Boogie Knights

by Lisa Wheeler, Mark Siegel (Illustrator)

Overview

Place: the castle
Time: late
Event: the Madcap Monster Ball,
the rockin'-est
knee-knockin'-est
beboppin'-est
party of them all.

It's impossible to sleep through.
Just ask the prince
Or his off-the-wall princess
Or any of their seven
(count 'em, seven)

Boogie Knights.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689876394
Publisher:	Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books
Publication date:	08/05/2008
Series:	Richard Jackson Books (Atheneum Hardcover)
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	839,562
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 12.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lisa Wheeler has written many books for children, including The Pet Project, illustrated by Zachariah OHora; Spinster Goose, illustrated by Sophie Blackall; and People Don’t Bite People and People Share with People, both illustrated by Molly Idle. She lives with her family in Addison, Michigan. Visit her online at LisaWheelerBooks.com.

Mark Siegel is the author and illustrator of several award-winning picture books and graphic novels, including Tiny Dancer, To Dance, Moving House, and Sailor Twain. His latest project is the collaborative graphic novel series 5 Worlds, an epic science fiction story for young readers. In addition to writing and illustrating, Mark is also the founder and creative and editorial director of First Second Books, Macmillan’s graphic novel house. The Siegels live in Tarrytown, New York. Visit Mark at MarkSiegelBooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

"A pitch-perfect Halloween-time poem...Siegel's tinted charcoal-and-pencil illustrations are charming and fun, and the energetic design is as movin' and groovin' as a Madcap Monster Ball should be." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Wheeler's rhythmic text is filled with taut rhymes, alliteration, and vivid images. The raucous verses detail the events and spirit of the upbeat party with lively zeal, while the narrative's wordplay makes it worthy of repeated readings...Siegel's sophisticated, graphic-novel-style artwork also demands a second look...[his art] cleverly underscore the plot elements and keep the pages interesting. Kids will eat this one up and beg for more." — School Library Journal, starred review

"The cartoon illustrations perfectly catch all of the high-flying whimsy with small figures dancing and whirling across each double-page spread...readers will want to return so as not to miss any of the amusing details. Perfect for Halloween or any time the spirits need a lift." — Booklist, starred review

From the Publisher

It's midnight and all the mischievous spirits that haunt the castle are in a partying mood: "Wizards wiggle!/ Ghostlings giggle!/ Demons do their thing!" As the party progresses, seven knights (whose names include Sir Loin and Sir Prize) find themselves unable to resist the siren call to get jiggy. Wheeler and Siegel (who previously collaborated on Seadogs) have created a entire population of lively characters, from "go-go goblins" to mummies and serpents that mambo and samba. In a pictorial subplot, two reader surrogates-a little prince who nervously spies on the action and a winsome ghost princess who emerges from a painting-find each other and become dance partners. Siegel's artistic versatility is equally impressive and fun: his drawings range from doodled portraits that seem ripped from a sketchpad to handsome chiaroscuro vignettes that slyly spoof the gothic aesthetic. A freewheeling rhyme scheme and judicious use of color amp up the party atmosphere, though the text and visual elements don't always come together cohesively and can compete to be a focal point. Still, this romp is a cut abovestandard Halloween fare. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

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Publishers Weekly

Gr 1-5

There's a shindig brewing at the castle one night, as werewolves, zombies, mummies, and all manner of creepy characters make their way through silent halls to the Madcap Monster Ball. The stronghold's seven sibling knights, posed in full armor in an impressive row, supposedly stand guard, but are actually fast asleep. One by one, each warrior is stirred by the commotion and leaves his post to check out its cause-only to find himself joining in the fun and dancing the night away. Wheeler's rhythmic text is filled with taut rhymes, alliteration, and vivid images. The raucous verses detail the events and spirit of the upbeat party with lively zeal, while the narrative's wordplay makes it worthy of repeated readings. Puns and double entendres abound ("Forced, Sir Ender/just gives in./Lone Sir Vivor/(that's his twin)/feels the music/in his soul,/kicks up his heels.../'Let's rock 'n' roll!'"). Done in charcoal, pencil, and Photoshop, Siegel's sophisticated, graphic-novel-style artwork also demands a second look. There are plenty of visual story lines to follow as a wide-eyed young prince, anxiously clutching a candle and teddy bear, spies on the action, and a smiling portrait princess escapes from her painting to try and befriend the frightened boy. Sepia tones, splashes of color, silhouettes, and outline sketches cleverly underscore the plot elements and keep the pages interesting. Kids will eat this one up and beg for more.-Joy Fleishhacker , School Library Journal

School Library Journal

"It is midnight, / and the moonlight's / shining down upon the moors / while the rascals / in the castle / jangle chains and rattle doors." This line launches a pitch-perfect Halloween-time poem that begins and ends with seven knights sleeping. A small, bug-eyed prince with a rakishly tilted crown watches agog from behind castle columns as werewolves hustle, zombies bustle, mummies mamba and serpents samba. "Upstairs, unawares," six of the knights are sleeping. The seventh, aptly named Sir Veillance, awakens first and heads downstairs to join monsters mashing, bogeys bashing and the like. No one expects Sir Prize to show up. (Ha!) The pun-ishment continues: " 'It's getting late,' tough Sir Loin states. 'Our honor is at stake.' " Knight after knight wakes up to join the giddy dance. By midnight, all seven are cavorting merrily, and even the bug-eyed prince is twirling about with a ghostly princess. Siegel's tinted charcoal-and-pencil illustrations are charming and fun, and the energetic design is as movin' and groovin' as a Madcap Monster Ball should be. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews