This ham is sweet enough for readers to want seconds.
Peter Porker is hamming it up in Hollywood.
Spider-Ham, an alternate version of Spider-Man from a universe where anthropomorphic animals are the norm, sets his sights on Hollywood when he learns that the lovely Mary Jane Waterbuffalo is starring in a movie by proclaimed director Alfred Peacock. Oddly though, Spider-Ham seems be the antagonist in this cinematic outing. Traveling to Los Angelfish and finding a way into the studio, Spider-Ham uncovers treachery in the form of the Swinester Six: Mysteriape, Raven the Hunter, Buzzard (who’s actually an Opossum), Sandmanatee, Eelectro, and Doctor Octopussy Cat. With help from Mary Jane, Porker is able to save the day and stop the Swinester Six. Along the way, readers who love the Marvel characters will giggle at the various animal-themed cameos of popular characters and Peter Porker’s general bumbling. It’s an amusing graphic novel for younger or reluctant readers and one that should have a lot of popular appeal on school or library shelves. The artwork is bright and inviting, and even readers who aren’t that familiar with all the Marvel references will still be able to enjoy the story. Adults will appreciate that Mary Jane plays a more proactive role than just “damsel in distress” and has a big role in ultimately saving Spider-Ham from the baddies.
This ham is sweet enough for readers to want seconds. (Graphic novel. 7-10)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-80669-4
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
A wacky tale with admirable lessons to be learned.
Bizard the Bear Wizard is back with another silly, suspenseful adventure!
In the first book in this graphic-novel series, Bizard got a wand stuck in his head and gained the ability to grant wishes. In this latest entry, his wish-granting business is still going strong. Everyone in the forest is getting what they want—electric drum sets (with headphones), a ninja outfit, and pink fluffy slippers. But what will happen when Bizard goes into hibernation? Who will grant the wishes then? Squirrel comes up with a plan: He’ll grant the wishes in Bizard’s absence. In agreement, Bear gives Squirrel his very own magic wand. Squirrel gets a little too excited about his newfound powers, however, giving Mouse a too-big TV (before eventually making it a mouse-size one) and Deer a hat that won’t come off. Worst of all, he accidentally jumbo-sizes the baby bunny, Fluffy Wuffy! Now it’s up to Bear, Squirrel, Fox, and Owl to save the day. With a giant carrot and jet pack, will they be able to right the massive mistake? As the characters fix Squirrel’s mess, he comes to realize the importance of teamwork and personal responsibility. The cartoon illustrations are bright and quirky, aligning with the kid-friendly humor of the story. Light on text, this one will readily appeal to emerging comics readers.
A wacky tale with admirable lessons to be learned. (Graphic fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2024
ISBN: 9780823451463
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A lively, mildly spooky mix of magic, ghostly goings-on, school drama, and friendship.
Big changes are in store for Liv.
“How does the world end?” Liv asks, melodramatically. “It ends with a box.” A moving box, that is. Liv, along with her mother, stepdad, and little sister, Amelia, leaves Pleasant Place for Gloomsdale. But their new home is spooky—a porch chair rocks on its own, sounds unnerve Liv’s cat in the night, and coffee is mysteriously ready all by itself in the morning. Things get weirder at Liv’s school, which is populated by ghostly children who exclaim, “It’s not every day we get a living girl!” Bats serve as hall monitors, and classrooms shift places. Though she gets off to a rocky start, Liv eventually finds herself beginning to enjoy her odd new school as she realizes that her new friends—Howl, a bespectacled, tan-skinned boy whose werewolf form is a small puppy, and Vera van Pire, a brown-skinned creature of the night—accept her just as she is. Clearly defined panels and clean-lined art, with Liv’s thoughtful observations shown in multiple text boxes throughout, create an easy-to-follow narrative that serves as a good setup for Liv’s future adventures in Gloomsdale. And though the story has supernatural creatures aplenty, things never get too scary. Liv, Amelia, and their mother are tan-skinned; Liv’s stepdad is darker-skinned.
A lively, mildly spooky mix of magic, ghostly goings-on, school drama, and friendship. (Graphic fiction. 8-10)Pub Date: Jan. 30, 2024
ISBN: 9781665942287
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
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