Kate McMullanRezensionen

I hate this book.

Christmas

St. Patrick's

Job Hunting

Beginner Reader

Beginner Reader

Kids love Fluffy. What a diva.

My kids can't get enough Greek mythology, and I think this is a great series for kids that aren't quite ready for Percy Jackson yet.

On the front cover, I wrote my name and that I read this 2-11-1998.

Quickly reread this just now, as i'm cataloging the box of childhood books I retrieved from my parents' house. I'm glad this includes Mary Ann Mantell finding the Iguanadon tooth! Just one of many signs I never outgrew my dinosaur phase. Generally, a good book (describes the phases of how you find dinosaur bones and the team you need, the *ahem* arms race to find taller sauropods, etc.)

D for Dirty Diapers and H for Half-Eaten Hot Dogs = peak Otto comedy at the moment

Otto just loves these McMullan "I'm ____" books. This one gets super specific naming tools that a Fire Truck carries. Very strong Harry Builds a House vibes (iykyk; my mom remembers being so sick of reading ALL the steps and parts of house building to my young brother, who couldn't get enough!) with the super detailed naming of tools, items, and components.

4 Stars cause Steve Buscemi does the voice of the truck in the video version of this that Otto has been watching, and he really goes all out

It’s appropriate that I logged this book on Father’s Day. A charming book about the special parenting a father provides.

Genre
Lift-the-flap books
Picture books for children
Stories in rhyme
Toy and movable books
Tone
Upbeat
Subject
Cats
Helpfulness
Kittens
Mischief
Mischief in cats
Neatness and messiness
Character
Mischievous

Genre
Picture books for children
Tone
Noisy
Subject
Boasts and praises
Dinosaurs
Predatory animals
Tyrannosaurus rex

Genre
Picture books for children
Illustration
Cartoony
Subject
Bullies and bullying
Courage
Dinosaurs
Lost animals
Predatory animals
Saurischia
Character
Courageous

Ages: 5-7

Genre
Picture books for children
Pace
Fast-paced
Tone
Gross
Noisy
Subject
Garbage collection
Garbage trucks
Solid waste
Solid waste disposal
Work vehicles
Character
Anthropomorphic

A interesting retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth where Cupid is actually a pimply faced teenager god going through his awkward stage. I didn't like this one as much as the previous books - mainly because the Furies didn't make a very big appearance and I wasn't all that fond of Cupid or Psyche - but I like the lighthearted narration and the masterful way McMullan weaves in modern references. I liked the use of the nursery rhymes in her tasks - The Ants Go Marching and “‘Baa-baa Rambow, have you any wool?’ ‘Yes, Psyche! Yes, Psyche! Three bags full.’ ‘May I snip some wool, sir?’ the hopeful Psyche asked. ‘To give Aphrodite and so complete this task?’”

McMullan, Kate. Nice Shot, Cupid! (Myth-O-Mania Book 4) (p. 128). Capstone Press. Kindle Edition. I laughed out loud at this line;

“Oh, Tartarus!” (that’s old Greek speak for %#!@) I exclaimed.

McMullan, Kate. Nice Shot, Cupid! (Myth-O-Mania Book 4) (p. 34). Capstone Press. Kindle Edition.

4 stars for target audience, 3 for me.

Fun retelling of the story of Medusa and Perseus. I like Hades' easy narrating style and amusing humour. I like the way McMullan weaves in modern references. Hades' steeds are named Harley and Davidson. Hades being told off for "backseat flying". Medusa and her Gorgon sisters mentioning that at least with snake hair - they "never had a bad snake day". My favourite was the shortening of Polydectus, the following was hilarious.

“Enough grapes,” the king snapped. “King Poly want a cracker!”

McMullan, Kate. Say Cheese, Medusa! (Myth-O-Mania Book 3) (p. 102). Capstone Press. Kindle Edition.

The story was action packed and moved along at a fast speed. I liked that the Furies were back (they're my favourite characters). The twist was interesting. 4 stars for the target audience, 3 stars for me.

I love the Hades/Persephone myth and I did like some of this but I had issues with it. Persephone using Cupid to hit Hades with a love arrow. In theory this sounds fine, but it was written kind of coldly and it made it seem like it was a cruel manipulation to take away his freedom. It turned around but I didn't enjoy it until it did. I also didn't love Persephone much in this - it bothers me a lot that Cerebus doesn't like her. And that she's kind of mean to him. And that Hades accepts it. My favourite character was Tisi - I love the Furies. And I liked the friendship between them and Hades and the later friendship between them and Persephone. While this did redeem itself, it took too long to get there, so 3 stars from me and target audience.

This was a fun read. Much like Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams' Goddess Girls and Heroes in Training series, Kate McMullan takes well know Greek mythology and fractures it into tween friendly novels. This is probably for a slightly older audience than Goddess Girls or Heroes in Training though. There's a bit more violence and less focus on friendship and family.

In Have a Hot Time, Hades! we find out that Zeus has been lying about how he came to be the ruler of the Gods. It didn't happen like he said at all. But that's okay, Hades is on a mission to correct Zeus' lies. To do so, he's writing books featuring the truth of the story. Have a Hot Time, Hades! is the first novel (written with the help of ghost writers of course) but it's only one of a million myths Zeus has butchered so be prepared for a lot of reading.

There were some interesting revelations. I liked the reasoning behind the Olympic Games (the Titans and Gods played a bunch of games to determine who should be the ruler of Mount Olympus) and I enjoyed Mother Earth/Gaia or Granny as she's known to Hades telling everyone off - and Hades logic to get out of being in trouble (they're her grandkids and grannies are supposed to like their grandkids). Plus I love a good chicken joke.

“I’m Thalia!” said a third. “Muse of Comedy. Here’s a good one. Why did the chicken cross the road?” “To be sacrificed to the gods, of course,” Hera said. “Wrong!” said Thalia. “To get to the other side!” All the other Muses cracked up.

McMullan, Kate. Have a Hot Time, Hades! (Myth-O-Mania Book 1) (p. 48). Capstone Press. Kindle Edition.

Overall, fun read - 3 stars for me. 4 stars for target audience.

This was actually my first introduction to "Phantom of the Opera" in general. I was ten years old or so, and loved it. As an adult now, I was curious how I'd receive it. It's a simplistic story with an interesting premise--Erik's POV--that is an excellent introduction for children. Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Bogess performed the stage musical at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011, and it is one of the most faithful and skillful versions. Highly recommended, since this book is such a quick read and makes me think of the stage show.

Recommended by Gwendolyn Baltera

In a casual, conversational, snarky voice, Hades tells his side of the story, in which his baby brother Zeus is a "myth-o-maniac" braggart and liar. He introduces readers to the Titans and the Olympians, and tells of how the "godlings" came to live on Mount Olympus.

Lovely book