Blue in the Face

Description

When Elspeth Pule, an eleven-year-old brat, wakes up one day in a strange forest, she finds some familiar faces around her--those of the nursery rhyme characters she grew up reading about. But as she soon learns from Humpty Dumpy, a suave, tuxedo-wearing egg, what she knows is a twisted version of the truth concocted by the evil Old King Krool--and none of the characters are who she thinks. Elspeth couldn't care less, but she soon gets pulled into the fight against Krool's tyranny. And if she wants to get home, she'll need to learn some compassion--and teach the characters that sometimes a good old-fashioned tantrum is exactly what's necessary. Told in a hilarious voice and with black and white illustrations throughout, this "revolutionary" tale is perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and Lemony Snicket.

Gerry Swallow is the author of Blue in the Face and its sequel Long Live the Queen, along with, A Whole Nother Story--which received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was an Al Roker Today Show pick--and its sequels Another Whole Nother Story and No Other Story, all written under the pseudonym Dr. Cuthbert Soup. He began his career as a stand-up comic, making numerous appearances on NBC's Tonight Show. He then turned his attention to writing movies, including the blockbuster hit, Ice Age: The Meltdown. He lives in Victoria, Canada. www.awholenotherbook.com Valerio Fabbretti is the author and illustrator of children's books and comic books in both the USA and Italy. He was born in Rome and currently lives in San Francisco. www.valeriofabbretti.com

Filled with delightful characters, witty remarks, and jokes aplenty, this book is a delightful tale and loads of fun. Fans of the Sisters Grimm, Lemony Snicket, and the Magic Tollbooth will find much to like and chuckle over. Recommended. * School Library Connection * A lot of silliness, even with the government overthrow plot, and humorous illustrations punctuate the text, adding even more levity. * BCCB * Each chapter is introduced with an authentic nursery rhyme, and Swallow interweaves familiar characters (e.g., Humpty Dumpty and Jack Horner) with Elspeth's fantasy adventure to engage readers in a creative way. * Booklist * Familiar nursery-rhyme characters assume arresting new personas in this witty, clever story of personal transformation. Rewritten rhymes and cartoonlike illustrations add humor. A surprising heroine fulfills her destiny in this rollicking version of Mother Goose. * Kirkus Reviews * Fans of wordplay, puns, and fractured fairy tales should be right at home. * Publishers Weekly * A grand escapade centered around a close family of smart, helpful, likable characters. Great fun. -- starred review * Kirkus Reviews on A WHOLE NOTHER STORY * If the kids are waiting for the next Wimpy Kid book, hand them this. * San Francisco Chronicle on A WHOLE NOTHER STORY * Those who enjoyed Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events will find some of the same surreal qualities in this first book in a series--and a bit more warmth besides. * School Library Journal on A WHOLE NOTHER STORY * The storytelling, which merges deadpan narration with an absurdist sense of humor, is the real star of this fast-paced adventure. * Publishers Weekly on A WHOLE NOTHER STORY * If Lemony Snicket and Dave Barry got married and had a baby, this book would be it. * Critiquing the World on A WHOLE NOTHER STORY * Fans of baroque misadventures, bumbling villains, heroic rescues, cliffhangers and especially sarcastic repartee - not to mention intrusive narrators - will be charmed anew. * Kirkus Reviews on ANOTHER WHOLE NOTHER STORY *