great gifts. :-}

expected more cynicism .......2006-03-11

Being a fan of Angry Little Girls, I thought this would be an amazing calendar with lots of sarcastic remarks. While there were a few months that did use such headings, for the most part it was verging on corny. Example: March states "Anything is possible!"

hysterical!.......2005-08-18

She has a fun website: http://www.angrylittlegirls.com and you can sign up for a free e-mail address, like [...]. So funny! I love this book b/c it really addresses the random anti-asian feeling in the "where are you from? no really, where are you from?" comments I always receive. Also, the mom is just like mine. spot on crazy asian mom. hooray!

wonderful!!!.......2005-08-15

I really love Angry Little Girls. I think it says what I have been feeling but never brave enough to say. The thing about anger is that it is at times explosive, pensive, seething, or it's just ridiculous to be angry. I get this book and the way it delivers the irony about anger. People who have left reviews of the book that expected the book to be edgier, or more angrier, or wanted less cursing, or thought there was too much cursing just don't get it. ( I also suspect the ones who don't viscerally understand this book are men, who don't get why women are angry in the first place!) Anger comes in many forms. (the quiz) The comics in this book reflect the many changing forms anger might take and pokes fun at being angry as well. I say "YAY" for this book and that someone finally said what I feel in a fun and colorful way. Reading this book makes me feel good. I love it!

Average customer rating:

A Journey to Enlightenment
From a review in the Shambhala Sun magazine:

Little Pilgrim: A Novel
Ko Un
Manufacturer: Parallax Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1888375434

Book Description

A bestseller in South Korea in 1991, where it was serialized in that country's largest newspaper, Little Pilgrim is a tale of adventure and self-discovery in the tradition of Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha. Based on the Gandavyuha, Buddhism's deepest and most challenging scripture, Ko Un's Little Pilgrim relates the heroic journey of Sudhana, who sets out to discover what truth is. Throughout 20 years of fantastic travels, Sudhana encounters teachers that are human, animal, and spirit as he navigates mountain vistas, lush valleys, and remote villages.

Drawing from his own 20-year journey, as well as first-hand experiences with wars and monastic life, Un infuses his book with reflections and memories, creating fascinating characters and a vibrant story. The pinnacle of Un's career as a writer and as a man in search of truth, Little Pilgrim is a poignant voyage that resonates on many levels.

Customer Reviews:

A Journey to Enlightenment.......2005-12-24

This achingly beautiful book, written by Korea's Poet Laureate Ko Un (it took him 23 years to write) is a fictionalization of the 39th volume of the Avatamsaka (Flower Garland) Sutra, sometimes separately known as the Gandavyuha Sutra.

It recounts the journey of Sudhana, the Little Pilgrim, to seek knowledge from 53 different masters, starting with Manjushri, and ending with Samanthabadra.

On his journey, he encounters and masters the concepts of emptiness, impermanence and interconnectedness, so necessary to a true understanding of Buddhism.

The kind of book that makes you glad to be a Buddhist (if you need a book to do that.)

From a review in the Shambhala Sun magazine:.......2005-11-22

If you haven't heard of Ko Un, take note. This Korean poet is a former Buddhist monk and a two-time Nobel Prize-nominee for literature. The fall book season sees the release of two English translations of his work, a novel and a collection of poetry (Ten Thousand Lives from Green Integer). An accessible introduction to Ko Un, Little Pilgrim is a fictional tale based on the Avatamsaka or "Flower Garland" sutra, one of the most influential scriptures in East Asian Buddhism. It's the story of a young boy, Sudhana, who sets out on a journey and meets fifty-three teachers-Buddhist, spirit, and otherwise-who help him to become a bodhisattva. Ko Un has rendered it as an engaging narrative that will be a treasure for a young, modern audience, fulfilling a promise he made to his teacher more than thirty years ago.

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