Globetrotting Twosome

Even the youngest children are familiar with place names but they usually are not knowledgeable enough to determine if what they know is a city, state, or country.  Some of my more memorable question and answer sessions during story time with kindergarten students have been when we attempt to identify places on a map or globe.    Given the speed in which we can become readily connected anywhere in the world and informed of events any time of day, working knowledge of people and places outside our immediate area is fairly important in becoming citizens of our planet.

The duo who introduced readers to the alphabet in A Is For Musk Ox and numbers and counting in Musk Ox Counts are back in all their guffaw-inducing glory.  The World According To Musk Ox (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press) written by Erin Cabatingan with illustrations by Matthew Myers follows the team on a trip to the seven continents.  Get ready for a little learning and loads of laughter.

What happened to the globe?

What do you mean?

Nothing happened to it.

The only portion of the globe still attached to the stand is the area known as the Arctic.  Mr. Mischief himself has broken off the other portion.  Why would anyone care about the rest of the world?  Musk oxen are the best thing on four legs and they, of course, live in the Arctic.

Zebra, quick to point out his preference for Africa, (it is his home) gets a typical response from Musk Ox.  He has never heard of this place.  Deciding it's about time Musk Ox broadens his horizons, Zebra announces in his no-is-not-an-option voice they are off for a visit.

Immediately Musk Ox is too toasty.  Pointing out it is the hottest continent; Zebra kindly gets him a huge block of ice to place on his head.  While they are enjoying several different regions, Musk Ox happens to notice two wildebeests, promptly falling in love.

Continuing their adventure to the coldest place, Antarctica is next on the agenda.  Wind nearly blows them off the surface.  And did you know Antarctica is the largest desert in the world?  Still more shocking news awaits Musk Ox; there are more continents.

Sticking with alphabetical order their next stop is Asia.  A trio of facts, the tallest, the longest and the biggest, are casually relayed by the stripped guide to his woolly companion before they head down to Australia.  Zebra calmly notes two particularly nasty creatures known for being the most venomous in the world.  That sound you just heard was Musk Ox screaming like a baby.

Europe, among other things, holds the title for having spectacular ice caves known as Eisriesenwelt.  The duo does need to leave rather speedily for North America after you-know-who boldly goes where he should not have gone.  Zebra hurriedly points out there is more to this continent than the Arctic.  After traveling to one of the largest tropical rain forests in the world found in South America, Musk Ox wants to make one more stop; to a country not a continent.  I'll bet you can't guess where or why.

How fortunate for readers everywhere, when nearly two years ago Erin Cabatingan brought Musk Ox and Zebra into the children's literature world.  As in the two previous titles, the entire narrative is a witty no-holds-barred conversational exchange between the pair. Despite their differing personality traits, Miss Manners could probably learn a thing or two from Zebra but run screaming from the antics and attitude of Musk Ox, their relationship seems to be evolving into one where they are more tolerant of one another even if they rarely find common ground.  Here is a partial passage from one of the pages.  It is one of many moments of subtle hilarity.

What, no smart remarks?

Well, you do sound like you swallowed a computer.  But I suppose there are lots of interesting things in the world.

Besides musk oxen?

Possibly.  But don't tell anyone I said that.

An addition to the narrative is a series of Hysterical Marker points on each continent.  There may be one or two.  These, while informative, are not without their own sense of fun.  

IN 1911 THE SOUTH POLE WAS DISCOVERED BY 5 MEN AND 16 DOGS.  GUESS WHO TOOK THE CREDIT?

How can you not laugh when you open the book case?  A grinning Musk Ox is poking his head through the broken globe via a cutout to the title page.  Barely suppressing his disgust, Zebra wears part of the globe like a hat.  On the left (back) Musk Ox declares, while lounging on his traveling trunk being carried on the back of Zebra:

If you want a really useful book about geography...

this isn't it.

The title page and verso on the left feature an illustration crossing the gutter of Zebra struggling to haul the same huge trunk with Musk Ox on top holding a fancy drink.  The contrast between the trunk and Zebra's small stripped suitcase is just the beginning of great details sure to bring on the grins. 

In his paintings Matthew Myers never misses a beat, altering their size to fit the pacing of the storyline.  If Zebra and Musk Ox are having a transitional conversation, the background is usually a solid color.  If they are exploring a new place, Myers provides appropriate resplendent scenery with his comedic touches evident.  In the beginning Musk Ox is playing with toys, musk oxen, a Polar bear and a small road sign with arrows pointing in opposite directions, Minsk and Miami.  Zebra packed for their first stop is carrying his toothbrush in his tail.

If you look carefully at each illustration you can find many extras.  For each continent Zebra is wearing a different hat indicative of the area. Several times Zebra is providing the method of transportation for Musk Ox's trunk, a rolling snowball or a bicycle rickshaw, unless of course they are sliding down an icy slope or dropping over the edge of the Niagara Falls.

One of my favorite illustrations is the double-page spread devoted to their arrival in Europe.  At this point they are in Paris.  Zebra is unfolding a brochure of European sights labeled Hoofing It In Europe: A Walking Tour.  You can clearly see the label on his suitcase, Z. Bra.  The tape holding the globe together is visible.


The World According To Musk Ox written by Erin Cabatingan with illustrations by Matthew Myers is one of the funniest adventures across the seven continents readers will likely have encountered to date.  The banter between the companions provides all the entertainment you could want while learning just enough information to peak your interest.  Get out your globe and ready this aloud to an audience of one or many.

To discover more information about Erin Cabatingan and Matthew Myers please follow the links embedded in their names.  If you would like to see more visuals from this title, head over to the publisher's website.  Half of my favorite illustration can be seen.

This review/recommendation is based upon an Advance Reader's Edition which I received from my local independent book shop, McLean & Eakin Booksellers in Petoskey, Michigan.  This title is set to be released on September 30, 2014.

Look Out Numbers, Musk Ox Is On The Move

Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

The Milkmaid and her Pail

Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.

Albert Einstein

When angry, count to ten before you speak.  If very angry, count to one hundred.

Thomas Jefferson

Counting is part of everything we do everyday.  We learn about numbers at such an early age, it becomes as natural as blinking and breathing.  If you should happen to think learning to count is not important or downright fun, spend a day with kindergarten students, seeing the look of amazement in their eyes when they master counting from one to ten.

Five-year-old children are not the only ones who get a kick out of knowing numbers.  The dubious duo who made their first appearance in A Is For Musk Ox have returned in Musk Ox Counts (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press) written by Erin Cabatingan with illustrations by Matthew Myers.  Mr. Que Sera Sera is still driving his striped companion crazy with his inability to follow the plan.

Hey!

What's going on?

Where's the

musk ox?

Musk Ox has decided to spend some time on the page for the number two with the yaks.  Being on the page for the number one was a tad bit too lonely for someone who enjoys the limelight as much as this guy.  Zebra is quick to point out the problem; there is now a zero where there should be a one and there are three where there should be two. 

Never one to not have a comeback ready, Musk Ox assures Zebra he will fix it.  His solution is to place a sign on Zebra's back reading, 1 Zebra Kick Me.  Maybe that page is now fixed (he has no way of knowing) but Zebra still believes the number two page is a mess. 

Musk Ox counters saying there really are only two yaks but Zebra says there are still three animals. That's when Musk Ox begins his biggest brainstorm yet; suggesting the book be changed to an addition book. His mathematical thinking is not what you might expect; 1 musk ox + 2 yaks = 3 hoofed, cold-loving animals.

Zebra begs him to go back to page one which Musk Ox reluctantly does, for about thirteen minutes.  Then he's off to another page.  Elephants scare him away, he scares birds away.

His numerical musing again leave much to be desired. (Much eye-rolling will be taking place.) Those birds he scared away, think the animals for page six look mighty tasty.  As Zebra trots to his own page for the number seven, Musk Ox has other plans.

At this point Zebra is fit to be tied; he's missed his page and landed among snakes, sleeping bears and a dog show.  Musk Ox's quick fix is to have them lie on their backs looking like they are ready to make snow angels.  Zebra's depression is now full blown.

The book is ruined. Zebra has no page.  Wait?! Musk Ox has an idea?!  It must be some idea because there goes Zebra chasing Musk Ox off the page and that rascal is grinning from ear to ear.

It is evident that Erin Cabatingan loves these two characters despite the fact they can rarely, if ever, agree on anything.  The conversational word-play, comprising the entire narrative, is a duel in the interpretation of what makes a counting book; it's Zebra versus Musk Ox, traditional versus devil-may-care. These two are ready to leap off the page into your presence with pizazz.  Here is one sample of an exchange between the two.

M: It's a good thing musk oxen have 4 stomachs, * (Technically, it's 4 chambers, but that just sounds weird.) just like cows.  Otherwise I don't know what we'd do for this page.

Z: You also have four feet.

M: So? That's not special.  Any old ninny can have 4 feet.

Z: I have 4 feet.

M: My point exactly.

There's not a single corner of wasted space on this title, beginning with the front cover; Matthew Myers takes us right into another rollicking romp with Musk Ox and Zebra.  Musk Ox leaves his mark with a less than complimentary drawing of Zebra on the blackboard.  On the back cover Zebra is on a scaffolding drawing 1rowdy musk ox + 1 annoyed zebra = 1 awesome counting book.  Of course Musk Ox is tucked into the bottom corner looking rather chagrined.  When you open the cover there stands Musk Ox, smiling broadly with a saw at his feet, having cut out the "o" so his face could peek through on the front.

Paintings by Myers extend the dialogue and generate enough humor to have your face aching from laughter.  Pale steely purple, tones of rose, sky blue with and without clouds, gray, white, gold provide backgrounds for his energetic visuals.  The body language and facial expressions match the moods of every single moment.  

Depending on the point in the story, the illustrations may be single or double page; some of the singles have Musk Ox's and Zebra's heads placed in cut-out circles as they speak, much like the people on the television show, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.  The placing of details adds to the comedy; the yaks and Musk Ox are playing Twister, Musk Ox is lounging with a pipe blowing bubbles, in the bear den there is a TV set with a remote lying on the ground, letters piling up near a mail slot and the tie, Zebra wearing a tie magnifies the difference between these two tenfold.  As I was trying to select a favorite illustration, I could not.  They are all uproarious.

If you are not acquainted with Musk Ox and Zebra you need to meet them as soon as you can, starting with Musk Ox Counts written by Erin Cabatingan with illustrations by Matthew Myers.  Expect readers and listeners alike to enjoy counting along with this pair over and over. Then make sure you have a copy of A Is For Musk Ox at the ready.  I do believe a third book is planned for the future.

Please follows the links embedded in the author's and illustrator's names above to access their websites.  To see more illustrations from this title, follow this link to the publisher's website.

A Hare-Raising Episode

Reflecting on the power of creativity, the imagination, oral and written storytelling, the only two words more compelling than "once upon a time" are "what if".  For authors and illustrators who dare to extend their thinking, the results for readers and listeners have been phenomenal.  They have made us gasp in surprise, taken us to the edge in fear, broken our hearts, healed our hearts and made us laugh ourselves silly.  Most important of all, the best of these are favorites, not for the moment but for years.

Back in June, Julie Danielson at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast interviewed Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett and Matthew Myers about a collaboration of theirs to be released in the fall of 2013.  Needless to say, this post revealed the process for and the creation of a book destined to be gleefully enjoyed by children (and adults) of any age.  One week ago an article was posted on the Publishers Weekly website, Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett, and Matthew Myers 'Battle' It Out in New Picture Book,  with all three individuals talking about their work on this title.  At this point (even though I had seen an ARC at a bookseller's shop), I could hardly wait to get the finished book in my hands.  Battle Bunny (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) is definitely not what Gran Gran intended as a gift.

Bunny woke up from a night of pleasant 
dreams.  Today is a very special day, he thought.
Today is my birthday.  Today, I am not just a bunny.
                  attle
I am the Birthday Bunny.

For his birthday, Alexander, Alex, has received, what I would consider the very best kind of present from his grandmother, a book.  Before the narrative even begins, it's obvious Alex's taste in literature does not run parallel to his grandmother's idea of a good story.  Oh, no sirree, Alex has decided this tale will not be filled with sweetness and light but of a raving rabbit on the rampage.  With writing implement in hand, he crosses out, adds words, and doodles all over the pages.  Ta-dah!  A new book is born.

Yes, Battle Bunny, will begin his birthday with a scrumptious breakfast of brain juice and a bowl of greasy guts.  Fortified he sets off into the forest to chop down as many trees as possible on his path to world domination.  First to confront him is Crow who is easily dispatched with a solid swing sending him beyond the clouds in the sky.

It's interesting at this point to note a new character has been added.  His name is none other than Alex; perhaps a superhero of sorts, wearing a capital A on his shirt.  He has just completed a person to person call to the President of the United States.

Badger goes down with a swift kick.  Squirrel's feisty bees are no match for the blistering buzz of Battle Bunny's chain saw.  Alex's second call to the president is rebuffed; after all he is only a boy.

Martial artists fail leaving the horrendous hare free to wreck havoc on mountains and national treasures.  Will the President of the United States change his mind?  Can this madness be stopped?  This is one birthday fated for the annuals of history.


One can only guess as to the boisterous brainstorming between Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett as they drafted and wrote both these stories, the gentle, sweet but predictable Birthday Bunny followed by the maniacal mayhem of Battle Bunny.  Every textual change is a reflection of minds given free rein, to enjoy childhood.  It's like Saturday morning cartoons on the printed page.  The word play is straight from the mind of a nefarious villain, a would-be hero and a world leader in need of saving.  Here are a couple of examples. (These represent the text as re-written.)

"That is so false!" said Battle Bunny. Because
today I am going to whomp on you, birdbrain,
and pluck you like a sick chicken!

Sgt. Squirrel smiled.  "Today is a special day because I
have robot killer bees in my tree and now I am
ready to sting your butt and save the forest!!


Illustrator Matthew Myers jumps into the comic chaos with both feet by altering the front and back cover (and spine) expertly; even the tiny bunnies along the top edge of the back look ready to fight.  Opening and closing endpapers, two-tone cream with darker carrots in rows, are identical except for the back, featuring a disgruntled hand-drawn Battle Bunny striding away.  The title pages and verso with kid-like doodles galore will garner a captive audience.  Little changes like Book design by Dan Potash, a hand drawn pot followed by pot of ash, being included or adding letters to balloons to read, See what happens to bunnies on doomsday.  

Full-color illustrations rendered in oils and pencil provide the superb contrast to the dark drawings.  Some of the pictures are full page, two are double page, edge to edge.  Most are circular in shape allowing for plenty of room to showcase the modified tale.  His characters and their actions are so lively you feel as if you might have to close the book to keep them from jumping off the page.  I have to say the first illustration where I laughed out loud was of Battle Bunny sitting at the breakfast table, looking ready to change the world (in his favor), skull and crossbones drawn on his sippy cup, sporting an eye patch, scarred ear, guts coming from his cereal bowl, an arrow shot into the Hole Sweet Hole sampler on the wall and the world MAY end soon on the calendar.


Get ready to buzz, boom, and trounce your way through the pages of  Battle Bunny written by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett and Alex with illustrations by Matthew Myers and Alex. Action-packed adventure is an understatement as this bunny is bent on destruction of the highest order.  Your imagination will be ready to run as wild as this rabbit's antics. Guaranteed.  I would plan on getting extra copies.  And cake might be a good idea too.

I invite you to check out the author and illustrator websites by following the links embedded in their names above. A special website for Battle Bunny has been created allowing users to download one or all of the pages of this title, so they make their own changes to the original story.  Submitted alterations are being posted at the site.  A curriculum guide is in place for educators.    

Move Over Apple, Here Comes Musk Ox

The use of language, the formation of words, in storytelling and how we use them, written or spoken, almost has a magical quality to it.  When you think how they can make you feel, where you can go or how attached you become to characters, real or fictional, it's astounding. This is one of the reasons I have been captivated by and motivated to collect alphabet books over the years.

Textual presentations, storylines, coupled with the pictorial interpretations are as unique as the authors and illustrators themselves.  My fifty plus collection has recently grown by another title, A Is For Musk Ox ( A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, October 16, 2012) by debut author, Erin Cabatingan with illustrations by Matthew Myers.  It would seem that Musk Ox wants to give this volume his own special twist.

Hey!

Hey you,

Musk Ox!

Did you do this?

Did you eat

that apple?

Pieces of apple, a discarded core, lying about his feet, apple juice dripping from his mouth, Musk Ox is confronted by a perturbed Zebra.  Finally admitting his guilt, he tells the disgruntled Zebra that on the contrary, the book is not ruined but saved.  In fact he has the perfect solution, "a" should be for musk ox.  

Of course, Zebra believes this suggestion to be ridiculous.  Musk ox does not start with "a".  In fact, there is no "a" anywhere in those two words.  Ever persistent, ever persuasive Musk Ox has the perfect answer, a musk ox is awesome, lives in the Arctic where some of the state of Alaska is located.

Zebra relents moving on to the letter "b".  Musk Ox wants that too, claiming musk oxen fur is brown and black.  Completely disgusted at this point, Zebra says he can have "b" and "c" as well.  For Musk Ox, that is like waving a red flag at a bull; it's full steam ahead.

When there is not an actual fact to fit a letter, Musk Ox continues to enumerate his many and wonderful attributes, at least in his opinion.  Lest you think, it's smooth sailing all the way to "z" for this hooved, horned herbivore, think again.  Letters "k", "l" and "m" result in some rather testy back and forth discussions between the two characters.

To be perfectly clear not every letter representation is replaced with musk ox.  He does have some alternatives which he justifies using his own personal brand of logic.  When Musk Ox finally arrives at "z", he and Zebra finally agree but to the delight of the former and the total humiliation of the latter.  Why is Zebra chasing Musk Ox?


Told entirely in conversations between Zebra and Musk Ox, with Musk Ox taking center stage for many of the letters, Erin Cabatingan gives her characters personality with a punch.  These two don't mince words (or thoughts) having discussions loaded with attitude.  It's a game of one-upmanship in the world of alphabet.  Here is a sample passage.

U is for musk ox
Because musk oxen 
have underwool!

You said that already.

Well, what do you want
me to say? Underwear?
Some parents might
not like that.


When looking at the front cover, the first thing you notice is the cutout, the bite out of the apple, framing Musk Ox with Zebra standing, hands on hips, looking at that strip of words glued over apple.  On the back cover is Zebra's own alliterative views glued over A Is For Musk Ox because...are annoying, and always about as aggravating....  Matthew Myers colorful visuals rendered in oils on illustration board are full of expressive spunk and your-stomach-will-hurt-from-laughing-so-much humor.

A variety of pale backgrounds showcase his characters and their faces as does the changes in perspective and zooming in for close-ups.  Depending on the letter and conversation his backgrounds might mirror the narrative; bookcases in a library, snowy Arctic abode of Musk Ox complete with a recliner and television set with rabbit ears.  The excluded word is shown somewhere in the overall illustration; clown shivering outside the window of Musk Ox's home, a shattered lamp, a tiny green turtle in the snow.  Myers chooses to use a single page, half page or even a double-page spread to focus on a letter adding to the flow, creating a sense of movement.


If you're looking for an upbeat, snappy alphabet book packed with hilarity, A Is For Musk Ox written by Erin Cabatingan with paintings by Matthew Myers is a sure bet.  Reading it aloud with a voice brimming with expression, will have listeners laughing like crazy.  I can also see this working well as a reader's theater title.

Here is a link to the publisher's website for more illustrations.  If you follow the link embedded in Matthew Myers' name you can see other visuals as well as informative pages revealing his illustrative process.  Here is a link to the ARKive for Muskox.