|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written by Alexander Stadler
Julian Rodriguez, a Federation First Officer disguised as an 8 year old boy, reports to the Mothership on the bizarre behavior of Earthlings during festivities: the ceremonial dress, the relative ("genetically linked mini-brains"), various orbs of entertainment and the associated games, and the mysterious concoction of various brown nutritional molecules.
This is a combination of a graphic novel and an easy chapter book. I found the story clever and very funny. The graphics were not as good as the first book. Although the concept is great for the intended age reader, I am wondering if the vocabulary is too difficult: "unhygienic," "breached," "subterranean containment facility," etc.
Review by Terrie Bishop, Library Media Assistant, Academy Park Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★½
Interest Level: Grades 2-6
Julian Rodriguez, Episode Two: Invasion of the Relatives
Scholastic
131 pages
ISBN: 9780439919678
Release Date: Sep 2009
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written by Michael Dahl
 This is a typical Superman story with the cartoon characters, where the only individual that can save the world is Superman. Fun read. Great for hero-loving readers.
Review by Lori Draney, Library Media Assistant, Gourley Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★½
Interest Level: Grades 1-3
Superman: The Shrinking City
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
49 pages
ISBN: 978-1-43421-569-7
Release Date: Sep 2009
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written and Illustrated by Matt Phelan
 In his first graphic novel, established children’s illustrator Matt Phelan depicts the story of Jack, a boy growing up on a forlorn Kansas farm in the midst of the American Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Without rain, there is nothing much for Jack to do on the dead farm. His sister is sick with dust pneumonia, his father will not allow him to help with anything, and he is bullied by older kids in town. While dejected and exploring one day he finds something mysterious and truly frightening locked in the neighbors’ abandoned barn. Will he confront this menace and save the town?
The book consciously echoes the Jack stories of American folklore and Baum’s Wizard of Oz tales, all while making a bridge from these through its comic strip format to the stories of Superman and other comic book superheroes, which had their origins in this same time period. Although there is text, this is a story told mainly through pictures. The sketched illustrations and subtle colorings are extremely evocative of the desperate landscape and the even more desperate people. In an afterword, the author/illustrator describes his indebtedness to the “stark black-and-white images” of the WPA photography of the Dust Bowl Years. The roughness, intensity and raw emotion of the times are all on display here.
This is a fascinating and unique work that really brings this period of history to life, and will be a great pull for reluctant readers/students. Recommended for jr. high and even upper elementary, but be aware of one unfortunate minor swear word in the first pages (a character curses the “damn dust”) and some violence (Jack is beat up by bullies, and there is a meant-to-be-disturbing scene of violence against animals).
Review by Joshua Whiting, Library Media Department, Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 5-9
The Storm in the Barn
Candlewick Press
204 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3618-0
Release Date: Sep 8, 2009
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written by Eric Stevens, Illustrated by Nick Derington
 Anton Fox had had a bad day and he was mad, especially at one of his teachers. That's when he decided to use spray paint to vandalize the high school. He ended up being caught and then sentenced to cleaning up the National Mall before the inauguration of President Obama. Anton finds that life can offer him an opportunity to change his life. This is a good mix between the graphic novel style and a chapter book. It will be great for reluctant readers.
Review by Debbie Luke, Library Media Assistant, Westbrook Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 3-8
Hope!: A Story of Change in Obama's America
Stone Arch Books / Capstone Press
48 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4342-1724-0
Release Date: Aug 15, 2009
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written by Mary Labatt, Illustrated by Jo Rioux
 Sam is a canine detective who has a nose for sleuthing. He joins his human family in an adventure at Sawaga Lake. Is there really a monster in the lake? Sam and his friends uncover the mystery and have a lot of fun. This was a good graphic novel that portrays strong family principles along with the value of a great pet, Sam.
Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-6
Lake Monster Mix-Up (A Sam & Friends Mystery)
Kids Can Press
95 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55337-822-8
Release Date: Aug 1, 2009
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written and Illustrated by Scott Morse
 The Magic Pickle is a product from a secret government experiment gone awry. Once an edible pickle, this odd character becomes a superhero that fights vegetable crime. I forced myself to read the entire book. I would not recommend this book to any library collection but young readers might like the nonsense and ruckus that is woven into this story line.
Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★✩✩✩
Interest Level: Grades 4-6
Magic Pickle and the Garden of Evil
Graphix / Scholastic
136 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-13580-1
Release Date: May 1, 2009 (paperback)
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written and Illustrated by Ashley Spires
 Binky is a clever feline fur ball who dreams of traveling to space. Binky builds a rocket ship but plans change when he realizes who would be left behind. Great and fun graphic adventure novel.
Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-5
Binky the Space Cat
Kids Can Press
64 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55453-309-1
Release Date: Aug 1, 2009
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written by Chris Kreie, Illustrated by Marcus Smith
 This is a good graphic novel that teaches survival skills and how to stay safe. Eric and his dad go to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area every year. This year he takes his friend Chris. They head off in a canoe after many warnings and safety tips are given them. They take a wrong turn and end up in rough water and Chris is injured. Eric leaves him to get help. He gets lost for awhile. In the meantime, Chris needs his insulin and is getting very scared. He tries to get out on his own in hopes of meeting up with Eric. They are eventually rescued and realize the important lessons they have learned the hard way.
This is a great book for boys and girls who think that bad things will never happen to them. It shows what it will take to survive.
Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 4-8
Lost: A Tale of Survival
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
79 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59889-828-6
Release Date: Sep 1, 2007
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written by Xavier W. Niz, Illustrated by Jesus Aburto
 Skateboard enthusiasts will probably enjoy this book; those who aren’t may not understand some of the vocabulary used or appreciate the description of the skateboarding moves. Besides being about skateboarding, this story deals with friendship and loyalty. The use of graphic novel format and traditional text is a good way to introduce students to the graphic novel genre.
Review by Keri Crane, Library Media Assistant, James E. Moss Elementary School
Rating: ★★★✩✩
Interest Level: Grades 3-9
Drop in to the Deep End: Skateboarding with the Z-Boys
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
50 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4342-1581-9
Release Date: Aug 15, 2009
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written by Steve Bowkett, Illustrated by David Burroughs
 I liked this book as a graphic novel. It kept you involved untill the very end trying to figure out with Roy Kane, private investigator, who the villian was. It starts with police detectives turning to Roy Kane after a 300 carot gem is stolen from the museum. As he investigates the crime, they turn to different sources to help them solve the crime. One person they go to is a magician, Dr. Pretorious, who they hope can help tell them how the thief was able to pull off the heist. I think that children will enjoy the format and the story line.
Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-9
Detective Files
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
80 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59889-826-2
Release Date: Sep 1, 2007
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written by Peter Nelson, Illustrated by Rohitash Rao
 Peter's parents have rooted for their ten year old son Alex to win his Alien-Slayer 2 game so they can have some peace; he promised them that once he was victorious he would spend the rest of the summer outside, if they would buy him the game. When he wins, his parents rejoice as he has been driving them crazy over the first half of the summer.
His parents send their six-grader to their brilliant neighbor Herbert Skewg for a playdate. Herbert shows Alex his latest invention that creates a wormhole shortcut through the space-time continuum. The pair journeys a century into the future to find their hometown run by the kind six tentacle G’Daliens who needs a lesson on cosmotology. The humans and the G’Daliens welcome the time travelers in a friendly way, though the latter’s diction sounds somewhat Aussie. Herbert and Alex soon become embroiled with preventing a scheme to take over by an outraged G’Dalien Gor-Don whose trouble is that he was rejected by a human woman.
Filled with numerous drawings on almost every page by Rohitash Rao, HERBERT’S WORMHOLE is an enjoyable older elementary school science fiction novel with a fun story line. Fast-paced once the dynamic duo meet the G’Daliens and the future humans, young readers will enjoy this exciting futuristic thriller. At times the illustrations distract from the plot, especially when they depict something different than the prose on the same page. Still, this is a fun story that will have the audience traveling back to the future with Alex and Herbert.
Review by Cathie Cox, Library Media Assistant, Plymouth Elementary School
Rating: ★★★½✩
Interest Level: Grades 4-6
Herbert's Wormhole
HarperCollins
293 pages
ISBN: 978-0-06-168868-3
Release Date: May 5, 2009
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written by D.J. Steinberg, Illustrated by Brian Smith
 Villains and heroes line each page as Daniel saves Pig Planet from another mess. This fast, action-packed graphic novel made my head spin. Reluctant readers might be attracted to this short and colorful book.
Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Interest Level: Grades 4-6
Game On! (The Adventures of Daniel Boom, A.K.A. Loud Boy Series, #2)
Grosset & Dunlap / Penguin Group
30 pages
ISBN: 978-0-448-44700-1
Release Date: Apr 2009
|
|
Book Reviews -
Elementary Graphic Novels
|
Written and Illustrated by Jeff Smith
 The humorous conclusion of the Bone series. The illustrations are as delightful as the previous books. I love the color illustrations. The story includes adventure and humor. If you have only one set of graphic novels (comic books), this would be it for me. I highly recommend the entire series.
Review by Jean Hagen, Library Media Specialist, West Lake Jr. High
Rating: ★★★★½
Interest Level: Grades 4+
Crown of Thorns (Bone #9)
Graphix / Scholastic, Inc.
212 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-70632-2
Release Date: January 2009
|
|
