Children's book reviews, all age comic books, Kidlit, mglit, movies, entertainment and parenting
Do Not Go In There! is an illustrated book that looks at the two types of people. Some see the glass half full and those who see it as half empty. It’s a world made up of people who see possibilities and others who see reasons why something shouldn’t be done. Morton and Bogart are the two creatures that toss about the pros and cons in the book. They’re best friends, but like most best friends they don’t see eye to eye on everything.
2020 is a year that will be remembered for many different things. Absolutely every aspect of life has been disrupted to some degree. Have you been to the store and seen all of the candy that’s being marketed with Minions: The Rise of Gru on them? While that film will see daylight in the summer of 2021, there’s a fat chance that all of that candy will be around then. Books are something else that’s been put off or feel displaced during these COVID times. In theory, All Welcome Here by James Preller with illustrations by Mary GranPre could be like that, but let’s re-examine our classrooms for this back to school tale.
Eric Carle is an institution. When people mention board books for infants The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of the first that they’ll say. His illustrations are some of the first styles of art that kids will recognize. If Sandra Boynton is the queen of board books then Eric Carle is the godfather. Thankfully, this is a friendly competition and the only horses that’ll be seen will be at the farm or playing with other critters who are there to amuse crawlers. From the World of Eric Carle comes You’re My Little Baby. This board book has the hallmark look of classic Carle but adds touch-and-feel or other interactive elements that will further make those crawlers learn to love to read.
Middle school students do not need to fear illustrated books and Bringing Back The Wolves is a great example of that. In 1926 Yellowstone National Park has so many wolves that the government offered a bounty for each one that was killed. Around that time thousands of people moving west and wolves were the apex predator to beat. They were attacking cattle with ease which drove a wedge of fear to those farmers who were trying to feed the massive amount of people. Bringing Back The Wolves takes a surprisingly detailed look at the unforeseen effects of these actions and how that environment rebounded.
You say Harlem to some people and they’ll either think of the neighborhood in New York City or the backdrop to the classic Eddie Murphy movie from 1989. Either way, they have the same setting. However, some people will associate it with Harlem Grown. I had heard about the garden in a news story a couple years ago and now it’s a fabulous illustrated book that’ll motivate some kids or simply be a great, good-night book to others.
It’s new comic book day this Wednesday and there are a couple really bright spots in all age comic books. The publishing world is still adapting to the schedule that’s been shifting since March. Because of that, one of the funniest and most creative humor books we’ve seen in years is coming to comic book (and other) stores this week. We thought it was released back in the spring, but Attack of the Stuff is finally coming to stores. It’s from author/illustrator Jim Benton and is absolutely hilarious. It’s weird, might take a moment to get some of the jokes, but is one of the best graphic novels that you’ll pick up this year.
In all age comic books UnderDog will be just the sort of all age escapism for elementary aged readers. Those upper elementary (and up) kids will love Marvel Action Captain Marvel TPB Vol. 2 and The Amazing Spider-Man #47. If they’re a little more cerebral and want something more indie, check out Usagi Yojimbo #12. This series is all action, being made into a Netflix series and has a samurai rabbit. It’s also one of the best all age comic books that you’ll see on a regular basis.
Beetle & The Hollowbones looks like the slightly spookier sister of Steven Universe or a more linear story than one that you’d find in Adventure Time. Granted, for those Cartoon Network or comic book fans those are big things to measure up to. However, they’re also very appropriate and give upper elementary through middle school readers an instant affiliation as to what kind of reader would dig Beetle & The Hollowbones by Aliza Layne.
Eight years is a long time between sequels, especially for middle elementary school through middle school books. However, you can’t keep a good rabbit down as author/illustrator/worldbuilder Tony DiTerlizzi and his fans can attest to. Kenny & the Book of Beasts is the sequel to Kenny & the Dragon and is an utterly charming book that young readers will quickly embrace. This is also the kind of book that readers can enjoy without reading the first one in the series.
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