Weekend Reviews (I-II)

I hope you all are having a lovely weekend. It's warm and beautiful in Smalltown--just perfect for reading and walking outside.

Here are this weekend's reviews in the major media:

Philip Pullman has written a comic book (The Adventures of John Blake) and a child shares his thoughts on it in the Independent.

Nicholas A. Basbanes reviews children's books with "tall tales and timeout" themes for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Liz Rosenberg reviews three completely incongruous books (The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, Tad Hills toddler book What's Up, Duck?: A Book of Opposites, Gary D. Schmidt's Trouble) in today's Boston Globe.

Weirdest article on Harry Potter ever alert: Titled "In their words: 'Harry Potter isn't that great.' Oh, really?: Columbia College students riff on the boy wizard" the article then consists of five Columbia College students explaining why Harry Potter is, in their opinions, well, great. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Rebecca Young reviews two new picture books starring POTATOES for the Olympian.

Interview Alert: Amanda Craig talks to Celia Rees for the Times.

Denise Hamilton reviews Rick Riordan's The Battle of the Labyrinth for the Los Angeles Times.

Mary Harris Russell reviews five new books for the Chicago Times, including David Almond's latest book.

Diane Samuels reviews Josh Lacey's Bearkeeper for the Guardian.

Rebecca Young considers YA books on the war for the Kansas City Star.

The Canadian Press recommends books for kids on the road.

Susan Perren reviews five new books for the Globe and Mail.

Kate Schatz writes about Ariel Schrag's Berkeley High comic books which are being republished by Simon and Schuster in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Neil Clark makes a case for bringing back Biggles in the Telegraph.

James Holland reviews Amazing Tales for Making Men Out of Boys, by Neil Oliver, for the Telegraph.