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Book One Garry's Upside-Down Adventure "Five hundred and two years is a long time to live in one place. I am tired of being UP when the rest of the world is DOWN." - Garry "I haven't been this excited about a children's book in a long time!" ~Owner, HearthFire Books, Evergreen, Colorado |
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A little background. . .
Garry: Derived from the medieval name Garrett, meaning hard or bold spear. Mythological character traits for the name Garrett include: bold, sturdy, solid, curious, imaginative, adaptable, introspective, averse to restriction, and possessing a strong sense of duty. Those with the name Garrett may be nervous and seek peace and harmony. They crave the love of family and friends.
Gargoyle: Middle English term derived from the Old French word gargouille, which means throat. The name Gargoyle evolved from the French Legend of Gargouille, the origin story of gargoyles. A version of this mythical tale is shared within this book.
Shamlaigh: The fictitious town featured in this story. Shamlaigh (Sham-lay) is a variation of the Irish Gaelic word, Samhlaigh, meaning imagination. This name was not only chosen due to its befitting meaning but also in honor of the creator of Garry The Gargoyle, Mary Christenson Wyman, who appreciated her strong Irish heritage and held a deep love of the culture.
AMAZON VERIFIED REVIEWS
Amanda Adams
5.0 out of 5 stars Move over Pete the Cat
April 30, 2019
Look no further for a fun, wickedly smart children's book for bed time, car rides or any free time. Karin Vardaman has written this fun adventure for intermediate readers about Garry the Gargoyle leaving his UP world to explore the DOWN. Page after page filled with gorgeous, vividly detailed illustrations by Paisley Hansen, Garry's Upside Down Adventure is sure to grab the attention of even those young ones who are most determined to not enjoy reading a book.
The glossary at the back of the book is a brilliant feature for this reading level, when vocabulary can expand so quickly and easily with little more than exposure. I don't know where Vardaman and Hansen met but together, they have created a world and characters that are perfectly ripe for a series every bit as successful as Llama Llama or Pete the Cat. My own kids are too old for this but I have 2 nieces who are going to LOVE Garry!
Jenny Goff
5.0 out of 5 stars: Very fun children's book
April 28, 2019
This book was very fun to read and Garry the Gargoyle was a very fun and lovable character to read about. I thought the author did a great job of making this story entertaining for both young readers and adult readers as well. The illustrator also did a great job with the illustrations showing the events that were happening on that page. I really enjoyed reading about Garry’s adventures once he was brave enough to go explore what was in “DOWN” after being in “UP” for so many years. Some things were scary for him at the beginning and it was great to see him get past all that to happier moments and new friends. I also loved when he would tell the children all the fun and historical things he saw during the years he was UP on top of the church. I think Garry’s time in “DOWN” was definitely a great learning experience for him and helped him to see what his purpose in life was, which would also be a good teaching moment for kids and adults to not be afraid to try new things as we might also learn from these new experiences. I would definitely recommend this book as a fun story to read with your kids.
K Puck
5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed Children's Book Series
April 25, 2019
The Adventures Of Garry The Gargoyle's, graphics are so well done and the story is so cute. Parents will enjoy reading this to their kids. It will definitely spark a child's imagination. Garry meets friends along the journey, children, adults and other gargoyles. I enjoyed the story very much, it was just so cute. There is even a glossary in the back to find the definition of some of the words and terms used. Children will appreciate and enjoy this story very much. Enjoy!
Corrie M
5.0 out of 5 stars Very cute book with great illustrations!
April 29, 2019
Garry’s Upside-Down Adventure is an incredibly sweet and cute book that both my kids and I enjoyed! The illustrations are done very well with great quality and attention to detail, and they help bring the written story to life. It was funny, educational, and had a good storyline with a sweet ending. I will definitely keep my eye for more in this series and other books from this author!
Rebecca A.
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute!
April 28, 2019
I read to my kids every night and this book specifically was enjoyable to read because I got to teach them a lot of new things. They know what a gargoyle is now. The illustrations are so great and my kids spent awhile staring at them after the book was done. Really convenient little glossary towards the end so we could explain what some of the words meant too. Cute all around!
Winston J. Phillips
5.0 out of 5 stars...funny, educational, and just "nice" ........
May 2, 2019
I would suggest you read the author’s biography before reading the short story Garry’s Upside-Down Adventure by Karin Vardaman. The story fits snugly in her life experiences. With this background, it is no great leap to accept that she could write a story of a mythical gargoyle interacting with human children, in a way that is quite believable to adults. Though targeted at children, Garry the Gargoyle will be as endearing to adults.
I pay the author and her team the ultimate compliment when I say this is a ‘nice’ book, both for kids with open minds, and for the parents or teachers who might read it to them. Delightfully illuminating the text with ‘sunshine’ is the graphics by Paisley Hassen. The author also provides a Glossary that provides explanations of term with historical or mythical meanings. This is good I think for adults who might find a broken-down version interesting to kids. The book also contains a number of large words and some uncertainty about the most appropriate target audience . Then two things struck me: (1) class discussions of new words and what the student understands by them – meanings are easy to find today on the Internet, but the students can explain “‘in their own words”; and (2) parental and teacher substitution of words for the younger set.
You can see that I wish this book becomes part of class readings – it’s funny and educational and carries with it the story of friendship and parting. And Garry is cute. This first of the Adventures of Garry the Gargoyle promises further enjoyment.
Amanda Adams
5.0 out of 5 stars Move over Pete the Cat
April 30, 2019
Look no further for a fun, wickedly smart children's book for bed time, car rides or any free time. Karin Vardaman has written this fun adventure for intermediate readers about Garry the Gargoyle leaving his UP world to explore the DOWN. Page after page filled with gorgeous, vividly detailed illustrations by Paisley Hansen, Garry's Upside Down Adventure is sure to grab the attention of even those young ones who are most determined to not enjoy reading a book.
The glossary at the back of the book is a brilliant feature for this reading level, when vocabulary can expand so quickly and easily with little more than exposure. I don't know where Vardaman and Hansen met but together, they have created a world and characters that are perfectly ripe for a series every bit as successful as Llama Llama or Pete the Cat. My own kids are too old for this but I have 2 nieces who are going to LOVE Garry!
Jenny Goff
5.0 out of 5 stars: Very fun children's book
April 28, 2019
This book was very fun to read and Garry the Gargoyle was a very fun and lovable character to read about. I thought the author did a great job of making this story entertaining for both young readers and adult readers as well. The illustrator also did a great job with the illustrations showing the events that were happening on that page. I really enjoyed reading about Garry’s adventures once he was brave enough to go explore what was in “DOWN” after being in “UP” for so many years. Some things were scary for him at the beginning and it was great to see him get past all that to happier moments and new friends. I also loved when he would tell the children all the fun and historical things he saw during the years he was UP on top of the church. I think Garry’s time in “DOWN” was definitely a great learning experience for him and helped him to see what his purpose in life was, which would also be a good teaching moment for kids and adults to not be afraid to try new things as we might also learn from these new experiences. I would definitely recommend this book as a fun story to read with your kids.
K Puck
5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed Children's Book Series
April 25, 2019
The Adventures Of Garry The Gargoyle's, graphics are so well done and the story is so cute. Parents will enjoy reading this to their kids. It will definitely spark a child's imagination. Garry meets friends along the journey, children, adults and other gargoyles. I enjoyed the story very much, it was just so cute. There is even a glossary in the back to find the definition of some of the words and terms used. Children will appreciate and enjoy this story very much. Enjoy!
Corrie M
5.0 out of 5 stars Very cute book with great illustrations!
April 29, 2019
Garry’s Upside-Down Adventure is an incredibly sweet and cute book that both my kids and I enjoyed! The illustrations are done very well with great quality and attention to detail, and they help bring the written story to life. It was funny, educational, and had a good storyline with a sweet ending. I will definitely keep my eye for more in this series and other books from this author!
Rebecca A.
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute!
April 28, 2019
I read to my kids every night and this book specifically was enjoyable to read because I got to teach them a lot of new things. They know what a gargoyle is now. The illustrations are so great and my kids spent awhile staring at them after the book was done. Really convenient little glossary towards the end so we could explain what some of the words meant too. Cute all around!
Winston J. Phillips
5.0 out of 5 stars...funny, educational, and just "nice" ........
May 2, 2019
I would suggest you read the author’s biography before reading the short story Garry’s Upside-Down Adventure by Karin Vardaman. The story fits snugly in her life experiences. With this background, it is no great leap to accept that she could write a story of a mythical gargoyle interacting with human children, in a way that is quite believable to adults. Though targeted at children, Garry the Gargoyle will be as endearing to adults.
I pay the author and her team the ultimate compliment when I say this is a ‘nice’ book, both for kids with open minds, and for the parents or teachers who might read it to them. Delightfully illuminating the text with ‘sunshine’ is the graphics by Paisley Hassen. The author also provides a Glossary that provides explanations of term with historical or mythical meanings. This is good I think for adults who might find a broken-down version interesting to kids. The book also contains a number of large words and some uncertainty about the most appropriate target audience . Then two things struck me: (1) class discussions of new words and what the student understands by them – meanings are easy to find today on the Internet, but the students can explain “‘in their own words”; and (2) parental and teacher substitution of words for the younger set.
You can see that I wish this book becomes part of class readings – it’s funny and educational and carries with it the story of friendship and parting. And Garry is cute. This first of the Adventures of Garry the Gargoyle promises further enjoyment.
Garry's next adventures!
Book 2: Garry's Heroic Adventure
Book 3: Garry's Wild West Adventure
Book 4: Garry's Underwater Adventure
Book 5: Garry's Lost Adventure
Book 6: Garry's Double-Trouble Adventure
Book 7: Garry's Holiday Adventure
Book 8: Garry's Farewell Adventure