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228/22/24

Early Reviews Are In!

Two of my upcoming books – The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends and The Day I Became a Potato Pancake – were recently reviewed by prominent publications. Now, if they were negative reviews, I’d pretend they didn’t exist. But they are in fact positive reviews, so I acknowledge their existence wholeheartedly!

First, there’s a glowing write-up of The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends in Kirkus Reviews. The critic who reviewed my book said that it was “A revealing study of ways in which mythology is still very much with us,” and that it “offers a broad perspective and unusually rich and stimulating parallels.” Click HERE to read the whole review.

The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends comes out in October. So does The Day I Became a Potato Pancake, which is a children’s graphic novel that was written by yours truly and illustrated by the incredible Beilin Xu.

And if you’ve guessed that the second write-up concerns The Day I Became a Potato Pancake, you guessed right, because that book got a fantastic review in Publishers Weekly. And just in case you don’t have a subscription to Publishers Weekly and therefore cannot read the review, here it is:

Young inventor Naomi Hirsch and her best friend Ben Sherman love playing with her scientist mother’s inventions, like the hologram simulation program. But when they break into Professor Hirsch’s lab after being banned, they find something even more powerful: the Transfogram, “an experimental machine” that accidentally turns Ben into a human-sized latke. Naomi’s mother endeavors to develop an antidote before Ben’s transformation becomes permanent at sundown on the first night of Hanukkah, but Ben’s sudden boost in popularity among his classmates makes him reluctant to be human again. Kaplan (96 Facts About Bad Bunny) maintains gravitas amid silly circumstances by utilizing emotional dialogue centered on character relationships and growth. Singaporean illustrator Xu’s brightly colored art showcases facial expressions that emphasize the struggle between knowing what’s right and letting go of something that makes one feel special. This speculative, character-focused graphic novel highlights aspects of Jewish identity and culture through multiple lenses to craft a goofy yet nuanced read. Naomi and (human) Ben have tan skin. Back matter includes an art activity. Ages 7–9. (Oct.) —Publisher’s Weekly

Pretty cool, eh?

And if you DO have a subscription, HERE is the link to the review on the PW site.

The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends will be published by Quarto on October 8th, 2024, and The Day I Became a Potato Pancake comes out from Behrman House on October 15th, 2024. You can pre-order both books now!

 

 

 

129/12/23

The Nightmare Before Christmas Paper Models Book is out NOW!

Some time ago, I was approached by the folks at Thunder Bay Press and Judy O Productions. They were putting together a Nightmare Before Christmas Paper Models kit, and they wanted me to write the keepsake book that came with it. (Together, the kit and the book are called The Nightmare Before Christmas Paper Models Book.) Why am I mentioning this? Specifically, why am I mentioning this now? Because The Nightmare Before Christmas Paper Models Book came out TODAY from Thunder Bay Press!

The keepsake book is filled with behind-the-scenes information about the making of the classic 1993 movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. * When I was writing this book, I went through every scene in the movie and pointed out obscure background details, Easter eggs, and trivia facts.

I think fans of the movie will really like this book. And I also wrote all of the trivia facts which appear on the trading cards that accompany the kit and book.

Here’s the official publisher’s description of The Nightmare Before Christmas Paper Models Book:

Build 29 detailed replica models of favorite locations and characters from Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Also includes a keepsake book with background information about the movie.

Build a magnificent diorama of Halloween Town and other iconic locations from Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. This two-in-one kit includes a 56-page model book with punch-out pieces and step-by-step instructions to make 29 detailed paper models such as Spiral Hill, the Mayor’s car, Jack’s house, Oogie Boogie’s lair—and more! Along with these fun paper models is a collection of punch-out trading cards with fascinating film facts, plus a 32-page keepsake book featuring iconic frames from the movie and detailed information about the dual-holiday movie that has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world.

And if you want to know more:

Check out the book’s page on the Thunder Bay Press site.

You can also check out the book’s page on Amazon.

One more thing: If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know that this isn’t the first Nightmare Before Christmas book I’ve written. I also wrote The Nightmare Before Christmas Sticker Art Puzzles Book, which was published in 2021 by Thunder Bay Press. The entire book is one huge rhyming poem recounting the plot of The Nightmare Before Christmas. I talked about that book in this blog post, but you can also find out more about it HERE, HERE, and HERE.

 

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* Yup, The Nightmare Before Christmas originally came out in 1993. And if you’re good at math, you know that 2023 is the 30th anniversary of the film. Which is why The Nightmare Before Christmas Paper Models Book was published in the first place!

 

59/5/23

The Gremlins Little Golden Book is out NOW!

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I wrote The Gremlins Little Golden Book, which came out TODAY from Penguin Random House.

It’s an adaptation of the iconic 1984 film Gremlins, written as a Little Golden Book for very young readers. I think the book really turned out well and I’m very proud of it.

The Gremlins Little Golden Book was illustrated by Meg Dunn *, who did a fantastic job.

Oh, and did I mention that it’s not just a Little Golden Book, but a Funko Pop Little Golden Book? That means that everyone in the book is drawn Funko Pop-style. So it’s super-adorable.

Here’s the official publisher description of the book:

Whatever you do, don’t get this Little Golden Book wet! The first ever Gremlins Little Golden Book based on the classic film features those mischievous Gremlins as lovable Funko Pop figures! Follow the wild misadventures of those trouble-causing Gremlins in this delightful retelling of the classic movie. Illustrated in the quirky and loveable Funko POP! art style, kids 2 to 5—and their parents—will love this love this light-hearted reimagining of one of the funniest films of all time as a collectable Little Golden Book! Little Golden Books enjoy nearly 100% consumer recognition. They feature beloved classics, hot licenses, and new original stories. . .the classics of tomorrow.

And if you want to know more:

Check out the book’s page on the Penguin Random House site.

Check out the Amazon page for the book.

Find out about some of the other books I’ve written for Penguin Random House.

 

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* NOTE: Previously, Meg and I collaborated on The Back to the Future Little Golden Book (which I wrote and Meg illustrated). That book was published by Penguin Random House in January of 2023.

 

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