The girls must locate Princess Sparkle, Destroyer of Worlds and possibly save her life (or is it lives?) They hope to discover the cause of the station's devastation and exonerate themselves. Under cover of night, creeping through air ducts, the girls are on the case. They discover the shocking truth and realize that the entire space station could be destroyed. It is up to the kids, with a huge assist from their parents, to save Wilnick.

Brooks doesn’t even try to get too scientific or technical, peppering the girl’s dialogue with terms such as taffimatter, dual-core turbinate, and gravity grenade. Readers will be captivated by the campy wild adventure without becoming overly concerned with how these things actually work.

The dialogue is snappy and spot on, capturing the spunky young explorers, their stressed-out parents, and the inner politics of a closed-community in outer space. Panels are drawn with a sure hand, featuring plenty of action and highly expressive faces. Use of numerous viewpoints brings added dimension.  Of special note, the view from inside the air duct openings, looking out on the scene below is fantastic. And the pink. Did I mention all that vivid pink?

Sanity and Tallulah is the real deal. A dynamic duo who are willing to go where no one else dares to go. They are astute and more than a little bit reckless. The girls are constantly tinkering and experimenting, much to the chagrin  of their parents, who view them with equal parts pride and exasperation. I hope Ms. Brooks is taking good care of her inking hand because demand for more Sanity and Tallalah is inevitable.

Clever wordplay sparkles throughout. Flapjack the octopus is taunted by the bullies: "Get a backbone, invertebrate!" Illustrations are replete with Spanish/English humor. Road sign messages read "Neighborhood Watchalo" and "Cash for Kahlo 07-06-1907."

The comic is chock full of Spanish words, phrases, and slang. It is expertly woven into the text, enriching the reader's exposure to Latino culture. Spanish words are noted with an English translation footnote at the bottom of each page. Camper enriches the narrative with the use of indigenous words. Back matter provides details on Indigenous American languages and a glossary of Spanish words and phrases, along with English translations.

Raul the Third is at the top of his game. The art is stunning and includes homages to Mexican American artists Gamboa, Bronk, Herrón, and Valdez. Panels brim with lively personality and intense action. A bonus selection of sketches can be found in the back matter.

This is one time when low and slow is not the way to go. Immediately get your hands on a copy of Lowriders Blast from the Past. It is magnífico!

Cruise on down to your local bookstore or library for the first two volumes in the series.

A hallmark of this series is the blending of two languages within the text. Spanish idioms and slang add significant value to the story as they authentically and accurately convey ideas and emotions. Historically, there has been some controversy over the use of this form of combining two languages, often referred to as Spanglish. NBC recently published an interesting piece on code switching, Read more here.

Hope Larson conjures up more stories featuring phenomenal adventures for young girls.

Anyone who has experienced the unique challenge of using the camp "facilities" will appreciate Vera's first encounter with the outhouse, known to these campers as "Hollywood." A midnight trek to the primitive, odiferous, and generally repugnant latrine is a never-to-be forgotten encounter.

​Vera Brosgol distills her memories as a novice camper in this engaging, visually arresting, emotionally riveting graphic novel for middle grade readers.

Come summer, tuck this book, along with a package of Skittles into the backpack of every young camper you know. Camp will be ever-so-much better when kids know how to Be Prepared.

Gather round the campfire with these graphic novels.

This graphic novel format introduces twenty-nine remarkable women. The names of some are well known. Others are less familiar. All share one distinguishing feature: every woman lived her life as a rebel. Some faced obstacles because of birth. Others were challenged by circumstances. Each found herself straining against cultural norms, injustice, and personal hardship. Each overcame adversity and became a champion of change.
So many stories to sample. Where to begin?
​Do you want something sweet? Try Giorgina Reed, Lighthouse Keeper; Josephina Van Gorkum, Obstinate Lover; or Temple Grandin, Animal Whisperer.
Are you looking for something complex? Learn about Leymah Gbowee, Social Worker; Christine Jorgenson, Reluctant Celebrity; or Mae Jemison, Astronaut.
Read the book from cover to cover or dip in and sample the variety of stories as you fancy. Either way, it's savory and satisfying reading.

Back matter includes a list of thirty additional ladies who rocked the world.
Note: One hopes that these individuals will receive expanded treatment in a follow-up volume.  Bagieu also provides her own author's biography with a layout similar to that of the twenty-nine featured women.
Look for tales of firebrands, revolutionaries, visionaries, and nonconformists. This scrumptious collection of vignettes will entertain, provoke thought, and provide a starting place for further study and research.  Enticing reading.

Sample pages: Meet Nzinga, Queen of Ndongo and Matamba Empress Wu Zetian. 

Note the vivid color and lush design featured in this two-page spread highlighting the life and accomplishments of Annette Kellerman.  She was a remarkable pioneer who revolutionized women's swimwear. Kellerman designed functional swimming suits for women.  At the time her creations were considered scandalous.  She also built a career as an actress, appearing in about twenty films.  Later she became an author and advocate for health and fitness. ​

A series of graphic novels from Story Press Africa, an imprint of Catalyst Press,  feature African characters and stories. The mission of this innovative and forward-thinking venture is” to place African knowledge in its rightful place among the knowledge of the world” … and to “… publish stories by Africans about Africa for a global audience: authentic, challenging, and frequently controversial visions of the continent that birthed humankind."

The wealth of information provided in back matter is what makes this book stand out. Included are a discussion of the validity and accuracy of this portrayal of a historical figure, a timeline comparing Zulu chieftainships with world events, discussions of political, social, and family structures, highlights of Zulu culture, a glossary and fascinating insights into the language, including a pronunciation guide.
Classrooms will appreciate the emphasis on the insightful ideas and the sets of discussion questions devoted to exploring the concepts of leadership, accuracy of historical accounts, the role of women, and social structures. A useful springboard for teachers who wish to expand their students' world view as well as provide opportunities for critical thinking.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

Initially Frances is Sebastian’s employee, designing his fetching fashions. Soon she becomes his co-conspirator, helping to hide his secret. Gradually a compatible relationship begins to blossom. There comes a point when the dressmaker realizes that she wants more for herself. She wants the opportunity to expand her skills and explore her own passions. This is the moment when Sebastian must decide. Will he protect his image at the expense of Frances’ opportunities for artistic expression and professional recognition? The consequences of his choice weigh heavily on him. His decision will significantly affect the future of each. However, this is a fairy tale and readers are rewarded with a “happily ever after.” The prince realizes that the only way to true happiness is to consider Frances' dreams as well as his own. I love this image: two young dreamers, sitting beside one another as equals. Now that's a happily every after!

Can we talk about the gowns for a moment? They are fantastic! Frances, AKA  Jen Wang has a style that is fresh and exciting. The clothing serves to complement the wearer, not overwhelm or overpower. From the first glance, readers notice the full effect of each ensemble paired together with the unique personality of the individual. This is how clothing is meant to be. Jen gets it right. Brilliant costume design.

I finished reading the fairytale romance with a satisfied sigh and turned what I assumed was the final page. Not so. Wang gives the readers a glimpse into her process. The bonus material is instructive and inspirational. She describes in detail the tools that she uses. A step-by -step guide chronicles her approach as well as offering a glimpse into her decision-making thinking. This peek into the method used to spin the story’s magic is a superlative bonus. Thanks Jen for this most excellent back matter.

Take note. There will be a CRAFT-MERGENCY; plenty of drama from Anya; a healthy snack "another way of saying it's good for you and tastes bad" which, by the way,  is enjoyed by everyone;  and an important lesson learned about friendship. ​
Back pages include directions for making each of the six monster crafts described in the text. With great characters, clever dialog, and simple craft projects, Charise Mericle Harper has a created a graphic novel series for young craft and comic enthusiasts.

From day one, Impy is constantly aware that middle school has transported her into an entirely new enviornment. Unlike the familiarity of the festival community, the halls of middle school are fraught with terrors at every turn. She must navigate the complex maze of classrooms, negotiate seating in the cafeteria, and meet the demands of a regimented assignment schedule. She is immediately the subject of curiosity. Some express honest interest while others resort to ridicule. For Imply trying to fit in, trying to discover who she is, trying to keep up with the demands of teachers becomes very...well, trying.
She makes two fatale mistakes: one with her younger brother and one with a classmate. From her perspective, it appears that each one is impossible to completely recover from.
This book is honest, so painfully honest. No one is perfect: not Imogene, not the kids at school, not her family. They all make mistakes and struggle to learn, live, and forgive. The characters are spot on and Jamieson imbues each with a distinctive personality.
It is impossible for me to express how much I adore this book. Both the images and text work together to create storytelling magic. Copies of the book should be given as a gift to every youngster about to enter middle school. Not only will tweens learn about the Middle Ages and life in middle school, but they will also gain important insights into self acceptance.

I have always been fascinated by illuminated manuscripts and was delighted to note that Jamieson chooses to begin each chapter with an introduction featuring some gorgeous illumination.  Why not encourage young readers to try this intricate art?  Instead of illuminating an entire page, why not try illuminating a letter? Here is my attempt to illuminate the first letter of my last name. It's not nearly as intricate and the gold pigment ink is missing. But I had fun with a fine point black sharpie and a fistful of colored pencils. 

​We hurried off to the library and a room jam-packed with youngsters. Ben is not only an incredible artist, creating amazing stories with both words and images, he is also a talented performer. He wowed the audience with some impressive juggling and acrobatic skills. Sadly, the library director vetoed Hatke's offer to breathe fire. Nonetheless, his presentation was a showstopper. Then Ben graciously sat and signed books, personalizing each with a brief sketch.
When we finally finished up at the library all agreed that this was one author visit that no one would ever forget.