MrsK Books: Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

Oliver and the Seawigs

Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

ISBN: 978-0-385-38790-3 eBook

Net Galley Synopsis:

A lively step up from early chapter books,

this seafaring romp is packed with hilarious art, lovable misfits, meddlesome monkeys, and tons of kid appeal.

When Oliver's explorer parents go missing, he sets sail on a rescue mission with some new, unexpected friends: a grumpy albatross, a nearsighted mermaid . . . even a living island! But the high seas are even more exciting, unusual, and full of mischief than Oliver could have imagined. Can he and his crew spar with sarcastic seaweed, outrun an army of sea monkeys, win a fabulous maritime fashion contest, and defeat a wicked sea captain in time to save Mom and Dad?

MrsK's Review:

If a title can catch your eye... If a cover can hook you into checking out the back cover... If the back cover can tease you enough to open the book... well this did all of that and more. What is a Seawig? What is that boy hanging down from? What are not-so-imposing tales? As a Librarian... I must know more.

Oliver Crisp has parents who are explorers. Oliver is now ten and was so excited to be going to a home that would become more than a vacation stop. His parents have explored every where around the globe, there was no where left to explore, absolutely no "blank spaces left on the map."

When the family arrived at their home by Deepwater Bay, Oliver saw a grand home complete with a view overlooking the bay and a cove. Oliver especially noticed the many rooms to settle down in. Yet his parents saw many little unmapped, uncharted, and unexplored islands. So... while his parents got their inflatable dinghy... Oliver...

"...opened the window to let in the air, and the sea wind, and the cries of the gulls."

Just imagine having your own room, your own home, your own everything. Once Oliver began to unpack, the time just slips away. Especially if you have books to sort and to put on shelves (shelves by the way that you have never had the opportunity to arrange before).

"As the bars of sunlight began to move along the wall..."

Oliver realizes that he hadn't heard his parents talking in quite a long time. Gosh, at the window... Oliver discovers that the islands were gone! Gone, really... really gone. Gone as in vanished! Only the orange inflatable dinghy could be seen.

Normally this would be a frightening event, but Oliver's life with parents who are explorers has never been a normal adventure. You might be wondering what Oliver would be thinking? Yep, he thought he would go and get the dinghy, set out in it, and find his parents.

Adventures can begin at any moment and for Oliver once he met the wandering albatross, known to us as Mr. Culpepper, his adventure begins like any good story should begin. Mr. Culpepper begins to explain about the islands and about... well really, who would have thought that a far-sighted mermaid would run intto a little spit of land. Oliver notices that her eye is beginning to blacken and inquires as to why she ran into the tiny island. Iris is a bit of loner, she can't tell the difference between a handsome fisherman or a walrus! So she was on her way to see an optician at Farsight Cove when she ran into them.

Have you ever heard of a "rambling isle?" No, well neither had I... and yet, that is exactly what Oliver, Mr. Culpepper, and Iris is drifting on. And you know what else... it's not just a floating piece of land... oh no, it's a very big stony giant. Cliff, that's the shortened name Oliver gives him, explains how all the rambling isles are on their way to the Hallowed Shallows for the Night of the Seawigs. Seawigs... yep, it's a party and the giant with the best sea---wig wins.

There are so many delightfully silly characters yet to meet. Oliver will "hook" up with his parents. Cliff will need to decide if he is going to be bullied by Thurlstone (a very big isle with an attitude and a surprised captain who is on a power-control rage). Mr. and Mrs. Crisp will need to discover that there is no place better to explore than their own cove. Iris and Mr. Culpepper will need to find out what a friendship is worth. And Oliver, well let's just say he has a grand adventure from this point on.

When I first had the opportunity to review this story, I was thrilled because its author, Philip Reeve, wrote one of my all time favorite fantasy book shares... Larklight (click to take a look inside). This was a rollicking good read. The illustrations are so full of life, with just the right dash of zaniness to add personality to these "kooky" characters. The story line weaves in and out of great adventures which will leave you wanting more... and there will be more!

Enjoy this sea-fairing journey,

MrsK

Take a look inside

Enjoyable read... An excellent adventure... a must for every classroom and library shelf!

About the Author:

PHILIP REEVE is the acclaimed author of the Mortal Engines/Predator Cities series, the Fever Crumb series, and Here Lies Arthur (2008 Carnegie Medal Winner). He was born and raised in the seaside town of Brighton, and has been writing down adventures since he was five years old. (www.philip-reeve.com)

About the Illustrator:

SARAH McINTYRE has written and illustrated several picture books and comics for children. Her delightfully over-the-top drawings and mischievious monkey illustrations brought Philip and Sarah together for this series. (www.jabberworks.co.uk)

"I received this ebook for free from Net Galley for this review."

http://www.randomhouse.com/book/236795/oliver-and-the-seawigs-by-philip-reeve

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)