Happy Birthday Mark Twain!

Omigosh! We just realized that Mark Twain bears an uncanny resemblance to Jed Clampett!
All he needs is an old hat and a rope belt. Who knew?

Here are some of our favorite quotes from the Ever Quotable Mark Twain:

Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.

Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place.

I have been through some terrible things in life, some of which actually happened.

I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him.

In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then He made school boards.

The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.
Familiarity breeds contempt--and children.

In the Coop with Aaron Reynolds and Neil Numberman!

We found Aaron Reynolds and Neil Numberman buzzing around a manure pile and thought we should ask them some questions. Aaron is a human, not a bug, but he often writes about bugs. He is the author of Chicks and Salsa (one of our all time favorite chick books!), Superhero School, Buffalo Wings, and, of course, the Joey Fly, Private Eye graphic novels. Visit him at his website at http://aaron-reynolds.com/.

Neil Numberman is a termite currently residing in New York City. Joey Fly, Private Eye is his first graphic novel, but he is also the author/illustrator of Do NOT Build a Frankenstein. Stop by his website at http://www.neilnumberman.com/.

Aaron and Neil have graciously agreed to hang around the coop all day, so if you have a question, swat--er, ask--away!

First act as Dictator for Life?

Aaron: Mandatory Friday night Fondue night!

Neil: Build Super Mario’s World!

What kids lit character would you like to vote off the island?

Aaron: Draco Malfoy. So obnoxious…trying to kill Dumbledore like that…that’s not right!

Neil: In keeping with the Harry Potter theme (because those characters are so well written) Dolores Umbridge! Man, I hated her!

What kids lit character would you share your last twinkie with?

Aaron: James from James and the Giant Peach. But in exchange, we dip the grasshopper in chocolate.

Neil: Waldo! But first I gotta find him!

What TV family would you like to be adopted by?

Aaron: Bert and Ernie. Bath toys, fuzzy jammies, insects for pets, and no parents? Count me in!

Neil: Meerkat Manor!

Worst job in the universe?

Aaron: Deveining shrimp. That’s poop, you know, not a “vein”!

Neil: Mr. Universe judge

Dream job for a day?

Aaron: Video game tester.

Neil: Jet-pack-wearing-water-balloon-tester

Marx Brothers or Three Stooges?

Aaron: Hate them both. Annoying. Submits Spongebob as third alternative.

Neil: Yeah, I’ll take Spongebob too! Not too familiar with the Marx, but no love for the Three Stooges

Clown V. Mime Deathmatch. Pick your winner.

Aaron: A wardrobe malfunction takes them both out: Circus tiger mistakes mime’s stripes for a zebra lunch and clown is so busy laughing he swallows red rubber nose. Is that wrong?

Neil: Winner: Nobody

Funniest dead person you’d like to meet?

Aaron: Benjamin Franklin. He invents libraries, bifocals, and daylight savings time, all while rocking a mullet? Seemed like a pretty funny guy to me.

Neil: Jim Henson!

Best use for a book shaped object? (You know, one of those things sold as books but which should never ever have been published.)

Aaron: No comment, lest it incriminate a book I’ve written or will someday write.

Neil: Kindle

It's National American Teddy Bear Day!

Awww. We love this holiday! It makes us want to throw a tea party with invisible toast and a cup full of Chardonnay. In fact, there is a certain Silly Chick with brown hair and a book about pirate bunnies who still enjoys doing this with her childhood bear, Albert. As it turns out, Albert prefers Pinot Noir.

We are also very fond of a good teddy bear book, like our dearly beloved Winnie-The-Pooh. Tell us about your favorite teddy bear book!

Flawed Dogs

Flawed Dogs: The Novel: The Shocking Raid on Westminster
by Berkeley Breathed
Philomel
ISBN 0399252185


What is it?

A wild and crazy journey with a pup named Sam, who just happens to sport the ever elusive Duuglitz Tuft on top of his noggin.

What do we love about it?

How it made us laugh and cry at the exact same time, which isn't easy and requires lots of Kleenex.

What does it remind us of?

Other "journey" type books, like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Incredible Journey, and A Dog's Life: Autobiography of a Stray but with a heavy dose of Hannah Barbara tossed in for laughs.

What is it perfect for?

Read it before The Westminster Dog Show in February.

What do we think?

We give it four snausages! Sure to be a favorite with underdog lovers and just plain anyone who loves a gassy dog.

I'm a Turkey

I'm a Turkey!
by Jim Arnosky

Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439903646

What is it?
A picture book about our nation's favorite dinner...oops, we mean our nation's favorite bird, of course...by folk singer and naturalist Jim Arnosky.

What do we love about it?
In addition to learning about how turkeys live in the wild, young readers will have fun peeping, squawking, squabbling and talking turkey throughout the book. Or download the song here for a turkey-talking singalong!

What does it remind us of?
Dinner. (We cannot tell a lie.)

What is it perfect for?
A fun Thanksgiving read aloud, but it would also work any time of year since there is no specific reference to the holiday.

What do we say about it?
This one's a fowl favorite! Two feathers up!

We Love Lucy!

It was on this day in 1951 that the very first I Love Lucy episode was aired, and boy, are we ever grateful. Who could forget that scene in the candy factory? Or the one with her stomping grapes in Italy? And was it just us, or did you, too, have a crush on Ricky Ricardo? Hubba hubba!

Let's all eat chocolate bon-bons, drink Vitameatavegamin, and sing Babalu at the top of our lungs to celebrate!

"How I Love Lucy was born? We decided that instead of divorce lawyers profiting from our mistakes, we'd profit from them." --Lucille Ball

In the Coop with Mac Barnett

Three Silly Things About Mac Barnett:

1. He reads to sheep. We like this.

2. He often wears a cap that reminds us of one of our favorite books, Caps for Sale.

3. He is ticklish. Go ahead, tickle him. And then go check out his fantastically silly books.

The Interview:

First act as Dictator for Life? Dictator for Life means years and years for baroquely selfish decrees. So I'd probably start off by ordering a nice sandwich. It's hard to have an iron fist on an empty stomach.

What kids lit character would you like to vote off the island?
In the interest of diplomacy, I'm keeping away from literature and axing Scrappy Doo.

What kids lit character would you share your last twinkie with?
Papa Snap. He seems like he'd be into Twinkies.

What TV family would you like to be adopted by?
I wouldn't mind being Maxwell Smart's son.

Worst job in the universe?
In the whole universe? I'd answer this question if it hadn't blown my mind.

Dream job for a day?
My dreams rarely involve jobs.

Marx Brothers or Three Stooges?

I feel bad for the Three Stooges. I've just perused a random sample of this blog's interviews: Everybody picks the Marx Bros. How smart! Well, my mom taught me to love an underdog, so I'm going to swoop in like King Moonracer and take the Stooges to an island, where we will all laugh and laugh. Even Shemp.

Clown V. Mime Deathmatch. Pick your winner.
See, here's the thing. When the Deathmatch is over--and now the lights are on and the crowd is gone and some teenager is wiping down the arena's plastic seats--the victor, still sitting, stunned, in a corner of the Battle Cage, will realize what "winning" really means. It doesn't matter whether you're a clown or a mime: Nobody wins in a Deathmatch.

Funniest dead person you’d like to meet?
Whoever lost that Deathmatch.

Best use for a book shaped object? (You know, one of those things sold as books but which should never ever have been published.)
Hollow out a hole in the middle of it and store your secrets inside.

More info about Mac:
MacBarnett.Com
Interview with Mac at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast