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READING STYLE GUIDE

Mayan Mythology

11/9/2020

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Rise of the Halfling King (Tales of the Feathered Serpent)
by David Bowles ill by Charlene Bowles

What a terrific concept: A series of graphic novels featuring Mayan mythology. Bowles brings his extensive Mesoamerican expertise to younger audiences. Stories from an often-overlooked culture are brought to life with colorful panels, intriguing plot and characters who jump off the pages and into the reader's imagination.
Rise of the Halfling King is the first title in Tales of the Feathered Serpent series. ​ Readers are introduced to Sayam, a boy hatched from an egg. Almah, a witch and a healer, has cared for this strong-willed halfling since he emerged from the egg. As he grows older, the inevitable is apparent. It is time for Sayam to fulfill prophecy and dethrone the king.
It won't be easy. The malevolent despot employs the Guardian of the Underworld, a gigantic snake, to assist him with his diabolical schemes. Illustrator Charlene Bowles gives the serpent a frightful menacing quality that dominates each panel into which it slithers, fangs ready to strike.
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A generous trim size of 7 by 10.5 inches, oversized panels, and an easy to follow narrative make this an excellent choice for young readers. 
Background information is placed at the beginning of the book. The map of Mexico clearly identifies cities and surrounding regions. The cast of characters features a small portrait with accompanying short bio.  This facilitates reading from the story's onset, helping readers to place unusual locations and individuals in context.  ​
It's a rich mythology, replete with magical powers, witches, and sorcery. The struggle between good and evil, featuring a diminutive hero fighting against powerful forces will captivate readers. Make room on your shelves for this graphic novel series.

Dig Deeper

Interested in an in-depth exploration of Mexican mythology? Bowles has you covered. 
Feathered Serpent: Dark Heart of Sky is compilation short mythological tales from Mexico. The introduction offers valuable background information.  A Guide to Pronunciation and Glossary are particularly helpful. 
An excellent resource for those interested in exploring epic tales, world mythologies, history and culture of Mexico. Highly recommended for students, teachers, historians, and storytellers,
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​​Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: November 3, 2020 Publisher: Cinco Punto Press  ISBN: 978-1947627376
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Naturally Supernatural

10/29/2020

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Two delightful new comics invite young readers into the world of the occult, confirming that there is a more to supernatural powers than tales of grisly terror. Explore the warm and welcoming side of the supernatural.

Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse

Oh, you’d be surprised how many things there are in this neighborhood!
Eleven-year-old Effie, recently orphaned, has been sent to live with her sharp-tongued step-aunt Selimene and mild-mannered partner Carlotta. These new living conditions come as a huge surprise and major adjustment for everyone.
Feeling unwanted, but with no other choice but to stay, Effie and Selimene come to a tentative truce. As she adjusts to her new home, Effie discovers a few oddities. The attached greenhouse is filled with a vast selection of medicinal plants which have healing properties. There is also an adjoining acupuncture office.
Most astonishing of all, in addition to their work as herbalists and acupuncturists, the two are witches. They are committed using their powers to help others.
Their supernatural abilities have awakened a latent power inside Effie. She discovers that she too is a witch. The two seasoned witches and their young protege are presented with a perplexing problem. A massively popular singer has developed a ghastly change in her facial coloring, making it impossible to publicly perform.
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With the help of ancient book of magic, some extraordinary meteorological powers, and an assist from three of Effie’s new friends, the singer’s disfiguring skin condition is cured and she can resume her concert schedule.
Escabasse captures the quirky personalities of her witches with a deft hand. Petite fashion-conscious Selimene wears oversized statement jewelry and stylish footwear. Carlotta is a large woman with an extra-large heart who must smooth over difficulties often exacerbated by Selimene’s short fuse. Characters are loveable because of their idiosyncrasies.
Readers will want to return to this world of unconventional witches. More Witches of Brooklyn stories please.
​Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: September 1, 2020  Publisher: Random House Graphic; Illustrated Edition  ISBN: 978-0593119273

Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee

Time doesn't care...sooner or later - Everyone grows up. They change. They move on.
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Twelve-year-old Lora is lonely. Her friends no longer share her interest in imaginative play.
Lora decides to her own Séance Tea Party, surrounded by her stuffed animals and a Ouija board. A surprise guest joins the festivities. Her name is Alexa and she’s the ghost of a young girl who died years ago. Lora is delighted. She discovers that Alexa was her imaginary childhood friend.
The two become fast friends, accommodating Alexa’s spirit into the corporeal world. Alexa gently nudges Lora to move out of her comfort zone. She accepts a spur-of-the-moment invitation to attend a Halloween party. Her new friend is draped in a sheet. The perfect disguise for a ghost.
Lora gradually expands her circle to include an older woman. She begins to experiment with make-up, opting for a deep shade of lipstick and definative eyeliner.
The human is not the only one moving on. Alexa comes to realize that it is time for her to leave her earth-bound connection. A bittersweet scene touchingly shows the dear friends, acknowledging their affection for one another while recognizing the desire to step away from their present lives. ​A sweet story of growing up, letting go, moving on.
Yee captures Lora's innocence and Alexa’s wistful longing. There is an expressive quality to the art. The images begin with a juvenile sensibility that gradually morphs into a more mature perspective.
Bonus pages include a sneak peek into the artists craft, illustrated with numerous sketches.
​Séance Tea Party will be appreciated by a variety of audiences. It's a story of Halloween, ghosts, death, maturing, enduring friendship, multi- generational relationships, and the inevitability of becoming older.
​Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​​Pub date: September 15, 2020  Publisher: Random House Graphic; Illustrated Edition  ISBN: 978-1984894151
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Donuts for Everyone

9/29/2020

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Donut Feed the Squirrels (Norma and Belly) by Mika Song

In serious contention for Best Children’s Book Title of the Year is Donut Feed the Squirrels. The title's clever play on words and adorable characters featured on the cover are instant attention-getters. Song eschews drawing anatomically accurate squirrels. Instead her art perfectly captures the essence of Norma with her tiny heart-shaped nose and Belly's rosy cheeks and gumdrop-shaped body.
​These little charmers are in search of breakfast. When their pancakes are burned, the pair are intrigued by the tantalizing aroma from a nearby food truck. They discover a fantastic treat: donuts!
The squirrels are determined to get donuts for everyone. Fortunately the proprietor of the mobile donutmobile briefly steps away from his truck. The enterprising duo have eight minutes to get in, get a sackful of donuts, and get out. There is a major complication. With a plot element that is an homage to the classic Homer Price doughnut machine fiasco, there is an equipment failure. Production is out of control. The shop rapidly becomes a doughy disaster.
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Song's storytelling skills are sheer delight. The text is replete with clever little gems. There’s Little Bee, whose body is shaped like a upper case letter B. When Belly is covered with dough she reassures Norma that she has “never been batter,” Kids are gonna eat this comic up.
The art is a prime example that less can indeed be more. Simple, effective brush strokes allow the readers to add their own subtext to the tale. Limited color palette and soft pastel colors keep the focus on the squirrels.
The pictorial foreshadowing is ingeniously positioned throughout the story. Readers should pay close attention to all the visual cues. They will show up later in the narrative.
Norma and Belly’s exploits are a delicious treat. More squirrelly adventures please.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 29, 2020  Publisher: Random House Grapic, Illustrated Edition ISBN: 978-1984895837
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Black Legends of the Wild West

9/14/2020

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Black Heroes of the Wild West: Featuring Stagecoach Mary, Bass Reeves, and Bob Lemmons
​by James Otis Smith

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Black Heroes of the Wild West: Featuring Stagecoach Mary, Bass Reeves, and Bob Lemmons is the comic we’ve all been longing for. Meet historical Black figures who come to life in an action-packed graphic novel.
This trio of biographical vignettes features fascinating stories from the American west. Though all were born enslaved, each legendary Black adventurer left southern roots and moved west to freedom in Montana, Arkansas, or Texas. Their stories are true tales of hard work, courage, resourcefulness, and grit. Nevertheless, he injects humor and intrigue into the narrative. Smith has done his homework, creating back matter that is chock full of information, period photographs, primary sources, timelines, and other informational graphics.
The color palette is predominantly earth tones, evoking the western setting. Each chapter begins with a full-page photo of the chapter’s subject. Includes an introduction by Kadir Nelson. ​

Stagecoach Mary

Mary Fields was a large, no-nonsense woman, packing an impressively fearsome rifle. Opening panels tell the well-known, almost mythical saga of one frigid Montana night in 1898 when mail clerk Mary Fields fought off a pack of vicious wolves.
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Born about 1832 on a Tennessee plantation, she set out to find work following Emancipation in 1865. From chambermaid, to companion, mission laborer, and restaurant proprietor, Mary was a hard worker. She had a reputation as a whisky-drinking, card-playing, sharp-shooter. She was well-regarded for her years delivering mail by stagecoach. She was the second woman and the first African American woman to drive the Star Route. She never missed a delivery, even when she had to strap on snowshoes and slog through wet snow to complete a shipment. Mary was so revered by the people of Cascade Montana that each year school would close in honor of her birthday.

Bob Lemmons

Herds of wild mustangs, comprised of up to forty females and led by one stallion, roamed over a vast expanse of the Texas plains. They were fearless. The prevailing method to control the herd was to kill the stallion and force the females on long marches.
​​Bob Lemmons had another method. To the mustangs, he was perceived as a stallion. Traveling alone with his horse Warrior, he studied a herd’s habits and recognized individual mustangs by scent and scant. Bob never changed his clothes and waited to eat until his food had lost all human smell. He moved deliberately and cautiously until he was accepted as the leader of these wild horses. Only then would he lead this herd to a ranch. There the mustangs would follow him into a corral.
​He eventually established his own ranch. This Texas legend lived 99 years.
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Bass Reeves

Bass Reeves was a clever lawman who employed unusual tactics to capture wanted felons. For example, the Clancy brothers of Arkansas were wanted criminals with a $5000 reward offered for their capture. One night a quiet hardworking Black man arrived at the Clancy homestead, offering to work for a meal. He quietly endured an evening of insults from the brothers. After dark, Bass set to work and handcuffed the outlaws while they slept. The fugitives woke the next morning in irons and under arrest. They learned that the quiet visitor was Bass Reeves, Deputy US Marshall.

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Action. Intrigue. Humor. Fascinating tales well told. Kudos Mr. Smith. A must-have for library and school collections.

Additional Resources

Learn more about these American frontier heroes with picture books created by award-winning authors and illustrators. Bonus: R. Gregory Christi's art print of Bass Reeves is available for purchase.
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Electronic copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: September 15, 2020  Publisher: TOON Graphic  ISBN:  978-6976535210
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Where Do Stories Come From?

9/8/2020

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My Pencil and Me by Sara Varon

How does a book come into existence? Can the process be broken down into steps? Or is the creation of a story the result of inspiration? My Pencil and Me suggests that authors find that both method and inventiveness are important.
Varon offers young readers a glimpse into a story's creation. Meet an author as she struggles with developing a narrative for her book. Fortunately, she has two friends to help: her dog and her pencil. The faithful canine sits beside her and serves as a sounding board, helping Sara to frame her thoughts in an interesting way.
Her pencil, kept at the ready in her pocket, makes visible the ideas percolating in her brain.
The dialogue between the pencil and author is reassuring and to the point. (Pun intended.) “My pencil always gives me great advice.”
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​Varon's signature style packs each page with delight. Several whimsical critters are located throughout the text, most notably on the baseball diamond. Readers observe the artist’s process, as she brings her ideas to life with a zany assortment of baseball players.
Varon concludes the book with a wonderful surprise. Moving away from the talking pencil and fanciful characters, readers are offered a “real life” photograph of this author and artist creating a book. Great fun!
Along with a box of freshly sharpened pencils, hand this to aspiring authors. It’s a lighthearted approach to overcoming writer’s block, encouraging youngsters with gentle humor. A welcome addition to school and classroom libraries. Particularly helpful for youngsters receiving instruction at home. This comic might be the impetus for an informal My Pencil and Me writers’ collective where creators share their own stories.
Electronic copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 28, 2020  Publisher: First Second  ISBN: 978-1596435896
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Young Citizens

8/29/2020

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"You're never too young for democracy"
 The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
Several books for young people published in 2020 are excellent resources for raising awareness of and starting conversations about the voting process. Titles run the gamut from picture books and graphic novels to books for young adults. Each are opportunities for encouraging kids and teens to become involved in the political process.

A Vote is a Powerful Thing
by Catherine Stier ill by Courtney Dawson

The Vote is a Powerful Thing introduces youngsters to the voting process.
Callie’s class is learning about elections. Their teacher explains that participation in the selection of leaders and governing laws is important. Knowing this, the students decide to vote on an issue of current school-related interest. The class will plan a field trip. Where should they go?
Lynn suggests a trip to the local cookie factory. Callie knows about her grandmother’s interest in the Wilderness Park and recommends visiting this nature preserve. She sets to work, hoping to convince classmates to select her proposed destination. She searches for information about the park, its creation, purpose, and preservation. She makes promotional materials and prepares a speech. Lynn is following a similar pattern, advocating for the cookie factory.
The ballots are cast and counted. After a moment of uncertainty, Wilderness Park wins the election by one vote.
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Stier uses an election scenario that is easy to understand and could be recreated in a classroom or home school setting. Dawson’s charming illustrations represent a diverse array of young faces.
Back matter consists of basic voter information Additional information on wilderness parks is a nice touch.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 1, 2020  Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company  ISBN: 978-0807584989

The Next President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America's Presidents  
​by Kate Messner ill by Adam Rex

The Next President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America's Presidents is set in a museum that closely resembles the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Visitors explore the halls, looking back at history and then imagining what might happen in the future. Kids are reminded one or more of them could be a future president.
Rex uses a mixed media approach. Black line drawings mix with realistic portraits as well as stylized color wash renderings. The variety of styles reinforce a sense of traveling through time. A limited color palette consisting of various shades of red and blue gives a unifying visual effect. ​
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Word bubbles and short descriptive passages offer fascinating factoids. ​Clever numbering system creates its own game to engage readers: find each numeral and arrange the list of presidents in sequential order. ​
​Back matter is a treasure trove of supplemental information including a United States Map that charts presidential birthplaces. Additional resources consist of the requirements to be president of the United States, a note on the changing face of the American Presidency, suggested books for young readers, and an extensive bibliography for older readers. Messner offers an excellent pictorial review of American political history.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 24, 2020  Publisher: Chronicle Books  ISBN: 978-1452174884

Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Graphic Novel
by Cynthia Levinson & Sanford Levison  art by Ally Shwed

The Levinsons' seminal study of the U. S. Constitution, particularly an examination of the document’s potential flaws was published in 2010.
Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Graphic Novel presents the same information in comic book format, primarily with panels that are interspersed interspersed with maps and infographics. The result is a concise, highly readable US Constitution primer.
Text alternates between historical background and contemporary applications of decisions that were made by the founding fathers.
Format generally follows a configuration of horizontally organizing each page into thirds. Square and rectangular panels fit neatly within this structure. Chapter headings and an occasional concept use the full page. ​This structure offers concise chunks of information that are easy to digest and understand.
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The color palette is primarily shades of red and blue against a white background. Informational text is presented in deep yellow boxes. Characters offer supporting information and details within speech balloons.
Shwed's illustrations are clever and engaging. For example, a sports analogy is used to show the process of amending the constitution. It looks like playbook complete with diagrams that are surrounded by referees and cheerleaders in colonial attire.
The Levinsons’ concluding consideration of the constitution is presented in text format. The authors agree on some issues and disagree on others. It is helpful to find a dialogue with opposing viewpoints presented in a respectful manner. A bibliography rounds out the backmatter.
​Electronic copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 22, 2020  Publisher: First Second  ISBN: 978-1250211613

The Voting Booth
​by Brandy Colbert

Boy meets girl. She's a serious student and advocate for voting rights. He's not sure where to vote. Fortunately for him, this activist comes to his rescue. The story takes place in one day with visits to multiple polling places and working through a mammoth amount of regulations. However, before the day is over he votes.
When your hero is Fannie Lou Hamer, voting is not optional. It's vital. Marva Sheridan has devoted her efforts to understanding the voting process and helping people register to vote. She is disappointed when her white boyfriend Alec decides that he will not be voting.
Duke Crenshaw comes from a family of civic-minded citizens. He knows that voting is the right thing to do. If only it weren't so complicated. Marva is precisely the guide to help him through the election rules and red tape.
During the day this unlikely pair discover that their interest is in more than the ballot box. There is definitely a mutual attraction that extends beyond a lesson in civics.
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Race and socioeconomic status are a part of the subtext running throughout the narrative. ​Duke is the son of a black father and white mother. Marva attends an exclusive private school and is the daughter of an affluent Black family.
Colbert provides information on U.S. elections including how to register to vote and what to do when there is a problem on election day. The message is clear: even if there are obstacles in the election process, don't give up the right to cast your ballot and make your voice heard.
The Voting Booth is a sweet romance. Bonus: meet an adorable kitten named Eartha Kitty who has a huge Instagram following.
Audiobook accessed via Hoopla.
Pub date: July 7, 2020  Publisher:  Disney-Hyperion  ISBN: 978-1368053297
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Runaway Art

7/28/2020

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Doodleville by Chad Sell

Drew loves to draw. Pencil in hand, she has created her own collection of doodles, an assortment of charming and often mischievous characters who dwell in her imaginary world.
Drew shares her passion for drawing with other students in the school’s Art Club. Their advisor plans a field trip to the local art museum. This expedition will serve as inspiration for an upcoming project: create a superhero world.
There is one complication. Drew has discovered that her doodles can escape the pages of her sketchbook and travel into the “real world.” At the museum, her creations Jump off the paper and wildly explore the art displays, absconding with a hat featured in one of the paintings.
Although Drew manages to collect all her runaway doodles plus an additional purloined hat, it is apparent that her creations are out of control. They begin to inhabit the drawings of her fellow students, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
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Her solution to is to create a large doodle. A much larger doodle. She names this gigantic serpentine monster Levi, an abbreviated version of Leviathan. The monster lives up to its name, causing havoc and destroying the work of her friends. It is unstoppable. Drew is wracked with guilt.” It’s all my fault.” she sobs. ​Her friends rally to her defense and devise a plan to link the powers of all their superheroes together to defeat Levi.
Drew’s father helps her understand that her creations are a part of her and that the Leviathan is an extension of the darkness that she sometimes feels. Once she acknowledges the duality of emotions she possesses, Drew is empowered to formulate a plan of action that benefits her fellow artists, the doodles, and even Levi. This leads to an inventive and satisfying conclusion.
Sell’s art cleverly delineates the black and white one-dimensional world of Doodleville and Drew’s fully realized colorful world. The blending of the two worlds is masterful.
The final panels set the stage for further adventures in the Doodleverse, a series destined to fly off the shelves faster than Leviathan, Captain Cockatoo, or the Magical Butterfly Boyfriends can travel.
This fantastical comic envisions a world where art comes to life and imagines the positive as well as negative implications of such a world. It features a tightly knit, yet diverse group of young students who unite to solve a problem, forgive one another’s mistakes, and celebrate their collective successes. And did I mention the donuts? Yes. There are donuts.

Bonus

Download Doodleville coloring pages and create a Doodleville World of your own. Find more information here.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: June 9, 2020 Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers ISBN: 978-1984894717
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Immigrant From Krypton

6/27/2020

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Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang art by Gurihiru

"We are bound together by the future. We all share the same tomorrow"
A comic book set in 1946 with 2020 sensibilities features the traditional super hero trope: Man of Steel versus archenemy. ​The cast includes The Daily Planet’s mild-mannered Clark Kent, investigative reporter Lois Lane, spirited photographer Jimmy Olsen and bombastic editor Perry White. Metropolis is plagued with a sinister influence. It’s up to the caped crusader with an assist from a couple of kids to defeat this evil and protect the city’s citizens.
​But it’s more. Inspired by the 1940s Superman radio series “Clan of the Fiery Cross,” Gene Luen Yang chronicles a lesser-known aspect of bigotry and racism in American history: Chinese Americans targeted by white supremacists.

​​​The narrative has two plot threads. Alternating stories chronicle a Chinese American family's move from Chinatown to a new neighborhood. This is juxtaposed with the tale of a superhero arriving to earth from another planet. ​Both threads explore the plight of individuals who are perceived as different. ​Both are stories of immigrants. Stories of aliens.
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Dr Lee, his children Tommy and Roberta, and mandarin-speaking wife move from Chinatown to a suburban Metropolis home. Tommy is excited. He is quickly invited to play with the local youth baseball team. Roberta is apprehensive. She wonders if she will fit it and make new friends.
Sadly some people do not welcome the Lee family. They are subjected to subtle and overt racism. One night Tommy and Roberta watch in horror when hooded Klansmen chant “One Race! One Color! One Religion!" and burn a cross in their neighborhood.
Baseball teammate Chuck takes part in this cross burning. His uncle is the Klan’s Grand Scorpion. Chuck is uneasy about the Klan’s activities, yet wants to please his uncle.
​Superman is having his own interior conflict. Readers follow a flashback when young Clark decides that his incredible powers are a stigma, making him different from others. He resolves to conceal his capabilities, hoping for acceptance among his peers. Years later Superman's parents from Krypton appear to their adult son and encourage him to accept and use all his remarkable strengths.
Things end well. After a frightening abduction, an injury, and a harrowing escape, the leaders of the Klan are exposed and their plans for destruction are foiled. Tommy invites Chuck to join in an upcoming ball game. Roberta will pitch! ​
The script is laced with clever dialog as well as tongue-in-cheek humor. While characters remain true-to-form, Yang fleshes out the Superman with a compelling backstory.  Dialog includes subtle hints at the attraction between Lois and Clark. Lois Lane becomes Roberta’s mentor. Smooth segues between the two story lines create a seamless narrative. 
Gurihiru's art has a distinctive 1940's vibe. Panel size and placement moves the story forward at a fast pace. Large two-page illustration spreads are background for panel inserts which advance the action. A dazzling two-page spread exposes the horror of cross burning. Color clearly differentiates between day and night scenes. Angled panels accentuate action sequences.
Readers will be pleased to know that there will be further adventures for Tommy, Roberta and Superman. Fans will relish the continuing saga of the hero who now proudly flies as he continues the fight for justice and a better future for all.
​The author’s note, "Superman and Me" provides context to Superman Smashes the Klan. Gene Luen Yang interweaves the development of the Superman mythos, a brief history of targeting Chinese Americans and other marginalized people, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, and challenges faced by immigrants. The account is broad in its scope while also a deeply personal reflection on superheroes, bigotry, and the immigrant experience.
Copy purchased from an independent bookstore.
Pub date: May 12, 2020  Publisher: DC Comics  ISBN: 978-1779504210
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Once Upon a Space-Time by Jeffrey Brown

6/2/2020

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Once Upon a Space-Time! by Jeffrey Brown

This is not your normal Once Upon a Time. This is Once Upon a Space-Time. Jeffrey Brown takes readers on a journey into the final frontier.Two young recruits: Jide the science nerd and Petra the sci-fi fan are selected for a mission to Mars. Tobey the alien will be joining them along with several other aliens named Tobey. Not surprisingly Brown uses the classic Shakespearean line: Tobey or not Tobey.
It’s a space adventure jam-packed with silliness and word play, along with a dose of bathroom humor. When the kids put on their space suits for the first time, a dozen panels reveal close-ups of myriad items which must be pulled up, snugly fitted in place, layered on and snapped shut. Then Jide realizes that he needs to go to the bathroom. The procedure is reversed. Everything comes off. Following a quick trip to the bathroom, the entire suit goes back on again. That's when Commander Gusevich informs Jide that all suits have built-in diapers.
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Brown sneaks informational tidbits into the mix including relativity, gravity, and space exploration. This is the first in this graphic novel series and sets up what will be an ongoing space odyssey. Great fun.
​Crash landing on Mars: "Let's call it a safety challenged landing, okay?"
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Comics Conquer Space

When science meets science fiction, comic book style. Follow the historic expedition to the moon with Rocket to the Moon. Meet the first women to explore space in Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier. Then travel to an imaginary space station with Sanity and Tallulah. The wonder of space. The joy of comics.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher
Pub date: June 2, 2020  Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers  ISBN: 978-0553534351
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Bunch of Baloney

4/21/2020

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Baloney and Friends by Greg Pizzoli

Come and see...the masterful...the magical...the one and only Baloney!
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When times are tough, when days are dark, when "normal" is a fleeting memory, some may wonder if there is anything that will bring a bit of cheer to world weary souls. The answer is yes. Baloney and Friends is here to dispel some of life’s hopelessness.
This collection of graphic novel shorts begins with the introduction of four slightly zany cartoon characters. Readers meet Baloney, the pig and star of the book. He is joined by friends Peanut D. Horse, Biz E. Bee, and Krabbit a rabbit. Krabbit lives up to his name often responding with a sarcastic “whatever."
Readers are treated to a selection of stories interspersed with mini comics. Follow Baloney as he entertains his friends with tricks which may or may not be magical. The gentle humor continues as he struggles with fear of the unknown and feelings of sadness. Pizzoli has created a winsome collection of tales with precisely the right amount of snark.
Bright colors, a handy trim size of just over 6" x 8", an easy-to-read 96 pages, and limited word count make this an excellent choice for emergent readers. Bonus back matter provides step- by-step tutorials for drawing each of the book’s characters. Silliness, snappy dialogue, and a few bathroom jokes will delight young readers. It’s a bunch of baloney that kids will eat up.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 21, 2020  Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers   ISBN: 978-1368054546
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    Barbara Moon

    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
    2013, - present  Audies judge 
    American Library Association Book Awards and Lists 
    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

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