Day: March 6, 2018

Greetings, readers and writers! I’m still feeling under the weather, so I thought I’d continue the day with another light read. The book I want to talk about is a children’s picture book, one which I’m sure my readers will love just as much as the children in their lives will. The book I’m reviewing in this post is Absurdimals: Lola Goes to School, written by Gwendolyn Javor and illustrated by Melissa Aker Spears.

Lola is special. There are many kinds of animals in Harmonia, but Lola is the first of a new animal: a belephant. Half bunny, half elephant, all Lola. Unfortunately, not everyone at Lola’s new school thinks so. In particular, Herb, the biggest elephant at the school, does not welcome her with open arms. Lola’s excitement for her first day of school quickly dissipates as she is ostracized by Herb and the other elephants, and it seems to be more than she can handle on her own. Will Lola let Herb’s words get to her? Or will she find the strength to embrace her “absurdimal” status?

This book is not only cute and entertaining but also enlightening. Javor addresses the issue of deviating from the social norm in a creative and captivating manner. By using animals and hybrid animals, she allows for the message to be about more than just one specific trait that could make us different. Lola could represent an interracial child, a child with parents of two different religions or cultures, or even someone as seemingly-commonplace as a girl who likes to do traditionally “boy” things. Better yet, the use of animals creates a distancing from the subject which makes it accessible and comfortable for everyone. No matter what our personal experiences and beliefs, we’re bound to connect with a fluffy belephant and root for her happiness!

As it is a children’s story, the plot is simple and the characters straightforward. However, through momentary glimpses at how they do or do not conform to normality, Javor fleshes out some of the animals in ways which not many picture books do. My particular favorite is a unique friendship between two unlikely animals, but I won’t say any more in order to avoid spoilers.

The illustrations beautifully complement Javor’s writing. Spears uses calming muted colors which closely resemble drawings made from colored pencils. She brings life to every character, especially Lola. I would not have been able to imagine a “belephant” clearly without Spears’s guidance. The illustrations never overpower the story, instead working hand-in-hand with them to build a unique world that still reminds me of picture books like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

To be honest, I can’t praise this book enough. It’s not as elaborate as “adult” books but it still presents plenty that both children and adults can learn from. Javor’s writing is plain enough for younger readers to follow but the concept is also advanced enough that their parents will love reading it, too. I highly recommend Absurdimals: Lola Goes to School by Gwendolyn Javor for anyone with a child into whom they want to instill individuality and acceptance. Hey, I even recommend it for adults looking for a light, entertaining read. As Mr. Hooves says, “There’s no too different, there’s only new-different!”

You can buy Absurdimals: Lola Goes to School by Gwendolyn Javor as an eBook and in print on Amazon. (I recommend the print copy myself.) Also keep an eye out for future books in this promising children’s picture book series!

Do you know of a book I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

 

Considering how burnt out I’m feeling at the moment, I want to start the week with something motivational. So, for this post I’m reviewing a book containing soundbites of wisdom for the creative entrepreneur (after all, writers are also entrepreneurs). The book—or booklet, rather—that I’m talking about is 99 Creative WOWs: Words of Wisdom for Business by Randi Brill.

As the title implies, Brill supplies the reader with 99 bite-size pieces of wisdom for business and other creative professionals. However, this book is not just advice for succeeding in the world of business. Rather, the advice is divided into three distinct but closely-related categories: business, creative, and personal. Brill provides mantras and wisdom about getting ahead in business, sparking creativity, and maintaining a healthy personal life. While these categories may seem unrelated, Brill shows in the introduction just how much these areas of a professional’s life depend on each other; neglect one and they will all come tumbling down.

If you’re looking for specific advice regarding specific problems, 99 Creative WOWs is not for you. If you’re looking for open-ended advice which challenges you to think about how you can apply it to your life, a work which inspires rather than instructs, you’ve come to the right place. That’s why I think this book is perfect for all writers.

The mantras are simple, open, and almost common sense. Regardless, people rarely remember these concepts on their own. For example, one of my favorite WOWs is also one which I almost always forget in the moment:

Know when it’s time to be done.

The advice is so simple and yet most creative types, including writers and artists, don’t remember it. We’re such perfectionists that sometimes we just don’t know when to stop and call something “done.”

Of course, the vagueness of these WOWs could cause readers to feel a lack of guidance; they might not know where to start in regards to applying WOWs to their pursuits. Fortunately, Brill also provides an introduction and a page after the WOWs which tell the readers who the author is, how WOWs came about, what they are, and how you can use the WOWs and the book overall. It’s a pet peeve of mine when books like these provide quotes, mantras, or snippets of wisdom without any explanation or guidance on how to use them, so I’m glad that Brill nipped that problem in the bud.

Another unique aspect of 99 Creative WOWs which makes it stand out from other books of its kind is the presentation of the WOWs. They are beautifully colorful with words varying in size, font type, color, and orientation. No two WOWs look exactly alike, which perfectly matches the “creative” in 99 Creative WOWs. Sometimes the volume or intensity of the diversity took a toll on my eyes, but in Brill’s defense, I’ve pushed my eyes to the limit lately and am probably suffering from severe eye strain. Other readers will find the variety to be engaging and a refreshing break from more mainstream inspirational or self-help books.

If I were to list all of my favorite WOWs or all the ones I think writers would find useful, I’d be giving away a majority of the book. However, there are four from the “creativity” category which I think perfectly embody what this book has to offer writers:

Just start. You’ll figure out the next step after the first.

Trust your creative resilience.

Carefully share work in progress. Real-world feedback is worth the risk.

Of course creative work is difficult. That’s part of the allure.

Brill knows from personal experience that the 99 WOWs will help creative professionals and save them a lot of heartache. How, exactly? Brill has been possessed by the entrepreneurial spirit since she was three years old and started her first real business when she was only twenty-two. These WOWs are collected from years and years of experience and a passion to pass the wisdom earned from that experience onto other professionals, whether they be grad students fresh the world or seasoned veterans of their fields.

Overall, I think that 99 Creative WOWs is a must-have for anyone with a shred of the enterprising spirit. After all, these words of wisdom are not only rigid bullet points for starting a business; they are fluid mantras which the reader can use even outside of their assigned categories. This book is never dull and the advice is always on-point. There are tips for ways in which you can use Brill’s WOWs, but the best thing about this book is that you get to decide what you need the wisdom for.

You can buy 99 Creative WOWs by Randi Brill as an eBook or in paperback on Amazon. However, I personally recommend getting the paperback. That way, you can have a physical copy at hand and will be able to engage fully with the material. For more information on the book and its author, visit www.99WOWS.com.

Do you know of any books I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!