Cartoon Saturday

Henry, Will. Wallace the Brave
October 17th 2017 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
Copy provided by the publisher

Wallace is sort of a combination between Big Nate and Calvin and Hobbes, with its slice-of-life descriptions and quirky characters. I can see this being popular with readers who like collections of comic strips. I know that there was a time when I loved books of Garfield comics because the local paper didn't carry them.

From the publisher: "Welcome to Snug Harbor! Will Henry's Wallace the Brave is a whimsical comic strip that centers around a bold and curious little boy named Wallace, his best friend Spud and the new girl in town, Amelia. Wallace lives in the quaint and funky town of Snug Harbor with his fisherman father, plant loving mother and feral little brother, Sterling. "

Than, Gavin Aung. Zen Pencils; Cartoon Quotes from Inspirational Folks
November 11th 2014 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
Copy provided by the publisher

This is a collection of shorter (1-6 pages) cartoon vignettes that illustrate quotations with explanatory stories. While there are some students who will pick up anything that is a graphic novel, the fact that there is a teacher guide for this backs up my thought that teachers will be the ones who really enjoy this. I can see the book being a springboard for all manner of discussions and activities, but wonder about the appeal of quotations for most middle school students.

From the publisher: "Zen Pencils is an exciting and unique new comic form that takes inspirational and famous quotations and adapts them into graphic stories. From icons like Confucius, Marie Curie, and Henry David Thoreau, to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge, to contemporary notables like Ira Glass, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Neil Gaiman---their words are turned into sometimes heartwarming, sometimes sobering stories by cartoonist Gavin Aung Than. Be inspired, motivated, educated, and laugh as you read famous words as never before!"