I could spend a whole day writing about this booklet without getting tired. However, I only intended to write a short review, so I wrote the following paragraph. However, after finishing it, I realized that this paragraph didn’t make it clear enough, so I had to add some notes. Of course, if you’re busy, you don’t need to read the notes at all, but if you reprint it, please include the notes; it’s not tiring anyway. O(∩_∩)O~
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【Short Review (Green Unannotated Version)】
Breaking News! Environmentalist Superman Potato Boy makes his grand appearance! He’s not Superman, but he wants to save the Earth!
I highly recommend this diary, written by the outstanding environmentalist Potato Boy, not just because it’s a perfect example of a “fun diary,” not just because it’s a handy daily guide for “green people” (a nickname for environmentalists), and not just because it offers so many examples of interesting expository writing that young people rarely encounter… but mainly because it’s so fun and hilarious! During the days I was reviewing and translating this book, it made my whole family laugh so hard that our stomachs hurt. O(∩_∩)O Haha~
As one of the complicit contributors to the Chinese translation of those jokes, I want to warn readers: most of the hilarious moments in this book are pretty low-brow (like the boogers and farts), but a few are quite funny, quintessential British dry humor crafted by highly intelligent individuals. However, I believe that intelligent readers, with careful consideration, will appreciate their depth, either smiling knowingly or bursting out in laughter. (Argentina)
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[Short review (detailed version: also very green)]
Extra, Extra! Environmental Superman Potato Boy①He’s not Superman, but he wants to save the Earth!②
I highly recommend this diary written by the outstanding environmentalist Potato Boy.③, not just because it is particularly suitable as a template for “fun diary“④, not only because it is particularly suitable as a daily life handbook for “green molecules” (a nickname for green environmentalists)⑤, not because it provides many interesting explanatory essays that are rarely seen by young people.⑥… Mainly because it is so fun and funny! During the days of reviewing and translating this book⑦, it made our family of three laugh so hard that our stomachs hurt O(∩_∩)O haha~
As one of the conspirators who translated those jokes into Chinese⑧I would like to remind readers that most of the hilarious jokes in the book are not funny at all (such as boogers, farts, etc.)⑨, but there are also some very funny parts, which are typical British dry humor made by people with high IQ.⑩But I believe that as long as smart readers chew it carefully, they will be able to taste the flavor of it, or smile knowingly, or laugh out loud.
①
Environmental Superman Potato Boy: “Environment Superman” is actually a title added by the editor of the Chinese edition. The protagonist’s English name is simply Spud—a transliteration of “斯巴达” (Sparta). In the book, it clearly has a slangy quality, roughly meaning “potato” (the book also explicitly and implicitly hints at the relationship between potato and the protagonist), but also connoting “idiot.” In short, it’s a name that inspires endless creative jokes. In the book, “I” (Potato Boy) often makes jokes, a blend of silliness and cleverness that perfectly matches the name’s other meaning.
②
He’s not Superman, but he wants to save the Earth! This quote comes from the back cover. It means that once you finish reading this book, you should understand that even if you’re not Superman or anything like that, you still have a chance to save the Earth. Even “Stupid Potato Boy” understands this! How dare you say you don’t understand?
③
The Diary of the Outstanding Environmentalist, Potato Boy: A serious reminder: this book is purely fictional. The “Outstanding Environmentalist” is fictional, as is “Potato Boy,” and naturally, his diary is fictional as well. So who wrote it? The author, of course. Who is the author? Giles Thaxton, a Brit. This guy originally studied science and engineering at a prestigious British university. After graduation, he first worked as a researcher at a high-tech research institute, then became a carpenter, then a guitarist in a rock band. He discovered his true passion was photography, so he opened a photo studio. And—really, what era is this?—he specializes in black and white photography! Look, this diary written by such an eccentric guy. It’s said that he’s a true “green guy,” living on an old wooden boat by the river. In short, when it comes to madness, Potato Boy is a very realistic portrayal of the author.
④
This book is indeed particularly suitable as a model for a “fun diary”. Here is an excerpt for sharing:
Saturday, January 1
Today is January 1st, the first day of the year, much like last year. And come to think of it, it’s pretty much the same as the year before. It’s also the day for making New Year’s resolutions. Last year, my plan was to grow my ears bigger, but it didn’t seem to work out. This year, I’m determined to do something more meaningful and practical. I’ve come up with a bunch of ideas, like:
Learn to swing your arms and fly.
Go straight through the wall (there is no door in the wall).
Learn to travel through time and space.
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And the most interesting thing is that this diary is illustrated with both text and pictures, and the illustrations are equally wonderful. Of course, this is thanks to the painter Nigel Baines who illustrated the book. From the illustrations, we can also see that this painter is crazy enough!
⑤
A Handy Guide to Daily Living for “Greens” (a nickname for environmentalists): When many people think of “greens,” they imagine eccentric individuals who seem out of place. They seem either overly wealthy or incredibly broke, with a plethora of “rules” that make life difficult for normal people. Even if they truly lived a “green life,” it would undoubtedly be a struggle… To be honest, before reading this book, I had somewhat similar notions of “greens.” But this book truly opened my eyes. It turns out that green living isn’t so daunting. It can be romantic and enjoyable (perhaps the greener, the more romantic it is) and incredibly simple and easy to follow, provided we retain a healthy dose of childlike playfulness, a sense of humor, and, above all, the ability to laugh at ourselves, just like the adorable Potato Boy. This book may have been written as a simple pamphlet, like an environmental science handbook, but I was amazed by the author’s masterful literary skills. The genuine emotion he and the artist imbued in this work also deeply moved me, and I’m determined to try to emulate those “green people”! Of course, I’ll take it one step at a time; you can’t eat a hot bean bun in a hurry. This book is undoubtedly the best introduction to green living.
⑥
An interesting expository essay sample rarely seen by young people: We come across many expository texts in our daily lives, but how many of them can be called interesting and inspire young people to emulate them? Well, please read the following passage (it would be even more interesting if it were accompanied by an image):
Well, Eddie was so impressed by my green plan that he proposed my first environmental challenge.
Searching for the source of the heating leak
I have to find every heating leak in my house. I can do it. Easy. Look, I have a sophisticated plan:
1. I found a very light ribbon, about half the length of my arm, and tied it to one end of a pencil.
2. Now, I will take it to every corner of the house to see if it swings… If it swings, it means there is air flow in that place, which means there is a gap in that place, which means I have to block the gap to avoid wasting heat energy.
3. The reconnaissance continues… The ribbon is wiggling pretty hard now. Ouch! Closing the kitchen window is better, but there’s still a draft. Is there another heating leak somewhere else?
Eddie says dedicated green people like me also need to make sure the heat doesn’t leak from under door panels or around window edges, where it’s often wasted.
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This kind of expository writing cleverly incorporates storytelling and often throws in a few subtle quips, yet it still achieves the most crucial aspect of exposition: explaining things clearly so that readers can fully follow the instructions. This is actually quite difficult to accomplish. If you don’t believe me, go through all the instruction manuals in your house and see how many of them still explain things clearly and are understandable.
⑦
During the time I was reviewing the translation of this book, I reviewed it based on someone else’s initial translation. Due to the urgent deadline, I only had two weeks. It was an extremely arduous but also incredibly joyful time. Every night, I read the finished manuscript to my daughter, and she burst into laughter. Later, my wife joined in the fun. Laughter is so contagious, we often laughed until our stomachs ached. They also helped me a lot with the revisions and polishing. So when my daughter saw the new book, she was so excited that she told the other children around her, “This is the book I helped translate!” While I was proud, I also heard a hint of something else: it seemed she wanted a share of the royalties, too. O(∩_∩)O Haha~
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⑧
As one of the accomplices in translating those jokes into Chinese: The jokes in this book were mainly created by the original author, and the illustrator also created a lot. The group of people who participated in the introduction, translation, and editing are the “accomplices” in translating them into Chinese, and I am honored to be one of them. Throughout the whole process, my main task is to ensure that the original meaning is conveyed basically accurately while retaining the humor in the original work as much as possible. This is a very happy job, but it is indeed hard and tiring. Perhaps the greatest reward possible is the unrestrained and hearty laughter of children when they read it. If you collect such laughter, please don’t be stingy and share some with me^_^
⑨
Most of the hilarious jokes in the book are not funny at all (such as boogers, farts, etc.): For example, page P68——
Useless tips:
Eddie said if you farted non-stop for seven years you’d generate as much energy as an atom bomb. I thought he was talking bullshit.
⑩
Typical British dry humor created by highly intelligent people: such as pages P26-27——
Saturday, February 19
Eddie and I are digging a pond in our garden. The idea is to attract more wildlife to the garden. Snails and dragonflies will love it. Frogs and toads will croak there. They have a lot in common with us. I’ll also keep fish in it—lots of fish. When we’re done, this place will be teeming with life.
That’s how Eddie and I worked on it all afternoon. We dug and talked, talked and dug. He did the talking, I did the digging.
Now we just waited for the rain. Eddie and I were both impressed by our handiwork. He said if we had dug a bigger hole, we could keep half and Eddie would put the other half in his garden.
By the way, this book actually has two protagonists: me (Potato) and my closest friend, Eddie. Both have distinct personalities, and the author, with just a few strokes, allows us to truly understand them. While both little guys share many similarities with frogs and toads (especially in their croaking), one is a bit goofy, prone to impulsive action, while the other is a classic “brain eater,” skilled at thinking and talking, but also prone to laziness when it comes to action. So, on a major project like digging a pond, one guy does the talking while the other does the digging—they’re a perfect match!
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The A‑League was held in Beijing on July 19, 2010.
