Backpack Stories

by Kevin O'Malley

Overview

You don't think much about your backpack. It's just kind of dirty and crammed with stuff. But wait - did you know the backpack has a history? That it could be a superhero's secret weapon? Or an exploding science experiment? Or even a living creature of immense proportions? Kevin O'Malley has created four surprising comic-book style stories to entertain and amaze backpack wearers everywhere.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807505045
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	09/01/2009
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	GN550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kevin O'Malley was in the fourth grade when he decided to illustrate books for children. He has a wild sense of humor and it comes through loud and clear in his books. In 1992, he made his children's book debut with Froggy Went A-Courting, based on a well known folk ballad. Kevin has illustrated books written by other writers, such as Cinder Edna and Chanukah in Chelm and has worked in animating multimedia displays for clients including the Smithsonian Institution. His latest books range from nonfiction to outrageous humor. Kevin lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his artist wife and two sons. www.booksbyomalley.com

Editorial Reviews

A tongue-in-cheek history of backpacks from prehistory to the 21st century kicks off O'Malley's comics-inspired collection of four short tales. Apparently backpacks were first invented by Roscoe the caveman, who slung a fur pouch on his back with disastrous results: His friends beat him, thinking he was being attacked by a beaver. In "Volcano," Brendan can't get his volcano to erupt for the science fair, but the right mix of mess in his backpack (secret ingredient: one hairy piece of candy) makes it explode and earns him an A. Then Ashley is on her way to another boring day at school when three disasters strike. She turns into Jet Super Backpack Girl and saves the day. Then in "Day of the Living Backpack," Captain Cable, a boy watching television before school, keeps putting things in his backpack, which just makes it hungrier. When it tries to eat his TV set, he shows it who's boss. The panel illustrations for each story vary accordingly and aptly in style, size and medium. A pleasing diversion for anyone who's ever lugged a zillion-pound backpack. (Picture book. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews

"Ordinary backpacks get humorous treatment in four brief stories, told in sequential art, that make good use of puns and tropes from comic books, TV and movies." Publishers Weekly

"A tongue-in-cheek history of backpacks from prehistory to the 21st century kicks off O'Malley's comics-inspired collection of four short tales....A pleasing diversion for anyone who's ever lugged a zillion-pound backpack." Kirkus Reviews

"[T]he simple pleasure of the snarky take on an all-too-familiar burden." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

IRA-CBC Children's Choices 2010

From the Publisher