Another fun, pun-filled stroll through a delightful witching world.
Jazzy’s back!
Jazzy, the “famous biking witch,” and her gal pal Aggie are preparing for a new school year at the Enchantra School of Craft. On the first day of school, Jazzy and Aggie meet their new classmate, Estrella Moonbeam, who over the course of just one day manages to provide all the right answers in Madame Melcha’s witchstory class, take over Aggie’s role as assistant to Madame Henbane, and insult Jazzy’s stitching of her broom seat. After Estrella challenges Jazzy to a bike race to school—and beats her—the friends declare that they must keep an eye on Estrella. Will Jazzy and Aggie ever find common ground with the new girl? The book approaches themes of insecurity, bullying, and unkindness with care and lots of comic touches that lighten the mood. Jazzy lives with her moms and Granny Titch, broommakers who run a local besom shop. They’re always willing to dispense sage advice and, following a comical mix-up with a broom supplies order, lots and lots of popcorn. Mom, Mama, and Granny Titch help Jazzy see Estrella in a different and more compassionate light. The simple backgrounds, primarily in white and shades of gray, allow the brightly colored people and important objects to pop. Jazzy and her family read Black, aqua-haired Aggie appears white, and Estrella has tan skin and purple hair.
Another fun, pun-filled stroll through a delightful witching world. (witch information and activities, minicomic) (Graphic adventure. 7-11)Pub Date: July 14, 2026
ISBN: 9781665922357
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
We challenge anyone to read this and keep a straight face.
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Dizzyingly silly.
The famous superhero returns to fight another villain with all the trademark wit and humor the series is known for.
Despite the title, Captain Underpants is bizarrely absent from most of this adventure. His school-age companions, George and Harold, maintain most of the spotlight. The creative chums fool around with time travel and several wacky inventions before coming upon the evil Turbo Toilet 2000, making its return for vengeance after sitting out a few of the previous books. When the good Captain shows up to save the day, he brings with him dynamic action and wordplay that meet the series’ standards. The Captain Underpants saga maintains its charm even into this, the 11th volume. The epic is filled to the brim with sight gags, toilet humor, flip-o-ramas and anarchic glee. Holding all this nonsense together is the author’s good-natured sense of harmless fun. The humor is never gross or over-the-top, just loud and innocuous. Adults may roll their eyes here and there, but youngsters will eat this up just as quickly as they devoured every other Underpants episode.
Dizzyingly silly. (Humor. 8-10)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-50490-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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