A bright sequel.
Change is in the air for Haylee and Comet.
Three heartwarming tales highlight how change can be “hard,” “messy,” or even “FAST.” After mistaking a caterpillar for a tiny comet, Comet (an actual comet) learns about metamorphosis in “The Cocoon.” The discussion broadens to change in general, prompting Comet to ask human pal Haylee whether both of them will change as well. They continue to observe the caterpillar (à la “slow TV”) until she eventually morphs into a luna moth. In “Snow Cone,” a heat wave prompts the pair to seek out the icy treats to cool off. Along the way, they meet a litter of kittens. One of these kittens follows them to the snow cone cart. In “Growing Up,” Haylee outgrows a pair of roller skates, and Comet wonders if they’re growing, too. They both go to the measuring wall to take stock. Haylee has grown 2 inches. Comet is disappointed to still be the same—at least on the outside. Identical in tone to predecessor Haylee and Comet (2021), this sequel effectively melds Frog and Toad–esque truisms about friendship with brilliant full-color art. Each story ends with a coda that offers an element of nonfiction or gives the duo a chance to reflect. The fairly predictable block-panel format has at most six panels per page. Haylee has pale skin; a secondary human character has brown skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A bright sequel. (Graphic early reader. 6-9)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-77440-8
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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