I recently reviewed A Merry Mermaid Christmas, declaring it the first Christmas story I’d read that takes place underwater. Hot on its heels, I’ve found a second: A Very Krusty Christmas,
set in Bikini Bottom rather than Atlantica and starring the
always-lovable SpongeBob SquarePants, the bright yellow sponge who
“lives in a pineapple under the sea“ with his pet snail and looks at the
world with wide-eyed wonder.
Given SpongeBob’s enthusiastic
nature, it’s no surprise that he is a fan of Christmas. In this book,
written by David Lewman and illustrated by Robert Dress, we see right
off the bat just how eager SpongeBob is as he’s decorated with oodles of
brightly colored lights. Now, considering the fact that he is thousands
of leagues under the sea, I have no idea how these lights are able to
turn on, let alone how he can flip the switch without getting
electrocuted. But this is a show on which starfish eat burgers and
snails meow, so I long ago learned not to expect too much logic from the
sponge and the gang.
There’s a touch of A Christmas Carol
to this cheerful story. Decent, hardworking SpongeBob is like Bob
Cratchit, while ornery neighbor Squidward takes a “bah humbug” attitude
toward the holiday. For the most part, though, this is an original tale
that involves Mr. Krabs, the cantankerous owner of the Krusty Krab,
where both SpongeBob and Squidward work, coming to appreciate the
economic value of presenting a Christmassy restaurant.
SpongeBob’s excess of Christmas spirit irritates both Squidward and Mr.
Krabs, but once the nefarious Plankton decks out his own eatery, the
Chum Bucket, as festively as possible and the customers flock in, the
sponge and his faithful pal Patrick have a chance to give the Crab Shack
a Christmas make-over. Will that solve everyone’s seasonal woes?
This is a silly story that is nonetheless rather charming, since
SpongeBob is such a sincere sponge and Patrick is his stalwart shadow.
Fans of the series will find in this book plenty of familiar characters
and lively illustrations, along with a unique spin on some Christmas
traditions. So pull up your boatmobile and celebrate A Very Krusty Christmas with SpongeBob SquarePants.
Showing posts with label SpongeBob SquarePants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SpongeBob SquarePants. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Friday, February 16, 2007
Stop the Presses! SpongeBob Starts His Own Paper! Film at 11.
After I read with disappointment Bubble Blowers, Beware!, the SpongeBob Squarepants Movie tie-in book I secured from the library, I rather expected to be just as unsatisfied with Stop the Presses!,
the other SpongeBob book I brought home, comparable in length but based
on the television series rather than the film. Happily, this story,
written by Steven Banks and illustrated by Vince DePorter, did a much
better job of holding my attention.
Unlike the aforementioned book, Stop the Presses! is self-contained, with a definite beginning and ending. The focus is on SpongeBob and Patrick's decision to start up a newspaper, and this makes for lots of amusing interaction between the two. Their personalities also come out in their choices of subject matter for their articles. SpongeBob interviews Gary, his mild-mannered, meowing pet snail, about the greatness of his porous housemate, while Patrick gleefully takes pictures of his favorite rock.
Both are surprised when their paper fails to attract any interest, but the ever-arrogant Squidward provides them with a helpful hint: get some juicy gossip. It seems a sound idea, but how will he react when they turn his advice against him by making him the subject of an expose?
Stop the Presses! is vibrantly illustrated, and its story measures up to the pictures by showing us SpongeBob and Patrick's ingenuity while offering a lesson in respecting the privacy of others. It encourages creativity by showing kids the some of the process by which a newspaper is put together. Issues such as how a camera with a big flash on top works underwater or how the ink is still readable and the paper not a sopping mess are typical SpongeBob occasions for suspension of disbelief; the rest of the story is engaging enough that we can accept these departures from reality.
I'm uncertain as to whether this story actually was an episode of SpongeBob Squarepants or if it was written specifically for this book. Either way, it works, making Stop the Presses! worth stopping to read, even for those who might not already be SpongeBob fans.
Unlike the aforementioned book, Stop the Presses! is self-contained, with a definite beginning and ending. The focus is on SpongeBob and Patrick's decision to start up a newspaper, and this makes for lots of amusing interaction between the two. Their personalities also come out in their choices of subject matter for their articles. SpongeBob interviews Gary, his mild-mannered, meowing pet snail, about the greatness of his porous housemate, while Patrick gleefully takes pictures of his favorite rock.
Both are surprised when their paper fails to attract any interest, but the ever-arrogant Squidward provides them with a helpful hint: get some juicy gossip. It seems a sound idea, but how will he react when they turn his advice against him by making him the subject of an expose?
Stop the Presses! is vibrantly illustrated, and its story measures up to the pictures by showing us SpongeBob and Patrick's ingenuity while offering a lesson in respecting the privacy of others. It encourages creativity by showing kids the some of the process by which a newspaper is put together. Issues such as how a camera with a big flash on top works underwater or how the ink is still readable and the paper not a sopping mess are typical SpongeBob occasions for suspension of disbelief; the rest of the story is engaging enough that we can accept these departures from reality.
I'm uncertain as to whether this story actually was an episode of SpongeBob Squarepants or if it was written specifically for this book. Either way, it works, making Stop the Presses! worth stopping to read, even for those who might not already be SpongeBob fans.
Beware of Bonehead Spongebob Tie-Ins
When I was at the library recently looking for a fresh batch of
children's book to peruse, my friend pointed out the display of
SpongeBob Squarepants books and suggested I take a couple. Neither of us
is reluctant to admit we've watched the show on occasion and found it
amusing, so it was a logical choice, if a little less literary than some
of my other selections.
Bubble Blowers, Beware! is one of several tie-in books to The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie, and presumably David Lewman was assuming familiarity with the film or the other books when he wrote this, as it clearly starts in the middle, leaving the uninitiated like me to feel rather confused.
The story begins abruptly, with SpongeBob showing his loyal buddy, dimwitted starfish Patrick, the Patty Wagon, a most attractive vehicle beating a remarkable resemblance to a burger. SpongeBob explains that this wheeled sandwich is to be their transportation to Shell City, where they will seek King Neptune's crown. We don't know why this headgear has gone missing or why he feels so compelled to find it, and we don't find out; that's all the context we're going to get.
The bulk of the short book, which features vibrant, full-page illustrations by Barry Goldberg throughout, concerns SpongeBob and Patrick having their wagon stolen by a thug, only to happen upon him later in a pool hall. Upon going in, they find the culprit and attempt to retrieve the keys while making lame excuses for their presence, though how this fish fails to recognize them, I have no idea.
It's almost the end of the story before we come to the title, and the conflict is so silly as to hardly merit its own book. But young SpongeBob lovers should get a kick out of the goofy antics and the vibrant pictures. Older fans might well complain of a lack of fluidity; the gaps in the story are mostly a result of presumed prior familiarity, but that doesn't make them any more welcome.
Bubble Blowers, Beware! is a cute little tie-in book, but as a stand-alone it doesn't hold much water.
Bubble Blowers, Beware! is one of several tie-in books to The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie, and presumably David Lewman was assuming familiarity with the film or the other books when he wrote this, as it clearly starts in the middle, leaving the uninitiated like me to feel rather confused.
The story begins abruptly, with SpongeBob showing his loyal buddy, dimwitted starfish Patrick, the Patty Wagon, a most attractive vehicle beating a remarkable resemblance to a burger. SpongeBob explains that this wheeled sandwich is to be their transportation to Shell City, where they will seek King Neptune's crown. We don't know why this headgear has gone missing or why he feels so compelled to find it, and we don't find out; that's all the context we're going to get.
The bulk of the short book, which features vibrant, full-page illustrations by Barry Goldberg throughout, concerns SpongeBob and Patrick having their wagon stolen by a thug, only to happen upon him later in a pool hall. Upon going in, they find the culprit and attempt to retrieve the keys while making lame excuses for their presence, though how this fish fails to recognize them, I have no idea.
It's almost the end of the story before we come to the title, and the conflict is so silly as to hardly merit its own book. But young SpongeBob lovers should get a kick out of the goofy antics and the vibrant pictures. Older fans might well complain of a lack of fluidity; the gaps in the story are mostly a result of presumed prior familiarity, but that doesn't make them any more welcome.
Bubble Blowers, Beware! is a cute little tie-in book, but as a stand-alone it doesn't hold much water.
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