Noblemania
Time 2021-10-16 07:04:38Web Name: Noblemania
WebSite: http://noblemania.blogspot.com
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keywords: description:Author of books for all ages, speaker, and pop culture archaeologist
A wine/chocolate/book pairing.
I'm told passages of the featured books were read while wine was sipped and chocolate nibbled.
Picture books and booze don't normally go together.
But, of course, this was an adults-only affair.
I don't know why my book was chosen, but I am honored by its inclusion, especially because it is among such distinguished company (meaning the other authors/illustrators, though I'm sure the wine and chocolate were also great).
LabelsThirty Minutes Over Oregon0comments Saturday, October 2, 2021 The first picture book about the creation of Wonder WomanIn the DC Comics universe, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have become known as the Trinity. The first time DC officially used that word for the Big Three may have been the 2003 miniseries Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity, though please dont quote me on that.
Since then, two other Trinity series (to date) have come out.
2008
(Side note: at first it seemed odd to me that only one character graced the cover of the first issue of a book calledTrinity. But turns out this was setting up a pattern: for most of the series, only one of the three headliners would appear on each cover, though sometimes with other characters. The first time all threein their most commonly recognizable formappeared together in full on a cover was #48. The series ended with #52.)
2016
Meanwhile, my book Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman released in 2008.
My book Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman released in 2012.
Over the years, at almost every school visit, a young person has asked if I am going to write about any other superheroes. I said the only other one I would do is Wonder Woman. Before the 2017 Wonder Woman movie, there would be a smattering of claps or cheers, but after, the room would erupt with enthusiasm.
I didstart the project. I read Jill Lepores superhumanly researched The Secret History of Wonder Woman. And several years before that, I conducted introductory interviews with two grandchildren of William (Bill) Moulton Marston, currently the only person officially credited as the creator of Wonder Woman.
One is Christie Marston, granddaughter of Bill and his wife Elizabeth.
The other is Nancy Wykoff, granddaughter of Bill and Olive Byrne, a woman Bill and Elizabeth welcomed into their homeand their marriage. Not typical picture book fare!
Bill fathered two children with Elizabeth and two with Olive. After he died in 1947, Elizabeth and Olive continued to live and raise the kids together. Speculation persists about whether the two women also had a romantic relationship. In any case, more on this below.
As of last month, the picture book version of the Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman trinity is finally completebut not thanks to me.A True Wonder: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything comes courtesy of Kirsten W. Larson, illustrated by Katy Wu.
Kirsten kindly blogged about other books for young readers that celebrate superhero creators, and I was honored that she included mine.
The subtitle of A True Wonder certainly describes Wonder Womanit echoes her aforementioned theme song, change their minds, and change the worldbut not uniquelyso; it could also apply to others including Superman (first superhero), Robin (first superhero sidekick), Black Panther (first mainstream Black superhero), Storm (first mainstream Black female superhero), and Northstar (first openly gay superhero). I would have liked the subtitle (or title) to allude to Wonder Womans gender, which would be consistent with the books emphasis.
(Side note: firstsespecially in a vast medium like visual storytellingare often up for debate. Though this includes the ones above, they seem to be the most commonly cited groundbreakers.)
On the cover, Wonder Womans costume is tweaked to avoid a copyright or trademark claim. (For the same reason, the covers of my superhero creator books show Superman and Batman in silhouette. Inside, however, under the fair use doctrine, we did show the licensed characters in detail a few times, whereas A True Wonder doesnt.) I wonder if Wonder Woman is not in the subtitle (or the title) out of caution.
A standout factor of A True Wonder is that it honors both Bill Marston and women who later contributed to Wonder Womans developmentwriters, editors, a director, and an actor. In other words, its not a biography but rather a broader contextual look at her history, through a predominantly female lens. Kids of all genders will be dazzled, validated, and inspired.
I especially love that the book mentions the educational Wonder Women of History feature that ran in comics in the 1940s.
Larson cites sources for most dialogue in the book, but a few statements (or thoughts) are invented, which calls to mind a 2021 School Library Journalarticle about ways informational texts incorporate fabricated elements, yet remain nonfiction. (Of course, fabricated elements are not the same as fabricated facts.) Infusing a true story with a fictional aspect (narrative bookends, a Greek chorus throughout, etc.) can make nonfiction more appealing to some readers. Librarians make a judgment call to classify the book as nonfiction or historical fiction, depending on the nature of the fictional ingredients. I maintain that there is no such thing as pure nonfiction anyway!
Wus art is aptly striking for a character as fierce as Wonder Woman. Ribbons, stars, and other colorful flourishes give the book a sense of fluidity and propulsion. My favorite image shows the hero dangling from a helicopter (a memorable scene from the TV show).
In my assessment, Wonder Woman was created by four people; in this book, only two of them are part of the story proper: Bill and Elizabeth (though Elizabeth appears on only one page). The other two appear only in the back matter and also only once: Olive Byrne (the basis of Wonder Womans iconic bracelets and allegedly her overall appearance) and original artist Harry G. Peter. I consider both of them (and Elizabeth) to be the Bill Fingers of the Wonder Woman origininextricably significant but officially uncredited.
Neither Elizabeth nor Olive wrote or illustrated the first Wonder Woman story (or any subsequent stories that Im aware of). But being part of a creation can mean being there at the beginningin other capacities. Given Bills outspoken position on female equality, if any male comics creator of his time would have given credit in print for inspiration, it wouldve been Bill. Yet alas, he didnt, and as of yet, DC hasnt, either.
Larson importantly points out that the people who birthed the superhero industry were almost exclusively white men. It bears repeating that the book does a stellar job showcasing the role of women in Wonder Womans evolution. It also beautifully brims with people of many colors. As such, I was surprised that the book did not take the next step and show that this diversity (eventually) extended to the fictional world of Wonder Woman, which features nonwhite characters including Nubia and Yara Flor.
Speaking of the fictional side, many kids would have been fascinated by a glimpse of Wonder Womans backstory. The opening spread references Greek mythology but the book does not elaborate on the connection. It also does not bring up that Wonder Woman hails from a thriving all-female society, which would intriguingly reinforce the girl power message.
On that topic, I feel one passage in the book stumbles. In discussing Wonder Woman editorial changes of the 1960s, the text reads They took away all that made her a wonder: her costume, her lasso and bracelets, her superpowers. It may sound nitpickyand I realize the author didnt mean it this way or even notice this possible interpretation because every writer encounters this sort of thing at timesbut to me all comes across as superficial. What makes Wonder Woman a wonder is more than her appearance and enhanced abilities. It is what she doeswith those abilities.
Had I followed through on a Wonder Woman book, I was intending to focus on Bill, Elizabeth, Olive, and later Harry. I might not have gone beyond the 1940s, addressing the rest of Wonder Womans vital history in the authors note. (I took this approach in Boys of Steel.)
Before completing research, I was already so excited that I wrote a possible opening:
Superman. Batman. Sandman. Hawkman. Hourman. Starman.
Notice anything about that list of superheroes?
A professor named William Moulton Marston did. And did something about it.
But like those heroes, who formed the Justice Society of America so together they could accomplish what individually they couldnt, William also needed a team.
Unlikethe Justice Society, which was originally all men and then all men and one woman, Williams team started as all women and one man.
I was further intending to gently introduce polyamory, the act of loving multiple people (not to be confused with polygamy, or marryingmultiple people).
Yes, I know some adults would vehemently disapprove of a book for young readers trying to destigmatize polyamory. There would be banning (or attempted banning). But Bill, Elizabeth, and Olivewere in a consensual relationshipno deception or betrayal involved. I feel Id owe it to their memory...and their bravery.
In recent years, picture books for young readers have made tremendous strides in covering topics that were once considered taboo for the formatfrom transgender and non-binary people to white privilege to tattoos. In my vision, the interpersonal adult dynamics of Wonder Womans creators would not have been the main thread, but because the unit of Bill, Elizabeth, and Olive influenced the love is love essence that Wonder Woman often embodies, I feel it would be critical to touch on it in an age-appropriate way. Others agree!
This is an excellent take on the imperative to throw the Lasso of Truth around ourselvesand acknowledge both the full list of people who should be credited for Wonder Woman and the unconventional yet no less respectable relationship among three of those creators. The article speaks to not only the nobility of the hero but also the notion of tolerancewhich goes full circle back to the nobility of the hero.
Wonder Woman would trust in us to rise to the occasion.
Thank you, Kirsten and Katy, for telling this story. Lets get the picture book trinity together for a panel!Labelsbooks by other authors,picture books on pop culture,superheroes,Wonder Woman0comments Wednesday, September 29, 2021 Visiting Beatles sites in London, EnglandThe Beatles have inspired me to be a day tripper three times to date.
In 1993, as a college student, I went to Europe for the first time and traveled by train to 11 countries; a highlight was a detour to Liverpool, England, to soak up some iconic Beatles hotspots. Some excited me more than the Eiffel Tower.
In 2018, I worked out a customized walking tour of locations associated with the Beatles in Hamburg, Germany (where my wife is from). Each is a short walk from the next.
Recently, I put together a third Beatles tour, this time for London, where the sites are a bit more spread out. Im sure there are other points of interest I couldve included, but I focused on seven of the biggies. I was in Londontown for my sister-in-laws weddinga whirlwind trip, only two nightsbut I built in just enough time to squeeze in this experience. In fact, I went straight from a red-eye flight to a COVID test to the tour, then a quick shower and on to the pre-wedding family dinner.
The tour took about four hours. By days end, Id walked more than 15 miles (but that factors in some walking not related to the Beatles, such as at the airport).
In order of appearance:
Abbey Road
Speaking of walking!
My first stop was perhaps the mother natures son of all Beatles sites, yet also the most unassuminga crosswalk. Of all the places I went on my tour, I spent the most time here because its the trickiest to photograph. In a case like this, a selfie wont do, though I did take some because I was alone.
aiming camera at the end that the Beatles walked from
aiming camera at the end that the Beatles walked to
standing in the vicinity of where the photographer shot from;note commemorative plate in pavement
close-up of plate
But you also need to ask a stranger to document your personal re-creation of the famous album cover imagewhile you both dodge cars. (Its an active road. Many locals must hate that tourists are disrupting traffic literally all day.)
Why dont we do it in the road?(AKA almost getting run over to get the shot)
Finding a willing accomplice is actually not that hard because almost everyone or every group making pilgrimage to Abbey Road needs someone elses help, so theres a lot of quid photo quo. In the approximately 45 minutes I was there, people were taking turns taking photos the whole time, almost constantly.
At one point, a spirited woman from Israel recruited me and two others to form a foursome of strangers. She even took off her shoes (à la Paul).
I wish Id known in advance about theAbbey Road Crossing Camwhere you can see yourself go through the paces from a different angle. (Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, the footage is archived for only a day and I missed mine.)
Abbey Road Studios is mere steps away, heralded by clever signs on a low brick wall and encouraged graffiti.The low white barrier in front of Abbey Road Studios (seen in the distance) ismarked with a John Lennon quotation.(I would have gone with a Beatles lyric.)
7 Cavendish Avenue;Paul McCartneys house since 1965;7 minutes by foot from Abbey Road
I thought this was a former address. Only when I was standing in front of the house did I learn that Paulstilllives here!
A shirtless man who was helping to renovate a house across the street told me (in an American accent) that Pauls front gate is regularly wide open. It was when I arrived, with one security guard there, but before I worked up the nerve to take a photo, he closed it. The guy working on the renovation showed me a video on his phone of Paul waving to him from his front step...then waving for him to stop filming.
Marylebone Rail Station; when facing the building, the street to the right is Boston Place, where all but Paul ran down to escape a throng of fans at the start of the filmA Hard Days Night;Boston Placeis also mentioned in the opening chatter in the take of Hey Jude that appears on theAnthology 3album; 23 minutes from Cavendish
I was not sure of the exact section of the street to photograph because the details of the area have (obviously) changed since the scene was filmed in the early 1960s. Based on the visibility of the building in the background of the shot, I think that the Beatles were running down the far end of Boston Place (meaning the other end of Boston Place from the Marylebone front entrance).
view from the side of Boston Place closer to the station front entrance
20 Manchester Square; building that housed EMI from 1960-1995 and the stairwell seen on the album covers ofPlease Please Meand the anthologies1962-1966and1967-1970; 16 minutes from Marylebone
As you can see, the building was under construction so I was not able to go inside, but the workers outside told me that it had been reconfigured anyway. (I think they meant prior to the current construction.)
57 Wimpole Street; the house in which Paul and John wrote I Want to Hold Your Hand; 7 minutes from Manchester Square
5-6 Argyll Street; former office of Beatles manager Brian Epstein and alleged site of interview in which John Lennon said the Beatles were bigger than Jesus; today the ground floor is a Five Guys (apropos since Epstein is one of the people considered the Fifth Beatle); 14 minutes from Wimpole
Inexplicably, the circular blue heritage sign here (and at Savile Row) is way above eye level.
3 Savile Row; formerly the location of Apple Records and the site of the Beatles final live performance (the famous, impromptu 1969 rooftop concert); 7 minutes from Argyll
If Abbey Road is the crown jewel of Beatles sites, 3 Savile Rowspecifically the roofis the Holy Grail. Thats because its not open to the public. Yet I tried in advance to get permission to go up there.
The building was the headquarters of the Beatles record label, Apple. It is currently owned (or rented) by Abercrombie Fitch, and the ground floor was, until a week before I went there, an AF store. That store has moved a few blocks away.
It took a while to wend my way through AF contacts till I reached the correct one: the Health Safety Manager. He kindly took the time to respond to my request:
We are not accepting any requests for access to the roof. This policy has been in place since we have taken over this location. The policy is built around our landlord agreements, privacy requests from neighbors, etc. So unfortunately too many elements to list.
Naturally, I didnt give up just yet. I tried to appeal to a larger sense of cultural posterityas well as the basic human desire to feel appreciated. I wrote this:
The acknowledgements in my books thank many people who at first declined a research request (sometimes multiple times), but eventually said yes, which helped me tell stories no one else was and in some cases helped me change things for the better.
I then emphasized a writers reliance on the good will of strangers and assured him that Id be quick, quiet, and careful. I also offered to sign a liability waiver and give him free books.
Alas, access was still denied. At least now I know who to ask when I try again
And, in the end, the tour you take is equal to the tour you make.
LabelsBeatles,personal history,pop culture nostalgia0comments Tuesday, September 28, 2021 Plum Creek Literacy Festival canceled due to anti-LGBTQ+ positionOn 9/20/21, author Eliot Schrefer shared the anti-LGBTQ+ code of conduct of Concordia University in Nebraska, which hosts the annual Plum Creek Literacy Festival.
When I spoke there in 2013, I did not know of this, nor had I yet begun to verify inclusivity before agreeing to participate in events.
In the week that followed, the kidlit community sent a loud, proud, clear, and queer message to Concordia and Plum Creek: no matter how you try to defend/deflect/downplay this policy, it is, plainly and simply, then or now, intolerance.
As a species, we have a considerable list of societal issues to improve on, but the way any two (or more!) people love each other is notone of them.
I am one of legions who support and thank Eliot. He backed out alone, with courage and poise. He ended up leading a movement which, I believe, will make a difference. I stand by all authors who have since withdrawn from this well-paying, well-attended event.
If Concordia and PCLF are committed to turning a situation that has been hurtful all around into a positive, the only way to start is by striking all anti-gay policy from the code andmaking a public statement in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Given that the university is affiliated with the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod, in whose deeply entrenched view homosexuality is a sin, I realize that this likely wont happen.
To everyone else:
Please support the kids who were looking forward to the festival (and kids anywhere) by telling them the truth about why it was canceled and explaining that the authors did this out of respect for ALL people.Please support the LGBTQ+ community by speaking out against discrimination whenever you encounter itwhether or not it directly affects you.Please support the authors who withdrew from PCLF by buying or promoting their books. (As of 9/1/21, the lineup was Jim Arnosky, Nathan Hale, Molly Idle, Varian Johnson, Laurie Keller, Juana Martinez-Neal, Meg Medina, Tim Miller, Frank Morrison, Leslie Patricelli, LeUyen Pham, Matthew Reinhart, Eliot Schrefer, and Ashley Wolff.)
Oh, you like convenience? Heres a way to support all three groups at once:
Buy books with LGBTQ+ characters and/or by LGBTQ+ creators via Chapters, an indie bookstore in the same town as Concordia; its currently and bravely running a LGBTQ+ themed Banned Books campaign.
I asked Chapters owner Carla Ketner if the store would be willing to randomly distribute pre-purchased books to kids who come in, and she said yes, so I ordered titles written or illustrated by Phil Bildner, K.A. Holt, Mike Curato, Jo Knowles, Marla Frazee, Alex London, Adib Khorram, and Basia Tran.
To end on a promising note: for years, in crowded school auditoriums nationwide, I have seen how an ugly moment of intolerance can transform into a tear-inducing moment of acceptance, in some cases in the span of an hour.I remain optimistic.
Update: Two days after this post went live, Carla reported this: Just made a couple kids very happy. One gasped as they read the flap copy and said, This sounds just like me! I get a bit teary thinking we might have brought this struggling teen a little peace. Carla also said that her store has done well this week and she is paying it forward by encouraging people to also support River Dog Book Co., a queer-owned Wisconsin bookstore.Labelsgiving back,sexual orientation0comments Saturday, September 18, 2021 I knew Bill Finger at Army Pictorial Center, here are some storiesSix years ago today, DC Comics announced that Bill Finger would begin receiving official credit on Batman stories.
In 2006, you had never heard of Bill Finger and I had just begun researching him. I asked the military for help.
Bills friend Charles Sinclairhad told me that Bill was a freelance writer for the Army Pictorial Center in Queens, NY, in the late 1960s. Bills second wife Lyn said he hated the job.
At that time, I had only two photos of Bill (in a baseball cap, golfing), and the next two I scrounged were too grainy to be of much use. So I reasoned that if any place was likely to have more, it would be a pictorial center.
The APC kindly put out the word to its network (here and here).
And this weekyes, 15 (!) years laterI finally heard from someone. (Thats what prompted me to revisit my 2006 pleas, where, alas, I saw that one included a long-gone email of mine and the other had no email at all. I wonder how many others triedto reach me)
Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman came out in 2012, and Batman Bill in 2017, but I continue to add to Bills story whenever I can. Thats partly what this blog is for.
The subject line of the email(now also the title of this post)was a jolt of electricity. The gentleman who kindly reached out is a retired, impressive multi-hyphenate (writer-producer-director-consultant-Vietnam vet-more) named Tim W. Hrastar. He does not have photos of Bill but does have some great anecdotes. Ill let him speak for himself (lightly edited):
The end of 1968 and first five or so months of 1969, I was an Army Signal Corps Lieutenant stationed at the Army Pictorial Center as the Information Officer.
My fellow young officers and I would usually have lunch with Bill Finger, Bert Channon (producer), Sam Robins (writer), and a few others. We would go to this diner-deli down the street. After, we would stop at a used book store a few doors away.
One day I bought this very used Batman comic book in paperback and had Bill autograph it for me. The inscription has to do with me as the Information Officer (I did very little of anything in that position, just waited for my Vietnam orders) and [referenced himself] as the ghost of Batman. He also wrote on the cover Vote for Tim Hrastar.
Because few known examples of Bills handwriting survive,this is an especially exciting find.
At the time Bill was pretty bald on top, with long frizzy hair that stuck out on the sides. He smoked cigarettes with a cigarette holder, like the Penguin. He once told me that when they developed Robin as Batmans sidekick, it was supposed to be a joke. They called him Robin Rabinowitz. As you know Bill was Jewish, and Rabinowitz is a Jewish name. They probably just used it as an inside joke.
I remember him saying once that he didnt get credit as co-creator of Batman, but shrugged it off as but I [did get] credit for other things.
He was a character. We enjoyed hanging with him, and I think he liked hanging out with us young guys, too.
APC photos are from an APC brochure and courtesy of Bob Fulstone.LabelsBill Finger3comments Friday, September 10, 2021 Bob Kanes claim that Leonardo da Vinci inspired Batman Recently a fellow writer asked me about Bob Kanes assertion that his idea for Batmans bat-like wings/capewas in part inspired by Leonardo da Vincis flying machine.
I knew enough offhand to say that this is an almost certainly false nugget that some Batman fans have accepted simply because it is frequently referenced online and in print. By now its well established that Bob and the truth were often not well acquainted. See the scene in the documentaryBatman Bill in which I dissect the suspiciously-dated 1934 sketches published in Bobs autobiography Batman Me.
But I realized I could not say for sure when this fishy LDV claim was first floated, so I went back through my sources.
A da Vinci name-drop does notappear in the earliest (1940) Kane bio Ive seen nor in the preposterous fever dream origin of Batmans creation that DC published in 1946 nor in The Great Comic Book Heroes by Jules Feiffer (1965) nor, conspicuously, in The Steranko History of Comics, Volume 1 (1970). Up till that point, those were the primary published sources on Kane and/or comics history. Meanwhile, Bob had stated that he took some inspiration from the Winged Bird-Men of the Flash Gordon comic strip, which indeed seems more likely given Bobs interests. So I speculated that (in a bid to seem more cultured) Bob concocted the LDV connection sometime after 1970.
In my material, Bobs first known mention of da Vinci was in an unusual 1985 comic book called Fifty Who Made DC Great. (Side note: some choices have not aged well. Superman peanut butter made the list, but only two women, both actresses.)
After that, the claim appeared in almost every book or article about the creation of Batman.
But I was missing something! The incomparable comics historian John Wells called to my attention multiple articles published on the eve of the debut of the 1966 TV show Batman in which Bob cites Leo. Here is one:
Thank you as ever, John!
Its possiblefor a major detail like this to go unreported for decadesfor example, so much about Bill Fingers story. But it does seem like the kind of major detail that would have come out sooner than 1965and it is curious that it is not mentioned in the Steranko passage that delineates otherinfluences for Batman (Shadow, the Phantom, Doc Savage).
In other words, to quote comics language, its not canon. At least not from where I flit.
NOTE: There is more to my theory that did not make it into the post because I am flawed. See comment from Boswell and my reply.LabelsBatman,book research3comments Sunday, August 22, 2021 A year mistake in Thirty Minutes Over Oregon I found a goof midway through my book Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilots World War II Story (I wish theyd add back page numbers to picture books!).
A sentence reads as follows: And the residents of Brookings largely forgot about their close calluntil 1962.
It should be 1961. (Nobuo visitedin 1962, but the town hatched the idea and sent the invite letter in 1961.)
This will be corrected in future printings.LabelsThirty Minutes Over Oregon0comments Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Milton in The Suicide Squad not a reference to Bill FingerIn the filmThe Suicide Squad, Polka-Dot Man grows especially fond of a minor character named Milton.
Online there be rumors or theories that the name Milton is a nod to Bill Finger, who co-created PDM (not to be confused with TDK), and whose birth name was Milton.
Alas, it is not true, as confirmed by writer-director James Gunn himself. So a bummer, but a cool way to receive that bummer.
However, Bill is in the movie, on the list of the comics creators thanked in the credits (unfairly, none in connection to any specific characters).
LabelsBill Finger3comments Older PostsHomeSubscribe to:Posts (Atom)Contact/book a school visit
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Follow on InstagramGet new posts/occasional project updates by emailAbout this blogThe behind-the-scenes look at my books, from research adventures to promotion gambles. Also: recaps of my international speaking engagements and pop culture oral histories featuring beloved figures of books, music, TV, and movies who rarely if ever have been interviewed.
Books:
* Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman (nonfiction picture book); illustrated by Ty Templeton; Charlesbridge. Inspired the Hulu documentary Batman Bill and a TED Talk.
* Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman (nonfiction picture book); illustrated by Ross MacDonald; Knopf (Random House)
* Brave Like My Brother (novel); Scholastic
* The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra (fiction picture book); illustrated by Ana Aranda; Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin Random House)* Fairy Spell: How Two Girls Convinced the World That Fairies Are Real (nonfiction picture book about the two girls in WWI England took photos of what they claimed were real fairies); illustrated by Eliza Wheeler; Clarion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)* Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story (nonfiction picture book about the unprecedented accomplishmentand redemptionof the first person to bomb the U.S. mainland from a plane); illustrated by Melissa Iwai; Clarion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)Popular postsThe Girl in the Video: original interviews with icons of 1980s MTVThe Girl in the Video 2: MORE original interviews with icons of 1980s MTV The Girl in the Video: Addicted to Love (1986), part 1 of 3The Girl in the Video: Father Figure (1988)The Girl in the Video: Id Do Anything for Love (But I Wont Do That) (1993)The Girl in the Video: Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (1983) and Oh Sherrie (1984)The Girl in the Video: Free Fallin (1989)The Girl in the Video: Legs (1984), part 1 of 3The Girl in the Video: Cradle of Love (1990)The Girl in the Video: Jack (1982)Praise for "Bill the Boy Wonder"Honors:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Best of the year lists/gift guides:
USA Today
Washington Post
MTV Geek
Bank Street College of Education Best Childrens Books of the Year (ages 9-12; with star for Outstanding Merit)
Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books
Fuse #8 (School Library Journal) 100 Magnificent Childrens Books of 2012
Tablet
Los Angeles Public Library (Mara Alpert)
Other coverage:
My TED Talk about Bill Finger and the tragedy of creators rights
The Today Show/MSN
My interview on NPRs All Things Considered
New York Times
Fast paced...fun...impressive and fascinating. A must-haveForbes
Fiendishly cleverMTV Geek
ExcellentWashington Post
New York Daily News
Buy this book; its a great readGeekDad (WIRED)
Uniqueeye-catching...engagingly toldcomplex and thoroughwill be a hitSchool Library Journal
Seriously researched...so memorable...lush, emotive brushwork...[the book] will make the lasting impression [Bill Finger] deservesKirkus Reviews
Bold...dynamic...a fitting tributeBooklist
Eye-opening and quietly tragicConnect the Pop (School Library Journal)
Purposefully and meaningfully (and beautifully) writtenMichael Uslan, executive producer of every Batman movie since 1989
Absolutely fascinating...amazing researchComic Book ResourcesPraise for "Boys of Steel"Honors:
An American Library Association Notable Childrens Book 2009
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Childrens Choices title 2009
A Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens 2009
An Association for Library Service to Children Notable Childrens Book 2009
A Sydney Taylor Notable Book of Jewish Content 2009
Kirkus Reviews best of 2008 list
New York Public Librarys 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2008
Starred reviews:
Vibrant and well-researched...Nobleman details this achievement with a zest amplified by MacDonalds...punchy illustrations
Publishers Weekly
[T]his robust treatment does [Shuster and Siegels] story justice
Booklist
The battle for truth and justice is truly never-ending
Kirkus Reviews
Other coverage:
USA Today cover story, Life section
[N]o library in the world could object to the books style and panache. [T]his is one biography thats going to lure the kids like nothing else. More fun than any childrens biography has any right to be
Fuse #8 (School Library Journal; four out of five stars)
Fascinating
Horn Book
Sure to become a classic example of the genre
Families Online
Wonderfulyoung readerswill find thistitle appealing and thereby ensure that future generations recall the amazing story behind Supermans creation as well. Wait, did I say recall? Strike thatmake it will be inspired by instead. This book is that good
Firefox News
[T]ouching... The illustrated section...is upbeat, entertaining, and informative...the [well-crafted] afterword shows the shadow side of the great American dream. ...Nobleman is equally adept at both stories
Boston Globe
Surprisingly poignant
San Francisco Chronicle
Haunting
Geek Monthly
Excellent
GeekDad (WIRED)
A-minus
A.V. Club
Engrossing...wonderful
Scripps Howard News Service
I was completely mesmerized by this book from the first instant I opened it. I loved every page, and every word. Boys of Steel transported me; it made me feel young; it moved me to tears. Honest to God, it did! It caused my black heart to melt. The book is absolutely fantastic, the book is tremendous, the book is a huge achievement
Robby Reed, DIAL B for BLOG
Expertly crafted...entertaining and good looking...a real winner
Tripwire
I have to praise this wonderful book. It has something for children and adults, fans of comics and otherwise...I dont use the word a lot, but the book is very charming
PLAYBACK:stl
Terrific...elegantly laid down
Comics Waiting Room
A solid introduction to the history of Supermans creationSchool Library Journal
A lively readConnecticut Post
Super, bouncy, fun, and interesting
Fairfield County Weekly
Spectacular
Young Adult Books Central (four out of five stars)
Praise for "The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra"Honors:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
School Library Journal Popular Pick
Other coverage:
"Fresh, funny and genuinely suspenseful, thanks in part to a winning text...no weak links here"
Chicago Tribune
"Readers will be sorry when this one is over"
Publishers Weekly
"Plenty of lively touches...amusing"
Booklist
"Playfulhumorously spooky...a first purchase for most libraries"
School Library Journal
"Read [this] to anyone who will listen and trust me, they will listen. This story is brimming with humor, snappy dialogue, and wonderful surprises"
Librarian's Quest
"Not since Skippyjon Jones have I been so entertained by a silly Spanglish picture book. I laughed out loud"
Angela, Good Reads
"A new children's classic"Lauren Theuerkauf, AmazonPraise for "Thirty Minutes Over Oregon"Honors:
An Orbis Pictus Honor Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection
An Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Notable Children's Book 2019
International Literacy Association Teachers Choices Reading List 2019
CCBC Choices 2019 (Cooperative Children's Book Center)
Capital Choices 2019
Colonial Dames of America 2019 Young Readers Award Winner
Freeman Book Awards for Children's and Young Adult's Literature on East and Southeast Asia Honorable Mention 2018
Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List 2019
Virginia Readers' Choice List, 2020-21
Best of the year lists:
Fuse #8 (School Library Journal) Best Nonfiction Picture Books of 2018
Nerdy Book Club Best Nonfiction Picture Books of 2018
Top 20 Book of 2018 (John Schumacher/Travis Jonker)
Top 5 Nonfiction Picture Book of 2018 (Colby Sharp)
Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year (ages 9-12)
Other coverage:
"Sometimes the most inconsequential episodes in larger stories can turn out to be the most moving, and so it is with Thirty Minutes Over Oregon a thought-provoking meditation on the power of forgiveness"New York Times Book Review
"Engrossing and unexpectedly touching lovely story of reconciliation"Wall Street Journal
"Powerful and poignant...a must-read"Kirkus Reviews
"Such a cool story...remarkable... We...need this book right now"Fuse #8 (School Library Journal)
"Nobleman knows just the right tone to strike with this story, and he unfolds its events with a storyteller's flair. There are several lessons here, organically made, and kids who come for the wartime action will be pulled along to the book's ultimately pacific message"Horn Book
"So beautifully recalled"Datebook (San Francisco Chronicle)
"An important and breathtaking book"Colby Sharp book talk video
"Clearly written...moving... This quiet story is less about war than the toll it takes on those who fight, the possibility of reconciliation, and the value of understanding other cultures. A war story with a heartening conclusion"Booklist
"Respectful and balanced"Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books
"This is a remarkable story...a story to be remembered, forever. You will be moved"Librarian's QuestPraise for "Fairy Spell"Honors:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
CCBC Choices 2019 (Cooperative Children's Book Center)
Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List 2019
Best of the year lists:
Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year (ages 9-12)
Other coverage:
"A rich overview of this bizarre historical controversy deftly navigates topics like childhood in the early 20th century, the media and the influence of celebrity culture, and the history of photography a strong nonfiction choice"School Library Journal
"With a crisp and engaging style, Nobleman relates this fascinating story Young readers are bound to be intrigued"Horn Book
"Engaging ... A fascinating introduction to one of the greatest hoaxes of all time, deftly pitched to elementary-age children"Kirkus Reviews
"Will leave children guessing until the end"Publishers Weekly
"A seamless blend of both frolics and facts fuels suspense ... part accidental trickster tale, part unforgettable fairy tale, all true, this will have kids reaching for cameras of their own in no time"BooklistPraise for "Brave Like My Brother"Honors:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Other coverage:
"History lovers will find a lot of new information hereNobleman keeps the suspense tight"
Horn Book
"Always steers clear of melodrama. A good option"
Booklist
"Thoroughly engaging on every account...excels in every regard"
Times Herald (MI)
"A lovely read and a glimpse into the bond between brothers through an exchange of letters. Grab a tissue for the ending"
Lindsey Anderson, Good Reads
"A gentle introduction to WWII although it does pack a bit of an emotional wallop"
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