SOUNDTRACK: LUCKY DIAZ AND THE FAMILY JAM BAND-“Thingamajig” (2013).
This song made the XPN Kid’s Corner Top ten. When the played it on the radio, I was surprised at how ..quiet it was. Even now listening to it, it just seems like all of the sounds are at the same level, it all kind of blends together, which is a shame because the song is really kind of fun.
Now that I’ve listened a few times I like it more. It actually has a kind of Death Cab for Cutie feel. The bass is particularly nice, but of course the fun part is the lyrics (a thingamajig, a whatchamacallit, who what where why).
So a couple of listens and I’m won over by the song. I wish it was a bit more dynamic in the production, but it’s a catchy little number. And I’m curious to hear what the rest of the album sounds like.
[READ: December 27, 2013] Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
Clark was so excited for this book! This is the first one that he knew about before I did. We decided to save it for a Christmas present, and man was he chomping at the bit. He even borrowed it from a friend (because there were 100 people on the waiting list a the library). And yet, even though he had already read it, when it arrived on Christmas, he was still really excited. And has already read it four times.
And what was sweeter was that he really wanted me to read it. He thought it was the best one yet.
I was surprised by this as the whole first section is about how lost Greg feels now that Rowley has a girlfriend, Abigail. I can’t really imagine how he related to that as it’s not an issue for an 8-year-old (in fact the whole series is skewed a little old for an 8-year-old, but he still loves it). Mostly Greg isn’t so much jealous that Rowley has a girlfriend so much as he is jealous that she is keeping Rowley from being Greg’s slave, I mean, friend. Normally, Rowley walks in front of Greg to look out for the (newly added, I think) Mingo kids who threaten anyone who comes close to their wood (which is on their way to school) or for dog land mines–the scene where the dog figures out how the electric fence works is so funny. And speaking of dogs, Clark absolutely cracked up about the joke with the little dog Sweetie who sniffs herself if you make a raspberry sound near her.
I also really enjoyed the Greg has been reading the Slumber Party Girls series and that it has gotten a little less creative than it was originally (the latest book is Lindsey Loses a Mitten). Some other fantastic jokes in the book include the Superhero school (where you learn how to deal with bullies but get no actual superpowers), the awesome Find a Friend button and the hilarious use and abuse of Hero Points. I also loved that Greg’s shoes came from the dollar bin. Perhaps the biggest surprise in the book is the sudden popularity of Fregley–who has a heretofore untapped skill.
But the later plot really surrounds Greg’s mom’s family. The Aunts. They all come to visit for Easter. And The Heffley men have to deal in various ways with the invasion. Of course, Easter means Easter egg hunts, and Greg’s grandmother Meemaw used to go all out hiding the eggs and putting coins and dollars in them. But then everyone noticed that in one picture she no longer had her diamond ring on… Could she have lost it? In an egg? The hunt is on.
The cover of the book shows Greg being pelted by Magic 8-Balls. And indeed, Greg finds one and starts using it as a sage advice giver. It seems to work pretty well, but is very slow on tests. When he gets caught during a test, the teacher’s reaction is hilarious. But indeed, maybe the Magic 8 ball brings him luck after all. Clark was happy to point out the good luck that Greg gets at the end of the book. And I myself am very curious to see how that plays out in future installments.
This was another great book in the series. Hard to say if it’s the best, but the quality has definitely been maintained.
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