Only Dead on the Inside | James Breakwell

Summary:

A collection of survival tips as well as do's and don'ts for being a parent in the zombie apocalypse. 

Review:

I laughed so friggin' hard at this book I'm sure I got looks while I was reading it on the bus. But I didn't notice because I was laughing too hard. I've already bought a copy of this for my Mom! Yes, some of the jokes rely on sitcom family stereotypes (the "inept dad" stereotype being the predominant one). And yes, I don't have any kids myself. However, the humor of there is so much humor based in truth. Anyone who's spent any time with any kids knows the truth of the dangers of a temper tantrum!

My favorite part about this book is how it covers so many things that other zombie lore glosses over. The idea that disposable diapers will be a new form of currency rings very true. Plus, how many other zombie stories talk about how children are just inherently good at finding dangerous things? "It takes skill to make an inert wooden crib spontaneously burst into flames, but if anyone can do it, it's a six-month-old." That's why there are so many warning labels on toys. That's why being a parent in the zombie apocalypse is so dangerous for all parties!

But the book doesn't spend the whole time complaining. There's actually some good advice in here. Like how most guidebooks would tell you to remove a staircase and use a retractable ladder to keep the second floor zombie free. Breakwell reminds you that carrying a baby, plus loot, means you're not climbing up that ladder. He also talks about how escaping from zombies, with your family intact, is more about situational awareness than actual speed. Then there's the chapter on punishments where he talks about punishment only being effective if the kid understands why they're in trouble.

Some of the best parts of this book are about using your children to your advantage. Using their natural talent to create messes to make your house an obstacle course for zombie or looter. Using their smaller size to help you loot more places (not to mention their enthusiasm at getting to take home whatever they want). They also come with some very useful accessories, like strollers and toys that can be used as weapons. Like a mini-van that can still play DVDs even after the house has lost power. 

I absolutely loved this book. I shared some lines with my Mom and she wanted a copy. There are cartoons, charts and other visuals and the book is short so it's easy to stay engaged the entire time. I happily give 5 hoots!

Hoot!Hoot!

Hoot!Hoot!

Hoot!

Animal Planet Strange, Unusual, Gross & Cool Animals | Animal Planet & Charles Gingha

*Image and book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

Animal Planet explores a plethora of animals that we humans would consider strange, unusual, gross or cool. There are snippets of information about various species and full pictures of some of the stranger ones.

Review:

Yes, this is a kids' book. No, I don't care. The format reminded me of the magazines I used to read in waiting rooms, but with much better pictures. This book would be a delight to read with your kids or to give to a kid who wonders what's so great about science. Gross animals are so interesting and easily capture the imagination. The funniest part, for me, was looking at some animals and thinking "so that's where Pokemon got the idea" and I've never been a Pokemon fan. 

If you're looking for a book to entertain your kids and you're okay with kinda large pictures of kinda large arachnids, bugs, creatures from the depths of the oceans, etc. I think you'll enjoy this book. It's a great way to introduce young readers to creatures than excite imaginations. To show them that strangeness, grossness, and coolness and be completely natural occurrences, and completely subjective to human standards. It's also a good book to introduce kids to the concepts of conservation. Many animals in this book are on, or close to being on, the endangered species list. 

Overall, I give this book 3.5 hoots. Not a book really for me, but definitely one I'd give to some young readers that I know or that I would pick up for my kids. 

                Hoot!Hoot!

                Hoot! Hoo

Bout of Books - Book Scavenger Hunt

For today's Bout of Books post, the Book Monsters have posted a scavenger hunt. It's meant to be more of an instagram challenge, but I don't mind adding more pictures to my blog. ^_^ I've also added a challenge to only use books that are within arm's reach of where I'm sitting. Fortunately I've just moved to a new apartment so that's a lot easier to do than it would have a few weeks ago.

1) A book that begins with "B" - Okay, it's a bit of a stretch, but it was all I had within arms reach.

2) A book you're currently reading for Bout of Books - Just got it in the mail today!

3) Blue book - Yes, this counts as a book!

4) A book from my favorite genre - Because anyone who knows me knows I love superhero books.

5) A book from my TBR shelf - This is one of MANY books I found while moving that I had bought but never read.

William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher

Summary:

I really do think the title says it all. It's Star Wars, but written in the style of a Shakespeare play.

Review:

WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ THIS?! I was laughing and admiring the brilliance of Doescher's verse the entire book. There are some pictures throughout that are both amazingly well done and add to the fun. This book, for me, is one of the quintessential geek books! I'm going to have to get the rest of the series now!

           Hoot!Hoot!

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              Hoo

Finding Jesus by Winston Rowntree

This is a cute, fun for a few minutes, kind of book. It's basically "Where's Waldo" but with Jesus instead. I definitely had a lot of fun looking through the pages, not just for the main character, but also for the jokes. There's a lot of silliness in this book and it's definitely fun for several minutes. 

Probably the most notable thing about this book for me is, sadly, the condition I received it in. Not sure if it was the fault of UPS or Blogging For Books* but it makes me sad to see a book so damaged so quickly.

But, book's condition aside, it is fun. I give it 3 hoots!

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*The people who sent me this book in exchange for an honest review.

What If? by Randall Munroe

Part of the reason I picked up this book from library was because I absolutely love Munroe's web comic, XKCD. I also figured that this book we be good for Sci-Fi Month. I know that this book is non-fiction, but the best Sci-Fi always has a good foundation in good science.* 

I have to admit, as much as I LOVE math and science, the materials in non-fiction books are generally too dense for me to read through on my busy reading schedule. Fortunately Munroe makes this book a relatively quick read by using short chapters and good illustrations.** I was able to read through this book and understand what he was talking about. The science in this book is fascinating and well researched! The answers to a lot of these questions are thought out in ways that the asker may not have intended, but are nonetheless vital to the answer. For example, in answering the question about isolating everyone for a couple of weeks to wipe out the common cold, Munroe also looks at the economic consequences of this isolation. 

There is so much information and thought in this book that I loved just about every word of it. Even if some of the information may seem trivial, you never know when it will come in handy; like a large enough balloon not even needing helium to slow your fall to safe speeds, or the fact that fire tornadoes are real things and should be feared.

As much as I did like the snippet segments called "Weird (and Worrying) Questions from the What If? Inbox" I feel like these were questions that could have been innocently asked by writers wanting to get their facts straight. After all, how many creative stories could written that include dumping anti-matter into a Chernobyl reactor,*** or the speed at which a human would have to run to be cut in half by a cheese-cutting wire.**** Not to mention, some actual answers on those would be interesting! Then again, I talk to authors a lot so, maybe I'm just weird.

Overall, this was a really good book with a lot of fun, science, and mathematics. It doesn't get much better than that!

                Hoot!Hoot!

                Hoot!Hoot!

*Okay, I had to put in a request for this book at the library and wait and it just happened to coincide with Sci-Fi Month, but my argument remains valid.

**Good in that they are informative and/or humorous. There's only so much quality you can get from stick figures.
***Pg. 60
****Pg. 125

Mini-Review: Fuzzy Logic by Jane Seabrook

I've never knowingly read Furry Logic before. I know I've seen the pictures and the funny quips before. This is definitely a cute "best of" for Jane Seabrook's work. Every page had its own little delight and I found the pieces of logic to be highly endearing. This book is definitely a good gift for anyone you know who has a lot of stress and not a lot of time to read. Personally, I was happy to find two sentences that are the best description of real love:

"Anyone can be passionate. But it takes real lovers to be silly."

Overall, I gladly give this book four hoots!

                 Hoot!Hoot!

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"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."