The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung Fu Cavemen from the Future

The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung Fu Cavemen from the Future. Dav Pilkey. (2010). 176p. New York: Scholastic Press.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
Ook and Gluk, two caveboys, must save their hometown from the evil Goppernopper Enterprises, a corporation from the year 2222 which is set on plundering the natural resources of Caveland, Ohio. When Ook and Gluk are transported to the future, they are taken under the wing of a martial arts master, where they learn Kung Fu in order to destroy Goppernopper Enterprises and save the day. Pilkey writes and illustrates this story, which features plenty of his trademark humor in graphic novel format.

Opinion:
Misspellings galore, rude language and potty humor... This is a book that kids love and adults will cringe at. The premise of the story is that it is written by two elementary aged kids, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, hence the deliberate misspellings and poor grammar. Although I have to wonder how all the misspellings in the book might negatively affect kids who have trouble spelling in the first place, I did enjoy the book for its humor, even if some was a a bit over the top.

Ideas:
The humor and graphic novel format make this is a great book for reluctant readers.

Babymouse: Heartbreaker

Babymouse: Heartbreaker. Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. (2006). 94p. New York: Random House Press.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
Babymouse: Heartbreaker is the fifth book in the graphic novel series by brother and sister team, Jennifer and Matthew Holm. In this installment, indomitable Babymouse faces one of the most dreaded institutions of middle school- the school dance. Valentine's Day is coming up and Babymouse decides that she really wants to attend the dance. The only problem is she doesn't have a date. So Babymouse tries as hard as she can to get boys to notice her, to comically lackluster effect. As always, Babymouse refuses to be defeated and she ends up attending the dance, even though it doesn't play out exactly as she had originally imagined. As with all the Babymouse series, this book has plenty of laughs as Babymouse deals with the trials and tribulations of middle school life.

Opinion:

The Babymouse series with its spunky, imaginative heroine is one of my favorite recent discoveries. In a genre that is heavily dominated by books which appeal to boys, Babymouse stands out as a great graphic novel choice for tween girls.

Ideas:
I'd use this book in a book display featuring books with pink covers (Meg Cabot's Princess in Pink, the Pinkalicious series, etc.). 

Big Nate: From the Top

Big Nate: From the Top. by Lincoln Peirce. (2010). 223p. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel.

Awards and Honors: none

Review: 

Big Nate: From the Top is a collection of comic strips featuring the antics of eleven-year-old Nate Wright, a wise-cracking troublemaker, class clown and anti-hero. Big Nate goofs off, gets in trouble and generally drives all the adults in his life crazy, though he also gets his share of comeuppance, too.
 

Opinion:

Though much of the humor is rather unoriginal, younger tweens will be left in stitches at Nate's mischievous adventures. Unfortunately though there are a few laughs here and there, I find Big Nate a bit too mean-spirited for my taste. (For instance, making fun of a foreign exchange student for the way he speaks is just not funny to me.)

Ideas:

Big Nate should appeal to reluctant readers, as well as fans of the Wimpy Kid stories who have exhausted all the books in that series.

Babymouse: Rock Star

Babymouse: Rock Star. by Jennifer L. Holm and Matt Holm. (2006). 96p. New York: Random House Books for Young Readers.

Awards and Honors: none

Review: 

A humorous and charming addition to the Babymouse series. In this volume, Babymouse dreams of becoming a famous rockstar (even in the face of a serious lack of musical talent). Babymouse's active imagination leads her on some hilarious adventures as she deals with the universal issues of middle school life- bullies, riding the bus and making friends.

Opinion:

In a genre that is heavily boy-centric, Babymouse is a spot-on and spunky heroine for young girls and a great choice for reluctant readers. The series is easy to read and appeals to a wide age range of young readers. Though the series is aimed towards second through fourth graders, the format and humor extend its appeal to middle schoolers.

Ideas:

Many girls on the younger side of the tween spectrum adore princess and ballerina books and everything pink. I'd recommend Babymouse for these readers, as it offers a bit more substance but would still appeal to those who love girly books.

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes: Seven Graphic Stories

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes: Seven Graphic Stories. edited by Kazu Kibuishi. 2012. 128p. New York: Amulet Books. 

Genre: graphic novel

Honors and Awards: none

Review: 
A collection of seven short graphic stories all based on the central idea of a mystery box and its contents. Each artist in the collection presents a unique interpretation of the theme; the stories range from creepy to silly, from fantastical to bittersweet, and everything in between. Readers are exposed to an amazing array of artistic and storytelling styles, and the collection is an excellent representation of the range and breadth of the medium. 

Opinion: 
Graphic novels fans will no doubt adore this book, though I think it's also an excellent introduction to the genre for kids who may not already be fans of the medium. The range of styles and stories, and the fact that they feature main characters of both genders really opens this book up to a huge pool of potential readers. Additionally, the brevity of each individual tale makes the collection not so intimidating for struggling or reluctant readers; kids who don't like a particular story can simply go on to the next one. The Mystery Boxes is the first in a series of graphic story collections for younger readers and tweens, and I eagerly anticipate the rest of the Explorer series.

Ideas: 
An excellent choice for reluctant readers, or a gateway into the genre for those who do not already read graphic novels. I saw one of the stories from the collection performed as readers theater at the ALA conference in Anaheim, which would be fun to do with a group of kids. 

Redwall: The Graphic Novel

Redwall: The Graphic Novel. by Brian Jacques. adapted by Stuart Moore. illustrated by Bret Blevins. 2007. 143p. New York: Philomel Books. 

Genre: fantasy, graphic novel

Honors and Awards: none

Review: Young Matthias Mouse becomes the unlikely hero of Redwall Abbey in this graphic novel adaptation of Brian Jacques' popular juvenile series. Though Redwall has a history of armed conflict, generations have passed since the inhabitants of the abbey have seen war. That is until an army of rather unsavory rats led by Cluny the Scourge attack the fortified city. Matthias, a young priest, unites the inhabitants of the abbey and the surrounding Mossflower Woods to  defend Redwall and defeat Cluny the Scourge.

Opinion: Personally, I found Moore's black-and-white illustrations a bit lacking. While for the most part, the individual characters were well differentiated, several scenes were hard to follow. I have not read the original novels, but I feel that I may have gotten more out of the story if I already knew the plot.

Ideas: I'd recommend this book to reluctant readers, fans of graphic novels and children who read and enjoyed the Redwall series.