Here's the grandpa rabbit I drew:
Showing posts with label Leo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leo. Show all posts
Monday, September 25, 2017
Drawing with my son
My son is smart- if he wants to stay up later than usual, all he has to do is start drawing. I never want to make him stop, plus it encourages me to draw more!
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
What My Kid is Reading- Spy School
Spy School
Written by Stuart Gibbs
Age range: 8-12
Released: 2012
What's this book about?
It's about a kid named Ben who gets enrolled in a school focused on training kids to be spies for the U.S.
Does he know what he's getting himself into?
Yes, however there's more to the school than he thinks and he starts to figure it out throughout the book.
Is the story told by Ben?
It's told in the first person from Ben's perspective.
Who are the main characters besides Ben?
Throughout the story, Ben finds many accomplices, friends and enemies. Most characters you meet become main or strong supporting characters.
Who was your favorite?
It's tough to decide who was my favorite, but one of them was Zoe. The writer (Stuart Gibbs) developed her personality very well. Also, she has a tendency to give nicknames to every students in spy school, based on their first appearance, skills or anything about them.
Why did you enjoy this book so much?
It was brilliantly written. A lot of the plot twists were completely unexpected and went really well with the story. The characters were well developed and there was always something new added to the story.
I also really loved how at the start of every chapter you would find the chapter title, Ben's location, the date, and the time (army style). It made it feel like I was reading a top secret file.
Are there any illustrations in the book?
There are no illustrations but everything is described so well that the pictures pop up in your brain as if you (the reader) was in the book yourself. The book really makes you lose track of reality!
Why did you decide to read this book?
It was recommended by my friend, Owen. As I started reading it, I got sucked into it for days, it was so good.
Is this a funny book?
It's incredibly funny, with some slightly immature humor.
Who would you recommend this book to?
Anybody. The grammar isn't that complex, but when it's on the trickier side, Ben will always ask what it means, and one of his friends will always explain.
Is this book part of a series?
Yes. It's made up of 4 books so far and I've read them all! Spy School, Spy Camp, Evil Spy School, and Spy Ski School in that order.
How would you rate this book?
4.8 stars (out of 5)
Thanks Leo!
Support a local independent bookstore
or
Buy this book from Amazon
More book reviews from Leo
Written by Stuart Gibbs
Age range: 8-12
Released: 2012
It's about a kid named Ben who gets enrolled in a school focused on training kids to be spies for the U.S.
Does he know what he's getting himself into?
Yes, however there's more to the school than he thinks and he starts to figure it out throughout the book.
Is the story told by Ben?
It's told in the first person from Ben's perspective.
Who are the main characters besides Ben?
Throughout the story, Ben finds many accomplices, friends and enemies. Most characters you meet become main or strong supporting characters.
Who was your favorite?
It's tough to decide who was my favorite, but one of them was Zoe. The writer (Stuart Gibbs) developed her personality very well. Also, she has a tendency to give nicknames to every students in spy school, based on their first appearance, skills or anything about them.
Why did you enjoy this book so much?
It was brilliantly written. A lot of the plot twists were completely unexpected and went really well with the story. The characters were well developed and there was always something new added to the story.
I also really loved how at the start of every chapter you would find the chapter title, Ben's location, the date, and the time (army style). It made it feel like I was reading a top secret file.
Are there any illustrations in the book?
There are no illustrations but everything is described so well that the pictures pop up in your brain as if you (the reader) was in the book yourself. The book really makes you lose track of reality!
Why did you decide to read this book?
It was recommended by my friend, Owen. As I started reading it, I got sucked into it for days, it was so good.
Is this a funny book?
It's incredibly funny, with some slightly immature humor.
Who would you recommend this book to?
Anybody. The grammar isn't that complex, but when it's on the trickier side, Ben will always ask what it means, and one of his friends will always explain.
Is this book part of a series?
Yes. It's made up of 4 books so far and I've read them all! Spy School, Spy Camp, Evil Spy School, and Spy Ski School in that order.
How would you rate this book?
4.8 stars (out of 5)
Thanks Leo!
Support a local independent bookstore
or
Buy this book from Amazon
More book reviews from Leo
Sunday, March 13, 2016
What My Kid is Reading- Fortunately, the Milk
Fortunately, the Milk
Written by Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Skottie Young
Age range: 8-12
Released: 2013
What's this book about?
It's about what really happens when your dad goes out to buy milk.
He just buys it from the store, right?
Yes. HOWEVER, fortunately the milk helps him on a journey through time and space.
So there's more than just groceries in this story?
Yup. There are also dinosaurs, "Wumpires", volcanoes, aliens and whole lot more but I don't want to ruin the story. Oh, and there is also a time machine and that's how you're able to see the previous list of characters.
I love how one of the main characters gives unusual names to things we know. Wet white hairy crunchers = coconuts. Floaty ball person carrier = hot air balloon. But a button is a button.
Is the book illustrated?
Oh, it has some of the best illustrations I've seen. I love his drawing style- all his lines are messy and he makes the weirdest looking characters possible.
Thinking about the illustrations, who's your favorite character in the book?
I really like the drawings of the Wumpires because their bodies look like rubber being stretched out.
Why did we buy this book?Because you suggested it to me.
Have you ever read anything else by Neil Gaiman?
No. Because most of his books seem to be for older people. Or not as funny.
(I think we'll have to check out some of his other titles so I can prove Leo wrong.)
Who would you recommend this book to?
Anyone would like this book because it has adult humor and kid humor.
Was it easy to understand the time travel aspects or would some kids find it confusing?
It was really easy to follow because they didn't talk about it as time travel- rather more as teleportation (even though it really was time travel).
How would you rate this book?
5 stars (out of 5)
Thanks Leo!
Buy this book from Amazon
More book reviews from Leo
Written by Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Skottie Young
Age range: 8-12
Released: 2013
What's this book about?
It's about what really happens when your dad goes out to buy milk.
He just buys it from the store, right?
Yes. HOWEVER, fortunately the milk helps him on a journey through time and space.
So there's more than just groceries in this story?
Yup. There are also dinosaurs, "Wumpires", volcanoes, aliens and whole lot more but I don't want to ruin the story. Oh, and there is also a time machine and that's how you're able to see the previous list of characters.
I love how one of the main characters gives unusual names to things we know. Wet white hairy crunchers = coconuts. Floaty ball person carrier = hot air balloon. But a button is a button.
Is the book illustrated?
Oh, it has some of the best illustrations I've seen. I love his drawing style- all his lines are messy and he makes the weirdest looking characters possible.
Thinking about the illustrations, who's your favorite character in the book?
I really like the drawings of the Wumpires because their bodies look like rubber being stretched out.
Why did we buy this book?Because you suggested it to me.
Have you ever read anything else by Neil Gaiman?
No. Because most of his books seem to be for older people. Or not as funny.
(I think we'll have to check out some of his other titles so I can prove Leo wrong.)
Who would you recommend this book to?
Anyone would like this book because it has adult humor and kid humor.
Was it easy to understand the time travel aspects or would some kids find it confusing?
It was really easy to follow because they didn't talk about it as time travel- rather more as teleportation (even though it really was time travel).
How would you rate this book?
5 stars (out of 5)
Thanks Leo!
Buy this book from Amazon
More book reviews from Leo
Thursday, January 7, 2016
What My Kid is Reading- Secret Coders
Secret Coders
Written by Gene Luen Yang
Illustrated by Mike Holmes
Age range: 8-12 years
Released: September 29, 2015
What's the book about?
About two kids trying to figure out the secrets about their school.
What sort of secrets?
There are some odd things about the school involving numbers.
How are they trying to figure things out?Look at the cover! Duh! [said with a bit of sass)
This book is a graphic novel. Was it a good read?
Yes. I definitely liked the illustrations (especially because they used a lot of green- my favorite color).
So obviously, there's something about coding going on in this book. Can you explain?
By reading this book you'll learn a lot about binary- which is a computer language- but it's not a strictly informational book, it's a fun book during which you learn some coding.
The author, Gene Yang, signed the book for you- what did he write inside?
He wrote a code and then my name and once I was done I was able to decipher the code. It was definitely cool! He was very, very nice. I met him at M.I.C.E. (Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo) last October.
Why did you want to read this book?
Because my dad suggested it to me and it sounded very, very interesting. And I love coding (and video games).
Who would you recommend this book to?
Anyone who is interested in computers, coding... you can be a beginner or know a lot already and still learn something. Plus it's a fun read.
How would you rate this book?
4 1/2 stars (out of 5)
Thanks Leo!
Buy this book from Amazon
More book reviews from Leo
Written by Gene Luen Yang
Illustrated by Mike Holmes
Age range: 8-12 years
Released: September 29, 2015
About two kids trying to figure out the secrets about their school.
What sort of secrets?
There are some odd things about the school involving numbers.
How are they trying to figure things out?Look at the cover! Duh! [said with a bit of sass)
This book is a graphic novel. Was it a good read?
Yes. I definitely liked the illustrations (especially because they used a lot of green- my favorite color).
So obviously, there's something about coding going on in this book. Can you explain?
By reading this book you'll learn a lot about binary- which is a computer language- but it's not a strictly informational book, it's a fun book during which you learn some coding.
The author, Gene Yang, signed the book for you- what did he write inside?
He wrote a code and then my name and once I was done I was able to decipher the code. It was definitely cool! He was very, very nice. I met him at M.I.C.E. (Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo) last October.
Why did you want to read this book?
Because my dad suggested it to me and it sounded very, very interesting. And I love coding (and video games).
Who would you recommend this book to?
Anyone who is interested in computers, coding... you can be a beginner or know a lot already and still learn something. Plus it's a fun read.
How would you rate this book?
4 1/2 stars (out of 5)
Thanks Leo!
Buy this book from Amazon
More book reviews from Leo
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
What My Kid is Reading- The 13-Story Treehouse
The 13-Story Treehouse
Written by Andy Griffiths
Illustrated by Terry Denton
Age range: 6-10 years
Released April 16, 2013
What's the book about?
It's about 2 kids who live in a really cool 13 story treehouse and they write books together.
What's cool about the treehouse?
There's a lot of stuff kids like in it. Like a marshmallow shooting machine, an underground lab, a banana sizer (it turns bananas bigger so they're better weapons), a bowling alley, swimming pool, a lemonade fountain, a shark tank (any sharks in it? Yep!)... and that's pretty much it.
Where'd they get the treehouse?
That's explained in the second book (which I've already read).
Do they have parents or families?The background info is explained in the second book. How they met, what they're doing in the treehouse...
What happens in the book?
They need to write a book for their publisher, Mr. Big Nose- whose nose is very big- but they keep getting interrupted by things like sea monkeys, watching their favorite show, a drawing competition, a gorilla who tries to get one of their giant bananas, turning cats into canaries etc.
Doesn't school interrupt them too?They don't go to school (also explained in book 2)
What's their book about?
I don't want to ruin the experience of reading this book by telling you.
Are there illustrations?
There are, like, 3 or 4 on each page!
Did you like them? Did they help the story?They really added to the story to make it funnier. I really liked the barking dog show cartoons (shows them to me- very cute!).
What did you think of the book?
It was REALLY good. I really suggest it to anyone who likes funny stuff.
So it seems you've already read book 2. Will you be reading book 3?
Duh.
How did you choose this book?
I was looking through the bookstore and my mom grabbed the book and made me check it out. I ended up really liking it.
(To Leo's mom) How did you choose this book?
I think I chose it because of the cover. Something about the colors and the lettering made me think it would be the type of thing Leo would like.
(Back to Leo) How would you rate this book?
5 stars (out of 5)
Thanks Leo!
Buy this book from Amazon
More book reviews from Leo
Written by Andy Griffiths
Illustrated by Terry Denton
Age range: 6-10 years
Released April 16, 2013
It's about 2 kids who live in a really cool 13 story treehouse and they write books together.
What's cool about the treehouse?
There's a lot of stuff kids like in it. Like a marshmallow shooting machine, an underground lab, a banana sizer (it turns bananas bigger so they're better weapons), a bowling alley, swimming pool, a lemonade fountain, a shark tank (any sharks in it? Yep!)... and that's pretty much it.
Where'd they get the treehouse?
That's explained in the second book (which I've already read).
Do they have parents or families?The background info is explained in the second book. How they met, what they're doing in the treehouse...
What happens in the book?
They need to write a book for their publisher, Mr. Big Nose- whose nose is very big- but they keep getting interrupted by things like sea monkeys, watching their favorite show, a drawing competition, a gorilla who tries to get one of their giant bananas, turning cats into canaries etc.
Doesn't school interrupt them too?They don't go to school (also explained in book 2)
What's their book about?
I don't want to ruin the experience of reading this book by telling you.
Are there illustrations?
There are, like, 3 or 4 on each page!
Did you like them? Did they help the story?They really added to the story to make it funnier. I really liked the barking dog show cartoons (shows them to me- very cute!).
What did you think of the book?
It was REALLY good. I really suggest it to anyone who likes funny stuff.
So it seems you've already read book 2. Will you be reading book 3?
Duh.
How did you choose this book?
I was looking through the bookstore and my mom grabbed the book and made me check it out. I ended up really liking it.
(To Leo's mom) How did you choose this book?
I think I chose it because of the cover. Something about the colors and the lettering made me think it would be the type of thing Leo would like.
(Back to Leo) How would you rate this book?
5 stars (out of 5)
Thanks Leo!
Buy this book from Amazon
More book reviews from Leo
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
What My Kid is Reading- Numbed! by David Lubar
Numbed!
Written by David Lubar
Age range: unknown (guess: 7-11)
Released August 1, 2014
This book is from your school's Media Center. Why did you choose the book?
It was suggested by the librarian to my class.
What made it sound appealing?
The fact that someone is suddenly unable to use math and numbers. It would be interesting to see what it's like to not be able to tell time, count, everything having to do with numbers.
Tell me more about the book
Two kids get numbers erased from their brain and they have to get them back because they are about to have a math test. If the whole class gets a good average grade they'll get an ice cream party.
What's the time span of the book?
About two days. And you get to see what it's like at home and at school.
How'd you like it?
It wasn't amazing but it was good. I thought it would be more about what it's like without math and numbers but it was more about them getting it back. The author didn't show much about the consequences of no numbers.
But there was something really good about the book- all the chapters, instead of regular numbers, they're math equations.
Was part of the purpose of the book to learn math?
Yes.
Did you learn anything new math-wise?
Yes.
Any illustrations?
No.
Was that okay?
Yup.
Did the cover make you want to read the book?
The cover was definitely odd- it stood out because it was weird.
Would you read another book by the same author?
Maybe. Depends on the book. I wasn't too much of a fan of this book.
How would you rate this book?
3 stars (out of 5)
Thanks Leo!
Buy this book from Amazon
More book reviews from Leo
Written by David Lubar
Age range: unknown (guess: 7-11)
Released August 1, 2014
This book is from your school's Media Center. Why did you choose the book?
It was suggested by the librarian to my class.
What made it sound appealing?
The fact that someone is suddenly unable to use math and numbers. It would be interesting to see what it's like to not be able to tell time, count, everything having to do with numbers.
Tell me more about the book
Two kids get numbers erased from their brain and they have to get them back because they are about to have a math test. If the whole class gets a good average grade they'll get an ice cream party.
What's the time span of the book?
About two days. And you get to see what it's like at home and at school.
How'd you like it?
It wasn't amazing but it was good. I thought it would be more about what it's like without math and numbers but it was more about them getting it back. The author didn't show much about the consequences of no numbers.
But there was something really good about the book- all the chapters, instead of regular numbers, they're math equations.
Was part of the purpose of the book to learn math?
Yes.
Did you learn anything new math-wise?
Yes.
Any illustrations?
No.
Was that okay?
Yup.
Did the cover make you want to read the book?
The cover was definitely odd- it stood out because it was weird.
Would you read another book by the same author?
Maybe. Depends on the book. I wasn't too much of a fan of this book.
How would you rate this book?
3 stars (out of 5)
Thanks Leo!
Buy this book from Amazon
More book reviews from Leo
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Amazing L Boy!
My 4 1/2 year old son has been drawing superheroes non-stop for the last month. It's pretty amazing considering up until 5 weeks ago he never tried to draw a person and the strides he's made have been wonderful to watch.
We were sitting on the sofa watching his one cartoon of the day and I just started drawing Leo as a hero. Leo decided he wanted to color it in. And then the show ended and he was hungry for breakfast so he didn't color much but I really liked what he did:
And here are a few of Leo's original drawings:
We were sitting on the sofa watching his one cartoon of the day and I just started drawing Leo as a hero. Leo decided he wanted to color it in. And then the show ended and he was hungry for breakfast so he didn't color much but I really liked what he did:
Batman
Hulk
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Aliens!
We just returned from vacation (which is why I haven't updated my blog in a while) and one morning while away, I was watching my son Leo play with anything that looked like it might be a toy. A toy golf club became a (leaf) blower. The sofa became a hub for all his (flying) cars. And his real toys- I could only imagine what he was seeing in them. And he was especially having fun with an alien toy. He has such a creative imagination that I thought I'd draw for him some aliens and a Leo character/warrior to play with them.
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