The Kid Reporter and His Trusty Sidekick

From my childhood library there was sometimes available various books of Tintin. Tintin is like catnip to children, since it is an entire book of illustrations. That's all that kids want; more pictures, less talking. Parents are happy because it can't be read out loud, and the subject matter usually goes over little ones' heads. 

When I was finally old enough to understand and read Tintin fluently, it was a happy day. 

When I was still under the age of 10, I scoured the shelves of Barnes & Noble, unable to locate my precious ("Where's the comic section?") Apparently, Tintin is not so low-brow to be called a comic; it belongs to the elevated class of graphic novel (as a kindly B&N employee directed me). 

I introduced to my cousins Tintin, who now revere me along the level of a celebrity. ("It was her," they whisper, "it was her who gave us Tintin.")  Ah, to be loved. 

I saw a documentary about Georges Remi, who wrote under the name of Herge. He was an interesting, multi-faceted individual. 

However, there are undercurrents (if not blatant depictions) of racism (and at times, possible anti-Semitism).  But the books are so gripping and educational to the young of the greater world and other cultures, that they should always remain a staple. I've bought them all, and the older kinfauna (a term stolen from Bad4, with permission) will quietly pore over them over the course of a long Shabbos afternoon. 

I took one of the younger kids for a walk, leaving the Messiah (he's the good nephew) with a Tintin and a banana. When I returned two hours later, he was in the same spot with a pile of banana skins at his elbow. I decided to overlook the fact he touched my book with sticky fingers. 

I always found Cigars of the Pharaoh to be the weirdest. Understandably it was always the one available in the library. 

Spielberg has made Secret of the Unicorn into a motion-capture film. Keep in mind there is a sequel, Red Rackham's Treasure. After seeing the trailer, however, it is obvious other books were worked into the film, specifically Crab with the Golden Claws. Secret of the Unicorn did not involve ending up in the Sahara, as they never even left Belgium. I'm wondering if this mish-mash will be satisfying.