September 21, 2007
From the Stacks
Utne Reader's library is abuzz with a steady flow of 1,500 magazines, newsletters, journals, weeklies, zines, and other lively dispatches from the cultural front that are rarely found at big-box bookstores, newsstands, or even online. So we share the highlights (and occasional lowlights) of what's landing in our library each week in 'From the Stacks.' Check in every Friday for the latest edition.
The Octonauts & the Sea of Shade is a book for children, and for adults who want to act like children. The Octonauts are a team of eight adorable creatures who hang out in a bright, colorful, octopus-shaped city under the sea. In Vicki Wong and Michael Murphy's second Octonaut tale, the gang must travel to the creepy Sea of Shade to rescue all the world's shadows. The crisply drafted pages bloom with fascinating detail: every tree, shadow, rock, and animal has an endearing, individual personality. While the story might be too cute for some, the book itself is a lush visual treat.
-- Brendan Mackie