Sunday, April 16, 2023

Clawdia makes this a Caturday post on Sunday

"Go exploring around your local area, and notice new things."  That's today's Action for Happiness suggestion.  Clawdia was "exploring" our neighborhood visually when I took this photo in 2020.  I hope to get out there today, but she balks when I try to put a collar and leash on her.  So an open window may have to suffice for Miss Clawdia Cat.

Four Fantastic Surprise Endings for Children 3-5 ~ by Scott Gordon, 2015, children's stories, 176 pages, 3/10
  1. Little Chickadee = After months of loneliness, a little chickadee realizes that he misses someone in particular.  He writes constantly and waits for her return, but time slowly trickles by with no end in sight.  There's something he's been meaning to tell her — something very, very special.  Will he get the chance?
  2. Who Wants to Be a Robot? = The off-world planet of Infinim, which promises a heavenly and eternal existence for its society of robots, is now taking applications.  Although one of its applicants is older and not quite as quick as he used to be, does he have what it takes to be accepted?  Figure out who he is before the story's end in this clever children's book.
  3. Froggy Dearest = One fine day, you come across the frog of your dreams.  Soft spoken and ever courteous, you've never met a creature quite so charming.  But tread carefully, for this frog has quite a secret to share!
  4. Eggtastic = Spring is just around the corner and it's time to see what the Easter Bunny is up to.  This year he's enlisted some help, and it's an odd choice at that.  What is that clever rabbit up to, and what is he really planning?  Find out in this humorous picture book.
These books are definitely NOT "for Children 3-5 years old."  Preschoolers would have no clue what you're talking about, for example, in Who Wants to Be a Robot? where the robot talks about sending mail "via intergalactic express mail which moves at the speed of light, or 299,792,458 meters per second" (p. 137).  Then the robot asks for the resulting number when "the letter's mass is converted into energy."  It seems the "applicant" (who desires to be a robot) has "recently awoken from cryogenic sleep."  The next page (p. 146) shows an old man with Einstein's face, followed by e=mc2 and a dedication of the book to Albert Einstein.  Amazon is selling this book for "Reading Age 3-5 years."  How many people have bought it thinking it's for children?  Shame, Amazon!  Look at the actual book, and ignore the stupid title!  "About the Author" (p. 148) says he's "the author of over 100 children's books."  I wonder how many are actually for children.

I do have a favorite quote from Who Wants to Be a Robot?

"...creativity and originality are our greatest assets, and humans have them in abundance" (p. 150). 
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon,
and Clawdia makes this (a belated) Caturday post on Sunday.

1 comment:

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

Because the text can be simple and the pictures can be simple, everyone thinks they can write for children. I've learned this from many years of doing the Cybils Awards.

I've also learned not to accept self-published books for review. Someone, other than the author, needs to read whatever has been written, I think.