Actually, along with laffs aplenty, a fair quantity of “maturishness and deepality” for biguns and littluns alike.
Confession proves good for the soul of Petey, “world’s most evilest cat,” when past misdeeds rear up to threaten him and his saintly clone, L’il Petey.
Adding in a free-wheeling mix of literary references, moral disquisitions, and stupid knock-knock jokes, Pilkey once again has superheroes and kaiju mix it up in squared-off panels of simply drawn, action-oriented cartoons. Here, the arrival of a giant robot brontosaurus driven by the vengeful Fuzzy Little Evil Animal Squad—“We’re not crooks! We’re megalomaniacs!”—pitches Petey and his annoyingly peace-loving mini-me into a rolling fight/flight. Naturally, “Supa Buddies” Dog Man (as “The Bark Knight”), robotic sidekick 80-HD, and, to diversify the otherwise all-animal cast, some previously introduced human regulars, dive into the fracas, and Flip-O-Rama sequences ensue. The FLEAS receive proper comeuppance (comedownance?) thanks to a handy shrink ray, and then it’s time for a dose of wisdom in the form of a dialogue between Petey and Li’l Petey: “If you’re good, nobody cares!!!” “Ya gotta be good anyway, Papa!” “If you’re kind, people just think you’re weak!” “Ya gotta be kind anyway, Papa!” Following a promise of more such “maturishness and deepality” to come, the author closes with his customary drawing lessons, plus plugs for the benefits of reading aloud to pets.
Actually, along with laffs aplenty, a fair quantity of “maturishness and deepality” for biguns and littluns alike. (source notes) (Graphic science fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-338-29091-2
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
BOOK TO SCREEN
Back off, Batman! Take note, Superman! Frankie Pickle is here, and he’s ready to play. What he’s not ready for is cleaning his room. When Frankie’s mother decides to lay off the nagging, Frankie is allowed to make his own choice about his room as long as he can “deal with the consequences.” For a little while, he deals well. But, as time passes with no visits from the Dryer Sheet Fairy, Frankie’s room begins to resemble a dump in both odor and clutter. Wight’s hilarious twists of language are matched with a wicked sense of fun in the illustrations and frequent sequential-paneled episodes of pretend play. Like the Holms’ Babymouse, Frankie lapses into comic-book–style flights of fancy that make references to Indiana Jones, Dick Tracy, the Transformers and many superheroes. Busy illustrations on every page provide appeal for new readers, especially those who love Captain Underpants, Skippyjon Jones and Ricky Ricotta. The diagram of Frankie’s newly organized room might provide inspiration for kids with their own Room of Doom—when they’ve stopped snickering, that is. (Fiction. 7-10)
Pub Date: May 5, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4169-6484-1
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2009
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
While flossing, Stone Rabbit discovers a bottomless pit of doom in his bathroom floor—one more reason to hate Mondays. He’s sucked into the hole and through a time vortex of laughing clocks that dumps him in a T. Rex nest. He escapes several herds of dinos only to find himself mistaken for a god by a tribe of stone-age bunnies. When their village is destroyed and the population captured by a high-tech Cro-Magnon named Willie, Stone Rabbit comes to the rescue (reluctantly). In gratitude, they find a way to send him home. Author of 2006’s Manga Claus and a web-comic (for older people) also starring Stone Rabbit, Craddock’s first graphic outing for children is Saturday-morning cartoons all over again—bright, full-color, googly-eyed adventures that zip by in a rush of nonsensical fun. Readers will be re-readers, and they’ll want volume two, Pirate Palooza (ISBN: 978-0-375-85660-0; PLB: 978-0-375-95660-7), out the same day. Best get both. (Graphic fiction. 7-10)
Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-375-84360-0
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2008
BOOK REVIEW
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