May 9, 2023 by Hippo Park
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
In this beginning graphic novel series, we meet Duck, a sunglass wearing, water loving avian who has a great day planned with his animal friends. They're "shredding it up" at the skatepark, playing games at the arcade, and riding their bikes down the sledding hill. There, they meet Cool Cat, who is dismissive of the other's accomplishments, and ignores everyone's well being when he shows off his own tricks. They go back to the arcade for pizza, where Cat takes Duck's pizza without asking, and when the group goes to the woods near the creek to do tricks on the rope swing, Duck can no longer stand Cat's braggadocio. He goes home, where his grandfather asks him what's wrong. Eventually, his friends realize he is missing, and when Cat gets stuck up in a tree because he climbs too high, the group finds Duck because he will know what to do. He saves Cat, who is nice enough to apologize for being "a not-so-nice crumbbum". Duck and his friends get up to more adventures in Far-out Fort and Summer Games.
I love the format of this; it's roughly the size of the hardcover I Can Read Books that my children were obsessed with leading up to kindergarten. The font is bigger than graphic novels for older readers, and the text fairly simple. The big difference between it and the I Can Read Books is that the pages have color edge-to-edge and the text is presented in speech or thought bubbles. The extensive use of ink on quality paper does mean that this has a particular smell, and the book is oddly heavy for its size.
While I'm not sure that children hang out at arcades, and I'm a little alarmed that the children are riding bikes down steep hills (I've done this; it doesn't always end well, and none of the friends are wearing helmets), young readers will love the animals' freedom to travel around and do "big kid" things. Cat is rather obnoxious, and Duck's reaction is definitely one that many readers will relate to. I do like the positive interaction when Cat sees the error of his ways and apologizes. Picture books and early graphic novels are so important to teaching children best practices for behavior.
We're seeing more and more beginning level graphic novels, and I'm sure they are a popular choice with the first and second grade set. Add this to great titles like Stromoski's Schnozzer and Tatertoes, Pizzoli's Baloney and Friends, Clanton's Narwal and Jelly, Braddock's Peanut, Butter, and Jelly, Keating's BunBun and BonBon,or Blabey's Bad Guys.
October 3, 2023 by Katherine Tegen Books
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
After their adventures in The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza, we find our characters in another tizzy. The Moon Queen's soup has been doctored by a self-destructing assassin robot who used a poison that will turn her into glass in 24 hours! Dr. Lollipops is not helpful in finding an antidote, to the queen sets off to reunite with Loz. Loz, who suffered a pivotal yet trivial set back revolving around a cute kitten in his world saving adventures, has been living on the moon, selling glumpfoozels (apples here on Earth). He returns, but the queen is beset by the Bunco Boys and reunites with the ship's computer, who has a harrowing tale of being used by a teenage boy for gaming before he is recycled and manages to come back. In the queen's absence, Bernice takes over and is mean and not helpful. The queen talks to Frank the Glorious, a wizard who tells the group that they must go on a quest to find the antidote. Captain Babybeard gets involved, First Cat labors silently in the background, and the clock ticks down to the queen's eventual doom. Will Loz's knowledge of Earth and moon vocabulary be able to save the day?
This was a rollicking, goofy adventure with a lot of side characters with interesting backstories. Even the back cover touts "High-speed chases! Vile fiends! Falling pianos!", and the book certainly delivers. The quest to find the glumpfoozles prepares young readers for the classic fantasy hero's journey whil making sure they are constantly entertained by funny set pieces, like the Bunco Brothers performing a play about a woman accused of murdering her houseplant by not watering it.
The art reflects the frenetic pace of the book in its thick lines and feeling of movement, witha constantly evolving palette based on where our intrepid cast finds themselves. I did appreciate the ship's computer's tale that was colored in black with green writing and pictures; young readers won't necessarily get the shout out to early Apple IIE graphics, but I appreciated it!
Readers who like graphic novels that explode with silliness, like Angleberger's The Two-Headed Chicken, Blabey's Bad Guys series, or Laser Moose will enjoy this energetic romp for readers who are a bit older than the audience for Barnett's picture books but not quite ready for his Mac B., Spy Kid or Terrible Two series.
This series does well enough with my middle school readers but is best suited for elementary libraries.
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