tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post800894540578938238..comments2008-07-14T17:39:12.220-04:00Josette at Halushkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16790825543155685363noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-44300799323985287372008-07-14T17:39:00.000-04:002008-07-14T17:39:00.000-04:00"There was an Old Lady that swallowed a fly"<BR/><BR/>My two year old and 5 yr old chant over and over the "Perhaps she'll die" part! Oh, and Hansel and Gretel. It's horrible! How can I explain in a rated G manner that the witch burned alive in the oven, the dad chose his wife instead of protecting his children, and the witch was going to EAT Hansel before Gretel saved him!?'That Girl'http://www.blogger.com/profile/12482478132595018237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-43813849505901745492008-07-10T14:14:00.000-04:002008-07-10T14:14:00.000-04:00Thank you, thank you for the great post and the great comments. I laughed out loud and spit tea on my keyboard. <BR/><BR/>May I be the guest blogger who gets to talk about the Giving Tree? <BR/>Please???kathleen dueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176852638727278256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-47794906104316230202008-07-08T22:30:00.000-04:002008-07-08T22:30:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-5084027392969621162008-07-08T22:06:00.000-04:002008-07-08T22:06:00.000-04:00My favorite book as a kid was <I>Tales for the Midnight Hour</I>. I still recall The Furry Collar story; it was my favorite and scared me for weeks. Didn't help that I often read it at nighttime. It's interesting to see its been repackaged and is selling now with a sequel on Amazon. However, I wouldn't buy it for my kids!<BR/><BR/>Great post. :-)<BR/><BR/>Brandy<BR/><A HREF="http://www.thebuildingbrows.com" REL="nofollow">The Building Brows</A>(Jim &amp;) Brandy Browhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493270477819129950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-6949354001432857112008-07-08T15:10:00.000-04:002008-07-08T15:10:00.000-04:00Thanks for a good chuckle, Michelle. Whatever happened to the simple goal of entertaining children in fiction? No wonder readers of middle grate fiction are all flocking back to Enid Blyton. She didn't write very well (and took ages to come to the point of her story, which as a child really annoyed me) but at least she had no hidden adult agenda.Laraine Anne Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13869300616419407003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-16279267181851419032008-07-08T14:27:00.000-04:002008-07-08T14:27:00.000-04:00Thanks Michelle! I'm honored and thrilled!<BR/>I'd like to take a moment to thank my family and my hairstylist and my lord and savior jesus christ and my costume designers and my agent...wait...I thought I was at the Grammys for a minute...wrong acceptance speech.<BR/>thanks to YOU for a fabulous host-blog and to Jozet for turning us on to you! You have a new host of readers and fans!<BR/>It was good, clean fun!Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02195918420671505919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-48885905434296481662008-07-08T13:37:00.000-04:002008-07-08T13:37:00.000-04:00Wow, this has been...interesting. Just kidding, it's been a blast, thanks to Jozet for hosting me and to the rest of you troublemakers for your comments (I still really want to know the origins of the name black hockey jesus, btw. And just so you know, went to your blog, loved it, but have little to no pull with my publisher, sadly. If I could make anyone the next Stephen King, it would be me, I'm just that selfish. Then you would all quake in fear at me, mwa-ha-ha...)<BR/>Drum roll please...and the winner of a brand-spanking new & signed copy of my book is: Krista. The comments were all great, so I'm basing this on the fact that she seems really nice and directed me to another cool blog. Yay, Krista!Michelle Gagnonhttp://www.michellegagnon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-32147184888202488132008-07-08T07:58:00.000-04:002008-07-08T07:58:00.000-04:00Ha ha Krista. Verrrrry funny. Listen. Jenna was having a terrible morning when she read that woman's comment about wanting to be on the tip of my tongue. Crass.<BR/><BR/>Wouldn't you be easily jealous and super protective if you were married to a guy named Black Hockey Jesus? <BR/><BR/>Well there you go.<BR/><BR/>But thanks for the nice words and pimping my site to Michelle Gagnon. What if Michelle Gagnon went to my site, thought it was the awesomest thing she ever saw, told her publisher, and I became like Stephen King or Henry Thoreau or some other American Badass like Kid Rock kinda?<BR/><BR/>It would be because of you Krista. At my Pulitzer acceptance, I would be all "This wouldn't have been possible w/o Krista." What an awesome little fantasy to have in the morning.Black Hockey Jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08466593271512886307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-57948991381897449392008-07-08T01:06:00.000-04:002008-07-08T01:06:00.000-04:00And I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Candy Houses to sell, it's not a series book (which my publisher isn't thrilled about) but I love the story and characters, it's set on an island off the coast of RI and involves witchcraft and other spooky stuff (even the Salem witch trials, going back to your earlier post Krista!)Michelle Gagnonhttp://www.michellegagnon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-51406109654280921592008-07-08T00:59:00.000-04:002008-07-08T00:59:00.000-04:00You're so right, Mercer Mayer is one sick puppy. I mean really, what is this about terrifying kids without the morality bit at the end? At least the old fairy tales served as cautionary tales...Michelle Gagnonhttp://www.michellegagnon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-54671585916486312722008-07-08T00:27:00.000-04:002008-07-08T00:27:00.000-04:00Although not gruesome, the winner hands down for Scary has to be Mercer Mayer. <I> Mercer Mayer???</I> you cry! <BR/>OK then, how about "There's an Alligator under my bed" (4 year old daughter won't get out of bed once lifted into it), There's a Nightmare in my Closet (she hears monsters behind the closet door. At 2am.) or There's Something in the Attic (And the monsters are going to steal her teddy bear). <BR/><BR/>It all makes those dancing, prancing Wild Things seem truly tame!Inzaburbswww.inzaburbs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-18835616314940656532008-07-07T19:57:00.000-04:002008-07-07T19:57:00.000-04:00Michelle, I'll tell Candy Houses makes me yearn...sounds wickedly interesting. I don't think I've ever seen anything based on the macabre Hansel/Gretel story line. You've piqued my interest!<BR/><BR/>And I'll also tell ya now...don't try to figure out Black Hockey Jesus. We love him here at Halushki and on his own blog too (http://windinyourvagina.blogspot.com)and he seems like a really cool, funny, intelligent super-dad but his "handle" is neither of what you're contemplating. I don't thing...he's very complex and complimenary guy? Read his blog and some of his wife's comments and you'll see what I mean! Funny stuff! BHJ...correct me if I'm wrong or overstepped my boundaries!Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02195918420671505919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-73836597399713681612008-07-07T19:43:00.000-04:002008-07-07T19:43:00.000-04:00All right, I clearly need to get me a copy of Fancy Nancy and Mars Needs Moms. As far as those Grimm's tales go, I'm already scarred. I have a book on the sales block right now called "Candy houses," about a series of murders based on the Hansel/Gretel story. One publisher said, "We love it- but maybe could you take out the part about the kids, or make them teenagers or something?" Ah, publishing...<BR/><BR/>And black hockey jesus, you made me blush- although I've also spent the past few minutes trying to figure out if that's the name of a band or some strange sports hybrid I've never heard of before. Hmmm.Michelle Gagnonhttp://www.michellegagnon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-20082942623273112842008-07-07T18:47:00.000-04:002008-07-07T18:47:00.000-04:00"Little Red - a Fizzingly Good Yarn"<BR/><BR/>http://www.amazon.com/Little-Red-Fizzingly-Good-Yarn/dp/0810957833<BR/><BR/>The illustrations in this are fabulous...creepy faces in the woodwork of the old inn and a wolf who belches out a worse-for-wear Grandma at the end. <BR/><BR/>FionaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-70113480640890475342008-07-07T18:10:00.000-04:002008-07-07T18:10:00.000-04:00Hey BHJ (I mean Gonzo - you did that on purpose, didn't you?)<BR/>I know of Fancy Nancy (through my niece) and if I had a daughter..it would banned literature in my house...like in the days of the Salem Witch Trials.<BR/>She IS a pretentious little tart..all her sparkly tiaras and rhinestone studded shoes and holier than thou attitude. She tries to make her family feel like the beverly hillbillies and it's just insulting. <BR/>glad I have boys...Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02195918420671505919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-37301195810447179712008-07-07T17:53:00.000-04:002008-07-07T17:53:00.000-04:00You are easy on the eyes, Michelle Gagnon.Black Hockey Jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08466593271512886307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-89436392573105774642008-07-07T17:51:00.000-04:002008-07-07T17:51:00.000-04:00Have you seen this little tart Fancy Nancy? She's got my daughter all up in arms about fanciness. You know what Nancy's fanciness is? Big words. She complicates everything by using big fancy "I"m smarter and fancier than you" words. My 4-year-old called me an incomprehensible bore yesterday. Thanks Nancy!<BR/><BR/>These books perpetuate the oppression of dumb people. Fancy my ass.Black Hockey Jesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08466593271512886307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-80217261075317347282008-07-07T17:14:00.000-04:002008-07-07T17:14:00.000-04:00My middle child claims he has PTSD from "Where the Wild Things Are". My oldest will spontaneously burst into tears and end up sucking on an inhaler like a Grinnell freshman hitting a bong if I even pull out "Mars Needs Moms" by Berkley Breathed. <BR/><BR/>-kk in Des MoinesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-44986398320300836002008-07-07T15:55:00.000-04:002008-07-07T15:55:00.000-04:00All right, I'm thrilled to be getting other suggestions for how to scare the heck out of my kid! This is clearly a group after my own heart. I have to confess, I considered adding where the wild things are to my list of no-nos books, but that one is so near and dear to my heart that in the end, I couldn't bear to include it. I'm checking some of these others out, though, they sound great...Michelle Gagnonhttp://www.michellegagnon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-11517444172179365792008-07-07T15:35:00.000-04:002008-07-07T15:35:00.000-04:00Yikes! My kids listen to almost all of those books regularly. They are nearly two years old. WE don't haev the Steam Shovel or Lady Bug books - but I do remember the Steam Shovel story from my childhood. <BR/><BR/>My favorite (and possibly my boys' favorite, they are twins) is Charlie Parker Played Bee Bop by Chris Raschka. AWESOME book. So fun to read. Teaches rhythm and rhyme. And Chris Raschka has other music-based books written similarly. As well as my boys' recent favorite Yo! Yes! about two boys in the city who become friends with barely 30 words between them. Sure to become a classic.nadzenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00118013148711027625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-5674709351394385132008-07-07T15:17:00.000-04:002008-07-07T15:17:00.000-04:00My favorite book, of all time, is <I>Where The Red Fern Grows</I>. It teaches young children how to raise a love a pet; teaches them to raise their pets so they can hunt down other animals for the child to shoot and kill. I also loved the lessons of standing up to bullies; running away from home and walking miles to get your beloved doggies, and, in the end, how your dog will die and be buried and how the mate will lay on the grave and die as well as you are leaving your childhood home forever. <BR/><BR/>Ahhh - nothing like lovely childhood books to make you feel good about childhood.preTzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03536465579225240434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-43030835853925731172008-07-07T13:39:00.000-04:002008-07-07T13:39:00.000-04:00I'd have to say "The Real Tooth Fairy." It turns out okay in the end, but the first time you read it (before you get to the end)you're all "OMG! Shattered dreams!"Jenn @ Juggling Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455967210924573398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-85401946829102311512008-07-07T11:52:00.000-04:002008-07-07T11:52:00.000-04:00My vote is for "Where the Wild Things" are by Maurice Sendak. Although I do love this book (imagination hard at play!), the gruesomeness of it is that my now 5 year old used to hate when his older brother wanted to read it. "How could Max's mom and dad be so mean that they would send him to bed WITH NO DINNER?!" Surely no child's mischief, no matter how awful, merited having nourishment withheld.<BR/>And what child wouldn't be frightened as hell to land their boat on an island full of wild thing monsters roaring their terrible roars, gnashing their teeth and showing their claws?!! And even though Max tamed them...when he left the island, the monsters didn't want him to go and said, "we love you...we'll eat you up!" WTF??!! Used to scare the bejeezus out of my son. To think that something that loved him would eat him up.<BR/>I wonder now just what Mr. Sendak was smoking when he wrote THAT classic?<BR/>Maybe we're better off sticking to watching Dancing with the Stars.Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02195918420671505919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10673240.post-9714209831479057032008-07-07T10:33:00.000-04:002008-07-07T10:33:00.000-04:00You are so right! What is the real agenda of these children's authors, anyway? Let them know early that it's a croc-eat-monkey world out there so they'll be prepared? (Shudder...)<BR/><BR/>Anyway, my favorite kids' book is <EM>Weslandia</EM> by Paul Fleischman. It is about a boy who, despite social and parental pressure to be like everyone else, follows his own interests and invents an entire civilization with its own economy, sports, language, and clothing - all based on a new plant he has found. In doing this, he earns the respect and admiration of his former tormentors.Kathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974881173261676027noreply@blogger.com