Monster Locker by Jorge Aguirre and Andres Vera Martinez

 Wow. It's hard to know where to begin to review this book - it's just that amazing. So, quick summary first I guess.

It's not a good start to the new school year when Pablo's abuela drags him out of bed to save their nonexistent goats. Once he remembers he's in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, he realizes that doesn't make things any better - his sister is insisting he learn to waltz for her quinceanera, his parents won't get him a phone, he runs into a weird new kid, and he's still unpopular at school, due to... the incident. Oh, and he's gotten stuck with a haunted locker in the haunted basement.

Pablo's plan is to lie low and just make it through middle school, but it's getting harder and harder to do that as things just keep happening! When an inky black monster named Obie pops out of his locker and offers to help him summon monsters from mythology to solve his problems, he's hardly even surprised. He is surprised and overjoyed when he finds a phone in his locker - his parents finally got him a phone!? Nope, turns out it's a trick and the next thing he knows Pablo has summoned Coatlicue and she is NOT happy. She's decided it's time for all the ungrateful humans to pay for what they've done, starting with Pablo's middle school, the firefighters who show up (his mom gets transformed into an armadillo), and everyone she can get her stone jaguar claws on.

Readers are in for a wild ride, as one moment Pablo is debating the merits of tacos with his new friends, and the next minute he's using D&D rules to try and plan a strategy for saving his hometown. There's a sharp reality to the story, despite the mythical monsters, as the students deal with racism and hostility in their own ways and Pablo finds a way to honor his heritage and still be himself. At the same time, the story never takes itself too seriously, with Pablo's hilarious interactions with his abuela (where has she even been keeping those bones!?) and his determination to save his new friends, his family, but maybe not the bullies... Every kid is a unique character, showing all the drama, awkwardness, and struggle of middle schoolers, from Pablo's former best friend, who falls back on threatening to call I.C.E. on the Hispanic kids, to his new friend Maggie who has declared war on all technology because she's tired of dealing with the girls' group chat.

Verdict: For a story about ancient mythical beings returning to unmake the world, this is real, funny, and hits home in all the right ways. I've been looking for books that center Hispanic experience in the Midwest for a long time and never expected to find the perfect book in a fantasy graphic novel starring a nerdy short kid and a bloodthirsty goddess. Aguirre hits every point for the classic middle grade audience and I highly recommend this for all public and school libraries.

ISBN: 9781250749734; Paperback on Baker & Taylor for $9.44

Published October 2024 by First Second; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Cosmic Collisions: Asteroid vs. Comet by Dr. Marc J. Kuchner, illustrated by Matt Schu

mit Kids Press produces some really interesting books, although they don't all hit the mark. This is a short, less than 25 pages, chapter-book style narrative/expository nonfiction book narrating the collision of an asteroid and a comet. As the two speed towards each other, the book branches off to explore the composition of asteroids and comets, what has happened in previous impacts with the Earth and each other, and comparisons of the two phenomena. After the collision, readers get to see which scientific prediction came true and the results of the conclusion.

Short paragraphs are interspersed with artwork and fact boxes explaining various scientific terms. I was slightly confused that the Kuchner did not define a comet at the beginning of the book, as there was a simple explanation of an asteroid first thing. It's an interesting framing of two outer space phenomena, and various facts and scientific research are smoothly woven into the sports-style narration.

Verdict: This is simple enough for a fluent 3rd grader to read it and introduces a number of concepts in a clear, accessible way. A strong addition to nonfiction books on outer space. It's listed as a series, and I'd definitely be interested in further books along these lines, especially at this reading level and length.

ISBN: 9781536236637; Paperback on B&T for $4.40 (Reinforced $14.39)

Published April 2024 by mit Kids Press/Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

The Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and the Maze by Maple Lam

 This looked cute and I was flipping through it; I initially didn't think I'd like it, as it pushed heavily towards the trope where myths are reinvented with happier endings. But it really works in this context and it was funny, quirky, and sweet.

The story begins with the mysterious appearance of a monkey - from inside a rock! The comic follows the general origin story of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, on his quest to become a god, rampage through the heavenly kingdom, and eventual imprisonment by a pantheon of gods. However, the gentle elder god Venus is kind to Sun Wukong and advocates for him to learn to use his strength and power wisely - and perhaps someday become a god. With his powers partially shackled, Sun is sent out to fight against not only the monsters of the world, but a great and powerful evil. His first mission takes him to Greece and the island of Crete, where he is accompanied by the adorable three-headed Cerberus puppy on a mission to destroy the monstrous Minotaur. But is the minotaur the real monster?

Lam's art is cartoon-style but includes a fun range of body types, including both the weird and wonderful representation of gods from around the world as well as lots of exciting action in fights. Sun Wukong bounces energetically through the panels, filled with anger, excitement, and energy.

Full of thoughtful interjections about what makes a monster, happy endings for all, even King Aegeus, as well as plenty of fights and farts, this book has something for everyone. The author explains the mythology of each of the deities and personalities in the back, as well as her own experiences of mixed heritage and feeling like an outsider.

Verdict: Hand this to fans of both Percy Jackson and Dogman and be ready to order Sun Wukong's next exciting adventure! Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9780593524633; Published April 2024 by Putnam; Added to library order list

The adventures of Penguin and Panda: Surprise!; Fun & Games by Brenda Maier and Fanni Mezes

 The odd couple dynamic is a classic trope of early readers and beginning chapters since the debut of Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad. However, I am increasingly wary of authors using this trope to portray unhealthy or unrealistic friendships. All too often, creators default to the "introvert vs. extrovert" with no real explanation of why these two characters are friends, except that they both have serious boundary issues.

So I was a little wary entering this new comic series, especially since I accidentally read the second book first, which starts with a story about how different the two are. However, it turned out to actually handle the trope very well, making this series a strong addition to the genre.

In their first adventure, Surprise! there are four stories. The titular story shows Penguin trying to surprise Panda but failing, since he's such a good guesser. It turns out ok though, because Panda, unlike Penguin, doesn't really enjoy surprises. The two continue their adventures, playing hide and seek, attending an art class, and they finish with an episode where Penguin fears Panda no longer wants to be friends with her - but once they talk things out, it turns out he was just preparing a surprise. Their adventures continue in Fun & Games with a visit to a carnival, a search for a pet, and two moments in their friendship - one where they realize that they can be friends even though they like different things and one where they resolve an issue caused by Panda breaking Penguin's bike and lying about it. I especially like this last, as there was more to it than Penguin just forgiving Panda; she talked about how his lying made her feel and then showed him how to repair their bikes, so he could fix what he broke.

There are guides to drawing the characters at the back of the books, as well as some facts about penguins and pandas. The art is fun and cheerful, featuring the classic black and white panda and a purple penguin with a pink t-shirt. There are bright balloons, lots of green grass and blue sky, and simple details. The two are implied to share a house, although there's little background explaining the characters; readers will pick up their interests and personalities along the way. The vocabulary is a little more advanced than an early reader and the panels can be challenging to follow, but the speech bubbles have minimal text. This is one I'll be putting into my transitional chapters, which sit right between early readers and beginning chapters, similar to Scholastic's Acorn imprint.

Verdict: There are lots of beginning graphic novels to choose from, but these stand out because of the healthy relationship portrayed in a fun way. The books are only available in paperback, but they appear to have fairly sturdy bindings and strong covers. A third book is scheduled to be published in fall 2024. Recommended.

Surprise!
ISBN: 9781958325056

Fun & Games
ISBN: 9781958325070

Published April 2024 by Marble Press LLC; Review copies provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Saving H'non: Chang and the elephant by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung

Chang, the intrepid young student and conservationist of Saving Sorya, returns and this time she's involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of H'non, an abused and elderly elephant. The journey of Chang - and H'non - is a complex one, ranging from Chang's research into the evolution of elephants to an honest look at the complexities of using elephants for labor and as tourist attractions. There are graphic images of the abuse H'non suffers and the cruelties of her owners, but also a realistic appraisal of the struggles of the local families to support themselves and the relationship between them and the elephants. Chang faces her own prejudices and feelings as she is put in charge of supervising a local trainee to care for H'non and the story ends in a joyful and upbeat moment as H'non is fully returned to the wild.

The art is meant to be Chang's notebook and it is very similar to a nature journal with lots of individual illustrations, little asides, facts, and more. In general, it's a watercolor wash of sandy browns and pale greens. Every page is a beautiful surprise, from a reflective view of a starry night to an explosion of green vegetables at the market. The intricate art matches the story, exploring the emotions, heartbreaks, and challenges the conservationists face as well as the feelings and struggles of the local townspeople and their relationship with the elephants.

I loved Saving Sorya, but I was sad that it didn't fly off the shelves as I'd confidently expected. However, it did circulate reasonably well and I still think the unique collaboration of these creators is worth adding to library shelves and promoting to readers as well as their new creation. It's worth considering that it might find more readers in the nonfiction area (and by nonfiction circulation standards, it has circulated very well) and I'll also make it a point to promote these books more in the near future.

Verdict: If you can purchase only one of these titles, I think the newest one is more accessible, featuring a more familiar animal, the elephant, instead of the sun bear. Promote to readers who love animals and graphic novels, to those interested in animal welfare, and to teachers introducing their students to global issues and wanting to use high-quality graphic novels in classroom study units.

ISBN: 9780593406724; Published October 2023 by Dial Books for Young Readers; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

The Human Body, an alien's guide by Leandro Cunha and Ruth Redford

 The Mayo Clinic has started publishing children's materials in comic format, simple introductions to mental and physical health. This title is an introduction to the human body, as seen through the eyes of two aliens.

The aliens, Zag and Zog, shrink down and enter the body of a brown-skinned child. They explore the digestive system, circulation, nervous system, brain, and functions of different blood cells. The book ends with a glossary and index. It's a fairly clear explanation and the narrative runs smoothly for the most part. At just under 50 pages it's a quick read and the text is simple enough for most readers to work through it, although they might need a little help with some of the blocks of nonfiction explanations.

I read this in galley format, and I assume the minor errors I saw will be corrected in the final version. For example, on page 5 it gives a normal body temperature in Fahrenheit, then labels a thermometer in Celsius. 98 is not a normal body temperature in Celsius lol. I was not completely happy with the font used - it's in capitals but the punctuation is hard to discern, and periods especially blend into the words themselves. There are some random questions that aren't answered, like page 29 where one alien asks about a "gurgling noise" in the digestive system but it's never addressed. The book generally sticks to the basic explanation of the systems without giving advice about health. It's available in a paperback or expensive library bound format.

I did find it a little odd that the reproductive system is not only not mentioned, it's completely blacked out on all diagrams. On page 37, when the urinary system is explained, the diagram appears to include a penis, but it's confusingly drawn. I understand that the creators were trying to make it accessible to young children and didn't want to explain the reproductive system, but I disagree with the choice to black out all those parts of the body.

Verdict: There are quite a few comic explorations of the body that include the concept of aliens, or shrinking down to explore the body, most notably Survive! Inside the Human Body, and this is a nice explanation for younger readers, perhaps with the help of an adult. I don't like the removal of the reproductive system, genitals, and any not mentioning any of the physical differences between the sexes, but I would accept it as a supplementary resource, especially for school libraries being scrutinized, censored, and harassed. This shouldn't be your only resource, but it's an acceptable addition to a collection of accurate information about the human body.

ISBN: 9798887701462; Published January 2024 by Mayo Press Clinic Kids; Galley provided for review by Smith Publicity

Period: The quick guide to every uterus by Ruth Redford and Aitana Giraldez

This brief and inclusive guide walks kids through the basics of puberty, menstruation, and includes practical tips on dealing with periods at school, using different types of menstrual products, and commonly asked questions. The four people primarily featured in the comic are two female-presenting kids with brown skin and dark hair, one white, pink-haired student with a "she/they" pronoun pin, and one white student with a pixie-cut who acts primarily as a calming and knowledgeable advisor.

The comic panels are mixed with panels of information and generally do a good job presenting the information, although there are some odd juxtapositions where it's unclear how the text is flowing.

I have two cons to this title - first, although a person in a wheelchair is pictured at one point, there is no information on handling your period with a physical disability or challenge. Secondly, and this is a major issue for me, on page 10 when the book goes over puberty and lists what will happen, while it includes "might" before hormonal changes and feelings, the book states "You start to have sexual thoughts and feelings." This isn't even about someone being asexual or aromantic - making this sound like a part of puberty that happens automatically to everyone with a uterus, along with getting a period and growing breasts, is misleading to kids who are worried about whether they're developing "normally" with everyone in their age group. The book is careful to be inclusive otherwise and this could have been solved with a simple addition of the word "might" as used regarding other feelings, or "some people might" would be even better!

Verdict: This is a good overview and is very brief, so there's not a lot of room to expand on the concepts. It's reasonable that the information wouldn't be in depth. Except for that one statement, I would recommend this wholeheartedly as an addition to collections on puberty. Libraries might still choose to purchase it as a supplemental text, but I won't do so until it's been updated.

ISBN: 9798887700441; Published 2023 by Mayo Clinic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Scurry by Mac Smith

  Warrior fans and those who love tales of adventure starring animals will be delighted by this lush, thrilling graphic novel.

The story opens by introducing Wix, a small but brave mouse, and his rat friend Umf. The two are searching through abandoned houses for precious food, but all they find is danger, from poison, traps, and cats. The cats include a terrifying striped monster named Titan, who has a personal grudge against Wix. Meanwhile, back at the colony, Pict, a young white mouse, worries over their ailing leader, her father, and tries to convince the other mice that there's a better future in the dark and dangerous woods. Other mice, including the scheming Resher, are tired of trying to survive an everlasting winter and want to return to the city without regard for the weak, elderly, and ill they will have to abandon.

  As the drama unfolds, there is betrayal, secrets, and danger and Wix and Pict must each stand alone in their efforts to help each other and their colony. The woods hold a dark secret but also potential allies and they must face change, betrayal, and danger if they want their community to survive. Smith's art is realistic and cinematic, with black-bordered panels giving the illusion of stills from a film. The mice's beady black eyes give them a feeling of otherness, while their anthropomorphic movements and emotions make them relatable. Wix's dreams of fire are woven throughout the story, climaxing with the destruction of their home and the warring mice who cared more for themselves than the community as a whole. The story ends with a sense of peace and hope, as the mice look forward to a better future, while still acknowledging that their lives are short, compared to the other animals.

Verdict: Back matter includes themes, characters, and questions, making this a great choice for book clubs or classroom discussion. It's also a stand-out in the currently somewhat repetitive field of middle grade graphic novels, offering a familiar storyline in a very attractive format. The bulky paperback is available in prebound edition through my vendor, Baker & Taylor, and is likely to be worth the extra cost as it will surely be read to pieces! Recommended.

ISBN: 9781534324367; Published February 2023 by Skybound; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Browsing the beginning chapter books: Peanut, Butter, and Crackers: Puppy Problems by Paige Braddock

Genre: Humor; Animals; Comic
Protagonists: Animals (male dogs, female cat)
Reading level: 400s
Series: Appears to be complete with three titles
Originally reviewed in October 2020

Review: Crackers, a perky blue dog who goes "crackers" when squirrels appear on HIS porch and Butter, a plump marmalade cat with a penchant for licking butter, have a good life. Until a puppy named Peanut shows up!

Crackers is not too thrilled with this know-nothing puppy that has shown up. He doesn't like sharing his water bowl, toys, or backyard and Peanut is noisy and needy and not house-trained! Butter is mostly indifferent - she is, after all, a cat, but even she can't take much more of Peanut's annoying habits. So one night, when Peanut is being more annoying than usual, she leaves a gate open. Problem solved, no more Peanut. But Crackers has second thoughts. After all, he and Butter were once scared and alone, with no family. Maybe Peanut is annoying, but he needs a family too, just like they did - and they set out to bring a lost, lonely puppy back to a real home.

I am thrilled to see a new, easy graphic novel from Paige Braddock, although it doesn't quite hit the high notes of humor and science in Stinky Cecil, which will remain my favorite. An author's note at the end talks about family pets and her love of Peanuts comics, which she now writes. Her art does have a little of a Peanuts look to it, but it's all her own. This one is in blues and purples, with orange and green highlights. The night scenes are dark purple and the action focuses on the animals, with the occasional outside animal or pair of human hands.

Verdict: Readers moving on from Elephant and Piggie now have a wide and delightful range of choices and this is another that is sure to please readers. This would be just right for kids who aren't quite ready for Bad Kitty yet. Recommended.

Revisited: These are available in hardcover or paperback and they are reliably popular with young readers. A staple for library shelves.

ISBN: 9780593117439; Published September 2020 by Viking; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Browsing the beginning chapter books: Kung Pow Chicken: Jurassic Peck by Cyndi Marko

Genre: Humor; Superheroes; Comic

Protagonists: Animals (male)

Reading level: M-N

Series: Four titles originally; a fifth title was added in 2020.

Originally reviewed in December 2020

Review: Kung Pow Chicken was one of the earliest Branches series, published in 2014, and a popular choice for many of my transitional readers. There were lots of disappointed kids when I told them it looked like the series had ended a few years later in 2016. However, I was delighted to see another one pop out this summer!

Gordon Blue, after falling into the classic vat of toxic waste, now has the ability to become Kung Pow Chicken! In the first four books, he acquired a sidekick, Egg Drop (aka Benny, his little brother) and a sometimes partner, superhero Beak Girl (his best friend Annie Beakly, unknown to Gordon). With the aid of Gordon's Uncle Quack and his various gadgets, they all fight crime together.

In this new adventure, a trip to the museum goes wrong when Uncle Quack makes a mistake and accidentally sends the heroes back in time. However, it turns out that's just where they need to be, since the sinister scientist at the museum, Dr. Strangebok, is up to no good in dinosaur times! Will Kung Pow Chicken admit he needs help and work with Beak Girl and Egg Drop to save the day, and the dinosaurs, from Dr. Strangebok?

Colorful pictures look like colored pencil drawings and have a stick-figure, child drawing effect. Puns and sound effects abound, speech bubbles, although in a smaller font and somewhat wordy, have an accessible reading level. If you use a leveling system, this will come in higher because of the made-up words (Fowladelphia) and dinosaur terms, but most readers will breeze right through them.

Verdict: Time to promote this series again! The original fans are teenagers now, but a whole new generation can discover egg-related puns. Recommend to fans of Lunch Lady, Inspector Flytrap, and other goofy and colorful graphic mysteries.

Revisited: This is a staple of the Branches series and still available in paperback and prebind. It's worth following Cyndi Marko as she's created several other one-off or series comics like her current Sloth Sleuth.

ISBN: 9781338596649; Published September 2020 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library

Browsing the Beginning Chapter Books: Peter and Ernesto: A tale of two sloths by Graham Annable

Genre: Adventure; Animals

Protagonists: Animals, Male

Reading level: 400s

Series: Trilogy

Originally reviewed May 2018; Republished May 2021

Review: I still don't really understand the fascination with sloths; they're interesting creatures, but why not hyenas? Or bongos? Anyways, sloths are IN right now and this simple graphic novel will be enjoyed by sloth fans and others.

Peter, a stay-at-home gray sloth and Ernesto, an adventurous beige sloth, are best friends. But when Ernesto decides to take a trip and see the rest of the sky, Peter is worried and upset. Ernesto doesn't stop to think about his friend at first; he is busy exploring the wonderful world outside his tree. He sees many amazing new pieces of sky, makes new friends, and even travels across the ocean. Meanwhile, Peter slowly overcomes his fears to set off in search of his friend. He runs into the same obstacles as Ernesto, and at first feels he simply can't face them. However, his friendship makes him brave and, in his own fashion, he faces all obstacles to find his friend.

In the end, both Peter and Ernesto have learned something about themselves and about the world around them. Although they covered much of the same ground, their very different perspectives gave them an opportunity to see things in a different way. Annable's art is a good match for the simple but thoughtful text. The colors are mostly greens and earth tones, with simple lines and mild humor in the sketched large eyes. The text is minimal, but a great deal of story is told in the sloths' mobile faces.

While not factually accurate (sloths are actually excellent swimmers) this is nevertheless an amusing tale of exploring the world and following your dreams. The text is simple enough to hold beginning chapter readers but there is enough depth to the story and art to capture the interest of older children as well.

Verdict: This quiet story is amusing and makes an excellent addition to the beginning chapter graphic novel genre. While I'm not as wildly enthusiastic about it as some reviewers, it will certainly find an audience and planned sequels are sure to be popular.

Revisited: There are now three titles in this series and it remains a quiet favorite, although the advent of many more intermediate graphic novels has given kids many more options.

Re-Revisited: This continues to circulate steadily and I'd consider it a part of a core collection of beginning chapter comics.

ISBN: 9781626725614; Published 2018 by First Second; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library

Browsing the Beginning Chapter Books: Doggo and Pupper by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charlie Alder

Genre: Humorous stories; Animals

Protagonists: Animals, Male

Reading level: n/a

Series: Trilogy

Originally reviewed June 2021

Review: This quirky easy comic could work either as a beginning chapter or an intermediate early reader. Doggo, a scruffy, beige-colored mutt with black ears and tail, enjoys his settled routine. In cheerful rhyme he thinks through all the things he does from "book holder" to "squirrel scolder." Wilder activities happen when the humans are absent, like baking, playing the drums, and ballet. However, the humans have gotten the idea that Doggo is too settled and his life needs more "zip and zing."

Enter Pupper. Pupper, a small, pudgy, red-haired pup with black ears and tail to match Doggo, is always ready to play, get into trouble, and make a mess. But when he makes too big of a mess, the humans decide he needs to go to school. After Pupper's sojourn in Charm School, he's perfectly behaved, perfectly quiet, perfectly perfect. And, Doggo decides, perfectly boring. He misses the original Pupper and decides that maybe they both could use some adventure and a little zip and zing in their lives. One midnight trip later, the two have bonded and both appreciate the other a little more.

Splashy art is divided into panels, some wordless, some with simple speech balloons and a little additional narration. There's enough rhyming text to ease struggling readers along and many unexpected jokes and surprises in the art and story to keep them invested. While most readers at this level are unlikely to recognize Applegate's award-winning older titles, they're sure to recognize a good storyteller when they see one.

Verdict: Cute and sweet, this is sure to appeal to fans of Narwhal and Jelly, Elephant and Piggie, and other beginning chapter graphic novels. Recommended.

Revisited: There are more and more beginning chapter comics available now, but this gently humorous trilogy stands out as a must-have for most library collections.

ISBN: 9781250620972; Published March 2021 by Feiwel and Friends; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library

Styx and Scones in The Sticky Wand by Jay Cooper

 Realistically, you just can't get much into an emerging reader. Sure, a genius like Mo Willems can get a lot of nuance into simple lines and phrases, but there's only so much you can do with limited words and simple pictures, especially if you're going to make a book that's actually suitable for a kid trying to decode words and follow artwork, practicing both visual and textual literacy, in a comic. This means that, naturally, titles that are just a bit more complex are going to be more interesting.

This new series from Ready-to-Read's comics line is a fun addition, but is going to need a reader who can handle a little more complex of a story to fully appreciate. This is hinted at in the series title, which includes a play on words (Styx and Scones, i.e. sticks and stones). The two main characters introduce how to follow the sequence of comic panels and how to read word balloons on the first page and then jump into the story.

The story happens in the main room of a witchy cottage. Miss Hattie, a stereotypical witch with green skin, long hooked nose and chin, and scraggly hair, is dressed in black pants and shirt and going out with Miss Hildy, a plump, gray-haired witch with a straw hat and purple pinafore. Their personalities are clearly opposites and there are little hints of magic all over the room, from a deck of tarot cards and a crystal ball on the table to a scaled hand holding the cauldron over the purple fire. Styx, a sleek, purple cat, is curled up on a pillow while Scones, a friendly brown retriever-type dog with a star on their ear, sits up alertly.

After a lecture from the witches on behaving, they leave. Scones notices that they didn't say anything about the crooked stick on the mantelpiece and immediately grabs it. Styx, bored, explains that it's not a stick but a wand but still gets a big surprise when Scones does magic with it! The two have increasingly raucous fun, with Scones transforming Styx, but then they begin to argue over the wand and panic when they break it. All too soon the witches return; will they be angry or is a really good stick just a good stick? There are a few more shenanigans in store before the story finishes on a light note.

Verdict: I really liked this as it reminded me a bit of a childhood favorite of mine, Hocus and Pocus at the circus. Despite her grouchiness and scary appearance, Miss Hattie turns out to be just as kind as Miss Hildy and the animals goofy antics will have kids giggling as they work their way through the words and pictures. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781665935371; Published June 2023 by Little Simon; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Chi-Chi and Pey-Pey: School Day Drama by Jennifer Fosberry, illustrated by Shiho Pate

Ready-to-Read continues to produce accessible comics for a wide variety of beginning readers and I am looking at one of their new offerings today.

Chi-Chi revisits the classic odd couple and first day of school tropes while introducing two new characters, set in a school of animals. The story begins with Chi-Chi and Pey-Pey explaining how to read the comic panels and speech bubbles, then racing off to begin the school day as the bell rings.

Chi-Chi starts off the story with a simple list of things she likes and a disclaimer that she's not at all worried about school, although she's really quite anxious. Then Pey-Pey is introduced, along with their favorite things. Pey-Pey has a fun summer, not thinking about school at all. While Chi-Chi stays up the night before, worrying, her comb neatly tucked in a bonnet, Pey-Pey sprawls across their bed, drooling a little. On their first day of school, the teacher tells them they are class buddies and need to find out what they have in common. But they have nothing in common! They like different snacks, toys, and even shapes! Finally, when they are ready to give up, they discover they do have something in common after all - and now they are friends.

Chi-Chi is a brown chicken with a bright red comb and big, colorful bows and dresses. Pey-Pey is a penguin with a slick mohawk of feathers, dressed in a comfortable pants and sweaters. The panels are simple and brightly colored, accompanying the brief text and dialogue. This is an attractive story for emerging readers, although it doesn't have the bright humor of more well-known series like Elephant and Piggie.

Verdict: A strong addition to early reader collections with a simple, social-emotional themed storyline and easy to follow text and art. Young readers who enjoy classics like Biscuit will be excited to branch out into a different format. A second title in the series will be released in August and librarians may want to order them together.

ISBN: 9781665931892; Published June 2023 by Simon Spotlight; Review copy provided by publisher and donated to the library

Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata

Nayra is near a breaking point. Constant harassment at school, pressure from her family, who think she should just tough it out like her siblings did, and increasing frustration with her friend Rami, the only other Muslim student, all come to a boiling point one Ramadan. While she's on a website that focuses on preserving Muslim oral history, she and the others get a strange message from someone claiming to be a djinn. Only Nayra is gullible - or desperate - enough to answer and is shocked when the djinn shows up. Marjan at first appears to be intent on helping Nayra deal with her complicated life - and they do have a lot of good advice to offer - but they're hiding secrets of their own. When everyone's secrets meet, will Nayra be able to salvage her friendships and find a way forward, or will everything collapse?

There's a quasi-manga style to the artwork, shown in the choppy hairstyles, big eyes, and exaggerated movements. Ata has a style all their own though, weaving myth and oral history throughout the contemporary story with Marjan's storytelling, illustrated in bright motifs of pink, purple, and turquoise.

This is a unique offering, delving into friendship and family challenges, like the memoir style popularized by Raina Telgemeier, but weaving in the challenges of Nayra's exploration of religion and her struggles with harassment from students and indifference from teachers as well. Her struggles and culture are expanded through the introduction of Marjan and the focus on memories, secrets, and the sharing of stories. The ending is left open; Nayra introduces the djinn to her family and they agree to set aside differences and discussions and have a peaceful Eid together, promising to listen to Nayra later. Nayra's complicated relationship with Rami and her desire for a more accepting atmosphere will resonate with readers trying to find their own identities and move forward into their own future.

Verdict: I don't think this is the first choice I'd give kids who are unfamiliar with Arabic culture and Muslim religion, but it's a good starting point for a discussion and, aside from the educational aspect, it's a strong story with beautiful art.

ISBN: 9780593117118; Published February 2023 by Viking; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

The case of the missing tarts by Christee Curran-Bauer

I, personally, cannot stand faux-noir children's books. However, very few kids are aware of the origins of the trope and generally just see them as funny mysteries, so I am letting it go. I have a handful of fans of Doreen Cronin's mystery series, and this one looks like a fun series starter.

Crime strikes at the Pigeon Private Detectives, PPD, when someone sneaks in and steals Mama Pigeon's tarts! The chase is on and the pigeons are on the case, searching for clues, questioning suspects, and playing good bird/bad bird in interrogations. Clues are dropped, smushed, and smeared along the way and they finally find the culprit - and the secret ingredient for Mama Pigeon's award-winning jam tarts.

I reviewed an unfinished galley, but the finished book will be a blend of images, comic panels, and text, using a faux-typewritten font. The colors are soft blues, greens, and grays, with splashes of crimson jam. The characters are mostly birds, but there are a few other woodland critters scattered about the pages as well. Back matter includes a simple glossary and some facts about the animals included in the book.

One of the reasons I don't like faux-noir or police procedural-style books for kids is that it trivializes very real trauma and tragedy for many people. While some kids will see the pigeons playing "good bird/bad bird" and alternately yelling, threatening, and offering deals to their bemused suspects, as funny, kids who have had personal or familial trauma with the police will definitely find the idea of being threatened and shouted at by an unreasoning authority (they're not even official police! they just randomly picked out animals to suspect!) to be a bit too close to home.

Verdict: Whether this is something that will amuse or traumatize your audience will be something you'll have to decide based on your community. The blend of comic and text and the silly ending will generally be attractive to beginning readers and some libraries will find this a fun addition to their beginning chapter sections.

ISBN: 9781454943617; Published August 2023 by Union Square; ARC provided by publisher

Arcade World: Dino Trouble by Nate Bitt, illustrated by Joao Zod and Glass House Graphics

Over the last few years Little Simon, which publishes a lot of beginning chapters, media tie-ins, and board books, has expanded their beginning chapter offerings into graphic novels. Some of them are spin-offs of popular series, like Super Turbo, Rider Woofson, and Kingdom of Wrenly. Others, like Arcade World and Guardians of Horsa, are original.

Their themed pseudonyms continue in their graphic novels (think "Wanda Coven" for the Heidi Heckelbeck series or "Callie Barkley" for Critter Club). This graphic novel series is based off gaming, so the author is listed as a gamer and given the name of "Nate Bitt" and the graphics, although attributed primarily to a particular artist, are done by a design studio that handles most of Little Simon's graphic art for other, similar series.

Travis, a white boy with square-rimmed glasses, and his wilder friend Journey, a Black girl with what looks like a green Pikachu hat, are delighted and confused when a mysterious arcade appears in town. Even better, all the games are free! The creepy owner, Mr. E. Miniboss, encourages them all to play. But there's one game that Travis hasn't bothered with - Dino World. It's just too cutesy, with candy dinosaurs and lots of sweets and glitter. However, under the urging of Mr. E. Miniboss, he gives in and tries it out. Having ignored the game, he is quickly scorched by the biggest T-Rex and the game is over... or is it?

Later on, he and Journey find themselves playing the game in real life and are both intrigued and terrified by being attacked by dinosaurs, finding easter eggs in the park that give them unlimited ice cream, and defeating the big boss dino. They are suspicious when they see the game being removed from the arcade with a giant hole in its screen, but are triumphant when they survive and win and determined to find out the secret. The book ends with a tantalizing glimpse of Mr. E. Miniboss and his creepy master, a hooded figure looming out of an arcade game.

The graphics are simplistic and sometimes pixelated, fitting in with the theme of the book, and the text is brief and simple as well. I kept expecting the story to get gorier or for their survival to be more questionable and then I'd remember that it's directed at a much younger audience than the graphic novels I've been reading!

Verdict: This is a very serviceable series that will be popular with kids who love Press Start and other game-related fiction. It's simple to follow and has lots of action and humor but not too much peril. I've found these titles to be sturdy even in paperback, but they are also available in hardcover. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781665904643; Published February 2022 by Little Simon; Purchased for the library

There might be a Kazoo Emergency by Heidi E. Y. Stemple, illustrated by Selom Sunu

This comic easy reader starts out wacky and goes completely off the rails very quickly. I love it!

Gregory James and Lola, the two main characters, show up before the story to explain how to read comic panels and speech bubbles. Gregory James has light tan skin, freckles, and exuberantly curly brown hair. Lola also has tan skin with a gap in her front teeth, black hair, and dark eyebrows. There is diversity in body types shown right away, with Lola having a square, broad figure and Gregory being more lanky, wrapped in a hoodie and long shorts.

The story begins with Gregory James walking to the bus stop with a heavy, clanking backpack. Accosted by bullies, his backpack spills an array of random objects across the sidewalk. In chapter two, Lola appears and cheerfully helps him pick up the items, offering to walk with him to school. When she asks about the things he has, including a colander, feather duster, and kazoo, he says "There might be a kazoo emergency."

The two new friends are chatting when suddenly... there is an emergency! A tyrannosaurus has grabbed the bus which is stuck on a hot air balloon! This is the unexpected situation Gregory James has been preparing for, and with the backup of Lola (and his kazoo) he saves the day. The two friends continue on to school, ready for anything.

Cheerful digital cartoon illustrations fill the panels, adding humor to the characters' matter-of-fact delivery as the wacky events accumulate. The art and text is simple but bold, with clear, easy to follow speech balloons and uncluttered panels with strong background colors to make the art and text pop.

Verdict: Ready-to-Read has done some really strong comic easy readers and my only regret about this title is that it doesn't appear to be a series. A delightfully humorous story with a diverse cast, strongly recommended.

ISBN: 9781665920049; Published May 2023 by Simon Spotlight; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Frights from Feral: Welcome to Feral, Little town. Big scares! by Mark Fearing

I'm not really a fan of gruesome comics, humorous or otherwise, but I am a big fan of Fearing's hilarious picture books, so I picked this one up to review.

The framing story begins after the reader journeys through the creepy woods and down into a cellar, where they meet Freya. With short red hair, wearing a black t-shirt and plaid shirt, Freya is busy compiling the weird, the strange, and the unusual incidents that happen in Feral. At least, this is what they think happened... The five stories include two kids and a mysterious slide - if you go down it, you disappear! Or is that just a story? A group of kids goes off into the woods and discovers a mysterious ice cream truck. What could it be hiding? A student gets detention and discovers that time moves... differently. A kid who's always being told to keep busy and do chores is delighted to find a bike, so he can join his friends. But there's something.... unusual about the bike. And a band of boy scouts become suspicious of their strange leader... but he's not the only one with secrets!

Fearing's goofy style flips easily into the realms of scary with lots of bulging cartoon eyes, dark and menacing forests, and strange, creepy shadows. Most of the scary events involve disappearances, but there are also a few creepy ghosts, looming monsters, and child-devouring items lurking about. Although there's plenty of off-scene gore, screaming children being dragged off, and eldritch horrors hiding in unexpected places, it's hard to get really frightened by this collection. One can't resist the feeling that the kids will all jump up afterwards and be Just Fine and we can happily enjoy the ghoulish, humorous horror of these scary campfire stories. 

Verdict: While really sensitive children won't enjoy these, and true horror fans will also be apt to turn up their noses, those who like goofy humor with a dark side will find them hilarious and enjoy the mild thrills they engender.

ISBN: 9780823448654; Published November 2022 by Holiday House; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Quest kids and the dragon pants of gold by Mark Leiknes

Ned, the narrator, is the brave and noble leader of the Quest Kids, whose journal has been discovered by J. B. Lucastoothe, curator of a museum and the Quest Kids manuscripts. The story opens with the Quest Kids trying to remove the pants off a dragon...

Let's go back a little... Ned is a typical village kid, although now he is the Leader of the Quest Kids. He is joined by his best friend Gil, who is.... sort of... a wizard, the 700-year-old elf Terra, Boulder the gentle rock troll, and their dog Ash. Pig dog? Who breathes fire? Well, some kind of dog. Maybe. Well, anyways, they are experienced adventures... kind of.

Really, they have no idea what they're doing, but they've only got each other and Ned's desperate desire to Save the World, at least the town, well, maybe the girl from his old village he met. They set out on an impossible quest, buoyed up by Ned's leadership (and, unfortunately, a number of lies) and encounter disaster, boring elves, aggressive creatures, and a giant golden monster. Will Ned come clean to his friends? Will he discover clues to the mysterious disappearance of his parents and Gil's wizard-master? Or will he get yet another village burned to the ground through ineptitude and false bravado?

Black and white illustrations decorate the pages of this fantasy, notebook-novel style, with hilarious illustrations of the group donning life jackets for "Crazy Larry's Acid Swamps of Doom Adventure Lines," the gold sweatpants-clad dragon, and the climactic battle with the golden rage-beast. There are the obligatory lessons about being honest with friends, as well as an unexpectedly mature discussion of making your own choices in life, even if your parents don't agree, as well as plenty of fart jokes.

Verdict: This is likely to appeal to fans of Cowell's How to train your dragon and Brallier's Last Kids series. The quest aspect may also click with young Dungeons and Dragons fans and the combination of humorous illustrations and text will pull in readers as long as they're ok with goofy humor. It was also nice to see that, although the main character is white, the creator did not completely default to the predominantly white cast of medieval/feudal fantasy.

ISBN: 9781454946250; Published September 2022 by Union Square Kids; ARC provided by publisher and passed on to my beta-readers (aka the D&D kids)