Sweet, silly, and sincere.
Best friends Tootie the turtle and Teeny the bird weather their share of storms.
In the first series installment, Teeny landed in Turtletown and came to the slow realization that she was a bird, not a turtle, and the two BFFs embraced the word Birtle (a portmanteau of bird and turtle) to describe themselves and their activities. When the two come across a postcard from the beach, they’re enthralled and set off for what’s sure to be “a BFF BIRTLE BEACH BONANZA!” Sadly, Tootie’s time at the beach turns out to be a bummer: The gnarly waves knock over the pals’ sand castle and make surfing a drag. But Teeny’s ecstatic to meet another bird for the first time. Wherever Tootie and Teeny go, cool gull Garry is quick to follow, much to Tootie’s mounting frustration. Will their friendship stand this new test? Though light in tone, this graphic novel offers a realistic portrayal of conflict resolution. Hannon sensitively balances Tootie’s jealousy and fears of being replaced, Teeny feeling torn between sympathy for Tootie and the desire to forge a connection with another bird, and Garry’s hopes of meeting a new friend. Energetic illustrations with a bright, limited palette do as much to carry the story as the words themselves; Hannon imparts the valuable message that three most definitely isn’t a crowd when it comes to friendship.
Sweet, silly, and sincere. (Graphic fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: May 28, 2024
ISBN: 9781524880675
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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