I haven't felt this proud since those My Little Pony kids got their cutie marks.
Friday, 3 February 2023
Babyliography CIV
2019 / Library book / 32 pages / UK
**
You don't really need me to explain.
Abie Longstaff and Lauren Beard, The Fairytale Hairdresser: Or How Rapunzel Got Her Prince! (a.k.a. The Fairytale Hairdresser and Rapunzel) / The Fairytale Hairdresser and Beauty and the Beast
2011/2016 / Library books / 64 pages / UK
***
Nicely detailed art with plenty of references. The hairdressing side was less welcome, but hardly unexpected.
1993 / Paperback / 26 pages / UK
***
If it ain't broke, reprint. School books aren't exactly the height of nostalgia, but these old-school drawings are a welcome change from the usual clipart.
2022 / Library book / 12 pages / UK
**
Fooling toddlers into reading themed glossaries through googly eyes. Well played.
2020 / Library book / 10 pages / Taiwan
*
It didn't have the cool song in it.
Tuesday, 31 January 2023
Alrightreads: Tartarus R Us
1904 (collected 2000) / Audiobook / 137 pages / UK
****
The same story he always writes, this time via Edwardian soap opera.
2002 / Ebook / 256 pages / UK
***
Terrifying tales of freaks and foreigners!
Faves: 'Number Fourteen,' 'The Sacrifice'
1951-75 (collected 2003) / Ebook/audiobook / 216 pages / UK
***
Haunting journeys via various modes of transport.
Faves: 'Left Luggage,' 'Mr Wrong'
1983-2013 (collected 2013) / Ebook / 230 pages / UK
***
Enthusiastic, largely indistinguishable tributes to old-school occult detecting and other supernatural miscellany free from postmodern cynicism, save my own.
Faves: 'Herald of the Hidden,' 'Go to the West'
2015 / Ebook / 267 pages / Various
***
Nicely varied interpretations of the broad brief, from creaky horror to sci-fi and even a wholesome fairy tale.
Faves: Elise Forier Edie's 'You-Go-Back,' David Rix's 'Henge,' Yarrow Paisley's 'Mary Alice in the Mirror'
Sunday, 29 January 2023
Ranking the Star Trek film soundtracks
As inconsistent across productions as their inextricably associated visuals, the Star Trek movie soundtracks are naturally evocative for fans of the films, but many are also worthwhile on their own merits. I mean, probably. It's not like anyone knows.
Here are my The Top 13 Star Track Sound Treks.
Friday, 27 January 2023
Alrightgames: Usborne Book and 3 Jigsaws – Santa
2021 / Book and jigsaw set / UK
**
Donated
It was at least a Christmas too late for 9-piece jigsaws to pose any kind of challenge, even when we tried them mixed. They'll probably be part of her future Christmas nostalgia regardless.
Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Alrightgames: Top Trumps – My Little Pony
2016 / Card game / 1+ players
***
Primarily bought to have some cheap 'Pony cards and doodling references, a 3+ age rating was appropriate for once, as she understood how to play and was capable of sound judgement, though isn't competitive enough to always bother. We use it more as Guess Who(of).
Shame about all the inexplicable, counter-intuitive stats though. The 'beauty' stat is the stuff wars are made on.
Monday, 23 January 2023
Alrightgames: The Simpsons Trading Cards
The Simpsons Trading Cards
1990 / Collectible cards + puzzle / USA
***
Resold
I don't think of Bartmania as being among my big childhood crazes (no doubt mainly because we didn't have Sky), but I was there for the peak hype, and the most nostalgic Simpsons products have always been those that were clearly rushed out prematurely to capitalise on it. That normally means a disproportionate emphasis on short-lived season one characters like Marvin Monroe, but the Topps trading cards went even more primordial by sourcing all of their distinctly off-model, off-colour screencaps from the Tracey Ullman Show shorts. Cowabunga!
As a kid, this unexplained uncannyness would have been so intriguing, on par with the red-bandana Turtles (I'll solve it for you: cheaper licensing). As a grown-up coming across some Gen-Xer's once-prized collection in a charity shop, I couldn't resist the indulgence, especially for 50p.
The back of the cards handily make an (incomplete) jigsaw that it turned out my daughter did actually want to do, so I got away with it, and we watched some prime retro Simpsons after that it turned out she's way too young for.
Saturday, 21 January 2023
Alrightgames: Walking Hard Game
Walking Hard Game
Our stupid cat was predictably scared of the birthday present my daughter chose for him, but we're still getting our money's worth, most recently by unofficially expanding Bugs Building. A few more unwanted pet gadgets and we could really be on to something.
2022 / Improvised board game / 1+ players / UK
***
Friday, 20 January 2023
Babyliography CIII
2021/ Hardback / 10 pages / UK/Moldova
*
I hope they didn't have the cheek to release this separately from the jigsaw set, because it's hardly even added value there.
2022 / Hardback / 64 pages / UK
***
Random episode adaptations, sticker book activities without the stickers and craft ideas, some of which may even be worth trying.
Unknown, My Little Pony Early Readers: Twilight Sparkle's Princess Spell / Rainbow Dash's Big Race
***
Simple bedtime novelisations at this point, but they'll be there as a possibly more appealing alternative to Ginn Reading 360 when she starts going solo.
Roger Hargreaves, Mr. Happy / Mr. Muddle
1971/76 / Library books / 64 pages / UK
A couple of classics, as far as these go. Mr Happy (in the Arthur Lowe version) was a pillar of my casually surreal childhood.
2014 / Library book / 32 pages / UK
***
A decent one-shot. I can't see the inevitable sequels having much to add, but maybe they'll surprise me.
Thursday, 19 January 2023
Babyliography CII
2019 / Library book / 30 pages / UK/Germany
***
Intimate day-glo jungle trek.
2005 / Library book / 32 pages / UK
***
She was distracted by the artist's interpretation of the anemone as a kind of decapitated head. I think it's about divorce or something.
2005 / Library book / 32 pages / UK
**
Always her second pick after unicorns. Sorry girls.
2016 / Library book / 32 pages / UK
**
It could have explained the relationship between geometry and structural integrity better, but maybe that's asking a bit much from a spider picture book.
2018 / Library book / 32 pages / UK
***
Little Miss Benn.
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