Dogs Are People, Too

DOGS ARE PEOPLE, TOO by Dave Coverly. Holt, 2015.

Do you love comics?
And dogs?Then, get ready for a laugh
Chuckle, giggle, snort.

Getting to Know You

SUPERHERO JOE AND THE CREATURE NEXT DOOR by Jacqueline Weitzman with illustrations by Ron Barrett. Simon and Schuster, 2013.

Superhero Joe
Must be brave and face the
New Creature next door.

going graphic

BATTLING BOY by Paul Pope. First Second, October 2013.

Children are at risk constantly in a neighborhood where monsters roam the streets just looking for a tasty child to eat. Only Haggard West seems able to defeat these beings. But now Haggard is dead. Who will rise to take his place? Perhaps Haggard's daughter can fill her father's rather large shoes? or maybe, just maybe, help will come from another world. Action, adventure, mythology, gizmos, corruption and more makes this a GN that will suck readers in and not let them go until the end (or is it the end?).

ROBOT FRENZY: STONE RABBIT by Erik Craddock. Random House, 2013. It seemed like a good idea to create some teddy bear robots to help make the float. But Rabbit is not happy with the bears. While no one is looking, he messes with their programming. Of course, it all goes horribly wrong. Will the crazed new robots destroy it all?

SILVERSIX by Al Lieberman and Darren Rawlings. Scholastic/Graphia, 2013.

Six orphans, all hiding one thing left to them by their parents. Could there be a connection? Phoebe and her robot sidekick lead the Silversix on a mission to discover what their parents were searching for when they were killed in a mysterious shuttle explosion. Dytpic future, environmental disaster, and runaway orphans are a perfect combination for this action adventure GN.

Fast friends

BEAN DOG AND NUGGET by Charise Mericle Harper. Knopf, 2013.


Bean Dog and Nugget
Play and argue and make-up
Enjoying themselves.

Martha Speaks (and we listen)

MARTHA SPEAKS, CANINE COMICS: SIX DARING DOGGY ADVENTURES by Jamie White (adapter) based on Susan Meddaugh's picture books. HMH, 2013.

Martha, the talking dog (it all started with a bowl of alphabet soup) is back in six comical and comics adventures based on the TV show featuring her. One story has Martha sucked up into the computer when she accidentally plays with the keyboard wondering what all the fuss is about. Another story has her starstruck when a handsome TV dog comes to her town. Readers who grew up reading the picture books can now look forward to "chapter" books that resemble GNs.

Simple not simplistic

THE SHARK KING by R. Kikuo Johnson (Toon 2012) is a GN version of an Hawaiian fable. A young woman searching for food is suddenly swamped by a wave. She is rescued by a strange man who tells her of the Shark God. They fall in love and have a child who is the son of the Shark God. He must keep his identity hidden as mortals cannot comprehend how someone can be shark and man without being a danger. The tips for sharing comics at the end is something that should be shared with parents and teachers. <216>




MOO HOO by Candace Ryan with illustrations by Mike Lowery (Walker 2012) is a perfect book for beginning readers. Cow and Owl (Moo and Hoo) are friends. Along comes a kangaroo who tries to join the two. Howe3ver, Cow and Owl rebuff Roo at first. They regret their actions (boo hoo) and ask Roo to join them. <217>




THE DUNDERHEADS BEHIND BARS by Paul Flesichman with illustrations by David Roberts (Candlewick 2012) reunites the Dunderheads, this time to free Spider from jail where he is wrongfully imprisoned. A combination of Spanky and Our Gang, Hardy Boys, and more, the story is fast paced. From Miss Breakbone, the teacher to Ashley Throbb-Hart the movie star, there are absurdities galore for those who visit the Dunderheads. <218>

sampler

Kids Can Press whets readers' appetites with COMICS! COMICS! COMICS! GRAPHIC NOVEL SAMPLER (2011). These teasers from full length books about Binky, Lila and Ecco, Otto and Crackers, and more will certainly make readers search out further adventures of their favorites from this sampler. The final entry, "What Are Comics?" from Lila and Ecco's Do-It-Yourself Comics Club should be required reading for anyone looking for some basic information about comics and graphic novels. <37>