humor

2 Joy-filled New Graphic Novels for Kids

| Tasha

Cabin Head and Tree Head by Scott Campbell (9781774885055)

Enter the weird and wonderful world of the Head friends in this graphic novel for elementary-age readers. Cabin Head and Tree Head are good friends and spend a lot of time together. They spend one day saying hello to all the other Heads and then realize the impact their surprise hellos are having on some of the more volatile Heads. In another story, Cabin Head starts doing portraits, first of a taco and then of other Heads who request it, but Tree Head thinks the taco portrait is too delicious to leave alone. There are adventures with holes and treasure maps, and another with the perfect hiding space that fits far too many. The book ends with byes, stories, drawing and a final pool party. 

I just can’t express how delightful this graphic novel is. The concept is bizarre and immensely charming, creating a childlike playfulness that is enticing and great fun. I particularly enjoyed the riff on Jack and the Beanstalk as well as the interaction between the various Heads to solve problems and have fun. 

Laugh-out-loud funny and joyful, this is a must-read for those who enjoy silliness. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Tundra Books.

The Faraway Forest: Wally’s Route by Debbie Fong, colors by Kayla Catanzaro (9781797230412)

Wally is the mail carrier for Faraway Forest. He and his rabbit friend Bo deliver mail all over the woods. There are tiny envelopes and big heavy packages to deliver. The last house on the route is Mr. Sternbill’s and he’s quite grumpy. But Wally knows that you never know what is weighing on someone’s mind. In four chapters, readers get a tour of Wally’s route, see how a day can become surprisingly long by helping neighbors, see how a big storm impacts Wally’s job, and finally end the book with Wally getting sick and seeing how appreciated he is by his friends, including Mr. Sternbill.

This friendly and cozy graphic novel for elementary age is like a hug. Wally and Bo’s helpfulness shows the impact that someone can have on others in their community. The stories are fast paced and still make time for Wally and Bo to enjoy tea and lunch along the way. The illustrations are large, colorful, and friendly, making the reading more accessible and friendly for newer readers. The book begins with a seek and find for each chapter and ends with tips on how to draw Wally and Bo. 

A welcome cozy delivery for young graphic novel enthusiasts. Appropriate for ages 5-8.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Edelweiss & Chronicle Books.

Bob the Vampire Snail by Andrea Zuill – Book Review

| Tasha

Bob the Vampire Snail by Andrea Zuill (9780593814963)

Bob the snail (all snails are named Bob) is just minding his own business when suddenly there is a scream, stomp, crack, drip and POOF! Bob feels strange and it turns out he has small wings, fangs and no reflection. He can’t eat the things he used to love, so he tries a bunch of other things, including eating the other Bobs. But nothing satisfies until he discovers the joy of using his fangs on a juicy tomato. He finds that he has other powers too, including hypnotizing other animals to get him more tomatoes. The other Bobs don’t want anything to do with him, especially since he tried to eat them, but Bob isn’t deterred and soon meets another creature who loves tomatoes too.

Ideal for those looking for a Halloween read that isn’t scary at all but also has plenty of action to keep little ones’ attention, this picture book is also hilarious. A small bug offers side commentary about vampires and what is happening to Bob as he transforms. This lets young children who may not understand all of the vampire lore into the jokes as they happen and is very cleverly done. The illustrations are great fun with Bob offering more emotions than might be expected from a snail thanks to his expressive eye stalks. The transformation is particularly effective visually and adds to the fun.

A great Halloween read aloud with lots of laughter. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Penguin Random House.

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson – Book Review

| Tasha

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat (9780593616673)

At first the book is a basic primer on mammals, reptiles and birds. But when it turns to the subject of fish, it all becomes much more personal! A wide variety of fish are shown, but also called rebels and outlaws! You can’t see what they are up to underwater, plus they break all natural laws. What is happening in their “schools” anyway? So many questions and so much concerning behavior. By the end of this book, you may be questioning your pet fish too.

Completely silly, full of misinformation mixed with facts, this book is a glorious giggle to add to any story time. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

George & Lenny Are Always Together by Jon Agee – Book Review

| Tasha

George & Lenny Are Always Together by Jon Agee (9780593857731)

George and Lenny are best friends and spend all of their time together. Then Lenny starts to think about what it might be like to be alone. George thinks it will be lonely and sad, but Lenny starts to think that it might be fun to be alone. Lenny finds a perfect place to be alone, since it only fits one. George offers to come along, but Lenny is sure he can be alone. Lenny does have fun alone. He plays music, reads a book, builds with blocks and much more. But soon he realizes that he misses George. Don’t worry, George too has found a perfect place to be alone, right near by.

Agee is a master of picture books and finding just the right pacing and tone. He uses humor that will have children giggling without laughing at the characters and their feelings and worries. George is a great foil for Lenny as the two navigate allowing some space in their friendship to be on their own, while still managing to be there for one another.

Funny and full of heart. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Penguin Random House.

The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan – Book Review

| Tasha

The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan (9780063289482)

The author of Spider in the Well returns with this engaging picture book that warns readers that they must promise not to scream, but… There is a bear out there. When asked if she has ever seen the bear, she insists that she only needs the three bear signs to know one is there. First, the hair on your arm stands up. Second, you feel eyes watching you. Third, your feet get really itchy! As the reader, you get a glimpse of the actual bear outside. But you can’t warn her before she opens the door! Full of marvelous interaction via the page, this picture book is great fun to share aloud and you will have children shouting warnings along the way. The illustrations are loud and bold, full of pinks, oranges and haunting bear silhouettes.

With a grand twist at the end, this picture book is one to share. Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by HarperCollins.

Have You Seen Gordon? by Adam Jay Epstein

| Tasha
Cover image for Have You Seen Gordon.

Have You Seen Gordon? by Adam Jay Epstein, illustrated by Ruth Chan (9781534477360)

This search and find book features a very purple creature named Gordon. Children get to try to find him on the beach and in the city. At the amusement park though, Gordon stops hiding and stands in a field. At the farmer’s market, Gordon is wearing a bright yellow hat that makes him easy to spot. Gordon decides that he wants to stand out rather than blend in. So the narrator locates someone else to find. Her name is Jane and she’s rather shy. She manages to evade the narrator catching up to her, and that’s when Gordon has a new idea. Now the narrator has a bunch of creatures who are eager to be found on the complex pages.

This is Where’s Waldo with an attitude where the characters insist on being treated the way they want to be. It’s an empowering book with a great sense of humor. The book starts out as a straight search and find until Gordon breaks free of the expectations. Jane then does the same, taking readers on a wild dash across the pages. The solution at the end is clever and engaging.

For younger children than Where’s Waldo, these illustrations are just a touch more simple. They are also filled with silliness as readers look at detailed scenes of ski slopes, markets, cities and neighborhoods. The bright colors and strange creatures and animals make it all the more engaging too.

Great fun and full of silliness. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy provided by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

See the Dog: Three Stories about a Cat by David LaRochelle

| Tasha
Cover image for See the Dog.

See the Dog: Three Stories about a Cat by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka (9781536216295)

When the dog gets sick, cat takes his place in this sequel to See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog. In the first story, Cat has to run, bark and then dig a hole. But the cat has their own way of digging that surprises the bossy book. In the second story, the cat has to swim across the lake and fetch the stick. But cats don’t like water nearly as much as dogs do! Again, the cat makes the most of it by the end of the tale. The third story has the cat protecting a sheep from the approaching wolf. All seems lost until cat is saved and can stop being the dog in the story.

The Geisel Award winning, See the Cat was a great book for beginning readers and the second in the series keeps the same wit and silliness. The bossy tone of the book is just right, following so many beginning reader tropes with repeating words, direct orders, and all with very funny results. This is another book that will have readers laughing rather than frustrated as they start to read.

I’m fascinated that these books are done by two people, since the illustrations and the text seem to beautifully interwoven into one solid story full of humorous moments. the illustrations play with beginning reader simplicity but add in a touch of frenzy and zany energy that makes it all the better.

A grand sequel sure to charm beginning readers and the adults who listen to them read. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Candlewick.

Interrupting Chicken: Cookies for Breakfast by David Ezra Stein

| Tasha
Cover image for Interrupting Chicken: Cookies for Breakfast.

Interrupting Chicken: Cookies for Breakfast by David Ezra Stein (9781536207781)

Little red chicken got up early on Saturday and brought his Papa breakfast in bed. Cookies for breakfast! But Papa doesn’t want either of them having cookies for breakfast and just wants to sleep a little longer. He agrees to read a book together though. Little red chicken picked out a book of nursery rhymes. There Was an Old Woman started out normally enough, but soon Little red chicken has turned it into a tale of shared cookies in a shoe. Jack and his candlestick and Hickory Dickory Dock all get changed too and now include cookies. Papa is starting to get a headache, so Little red chicken writes him a rhyme of his own which features cookies, of course. Now it is Papa’s turn to be hungry, and the two of them agree on a different treat for breakfast, cake! Pancakes.

This third book in the Interrupting Chicken series is another winner. In this book, Little red chicken interrupts regularly to continue to ask for cookies for breakfast. His sleepy and patient father goes along as best he can while also insisting that neither of them would have cookies for breakfast. The interruptions are great fun, transforming classic nursery rhymes into delicious humor. The relationship between the two characters is also a pleasure with their back and forth dialogue being just as joyous as the silly rhymes.

The art by Stein contrasts highly saturated and deeply colored images of the chickens with light pastel vintage nursery rhymes shown in a book. Those in turn get changed with some clever erasing and crayons that add yet another layer to the stories.

Another winner in a charming series. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Candlewick.

Mr. Watson’s Chickens by Jarrett Dapier

| Tasha
Cover image for Mr. Watson’s Chickens.

Mr. Watson’s Chickens by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi (9781452177144)

Mr. Watson lives with Mr. Nelson in a big house in an even bigger city. In their little yard, they kept dogs, cats and three chickens. They started with a sensible number of chickens, but Mr. Watson’s collection quickly grew until they had 456 chickens! Their big house had chickens in every room. One of the chickens, Aunt Agnes, even wrote a song that added to the chaos and noise. She sang it all the time. Finally, Mr. Nelson had had enough and threatened to move out to the chicken coop in the yard if nothing was done. The two of them took the chickens to the county fair to get rid of them. But after an accident sets all of the chickens free, they are forced to gather them all up again. Luckily, their accident proves to be exactly the solution to the chickens.

This picture book shares rollicking rhythms and repetition along with a skillfully told story. Dapier leans into the full chaos of so many chickens. It’s the song that Aunt Agnes writes that really proves to be too much, though young listeners will love it. There is a merriness to the entire book, where the chickens steal the story away from the gay couple who are struggling to adapt and figure out how to take control back from their feathered friends. The human couple caught in the frenzy are a wonderful example of how being gay can be an integral part of a story but not seen as an issue.

Tsurumi’s illustrations have a touch of vintage cartoons mixed with modern elements. She shows the wild world of the chickens with details that are great fun to look at. There is even one double-page spread of the county fair where readers can search for the last chicken. She layers additional visual jokes and humor onto a story that is already great fun.

A funny feathery frantic tale of pets that get out of control. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy provided by Chronicle Books.