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LASER MOOSE AND RABBIT BOY

Name: LASER MOOSE AND RABBIT BOY
Author: Doug Savage
ISBN: 978-1-4494-7094-4

by Doug Savage ; illustrated by Doug Savage ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 6, 2016

With rampant whimsy and cheerful silliness, expect this to hit funny bones with laser accuracy.

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A moose that can shoot laser beams out his eyes—what could be better?

The titular moose (whose abnormal ocular powers are never explained) and his gentle rabbit friend live together in a charming pastoral wood. However, Laser Moose knows that danger can lurk around every tree. In action-filled, largely wordless sequences, the pair battle flower-chomping extraterrestrials; the fearsome blue mutant Aquabear; and the mechanically equipped, destruction-bent Mechasquirrel created by the nefarious Cyborgupine. Playing off their differences, Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy make a wonderfully droll team; Laser Moose is suspicious of everything and prefers to shoot first (which has some unfortunate ramifications for some of his forest brethren), while Rabbit Boy is optimistic and unfalteringly upbeat. Throughout their exploits, the pair holds fast to their archetypes, giving this the peppy feel of animated cartoons. Big, bright panels with simple, line-based, flat illustrations rocket their adventures along as they battle their foes, keeping attention focused on the action. Savage includes an additional vignette about how lasers work. With this appealing yet oddball premise, a lovably bizarre cast of characters, and high visual allure, this should be an easy sell for young readers.

With rampant whimsy and cheerful silliness, expect this to hit funny bones with laser accuracy. (Graphic science fiction. 7-11)

Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4494-7094-4

Page Count: 144

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS

- BOOK REVIEW
AS THE DEER FLIES
by Doug Savage ; illustrated by Doug Savage

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THE BAD GUYS

From the Bad Guys series , Vol. 1

by Aaron Blabey ; illustrated by Aaron Blabey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 3, 2017

We challenge anyone to read this and keep a straight face.

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Four misunderstood villains endeavor to turn over a new leaf…or a new rap sheet in Blabey's frenzied romp.

As readers open the first page of this early chapter book, Mr. Wolf is right there to greet them, bemoaning his reputation. "Just because I've got BIG POINTY TEETH and RAZOR-SHARP CLAWS and I occasionally like to dress up like an OLD LADY, that doesn't mean… / … I'm a BAD GUY." To prove this very fact, Mr. Wolf enlists three equally slandered friends into the Good Guys Club: Mr. Snake (aka the Chicken Swallower), Mr. Piranha (aka the Butt Biter), and Mr. Shark (aka Jaws). After some convincing from Mr. Wolf, the foursome sets off determined to un-smirch their names (and reluctantly curbing their appetites). Although these predators find that not everyone is ready to be at the receiving end of their helpful efforts, they use all their Bad Guy know-how to manage a few hilarious good deeds. Blabey has hit the proverbial nail on the head, kissed it full on the mouth, and handed it a stick of Acme dynamite. With illustrations that startle in their manic comedy and deadpan direct address and with a narrative that follows four endearingly sardonic characters trying to push past (sometimes successfully) their fear-causing natures, this book instantly joins the classic ranks of Captain Underpants and The Stinky Cheese Man.

We challenge anyone to read this and keep a straight face. (Fiction. 7-11)

Pub Date: Jan. 3, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-545-91240-2

Page Count: 144

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
CAT ON THE RUN IN HIDDEN LAYERS!
by Aaron Blabey ; illustrated by Aaron Blabey

- BOOK REVIEW
CRANKY PUG
by Aaron Blabey ; illustrated by Aaron Blabey

- BOOK REVIEW
CAT ON THE RUN IN CUCUMBER MADNESS!
by Aaron Blabey ; illustrated by Aaron Blabey

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A SNOW DAY FOR PLUM!

by Matt Phelan ; illustrated by Matt Phelan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 7, 2023

Lively fun with animal friends.

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Has Plum’s pep deserted him?

Several animals from the Athensville Zoo are on their way to visit an elementary school. Overconfident Itch the ningbing (an Australian marsupial), unaware that zookeeper Lizzie will be doing all the talking, looks forward to “lecturing eager young minds.” Plum, the usually chipper peacock, on the other hand, is anxious—maybe the schoolchildren won’t like him or he’ll get lost. So when they arrive at the school to find the students have been sent home due to a blizzard, Plum is relieved. The animals are left in a school gym for the night until three self-important class mice free them. Itch heads for the library to meet the learned turtle, but Plum reluctantly explores with his friends. When his anxiety peaks, they reassure him, and when the mice reject Meg, another peacock, as “borrrring” and uncool, they buoy her as well before everyone comes together to save Itch, who finds himself outside and stranded in a snowdrift. Unlike Leave It to Plum (2022), this is not a mystery, and the relationship focus shifts from Lizzie to the rodents, but the pace is brisk, and sequel seekers will be pleased to revisit familiar characters (if dismayed that Itch’s longing for knowledge leads to his downfall). In Phelan’s engaging grayscale pen-and-wash illustrations, Lizzie has short curly hair; text and art cue her as Latine.

Lively fun with animal friends. (how to draw Plum) (Chapter book. 7-10)