Tacky

Tacky
Author: Rax King
Publisher: Vintage
Total Pages: 209
Release: 2021-11-02
Genre: Literary Collections
ISBN: 0593312724

An irreverent and charming collection of deeply personal essays about the joys of low pop culture and bad taste, exploring coming of age in the 2000s in the age of Hot Topic, Creed, and frosted lip gloss—from the James Beard Award-nominated writer of the Catapult column "Store-Bought Is Fine” Tacky is about the power of pop culture—like any art—to imprint itself on our lives and shape our experiences, no matter one's commitment to "good" taste. These fourteen essays are a nostalgia-soaked antidote to the millennial generation's obsession with irony, putting the aesthetics we hate to love—snakeskin pants, Sex and the City, Cheesecake Factory's gargantuan menu—into kinder and sharper perspective. Each essay revolves around a different maligned (and yet, Rax would argue, vital) cultural artifact, providing thoughtful, even romantic meditations on desire, love, and the power of nostalgia. An essay about the gym-tan-laundry exuberance of Jersey Shore morphs into an excavation of grief over the death of her father; in "You Wanna Be On Top," Rax writes about friendship and early aughts girlhood; in another, Guy Fieri helps her heal from an abusive relationship. The result is a collection that captures the personal and generational experience of finding joy in caring just a little too much with clarity, heartfelt honesty, and Rax King's trademark humor. A VINTAGE ORIGINAL

Tacky the Penguin

Tacky the Penguin
Author: Helen Lester
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2010-12-06
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0547347421

An offbeat penguin shows his peers the power of individuality in this humorous tale from the author of Pookins Gets Her Way. Tacky is an odd bird. He likes to do splashy cannonballs and greet his companions with a loud "What's happening?" In fact, he's something of an eccentric, which wouldn't be a problem if all the other penguins weren't such…conformists. When intimidating visitors invade their peaceful, nice, icy land, it'll take a lot more than a bunch of perfect penguins to save the day. Thank goodness Tacky's such an odd bird! “This book is must reading for any kid—or grown-up—who refuses to follow the pack.”—Publishers Weekly

Tacky's Christmas

Tacky's Christmas
Author: Helen Lester
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Total Pages: 37
Release: 2010-09-27
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0547504950

Deck the iceberg wrap a gifty Fa la la la la la la la la... Tacky, Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect are celebrating the holiday with good cheer, singing, and lots of presents. Tacky’s present is a little bit different, and not exactly what his friends had in mind, but when the Christmas merrymaking is interrupted by hunters in search of pretty penguins, it's Tacky's gift that helps to save the day…. A bonus CD of original carols includes: Deck the Iceberg, Sandy Clawz is Coming to Town, The Six Days of Christmas, I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas, and Oh Tackytree!

Tacky in Trouble

Tacky in Trouble
Author: Helen Lester
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2005-05
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9780618380084

Tacky the exuberant penguin accidentally goes sailboarding and winds up on a tropical island, where he meets an elephant who demands proof of Tacky's identity.

Happy Birdday, Tacky!

Happy Birdday, Tacky!
Author: Helen Lester
Publisher: HarperCollins
Total Pages: 37
Release: 2013-05-14
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0544055225

The Nice Icy Land was crackling with busy-ness. It had taken weeks and a lot of whispery chirps for Tacky the Penguin’s friends to plan a Perfect Surprise Birdday Party for him on his special hatchday. With songs, presents, cake, fishy ice cream, and surprise entertainment from Iglooslavia’s own Twinklewebs the Dance Queen, how could anything go wrong? But it’s a comedy of errors . . . and all is far from perfect. Luckily, Tacky’s good cheer—and his flippity dance moves—save the day with a flap of his flippers and a tap of his tippywebs. Munsinger’s adorable, expressive penguin illustrations are the icing on the cake.

Tacky Goes to Camp

Tacky Goes to Camp
Author: Helen Lester
Publisher: HarperCollins
Total Pages: 37
Release: 2009-05-04
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0547424531

Tacky and his fellow penguins are off to summer camp in Nice Icy Land to enjoy themselves while Rock Hopping, Line Dancing, and playing Capture the Ice Cube. One night, they gather around the campfire to sing, eat s’mores, and tell scary stories. But after going to bed, something straight out of one of their scary stories pays the sleeping penguins a visit. Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect think they should high-tail it out of there, but it is Tacky—with some unexpected heroics—who saves the day. Includes lyrics to the official Camp Whoopihaha song!

The Ticky-tacky Doll

The Ticky-tacky Doll
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Total Pages: 40
Release: 2001
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9780152010782

When she has to go to school without her special doll, a little girl cannot focus on learning her letters and numbers, until her grandmother realizes what the problem is.

Three Cheers for Tacky

Three Cheers for Tacky
Author: Helen Lester
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Total Pages: 37
Release: 1996-08-26
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0547347693

Tacky the Penguin is back, this time trying to compete with Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect in the iceberg-wide Penguin Cheering Contest. But will Tacky ever be able to learn the synchronized moves and win the contest?

Tacky and the Winter Games

Tacky and the Winter Games
Author: Helen Lester
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Total Pages: 37
Release: 2007-10-29
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0547346719

"A-huff-and-a-puff-and-a-huff-and-a-puff-and-a-huff-and-a-puff" "WHAT'S HAPPENING?" Tacky the penguin wants to know. The Winter Games, that's what's happening. And Tacky and his fellow penguins Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect have to work hard to get in shape so they can represent Team Nice Icy Land in the athletic competitions. After rigorous training, they're ready - but are the games ready for Tacky? Will his antics keep Team Nice Icy Land from winning a medal? From bobsledless racing and ski jumping to speed skating, Tacky lends his unique, exuberant style to each competition. In laugh-out-loud scenes of Tacky and his fellow penguins' athletic debacles, Tacky reminds readers of the underlying joy and enthusiasm that propells athletes to greatness. So get ready to cheer for Team Nice Icy Land and let the games begin!