Comic from Nobrow!

Fish by Bianca Bagnarelli

After the death of his parents, Milo sees death everywhere. He is at once compelled and disgusted by it, trying to come to terms with his place in the delicate balance of life and death. The pink and purple palette imbues the work with the warmth and long shadows of late summer, while bringing to mind the blood and bruises Milo can't hide. A poignant comic that begs to be reread and pondered. 

You can check out some interiors on Comics&Cola. 

Thanks to Tucker Stone for sending me a copy. 

Patrick Eats His Peas and Other Stories

New comics for beginning readers from Geisel Award-winning author Geoffrey Hayes and Toon Books. 

 

Patrick's adventures capture the funny, sweet, and naughty moments that may be found in any household on a daily basis. Geoffrey Hayes distills these moments, his clean dialogue and clear emotional indicators making Patrick's adventures easy to read for even the youngest readers. The expressive characters and soft illustrations capture the warmth and humor of everyday adventures, ones children will recognize from their own lives. A fine addition to a strong early reader series.

Comics and Kate DiCamillo

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, Candlewick Press, September 2013

Some books you open and immediately start to read aloud, needing to share with someone- anyone; Flora and Ulysses is one of these books. A run-in with a vacuum cleaner grants Ulysses the squirrel the powers of super-strength, flight, and poetry. Flora witnesses Ulysses' transformation and vows to help him fight evil, using knowledge acquired from her favorite comics. But every superhero has an arch-nemesis, and Ulysses' is Flora's mother. Add a host of quirky characters, the never-ending search for love, and illuminations by K.G. Campbell and you've got a surprising, romping adventure certain to wow readers of all ages. Acclaimed writer Kate DiCamillo manages to show the value inherent in all people, and all genres of literature, with one quirky book.

Good Fun

 

 

Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks

Remember when you had a terrible day at school and you'd spent the hours before dinner reading Calvin and Hobbes to feel a bit better? (What do I mean remember, this totally still happens.) Anyway, now that the time between work and dinner is much shorter, just a few pages of the Adventures of Superhero Girl are what you need. It's good, smart, fun and watching Faith's interpretation of a 20-something superhero with money and dating issues makes your own issues look a bit more manageable. Added bonus? Readers who've loved Zita the Spacegirl will have Superhero Girl waiting when they become teenagers!

Funny Journal-Style Middle Grade

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Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis

Timmy Failure and his sidekick --ahem, business partner-- are like Calvin & Hobbes if Calvin was dense and Hobbes was a seal-obsessed polar bear. Together, Timmy and Total form Total Failure, Inc, a detective agency Timmy is sure will soon be an international corporation making billions-- or at least enough to pay his mom's bills. The only thing standing in Timmy's way is the CCIA or Corrina Corrina Intelligence Agency run by the evilest girl in Timmy's class. Oh, and his grade obsessed best friend (possible traitor) and an infatuated classmate (international thief). Stephan Pastis' hilarious novel is perfect for kids obsessed with Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Calvin & Hobbes. Okay, adults will laugh, too.

Under the humor are serious situations faced by many kids.
(spoilers as to what these issues are below)




Timmy's mom is finding it difficult to pay the bills and she and Timmy end up moving into an apartment. Timmy immediately dislikes his mom's boyfriend (ultimately, his mom realizes the boyfriend does not care as much about Timmy as his car and ends it). Timmy's grades are low but with the right teacher (who sees Timmy as an individual)Timmy begins to do very well. These underlying issues elevate the book to more than just another journal-style middle grade series.

A New Toon Book! (I do so love them)

 

Maya Makes a Mess by Rutu Modan 

Toon Books, Candlewick Press, August 14th, 2012

Rutu Modan brings her Eisner Award-winning talents to emerging readers in the Toon graphic novel Maya Makes a Mess. Maya's parents don't like her messy table manners, so what will the queen think? Well, it turns out the queen is willing to make allowances for a guest, and declares the evening one of messy manners. The result is ridiculous and hysterical, perfect for messy eaters or those who are forbidden to have their own fun at the table.

From the author/illustrator of Smile...

 

Drama by Raina Telgemeier 

Graphix, Scholastic, September 1st, 2012

Fuchsia-haired Callie loves theatre. She can't sing so she puts her energy into designing sets and working stage crew. But drama kids tend to create drama. This year Callie's good friend is ignoring her after she kissed his brother, there are two cute twins in town, oh, and Callie has to figure out how to create a working cannon (okay, confetti instead of flames) before the show opens. Of course, there are additional bumps along the way, but no matter what, the show must go on. With Drama, Rania has shown (yet again) her ability to write funny, dramatic, and emotionally truthful graphic novels that tap into the middle school experience; I can't wait to see what she does next.

Another nice Toon book

The Shark King by R. Kikuo Johnson
R. Kikuo Johnson, whose work has graced the cover of the New Yorker Magazine and the New York Times Book Review, brings his stunning illustrations to a book for children. A part of Toon Books, a series of graphic novels for beginning readers, The Shark King tells the story of Nanaue, son of the legendary Shark King, who learns the difficulties of being a boy of both the land and the sea. Johnson's pacing is masterful and his palette perfectly captures the story's setting in the islands of Hawaii.

Novel/grapic novel hybrid

The Year of the Beasts
by Cecil Castellucci and Nate Powell
Roaring Brook Press, May 22, 2012

When Tessa's younger sister Lulu tags along to the fair with her and her best friend Celina, Tessa's annoyed. But when Lulu leaves the curiosity sideshow tent holding the hand of the boy Tessa has a crush on, Tessa feels betrayed. Then Lulu begins to spend more time with Celina, until Tessa feels more like the unwelcome younger sister than Lulu. Not that Tessa hasn't found someone to kiss this summer, but her boyfriend, Jasper, is a strange outcast, and their romance is a secret one. Interspersed between the chapters of this story are chapters rendered in graphic novel format. They seem to take place at a high school for mythical creatures, with Medusa, a mermaid, and a minotaur in the leading roles. As the book continues, it becomes clear who these drawn characters are, and their story begins to show parallels to the written one. The Year of the Beasts is an ultimately heartbreaking novel about first loves, jealousy, and loss. When everything finally comes together, the result is striking. Novel and graphic novel formats unite in this tragically beautiful summer story.

A graphic novel for cartoon lovers

Bird and Squirrel: On the Run by James Burks
Scholastic, August 2012
For the kid who loves cartoons, slapstick humor, and annoyingly funny characters (pretty much anyone in elementary school) this is the book for you. Sensible, overly-cautious Squirrel is preparing for winter, while the annoyingly cheerful bird is delaying his migration south in favor of fun. When a run in with a cat causes Squirrel to loose his entire acorn supply, he has no choice but to journey south with Bird. What follows are the hilarious adventures of the unlikely duo. Bright colors and crazy characters make this book a laugh-out-loud adventure.

New graphic novel from the creator of Ghostopolis and Bad Island....

Cardboard by Doug Tennapel
Scholastic, August 2012
Cam's unemployed father gives him a cardboard box for his birthday. It's certain to be the worst birthday ever until the man they make from the cardboard comes to life. It turns out this is no ordinary cardboard and what was the lamest present ever becomes something desired by the rich bully, Marcus, who lives next door. But Marcus has a twisted imagination, and his creations develop frightening minds of their own, minds that desire the destruction of anything of human flesh. Tennapel's ability to blend unique threats and adventures while exploring family relationships is amazing. Cardboard explores a father-son relationship, one that grows stronger of the course of the book. Tennapel's fans will enjoy this fast-paced graphic novel, and maybe even find themselves developing their own creations. I'd love to see a father-son book club choose this as a selection!

Beautiful picturebook using panels....

Laundry Day by Maurie J. Manning
Clarion, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 2012

When a little shoe-shine boy finds a red scarf, he tries to return it to its' owner, climbing higher and higher up the fire escape of an apartment building in his search. On his way he meets immigrants from all over the world, and receives a friendly "hello" from each. Manning's use of graphic novel panels perfectly captures the movement of her busy story while dynamic angles allow readers to take in every aspect of the overwhelming city. Young reader's will be charmed by Manning's characters while a helpful "laundry List of Words" in the back of the book will introduce them to words from seven languages. Laundry Day is a wonderful exploration of American people and a celebration of a neighborhood.

Anthology on a Theme

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes, ed. by Kazu Kibuishi
Amulet, Abrams, March 2012

I love comics collections; you get a short yet complete story arc, the perfect read for a piece of snatched time, and you invariably discover new authors and illustrators whose work you now want to find. Explorer features a compilation of seven stories, each by a different author/illustrator, yet each featuring a mysterious (and often magical) box that serves to tie the stories together. Each story is vastly different from every other one, and set in a completely different place. From Johane Matte and Saymone Phanekham's box in an alien universe-building warehouse to Dave Roman and Raina Telemeier's magical box found in the back of an ordinary closet, Explorer holds something for readers of every genre. A gorgeous graphic compilation for the graphic novel enthusiast or a fabulous introduction for the comics novice, this book is for those who want to explore the medium.

New Teen Graphic Novel

Friends with Boys by Erin Faith Hicks
First Second,February 28, 2012

Everyone feels awkward in high school, but what if the first day of high school is also your first day of public school after being homeschooled your entire life? For Maggie, public school is a frightening prospect, especially when she notices that her three older brothers have their own friends and activities. When Maggie meets Lucy and her brother, suddenly she has friends who aren't family. But there's still the matter of the ghost that's following her and the nasty volleyball team boys. Luckily, Maggie is friends with boys- and her brothers will go to ends of the earth to help her- or at least the graveyard.

With just the first few pages of her book, author/illustrator Erin Faith Hicks welcomed me into a family where I immediately felt at home. Her characters are developed, each with their own unique feel, and Maggie's family members are all linked by some distinct feature. Maggie's emotional journey will resonate with teens from all educational backgrounds and would be wonderful book to give as a gift to graduating middle-schoolers. With dynamic panels, and a host of stellar characters, Friends with Boys is sure to appeal to readers who enjoyed Anya's Ghost. Though Maggie's relationship with her own ghost remains unresolved, I can only hope this indicates further installments to come!

3 New Comics...

Tina’s Mouth An Existential Comic Diary

written by Keshini Kashyap, illustrated by Mari Araki

Tina starts her diary for an English project on existentialism, but more importantly, it’s a diary of how existentialism relates to her life. From getting dumped by her best friend, to crushing on a cute skateboarder, Tina’s very real life is related to philosophy through the pages of her diary. A realistic comic of high school, friends, and family both funny and enlightening. Ages 13-18.

Pandemonium

written by Chris Wooding, illustrated by Cassandra Diaz

When I opened my Galley box from Scholastic, the cover of this book caught my eye. The style looked familiar. I checked the illustrator. Cassandra Diaz. I knew a Cassandra Diaz. Then I turned the book over: "Cassandra Diaz is a recent graduate of the Maryland Institute, College of Art." Yes, that Cassandra Diaz! So, part of the reason I am so excited about this book is because this is the first published book to wander acr

oss my desk illustrated by someone I went to college with. While I only saw the first few pages in color, they have me anticipating the finals- Cassandra's palettes are beautiful.

Manga, demons, missing princes, magic, and epic

battles...Pandemonium has them all. Seifer’s greatest accomplishment may be his Skullball prowess, that is until he is taken to the royal palace to impersonate the missing prince. Can Seifer fool the palace staff, the prince’s family, the kingdom’s enemies, and an enormous pet cat? This face-paced and exciting graphic novel combines adventure, humor, and a spark of romance. Ages 10+.

Flight of Angels

conceived and illustrated by Rebecca Guay, written by Holly Black, Bill Willingham, Alisa, Kwitney, Louise Hawes, and Todd Mitchell

When a group of the fair folk find a mysterious angel on the ground, they decide to conduct a tribunal. What follows are a series of frame tales, each written by a different author and exploring the concepts of sin, love, and death. As with all debates of heaven and hell, there is no right answer, and readers from varied spiritual backgrounds will find the text approachable. Each author’s tale fits into place, and Rebecca Guay’s illustrations are stunning. All in all, a lavishly and lusciously illustrated graphic novel for art and fantasy lovers. Ages 14 and up.

More Comics from First Second!

Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists!
First Second, October 11, 2011
Ages: 5 through Adult

Take fifty of incredible artists, give them a classic nursery rhyme, and let them run! Lucy Knisley turns the "Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe" into a Rock & Roll baby sitter whose charges form the band "The Whips." Raina Telgemeier sets "Georgie Porgie" at a birthday party- one that ends with a cupcake fight. Dave Roman depicts a surreal, sci-fi "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" that is completely different from Patrick McDonnell's sweet "Donkey." Readers will find more than a few comics to adore in this compilation and maybe even discover a new graphic artist to love.

A fabulous introduction to comics format for the young and old alike. I can't wait to see a seven year-old share this with his grandparents.

Around the World
by Matt Phelan
Candlewick, October 11, 2011
Many local teachers have been using graphic novelizations of classic stories in their classrooms. Phelan's Around the World, though fiction, is grounded in historical fact and quotes from primary sources, proving an exciting base for history lessons or a path to the exploration of non-fiction. Phelan's book presents three famous individuals who each circumnavigated in the world in his or own way: Thomas Steves by bicycle, Nellie Bly by ship and rail, and Joshua Slocum by sail boat. The pacing and speed of each journey are captured by the graphic novel lay-out, which serves to combine writing, image, maps, and other materials, each adding a layer to the reader's understanding of the journey. Sprightly line drawings and colorful washes capture the emotion and drive of each character, bringing a rush of thrilling speed to each adventure.

Manga Man

Mangaman by Barry Lyga
I'm not a fan of Manga, though I do enjoy graphic novels. My favorite parts were the more metafictive elements- being hurt by motion lines, having thoughts actually appear over Mangaman's head, and moment between frames. While I didn't find the actual story very interesting, or feel that there was enough character development, I think the book is very strong conceptually. Teen manga lovers will enjoy the comics-geeks-only humor. With its exploration of eastern versus western storytelling techniques the book also has a place in classrooms, perhaps as a visual example of portions of Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics.

Time to read again

The semester is done and I finally have time to dig into the cascading piles of books again. Here are a few quick blurbs to tide you over....


Ladder to the Moon
by Maya Soetoro-Ng, illustrated by Yuyi Morales
One night Suhaila’s grandmother Annie appears on a golden ladder outside her window. Together they take a magical journey to the moon where Suhaila learns about people around the world. Annie and Suhaila give help to those in need, and love to all they see. Yuyi Morales’ rich illustrations bring life to this meaningful tale.



Marty McGuire
by Kate Messner, illustrated by Brian Floca
Marty Maguire is a spunky heroine who would much rather play Jane Goodall, explorer, than dancing princesses. When Marty is cast as the princess in her class play, she know there must be a mistake. But frogs, princess gowns, good friends, and improvisation come together in surprising ways and maybe Marty can be an intrepid explorer and a princess after all.


Patrick in A Teddy Bear’s Picnic & other stories
By Geoffrey Hayes
Toon Books are leveled beginning readers that use a comic book format. Comics, like true picturebooks, rely on both words and pictures in tandem to tell a story, allowing strength in one to foster comprehension in the other. Beginning readers will bond with Patrick, a little bear who knows that life is much too interesting for naps. Patrick’s adventures, run-ins with the frightening Big Bear, and family life are similar to the experiences of many children, yet hold many delightfully silly moments. Geoffrey Hayes packs Patrick with four stories- call the last three a sweet reward for making it all the way through the first one!


Horton Halfpott or the Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor
by Tom Angleburger
Written by the author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, this new mystery is certain to bring laughs. Smugwick Manor is in an uproar when M’Lady Luggertuck decides to change her morning routine. Then the priceless Lump jewel goes missing- along with M’Lady Luggertuck’s best wig– pirates are sighted in the neighborhood, and a most ridiculous detective comes to town. It’s up to Horton Halfpott, the insignificant kitchen boy, to discover the truth when no one else can in this zany mystery.


World Without Fish
by Mark Kurlansky
illustrated by Frank Stockton
History, science and comics combine to give a glimpse of what the world might be like without fish, and the startling impact it would have on other organisms including ourselves. With suggestions and projections, World Without Fish is a startling look into the oceans and how they connect to our lives. Ages 10+.

Don't forget my favorite book for the summer, out May 24th...


Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
What happens when Teen Dream beauty queens, corrupt dictators, a powerful corporation, and sexy pirates all end up on a so-called deserted island? A hysterical adventure filled with romance, survival stories, product placement, and pitch-perfect satire. A brilliant summer read perfect for book groups.

Liked Lunch Lady? Try this.

Super Amoeba No. 1: Squish

By Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Random House, May 24th, 2011

Let me just start off by saying my favorite graphic novel series for the 2^nd-3^rd grade crowd is Lunch Lady- hands down. But what do you give the kids who have exhausted that series? Squish is a great option, especially for teachers. Setting: a world much like our own, where kids read comic books, dream of being super heroes, and there’s always a class bully. The Catch: this world is populated entirely by amoebas. That’s right, our protagonist is a single-celled organism. The opening pages introduce amoebas, giving basic scientific facts that the narrator warns, “You’ll be tested on this someday so you’d better be paying attention.” And, most kids will be tested on this someday. So, fun graphic novel with a side dish of biology facts, what’s not to like? Arrows throughout the book contain snarky narrator comments for some additional humor.