The Fire-Breathing Duckling (Family Comic Friday)

I was very surprised to find today's Family Comic Friday selection at my public library. It debuted in stores just a couple of days ago and with budget cuts, I wasn't expecting my library to be getting a copy of it. But I am very glad they did!

The Fire-Breathing Duckling is a retooling of the Hans Christian Andersen legend of The Ugly Duckling. Instead of a swan's egg getting mixed in with a batch of baby ducks, it's a dragon egg!

Nort is different than his duckling siblings. He's big and red instead of yellow and fluffy. He doesn't quack. He kinda snorts. Instead of swimming and floating on the water, he just kinda sinks. 

Unfortunately that last act brings about a lot of laughter at his expense from other animals on the ducklings' farm. So Nort, aided by his blue jay friend, goes around the stead hoping to find out what type of duckling he might be and Nort might just become the hero of all his barnyard friends in the process...

I love Toon Books. They're like the A24 Studios of graphic novels for young readers. They always feature artists and writers with such unique visions and voices. Frank Cammuso has both! The artwork was so adorable. There were several panels where I thought that Nort looked like Bill Watterson's timeless character Calvin; like the scene when the tiny dragon tries hay to find out if he's really a cow in disguise. 

This was a fun read recommended for readers in first and second grade. At least, that's what the suggested readers chart at the back of the book. But I think that those that are just about to enter kindergarten will love this book as well. 

I know we've still got a few more months left in the year. But I think I've already found my pick for the all-ages graphic novel of the year. It's a take on an all-time classic that I think will become an all-time great with generations to come! Hopefully this will also be the book that makes the multiple Eisner nominated Cammuso a winner! 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Hearing Things (Family Comic Friday)

Tim and his sister are new in town. Tim likes to record interesting sounds he's encountered during his daily walks and incorporate them into his sister's music which is inspired by horror movies. However his sister is feeling uninspired and depressed. Martha has had trouble making friends since their move and is considering quitting music altogether.

Tim, joined by his cat, Frankie, decides to explore a creepy abandoned house in hopes of capturing some spooky sound effects that will bring Martha out of her depression. Yet when Tim and Frankie climb over the estate's stone fence they discover that the entire area is devoid of sound. How can Tim prevent his sister from quitting music, which is her passion, if he cannot record any scary sounds?

Hearing Things was an awesome read by newcomer Ben Spears. I thought it would be a quaint little read for the month of October. I wasn't aware of how explosive a read it was going to be. Tim's cat Frankie steals the show. Such a funny character with so much life and energy. I couldn't stop marveling at Frankie.

Not to ruin the surprise, but this book ends up being a ghost story with charm and decorum. The pair of spooks might look a little scary. But they're harmless. In fact, one of them gets startled by Frankie.

I hope this isn't the last we see of Tim and Frankie. I probably would be okay without a return of the ghosts, though they were great characters as well. I just think it would be wrong to never get more of the pantomimes of Frankie the Cat or another recording session of sounds with Tim. 

This 2024 book is part of the Toon Books series edited by Francoise Mouly. I've been a fan of these books which introduce readers to dynamic new creators as well as translated readers from across the globe that would have been ignored by American readers without the efforts of Mouly. 

Spooky. Charming. Funny. A read that might produce a few chills but has a heartwarming ending as well as some unforgettable characters. Hearing Things is a book perfect for this time of year and is sure to become an annual classic.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Jack and the Box (Family Comic Friday)

Did you ever read The Cat in the Hat and wish it was a comic book or graphic novel? Well, you almost have your wish with the Level 1 adventure from Toon BOOKS, Jack and the Box!

Young Jack is a bunny whose parents have given him a new toy. It's a Jack-in-the Box named Zack! And new buddy Zack is full of surprises! 

Written and illustrated by graphic novel legend Art Speigelman (Maus: A Survivor's Tale), this is an early reader that can introduce the youngest of younger readers in your life to sequential art! Jack and the Box uses repetitive words, many of which are visually cued by the artwork. A lot of the words rhyme; like how Jack's toy is named Zack. And speaking of Zack- he's going to surprise the whole family with just all the magical stuff he can do!

I really think Art Spiegelman tapped into his inner Dr. Seuss with this book. Don't believe me? Just wait till you see what Zack can do once he and Jack start playing hide-and-go-seek! The ending to this book might not be as dramatic as The Cat in the Hat, but you'll definitely feel the vibe of Things 1 and 2 by the time you reach the end!

Jack and the Box is a very short and quick 32 pages. While it's a speedy read, the laughs and surprises are going to make this read a book that everyone is going to want to enjoy again and again!

A 2008 release by a graphic novel legend is sure to become a new classic.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Wildflowers (Family Comic Friday)

 A terrible plane crash. A bevy of exotic flowers. And a man-eating dragon. 

Thus begins a mysterious, deserted island adventure of 3 sisters.

But don't let this intense description of this graphic novel scare you off. Wildflowers is one of the newest works by acclaimed Argentinian cartoonist Liniers. He crafted this work after inspiration hit when taking a photo of his 3 little girls in the Yucatan jungle. 

There's something really cool and interactive about this book. If you purchase the graphic novel via the Toon Books website, you'l get a free packet of wildflowers. So the young readers in your life can create their own island botanical garden as well! 

Wildflowers by Liniers is a very short and quick read for readers in first and second grade. The colorful artwork, the imaginative adventures and the witty dialogue between the siblings was just so great. 

Again, I know that when you hear about a plane crashing on a deserted isle and a fierce monster, you might be thinking can a 6 or 7 year old really read this? I promise you, this is not a kiddie version of LOST. I don't want to ruin the surprise ending to this book. But everything is age appropriate here.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Blip! (Family Comic Friday)

 Blip is an adorable early reader graphic novel about an adventurous but lonely robot searching for a friend that he can talk to. Along the way, he'll meet up with hungry alien fish, mischievous creatures and even a human astronaut. But alas, none of them understand his 'blips.’

   Another success by Toon Books! I love that they support up-and-coming cartoonists as well as little known but in no ways inferior international authors like book creator Barnaby Richards. This is the Londoner’s first book, but his robot creation has been a pet project for years. I hope we’ll see more of him.

   One more thing I love about Toon Books is their commitment to raising up the next generation of graphic novel and comics readers through their different levels of reading difficulty. (Check out back for the primer for parents on how to read a graphic novel!) With the simple words and bright colors, this is a perfect book for getting Kindergarten aged and younger children reading.

   So check your local library for this book like I did. Or go to Amazon where you can check out the first few pages of this amazing book.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Benny and Penny in How To Say Goodbye (Family Comic Friday)

  How to Say Goodbye is a early reader graphic novel that deals with the very serious subject of death and dying. When young Penny discovers that her beloved pet salamander has just passed away, older brother Benny isn't very supportive. Thankfully, Penny has a a best friend, a mole named Melina, whose willing to help the young mouse say good-bye to her fallen friend. Will Benny come around to be the caring big brother Penny needs in order to bury her pet?
    Benny and Penny are the creation of award-winning children's author Geoffrey Hayes. Published by Toon Books, this is just another great children's graphic novel series that has an educational bent. But it wasn't all sad and I really thought the ending was both magical and poignant.
    Dealing with the subject of death is hard, especially for children. I remember as a youngster of 3 or 4 when Mr. Hooper died on Sesame Street. My parents both took the day off from work and we watched it at my grandparents house in order to properly address the subject. It was a big deal and it was handled in such a way, that it's considered like the bench-mark of how to teach pre-school aged children about the death of a loved one. I would have to say that How to Say Goodbye does a very good job capturing that effort of the Children's Television Workshop.
    The Benny and Penny books are rated at a level 2, meaning that it's written at a first or second grade reading level. However, one thing missing from this Toon Books publication is the study guide for adults to help young readers process what they just read. If any book was going to need that, it would be this one. 
    The art was timeless and adorable. The characters very memorable and I really think that not just this book but the entire series of (at time of this review) 5 other books would make a great addition to any youngsters library.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

A Goofy Guide To Penguins (Family Comic Friday)

   Some of my favorite cartoons to watch as a kid involved the Disney character of Goofy in a parody of the Wide World of Sports. Goofy would be in this documentary about certain types of sports. I remember there was a short about winter sports and another about the Olympics. There might have even been one about fishing or water activities in general, but I'm not certain which or both is accurate.
    In those cartoons, a narrator would tell you about the history of the sport Goofy was participating in and then Goofy would screw-up in hilarious ways. I loved how Disney crafted something that was both fun and educational. I guess that's one reason I became an educator as I wanted learning to be fun. So when I saw A Goofy Guide to Penguins at my local library, my mind immediately went back to those old Disney cartoons and I thought that this would make a great review for Family Comic Friday.
    Despite the title, this is not a Disney publication nor does Goofy appear in this book. Published by Toon Books, A Goofy Guide to Penguins is written by French humorist Jean-Luc Coudray with art provided by his twin brother Phillipe. If you are familiar with my Family Comic Friday article, you might recall that Phillipe Coudray was featured for his Benjamin Bear series last year.
    The Coudray brothers worked together to craft a satirical look at Penguins. While there are little snippets of factual information about the flightless birds from the Antarctic, the majority of the book is filed with silly riddles and one-page sight gags. That does not mean that I didn't enjoy this book. It just was more funny as opposed to educational than I would have like. 
    Making up for the lack of educational aspects to the book, the editors included a 2-page spread of 100% real facts about Penguins. I wish they had done a better job on that section. It seems that 2 pages just wasn't enough space as several of the illustrations had little or nothing to do with the subject matter, especially one diagram about high and low pressure weather systems. That one just seemed really random.
     I applaud the Coudrays and Toon Books for trying to make learning fun with this edition. But it needs a little work if both parties are looking to make 'A Goofy Guide' into a series of books. My advice would be to make the funny to educational ratio about 55:45 like those old Disney cartoons. This book is more 80% silly to 20% learning.
    Nevertheless, this was a good book that will delight young readers from ages 5-9. Oh, and yes, though written by a pair of French brothers, this edition was published 100% in English!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Written and Drawn by Henrietta ( Family Comic Friday)

  A few months ago, I reviewed a book published by Toon Books. 'Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Logic' was a brilliant collection of comics written and illustrated by French cartoonist,  Phillips Coudray. Not only was the book smart and funny, the book had great features like creative writing activities. The publisher also included a great article on the age appropriateness of their line of books.

    I couldn't sing Toon Books praises loud enough and my latest venture with the company was no different.

    'Written and Drawn by Henrietta' is a delightful tale about a creative little girl who wants to write her first book. Assisting Henrietta is her pet cat, who like real cats often makes the creative process more of a challenge than it really should be. But he does have some great one-liners!

    Beautifully crafted by celebrated Argentinian cartoonist, Liniers, the book changes scope frequently from the real world to Henrietta's storybook. When we are taken to the world she is crafting, the art looks let's like a cartoon and more like it was hand drawn by a five-year old.

   This art technique may not seem like much but it made the story more realistic, like it really was written by a precocious tot. Also being able to change art styles is harder than it looks and it's a mark of a master artist.

   Henrietta's start was very entertaining. I originally only chose this book because it was published just this year. But I found myself laughing often and thought the entire read was a journey to an unexplored world. In other words, that's exactly what every reader should experience when they open a book.

   Children aged 5-8 will delight in this clever tale. Don't be surprised if the adventures of Henrietta inspires your child to create their own book. Be sure to check out the last couple of pages in this book fit more ideas on how to help your aspiring author make their own children's book.

   A masterpiece in graphic novels- not just for young readers but in the genre as a whole.

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.