Bright artwork brings life to a jovial friendship of gentle contrasts and mutual appreciation.
Living in the fantastical land of La-Dee-Dah, Wallace the horse and Poppy the dragon learn to be comfortable with their preferences while still trying new things.
In the first tale, Poppy pushes back on Wallace’s assumptions about dragons (nope, they don’t all burn down forests and destroy villages) and instead soars while embracing the role of (pretend) superhero. Next, the pair compare the expected diets of dragons and horses; Poppy much prefers banana pudding over the typical dragon meal of “meat and fish and stuff,” while Wallace actually enjoys hay, apples, and carrots. They swap favorites in earnest, a taste experiment that may encourage young readers to expand their own palates. Finally, after Poppy claims to have gotten a haircut (mystifying Wallace, who can’t remember the dragon ever having had hair), both pals compliment something new about the other. The exuberant Poppy’s pink and purple design contrasts with mild-mannered Wallace’s brown fur and spots, but their friendship consistently bridges any differences. Their large, round figures, combined with a low panel count per page, makes navigation a breeze. Fourth-wall-breaking humor and concluding gags from a third character, Goat, add a touch of savvy to the odd-couple formula. Readers will come away from this story ready to tally their own superpowers, favorite foods, and fashion changes.
Bright artwork brings life to a jovial friendship of gentle contrasts and mutual appreciation. (Graphic fantasy. 6-9)Pub Date: April 21, 2026
ISBN: 9781419770722
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Abrams Fanfare
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
What a wag.
What do you get from sewing the head of a smart dog onto the body of a tough police officer? A new superhero from the incorrigible creator of Captain Underpants.
Finding a stack of old Dog Mancomics that got them in trouble back in first grade, George and Harold decide to craft a set of new(ish) adventures with (more or less) improved art and spelling. These begin with an origin tale (“A Hero Is Unleashed”), go on to a fiendish attempt to replace the chief of police with a “Robo Chief” and then a temporarily successful scheme to make everyone stupid by erasing all the words from every book (“Book ’Em, Dog Man”), and finish off with a sort of attempted alien invasion evocatively titled “Weenie Wars: The Franks Awaken.” In each, Dog Man squares off against baddies (including superinventor/archnemesis Petey the cat) and saves the day with a clever notion. With occasional pauses for Flip-O-Rama featurettes, the tales are all framed in brightly colored sequential panels with hand-lettered dialogue (“How do you feel, old friend?” “Ruff!”) and narrative. The figures are studiously diverse, with police officers of both genders on view and George, the chief, and several other members of the supporting cast colored in various shades of brown. Pilkey closes as customary with drawing exercises, plus a promise that the canine crusader will be further unleashed in a sequel.
What a wag. (Graphic fantasy. 7-9)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-545-58160-8
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
SEEN & HEARD
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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