PopBetty

A Love Letter to Pop Culture

Book Suggestion for 8-Year-Olds Who Like Gross Things

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Chewy Gooey Rumble PlopAnother last-minute gift recommendation: Chewy, Gooey, Rumble, Plop. My cousin Jamie is into “gross stuff” at the moment, so a pop-up book on the digestive system seemed appropriate. This one features a 3-D tongue with a realistic sticky texture, plus action tabs of people burping, vomiting, or using the restroom.

It also features fascinating trivia, for example, did you know that poop is 10% dead bacteria? Or that the reason your mouth waters before you vomit is to protect your tooth enamel from stomach acid?

At the same time, the book provides a structured, linear view of digestion, all in language that’s understandable and yet not dumbed down. Highly recommended; I only hope Jamie likes it as much as I do.

Gift Guide for 13-Year-Old Brothers Who Won’t Read

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To my mother’s disappointment, my little brother doesn’t like to read. Or rather, he likes to read, but he’d prefer to do almost anything else: play video games, watch television, “hang out,” eat, sleep, etc. So what’s he getting for Christmas?

Books, of course*:

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow

Spies Revealed

Spies Revealed, by Clive Gifford

Vintage Choose Your Own Adventure Books

Choose Your Own Adventure series: I chose Through the Black Hole #97 & The Deadly Shadow #46. They’ve got updated versions in stores, but the classic ones have better illustrations & writing.

Books by John Bellairs

John Bellairs novels: Again, I bought these used. Newer versions lack the Edward Gorey illustrations (check out the full gallery).

Read ’em or weep, little bro.

Other books he’ll get eventually: The Lightning Thief, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, & The Graveyard Book. We’ve also had success with the Demonata & Cirque Du Freak series, plus S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders.

*and a few video games

Kid Stuff: Fantasy Building Blocks, U.S. Map Puzzle, & Cutting Food Set

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Fantasy Building Blocks, U.S. Map Puzzle, Cutting Food Set

Here are three well-designed toys:

  • Castle Building Blocks (133 pieces), $139.00,  Peter Dziulak at Mahar Drygoods.  The most beautiful building block set I have ever seen.
  • Melissa & Doug Cutting Food Set, $19.95, Oliebollen.com.  Great idea, although some kids will turn the little parts into projectiles (or eat them).  Know your child.
  • My USA Puzzle Map, $45.00, Spoon Sisters.  I love soft puzzles (they also have one for the solar system, with Pluto *sniff*).  I also like how Maine, Vermont, etc. are just one big orange blob; being from the South, that’s how I think of them too.