by Lori Morgan ; illustrated by Kathy Kaulbach ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014
A powerful tool for education, comfort and, one hopes, healing.
A graphic novel tackles the difficult subject of a young girl witnessing domestic violence.
In stark, direct prose, readers are immediately made aware of Julia’s situation: “All my life my parents fought. I thought fighting was normal.” Julia wants desperately to tell someone (“ ‘My dad hits my mom.’ Wow! What if I said that out loud?”) but is afraid of losing one or both of her parents. Luckily, she and her mom get help. They move first to a shelter and eventually to safe housing to start their new life. Morgan, a counselor at a Canadian service for victims of domestic abuse, dips into many of the emotions that swirl around this topic. Sadness, fear, guilt; in one instance Julia and her mom say good night to each other in their new home, and in a much smaller thought bubble, as if she is ashamed, Julia quietly thinks “Good night, Dad.” Can it be OK to miss someone who has caused so much harm? In the end, Julia is allowed to visit her dad on weekends, but she cannot tell him where she lives. In its loose, graphic-novel presentation, the art, while uneven at times, serves as a strong vehicle for such emotions. Julia’s complete journey is portrayed in a mere 32 pages, which could seem rushed, but to a child who sees him- or herself in any part of this story, it could be a lifeline to hold on to.
A powerful tool for education, comfort and, one hopes, healing. (Graphic novel. 7-9)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4595-0283-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Formac
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
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by Dav Pilkey ; illustrated by Dav Pilkey ; color by Jose Garibaldi ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 30, 2016
What a wag.
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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
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by Dav Pilkey ; illustrated by Dav Pilkey ; color by Jose Garibaldi & Wes Dzioba
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SEEN & HEARD
BOOK TO SCREEN
by Lulu Delacre ; illustrated by Lulu Delacre ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 17, 2019
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape.
The fourth installment in Delacre’s early-reader series centers on the rich musical traditions of Puerto Rico, once again featuring sibling tree frogs Rafi and Rosi Coquí.
Readers learn along with Rafi and Rosi as they explore bomba, plena, and salsa in three chapters. A glossary at the beginning sets readers up well to understand the Spanish vocabulary, including accurate phoneticization for non-Spanish speakers. The stories focus on Rafi and Rosi’s relationship within a musical context. For example, in one chapter Rafi finds out that he attracts a larger audience playing his homemade güiro with Rosi’s help even though he initially excluded her: “Big brothers only.” Even when he makes mistakes, as the older brother, Rafi consoles Rosi when she is embarrassed or angry at him. In each instance, their shared joy for music and dance ultimately shines through any upsets—a valuable reflection of unity. Informational backmatter and author’s sources are extensive. Undoubtedly these will help teachers, librarians, and parents to develop Puerto Rican cultural programs, curriculum, or home activities to extend young readers’ learning. The inclusion of instructions to make one’s own homemade güiro is a thoughtful addition. The Spanish translation, also by Delacre and published simultaneously, will require a more advanced reader than the English one to recognize and comprehend contractions (“pa’bajo-pa-pa’rriba”) and relatively sophisticated vocabulary.
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape. (Early reader. 7-9)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-89239-429-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
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