This Paperback Book item from Just My Best was reviewed on 26-Oct-2008. Search ISBN:1932586296 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley Reference Book. Classifications : General AAS New & Used Textbooks Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books General AAS Qualifying Textbooks Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books General Ages 9-12 Children's Books Subjects Books General AA . Click the following link to view the cover of The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley. Related topics: General AAS. Custom Stores. Specialty Stores. Books. General AAS. Custom Stores. Specialty Stores. Books. General. Ages 9-12. requestid: b15b4c64-d19a-4ffd-9fe7-d4e706cb78c6
requestprocessingtime: 0.1494800000000000
salesrank: 786082
numberofitems: 1
packagedimensions: 5085047550
1) Paperback Book The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley by Just My Best. Once upon a time I taught YA readers in junior high, which is now more often called "Middle School."
There seemed to be a dearth of suitable books for this age group back then. By "suitable" I mean many characteristics:
1.Full of free-flowing fantasy to allow young minds to go far away into safe mind-expanding places
2.Morally acceptable but not promoting a certain sect that would be questioned by the public school administration
3.Free of adult sexual encounters
4.Not loaded with the-ends-justifies-the-means morality
5.Having a plot line that YA readers cannot resist
6.Logical in sequence
7.Appealing to the imagination of young readers
8.Not being a waste of time
9.Encouraging readers to stretch their reading skills
10.Showing the development of the characters in the novel
11.Nurturing the character traits of the young tender minds
12.Simply entertaining
The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley by Betty Dravis qualifies.
I find it so appropriate that if it had been available way back then, I would have acquired permission to teach it to all my YA classes.
It would make an unforgettable class project - an interactive unit that would lead the young people to learn. The students would love making their own pictures of the Toonies to be posted in the classroom. They could also draw their own Toonies cartoons based on the text. Reading facility would result.
There are some questions I would like to discuss related to the story with young people:
--What are some creative ways to deal with family conflict?
--How did Jeremy use his creativity to gain peace of mind while his parents argued?
--How else could the book end?
--Why was the ending that Ms. Dravis chose the best one?
--How did the different characters solve their problems?
The author demonstrates in this book her skill and ingenuity. The Toonies is an enjoyable book for YA readers and for children of all ages. Thanks, Betty, for sharing!
¤ 2) Paperback Book The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley by Just My Best. THE TOONIES INVADE SILICON VALLEY is a very fun, extremely charming YA fantasy novel by versatile author Betty Dravis. TOONIES is based on the original premise that if humans are sad enough and in need of sympathy, then the cartoon characters on your computer screen can talk to you, can actually leave your computer, and can join you in the real world. Dravis is clearly a very talented and imaginative storyteller. She not only makes this wild and wacky idea completely believable, she makes it plausible as well. As Dravis weaves her wonderful web of words, you find yourself immediately drawn into the vivid world of the story, caring for her colorful characters and their predicaments, and quickly turning the pages to see how it all turns out.
As the parent of two daughters, ages 11 and 3, I would like to commend Ms. Dravis for one important aspect of this YA novel. In almost every story where the kids are the heros, the parents are either dead or they are evil (think Harry Potter or almost any Disney story, both of which I love, btw). However, in TOONIES, the parents are not only alive, they talk to their son, he goes to them for advice, and they have a wonderful family relationship based on love and respect. Yes, the family has its issues and misunderstandings, but they work together to resolve their problems. I am absolutely thrilled to see such positive family behavior and values modeled here. This key element alone would have me singing the praises of Ms. Dravis from the highest mountain tops. The fact that it comes wrapped in a grand adventure is just the icing on the cake.
I am going to give this book to my 11 year old to read next. I am certain she will love it. I think you will, too. THE TOONIES INVADE SILICON VALLEY is highly recommend for children of all ages.
¤ 3) Paperback Book The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley by Just My Best. Jeremy Kerns is a bright and imaginative thirteen year old cartoonist, whose cartoons are featured weekly in the newspaper.
As Jeremy´s parent Arthur and Jessica´s arguments have been escalating, Jeremy copes in a constructive manner. He writes and illustrates his own problems on his comic strip with Doog, the red haired boy with stars and stripes suspenders as the main character.
One particularly unnerving day of parental disagreements, Jeremy blocks his ears with his hands to try blotting out their fighting.
Jeremy pushes his chair away from the computer in exasperation, when suddenly a voice summons him. It´s Doog, straight out of Cartoon Land. Jeremy is startled and distracted when Doog and Uncle Wom (a.k.a. wise old man) Jeremy learns that he must keep The Toonies a secret. Only Buddy and Ashley meet them, until...
Jeremy´s unsuspecting and curious dad marvels at his son´s cartoon drawings, then turns on Jeremy´s computer.
This is where the Mischief Makers led by Dab (bad spelled backwards)are let loose into the Kern´s home and Silicon Valley.
Mischief and mayhem follow in a funny and very, very original story.
One of my favorite events is when Jeremys mom Jessica and friend Ashley make shoes out of tin foil so the light weight little Tonnie Doog can walk more like a human than hop around.
Through Betty´s highly descriptive, skilled writing, we envision the comical, colorful Toonie characters, all of whom have distinct personalities and charms. The dialogue is hysterical and we quickly become absorbed into The Toonies adventure.
This is a classic!
I recommend this book highly to both young adults and children. It will steer young people into dealing with stress in a productive manner. Because its extremely insightful, it can have a therapeutic effect on children and teach them new coping skills. For parents, this book will remind them of how positive influence can have a great impact on children.¤ 4) Paperback Book The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley by Just My Best. "The day the Toonie leaped out of Jeremy Kern´s computer and landed smack-dab in the middle of his life, he thought he was going nuts." From this very first line, Betty Dravis had me captivated and dying to know just how the story of a computer whiz kid from Silicon Valley and his cartoon friends would play out.
Troubled by his parents´ recent incessant arguing, Jeremy escapes to his computer one night to discover that Doog, a teenage Toonie Jeremy created for his weekly comic strip, has come to life when Jeremy needed him most. Shortly thereafter, Uncle Wom, the lovable old leader of Cartoon Land, also befriends Jeremy and informs him that all is not well in the Toonies´ homeland. The evil Dab, an ape-like bird creature, and his band of Mischief-Makers are on a mission to escape from Cartoon Land, whatever the cost, and take over the humanoid world.
With the help of his best friend, Buddy, and Buddy´s twin sister, Ashley, Jeremy pledges to keep the secrets of Cartoon Land safe and never do anything that would allow Dab to escape. Everything is going fine for the three children and their new Toonie friends until Jeremy´s dad, Arthur, accidentally releases Dab and his hench-birds...and chaos invades Silicon Valley.
Will Jeremy and his friends be able to defeat the evil ape-bird? Or will Dab and his followers be the victors of the climactic battle at Orange Computer´s supply building and thereby unleash their reign of terror on our world?
There are so many lovable and endearing characters in "Toonies," but my favorite would have to be Third, the sweet little Mischief-Maker turned hero. I loved his interactions with Jeremy´s mom, Jessica, especially the white flag incident. And you *must* read this gem of a novel to find out what I´m talking about! ;)
Betty Dravis has crafted an endlessly inventive, highly original, and entertaining tale that will appeal to readers of all ages. Don´t miss it! :D
Melika
¤ 5) Paperback Book The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley by Just My Best. THE TOONIES INVADE SILICON VALLEY is probably one of the most charming, surprising, vivid and vibrant books I have ever read. And that statement includes everything I read as a child, and everything I´ve read so far as a "grown-up" (which is more of a physical classification than a mental one for me, at this point in my life... *smile*).
Betty Dravis´ novel introduces readers to thirteen-year-old Jeremy Kern, who lives with his parents in Silicon Valley. As his parents´ arguments get louder and more frequent, Jeremy retreats into his bedroom, working at his computer on cartoons about a boy named Doog. Creating a world and a life for Doog allows Jeremy to escape from his own troubles...but the last thing he expects is for Doog´s world to merge with his own! But a chance touch in the corner of a cartoon eye, and poof! suddenly Doog is out of the computer, on Jeremy´s desk, his red hair shining impossibly brightly and his eyes twinkling whimsically. Jeremy and his friends are utterly taken with Doog and, later, with Uncle Wom, the leader of Cartoon Land, who follows Doog out of the computer to retrieve him. Uncle Wom is clear to express the dangers of traveling between the worlds, warning Jeremy to be wary of prying eyes on the computer screen. Uncle Wom and Doog tell Jeremy and his friends about the Mischief-Makers and their leader, Dab, the evil ape-bird feared by everyone in Cartoon Land. Under no circumstances, Uncle Wom asserts, must Dab be released from the world behind the computer screen.
Unfortunately, Jeremy´s father isn´t around to heed this warning. Arthur inadvertently releases Dab and his followers from the computer and immediately, Dab seeks to put his evil plan into action: to take over Orange Computer, and then take over all the computers all over the world, giving him ultimate power and control over the human race. It will take a whole team of humans and good Toonies, including the help of a "Wise Old Zen," to defeat Dab and his followers and restore order both to Silicon Valley, and to Cartoon Land.
THE TOONIES INVADE SILICON VALLEY is, at its core, a story of good vs. bad. But you´ve never read a more creative take on that popular theme, I guarantee it! In Betty Dravis´ world, "good vs. bad" becomes Doog vs. Dab, and the warriors are cartoons. From the first page to the last, TOONIES is pure entertainment, a joy to read. The text is accompanied by beautiful illustrations, serving to bring Dravis´ characters and world even more to life. The prose is lively, and the descriptions are brilliant -- bright and dazzling and evocative of something magical. Dravis brings a world of color to a page of black and white, and her warmth and genuineness shine through in her writing. Deeply interwoven in the story is a larger theme of the importance of family. In a world where moral values are often overlooked, Dravis has written a novel that supports the good things in life: family, love, courage, fellowship. TOONIES is a book for both kids and adults to read and reread with fondness. The characters, human and toonie alike, are ones you´ll want to keep coming back to again and again.
THE TOONIES INVADE SILICON VALLEY is a rewarding, fun, dazzling and wholesome book. I recommend it completely, for kids from 1 to 99!¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 23-Nov-2008, 19325862969781932586299, 560-860-080-390-390-961-8 
The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley, Book, Image © Just My Best
|
