MLK Day Read-alouds

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a big deal around here.We have a special section in the library devoted to books about him (because goodness knows there are a zillion books published about Dr. King), and teachers have been checking them out all week. Just in the nick of time, one of my book orders came in today with four new books that I couldn't wait to read and share. :)

Coretta Scott / poetry by Ntozake Shange, paintings by Kadir Nelson
published January 2009 by HarperCollins

I absolutely love the paintings in this book! I love how they take up an entire two-page spread and are vibrant and, in some cases, larger than life. You can see this by the cover alone. The poetry puzzled me. There is no punctuation, which frustrated me and had me stumbling over my words as I read it aloud to myself. The words per page are sparse and let the artwork tell the story too, which highlights Coretta's childhood, marriage, and key events in her life. I learned that she went to school to sing, and the last page has her and Martin singing together cheek by cheek, my favorite painting in the book. So pleased with this book and plan to share it with students when we study the Coretta Scott King Award.

My Uncle Martin's Big Heart by Angela Farris Watkins, illustrated by Eric Velasquez
published October 2010 by Abrams

Yes, this book is written by one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s nieces. And that's what I love about it - its conversational tone and portrait of a man who we all know as someone who did Great and Important things for society but who she just knew as a loving uncle. Love the illustrations in this one too - similar style to Coretta, but what I like most is that many of them are ordinary. There's one of Uncle M.L. asleep on the couch (fully dressed and with shoes!), one hanging out in the backyard with all the kids, and another smiling as he sends a telegram. It's nice to see another side of him, one that isn't so solemn and serious (though of course there's some of that too). This would be a good choice to share with the little ones.

Martin Luther King Jr. by Joeming Dunn, illustrated by Chris Allen
published July 2008 by Magic Wagon

This book is part of a graphic novel biography series, but do not be fooled, it's not a graphic novel. Not in the sense of the word as I know it, at least. While the illustrations are drawn as comics, the story is narrated completely rather than being driven by dialogue. And it's not really a story either, as it's written very much like an informational book about Dr. King, with chapters for his education, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, etc. That being said, I think this will appeal to students who wouldn't normally pick up a biography or any informational text, the students who read comics exclusively (and I have plenty of those), and who will read anything as long as it's shelved in the 741.5s. So now I have a dilemma - where do I shelve it?

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
published February 2010 by Little, Brown

Oh, how I love this book! I am just consistently amazed by the Pinkney family - they have talent oozing out of their ears, they really do. I think I may have cried when I first read this book. It's so powerful in such a quiet way. Sprinkling Dr. King's words throughout, we are told the story of the Greensboro Four, the first four black students to sit down at a whites only Woolworth's counter and ask to be served donuts and coffee. It tells the story of King's nonviolent, peaceful approach to affecting change, using the metaphor of baking bread. Brian's watercolor and India ink illustrations are a perfect match for this story, but I couldn't tell you why. Perhaps because of the contrast between the delicate watercolors and the harsh black lines - the rightness of blending the two to create something beautiful though not clearly defined. I also love the added material at the end - a Civil Rights timeline, a note from Andrea about her research, and a bibliography of books and websites (selected by ALSC!) to consult "for further enjoyment." Gush gush gush. I love it. Definitely use it with 4th/5th grade students - and be surprised by the great discussions you will have.

2011 Graphic Novels Challenge

Another year of the Graphic Novels Challenge, and I'm excited. Although it's not my preferred format or one that I can judge with any sort of authority, I do appreciate the blend of art with words. My students can't get enough of them, so this is for them too.

Last year, I set an unbelievable goal for myself and, of course, did not manage to attain it. This year, I'll stick to the rules, which are as follows:

1. The challenge starts January 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2011. You can start anytime you want to especially if you want to start early.
2. The level of participation: Beginner (3 comics or graphic novels), Intermediate (3-10 books), or Expert (10+)
3. Overlaps with other challenges is definitely okay
4. Re-reads count
5. Feel free to post your list at any time

I'll be going for the Expert level, and maybe I'll even write that many reviews. I'll list the books here as I read them:

1. Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost (review at my school library blog)
2. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Joeming Dunn, illus. by Chris Allen
3. Copper by Kazu Kibuishi
4. Bake Sale by Sara Varon
5. Scary Godmother by Jill Thompson (review at my school library blog)
6. Lost and Found by Shaun Tan
7. Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke 

That's all for 2011, folks! No, I didn't meet my goal. I really thought I read more than 7 graphic novels this year... 

The Adventures of Ook and Gluk + Scholastic Giveaway

The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future by Dav Pilkey
published August 2010 by Scholastic
176 pages (hardcover), middle grade graphic novel
*copy received from publisher

Meet Ook and Gluk, best caveman friends who are always falling into adventures. They like playing the part of brave heroes, saving a dinosaur from sinking into quicksand, a cavewoman from an unappealing marriage to the Chief, and the whole of civilization from a man out to destroy the world to make a buck.

All I have to say is - kids are going to eat this book up. They'll rip it up, for sure. There are Flip-O-Rama pages in this book, which create seemingly animated scenes, that are destined to be torn to shreds. I'll be taping up those pages in advance.

As for the story, I have many mixed feelings. Obviously, the spelling irks me. Perhaps it's meant to be easy to read, to mimic kids' invented spellings, or whatever - I just don't think it has a place in published works. It gives students the idea that spelling really doesn't matter, and while I'd love to hop on that bandwagon, it's not exactly socially acceptable. But I digress.

What I absolutely loved about this book can be found in the following pages:

You see those arrows on page 9? I love them. Towards the beginning of the book, there were a few arrows to direct the reader to follow the story in the correct sequence. This is much appreciated because contrary to popular belief, not everyone just knows how to read comics.

I also liked the friendship between Ook and Gluk and their ease of making new friends. They had good hearts and wanted to help people, which is nice. But the violence! And the language! A bit too much name-calling for my taste - and I say this because I hear it every day in school, and I can't stand it. Another nasty habit I'd not like reinforced, thanks. The violence is minor, I suppose, but not really, because a kick or a punch is still violence, and again, I don't want to see it in school. But that's just my perspective. Maybe kids are just desensitized to it and won't even notice it the way I did (which I also think is sad, by the way), I don't know.

Anyhow, it seems like this book brought out a whole lot of social commentary in me, and I don't mean to sound so old and cranky. Know that kids will like it and will want more of it. And I do think there was a balance of what I liked and didn't like in it, so I'd certainly put it in one of my student's hands and hope for the best!

Three purple crayons from me - I suspect five from the kiddos. :)

SCHOLASTIC GIVEAWAY!
But that's not all! Along with sending me a shiny new copy of Ook & Gluk to review, they are also hosting a ginormous holiday giveaway. I'm sure you've seen these delectable prize packs among other kidlit blogs (I know I have!), so here I am offering you yet another chance to win this boatload of great holiday reads. Here's what Scholastic has to say about it:

Give the gift of reading to your child this holiday season! Scholastic books make the perfect stocking stuffer for any child on your list.

 

We have a HUGE prize pack filled with the most popular children’s books in the marketplace to offer one lucky reader! Titles include CAPTAIN SKY BLUE, IT’S CHRISTMAS DAVID, OOK and GLUK as well as TONY BALONEY, ODIOUS OGRE and I SPY CHRISTMAS A CHRISTMAS TREE!

 

Seriously, check out those books! To enter, you must have a U.S. mailing address. And that's about it. 

Fill out the form below for a chance to win! Contest ends Wednesday, December 8, 2010. 

Zoey Zeta and the Sisters of Power by Robert Simon

Zoey Zeta and the Sisters of Power: Family Secrets written by Robert Simon, illustrated by Tomomi Sarafov
published April 2010 by Zeta Comics
unpaged (paperback), children's graphic novel
*received from publisher

In this first story of Zoey Zeta and the Sisters of Power, Zoey the scientific genius, middle sister Ella the indestructible, and youngest sister Lexi the supersonic are getting ready for an activity-filled summer vacation when evil villain Dr. Impossible thwarts their plans and puts the country-most importantly kids and their parents-on lockdown. But these girls are superheroes; well, they will be, at least, once they come up with a name and a plan to stop Dr. Impossible.

I quite enjoyed this full-color graphic novel aimed at elementary girls who like superheroes too. The dialogue is smart, as shown by one of my favorite lines, "Parents are cautioned not to weep openly or uncontrollably in front of their children," (in reference to Dr. Impossible taking control of the media world). Because it's aimed at a young audience, I was afraid that the text may be too difficult for my students especially, but I don't think that's the case. Where the language is a bit more sophisticated, the illustrations clearly support it so that the story is not lost. The panels are easy to navigate and the colors just pop right off the page. I'm intrigued by the story, but I'm disappointed that it's separated into three parts. It was over before I really got into it.

Here's a part of the letter I received from the author/publisher about the creation of this comic:

I created Zeta Comics to address the lack of science fiction for young girls. You see, fairies are great but they're not cool. Not unless they're packing molecular disintegrators. Girls need more imaginative, science and engineering based fiction and fun. That's where Zeta Comics is positioning its stories and characters. Get ready for an action-packed adventure starring three powerful little girls with big powers, big attitudes and big adventures.

I'm just going to pretend he didn't bad-mouth fairies there. Because you all know my fascination and love for fairies. Mmhmm.

Anyhow, I plan on sharing this book with my students, and we'll see how it goes! From me, it gets three purple crayons. Solid but too short.

Alison Dare & the Double Blog Dare Tour

Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures written by J. Torres, illustrated by J. Bone
published May 2010 (c2002) by Tundra Books
96 pages (paperback), middle grade graphic novel

This book is told in three parts with shorter stories within the vignettes. We begin with "Alison Dare & the Arabian Knights," where Alison is introduced on her mother's archaeological site, Indiana Jones-style. She's highly bored and more than a little mischievous, uncovering a magic lamp and unleashing a genie to do her bidding. Her first wish is to whisk her two friends, Wendy and Dot, away from their spring break vacations to her quaint little tent in the desert. The three friends' personalities are instantly revealed - Alison is the adventurous one, Wendy bookish, and Dot a little flighty. The three girls must figure out how to deal with 1001 Arabian knights after Alison's wish for more time in the desert goes awry. This adventure has a very distinct Disney's Aladdin feel to it - I found myself singing Genie's song while reading: "Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherazade had a thousand tales..." and can imagine that younger readers will have some context for this story.

In "Alison Dare & the Secret of the Blue Scarab," we meet Alison's librarian-turned-superhero dad, the Blue Scarab. We also learn the story of her parents' courtship through a subcomic, "Daring Romance." Personally, the stories within stories were a bit much for me. In "Alison Dare & the Mummy Child," Alison tries to set up her divorced parents by bringing a picnic basket and mixed messages to the museum where her mother works but gets tangled up in a mummy kidnapping attempt. Little Miss Adventures serves as an introduction to Alison Dare, her friends, and family, and for readers who enjoy snippets, vignettes, or short stories, this is an engaging and multi-layered read.

Alison Dare, Heart of the Maiden written by J. Torres, illustrated by J. Bone

published May 2010 (c2002) by Tundra Books

104 pages (paperback), middle grade graphic novel

Alison, Wendy, and Dot are back at St. Joan's Academy for Girls after summer vacation. The first half of the book serves to introduce the school, the nuns, and some of Alison's summer adventures. In the second half, Alison and her friends learn that the nuns have quite the secret - they're not just fighting evil in the ways prescribed by their vows. No, these are some butt-kickin' nuns! It's a race to find the map that will lead them to the heart of the maiden, that is, Joan of Arc's heart, and the nuns are not the only ones searching for it. Of course, Alison and friends want to find it too, but of course, they should be safely tucked into bed instead of prowling the campus at night. I won't give the ending away totally. :) 

I think I would really like Alison Dare in a different format. I've never been a comic book reader, so the snippets of stories format is foreign to me and a little bothersome at times. I wish that the books were more cohesive in story, that they flowed better and told a single story rather than jumping around, but I realize that that's just not the way they were originally written. Oh well, that's a personal preference. I did quite enjoy Alison's bold, saucy behavior, even though it got her and her friends into trouble. It's wonderful to see an adventurous female protagonist - she's smart and sassy, but most of all, she's curious and action-oriented. It doesn't hurt that both of her parents are pretty cool too. 

As an adult reading these books, my mind spun with all of the pop culture and literary references - Indiana Jones, Ferris Bueller, Dick Tracy, Elvis, Alice in Wonderland, and a little bit of Groundhog Day there at the end, and that's probably not even the half of it. They'd probably go unnoticed by the intended audience, but I certainly got a kick out of them.

Oh! I almost forgot! There's a contest going on over at Tundra Books to take Alison Dare around the world to experience all sorts of adventures. More details on the blog over there. Here's my adventure:

Alison takes on Thor ... with French and Russian back-up

Check out the rest of the Double Blog Dare Tour line-up here!

Jack and the Beanstalk

Today was the last official day of school, and even though I've done a TON of outside reading, my mind is still there. For the past month, I've been reading Jack and the Beanstalk stories to third grade students. They all knew the story already, of course, but we read two different versions, and then ended with a readers' theatre.

I began with E. Nesbit's retelling of Jack's story, with pencil and watercolor illustrations by Matt Tavares. This is a hefty book - a thirty-minute read-aloud, in fact. Because it delves deeper into Jack's story than I remember ever reading before. We learn about the land in the sky where the giant lives, told by a fairy who serves as a guide to Jack on his first trip up there. Jack's father had opposed the giant long ago and was killed by him for it. Thus, Jack's killing of the giant at the end of the story serves to avenge his father's death. Originally written in the early 1900s, this version is dated, of course, with references to trousers and I can't think of what else, and the language is rather flowery, if you will. It begs to be read aloud, but it requires a patient and attentive audience. But the full-color, full-page illustrations make up for what may be lost in translation in the text. Personally, I loved it, and I think some students appreciated it as well.

However, most students were instead fans of Waynetta and the Cornstalk: A Texas Fairy Tale by Helen Ketteman and illustrated by Diane Greenseid. Perhaps it was the silly accent I used (native Texans would most certainly be appalled by it) or the bright, vibrant illustrations, or the cowgirl feel to the story, but I definitely saw a difference in engagement with the book - students loved this one. In this version, Waynetta must sell the last longhorn in order save the family ranch, meeting a man along the way who trades her some magic corn, hence the cornstalk. Instead of a hen that lays golden eggs like in Jack's story, Waynetta finds in the giant's possession a cow who produces (or excretes, rather) golden cowpats. We also have a magic lasso as well as a magic bucket, whose uses are better suited to the setting of this story. What I most loved about reading this book was the natural comparisons that students made to Jack's story which we read the week before. Yep, it was Venn diagram time.

Honestly, I could have read Jack and the Beanstalk stories to third grade for weeks on end. But I stopped there because they get a little antsy after hearing the same story multiple times. For the next two weeks, we worked on a readers' theatre of the story, adapted by Lisa Blau. I enjoyed this script because it has eight parts, which meant that I could have two groups of students in each class and every student would have a speaking part. Overall, they did a great job, even though we could have used more time and probably a little more direction from me. Thirty minutes is just not enough time for readers' theatre, in my opinion.

So, that's all the Jack that my students got to see. But I have to tell you that I read many more versions of this tale, some of which I'm sure I'll forget to name.

Jack and the Beanstalk by Richard Walker
my thoughts via Goodreads:

This version intrigues me because of its jewel-toned color palette and Tim Burton-esque (think Nightmare Before Christmas) illustrations - so different from the typical greens and browns and realistically drawn scenes in most Jack books. But the story is chopped up - Jack only visits the giant once, with the goose and the wife following him back down the beanstalk and the giant soaring into space.

Jack and the Beanstalk by John Cech
my thoughts via Goodreads:

These watercolor illustrations make me smile, they're so vivid! For a contemporary take on an old tale, this one might be my favorite. I appreciate the repetitious Fee Fi Fo Fum rhyme of the giant's, and the three trips Jack takes up the beanstalk. In the end, the giant's wife comes down the beanstalk with Jack, they cut the stalk down and feed it to the cows, and the giant is still stuck up in the clouds (the only sore point for me - I wish the giant was killed). While Jack still has a few magi...more These watercolor illustrations make me smile, they're so vivid! For a contemporary take on an old tale, this one might be my favorite. I appreciate the repetitious Fee Fi Fo Fum rhyme of the giant's, and the three trips Jack takes up the beanstalk. In the end, the giant's wife comes down the beanstalk with Jack, they cut the stalk down and feed it to the cows, and the giant is still stuck up in the clouds (the only sore point for me - I wish the giant was killed). While Jack still has a few magic beans left in his pocket...

Some others that I just didn't feel like delving into, but that I know students also enjoy...

Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osbourne

First grade girls love this one. The gender switch is obvious, but apparently the rest of the story is pretty close to the original. Not that I would know because I have not read it. It's always checked out!

Paco and the Giant Chile Plant by Keith Polette
Set in the Southwest, this Jack tale is told in both English and Spanish, and boy, does it have a lot of flavor! It reminds me of The Runaway Tortilla in its infusion of Latin culture to a traditionally American tale.

Jack and the Beanstalk: The Graphic Novel by Blake Hoena
I love the Graphic Spin series by Stone Arch Books. They're kind of like easy readers but in a graphic format, which really appeals to kids. I haven't read this one, but I am sure glad it exists.

Okay, do you blame me for saving Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale for last? I just don't know what to say about it. It defies everything I think about graphic novels. Even though I read and like them, I still have preconceived notions of what they should be or what they normally are, and this one just doesn't fit - in a good way. Perhaps it's just because I don't read too many original graphic novels, meaning quite literally, original novels in a graphic format. The story is so creative and clever - oh, how I was laughing aloud! And I can't, no, I won't describe it for you because it's not so much about the story but more about the full experience of taking in the characters, the setting, the gorgeous illustrations by Nathan Hale, and also, the ridiculous story. Giant, man-eating ants? Yes, it's ridiculous. But Jack's original story is interspersed throughout this fantastic creation - you definitely have to search a bit to uncover it though. My students loved Rapunzel's Revenge, so I'm wondering how they'll respond to Jack's story.

Okay, that's enough of Jack and the Beanstalk for one day. Unless you have a favorite I haven't mentioned to share. Please do share!

Amulet 1 & 2 by Kazu Kibuishi

Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
published January 2008 by Scholastic
192 pages (paperback), middle grade

Back cover:

After a family tragedy, Emily, Navin, and their mother move to an ancestral home to start a new life. On the family's very first night in the mysterious house, Em and Navin's mom is kidnapped by a tentacled creature. Now it's up to Em and Navin to figure out how to set things right and save their mother's life!

What's missing from this summary is that the family finds itself in an alternate world by way of their new home's basement, an alternate world in which Em and Navin's presumed lost great-grandfather resides with a secret that will change all of their lives.

The story itself is quite engaging and action-packed. And I absolutely love the illustrations. I don't presume to know how to write about graphic novels. I don't know why this book appealed to me particularly - no more than the happy feeling I get when I read it and pore over the illustrations. It's all very mysterious to me, the process of drawing it all out, the decisions made regarding style and layout and colors. All I can say is, they were good decisions in this case! But I can talk about the story and that I did enjoy very much. Oh, how I love to think about alternate universes and realities! Emily and Navin, sister and brother, are likable and relatable children who are merely trying to save their mother from a large, squishy octopus-looking monster. Who knew that their new basement was a portal to another world? They're brave and unphased by the strangeness all around them, determined to free their mom and get back home.

Amulet: The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi
published January 2009 by Scholastic
224 pages (paperback), middle grade

Yes, Emily and Navin save their mother, but unfortunately she's been poisoned, and they need to travel to another town to see a doctor for a possible antidote. The journey would take too long on foot, and they do not have any vehicles left - except of course, their house. Their house! Um yeah, that's ridiculously cool.

While The Stonekeeper introduced us to the Amulet series' characters, The Stonekeeper's Curse delves deeper into the story of the amulet itself (which was found by Emily in Book 1) and the powers it can have over its keeper. Not to mention the keeper's role in saving this town from the rule of the Elves!

This book was much more striking in its illustrations than the first. There was more variation and saturation of colors - blues and greys for the Elves, bright white tinged with pink for the amulet's power, and tons of reds and oranges for the village scenes. And four awesome pages of black with eye slits for a return to consciousness - this was too cool.

Overall, I would highly recommend this series to upper elementary/middle school students. I don't think I need to say it, but I will anyway - fans of Bone will definitely gobble this one up. I don't normally pick up graphic novels that are drawn in this style, but I'm glad I read these two. I'm only sorry that the third volume isn't out yet!

Other reviews:
100 Scope Notes, A Year of Reading, Read About Comics, Omnivoracious

Korgi (Book 1): Sprouting Wings! by Christian Slade

Korgi (Book 1): Sprouting Wings! by Christian Slade
published May 2007 by Top Shelf Productions
84 pages (paperback), all ages

I fancy wordless graphic novels. This one does not disappoint. The adorable korgi pup on the cover sitting next to a waifish girl in the forest at sunset was enough for me to pick this slim volume up. By way of an introductory note from Wart, "Scrollkeeper and Historian of Korgi Hollow," we find ourselves in a magical world where the special Korgis live peacefully and collaboratively with the Mollies, the woodfolk. Ivy is the cover girl and Sprout is her Korgi cub - the two characters we follow in their adventures exploring the wood.

Although I liked this book, I wanted to like it more. Or perhaps I just wanted more of it. Sprout sets off chasing something like a dragonfly and Ivy runs after him. They come to a cliff where a disturbing picture is etched into the overhang, then fall through the earth to a dwelling of monsters, where Sprout exhibits some of his magical powers. The two friends escape, but more adventure ensues. The illustrations are pencil-drawn, in a sketcher's style, with lots of lines but not so much cross-hatching. The effect is soft and lovely. Though, I was sad to reach the end! It's a quick read, and I wonder if it would have pleased me better to have the second volume attached to this one or to maybe expand on some of the existing scenes.

The inside flap suggests this book for Tolkien fans, readers of Bone by Jeff Smith and Andy Runton's Owly enthusiasts. I definitely agree. Now I just need to pick up the second volume from the library!

Oh, and I read this for the Animals in Comics February Mini-Challenge at Stuff As Dreams Are Made On...  And I couldn't resist using this custom button. :)

Fahrenheit 451 adapted by Tim Hamilton

Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Tim Hamilton
published July 2009 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
160 pages (paperback), YA

I loved this graphic novel but dread writing this review.

This adaptation stayed very true to Bradbury's original. Obviously, the text is sparse, but the story still flows rather well. And really, the artwork stands out in this book. But artwork is not something I know how to evaluate! It reminded me very much of Ex Machina, a series that I devoured last summer. The blues and greys and greens dominate most spreads, except for the fire scenes in bright oranges, reds and yellows. The mood of the story comes directly from color choice and the dark, shadowy figures, which is what attracted me the most about this graphic novel. Second would be passage choice - I don't know how much of the text comes directly from Bradbury's original, but it definitely evokes the same tone and style. I also enjoyed the introduction by Bradbury, where he describes his experiences of letting inspiration flow and stories evolve in their own time.

I think fans of the original will appreciate this adaptation, but moreso, this graphic novel makes the classic accessible to those who would not normally read it. Reluctant readers, yes. But also superhero comic fans, as the style is somewhat similar. It can be a gateway to reading Bradbury's original, or even stand alone. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to most high school students.


Others said:
Lesa's Book Critiques: "[...] Hamilton's illustrations provide an appropriate stark background for the story of Guy Montag [...]"
Reading and Rooibos: "[...] I find it genuinely exciting that the graphic novel format will introduce this story about the dangers of censorship and the power of critical thought to many readers who may not have already encountered the novel."

Adventures in Burrwood Forest by John Lechner

Adventures in Burrwood Forest by John Lechner
published May 2007 by Candlewick
56 pages (hardcover), ages 6-10

I wanted to like this book. I really did. But I just can't seem to connect with graphic novels for children, and this one is no exception.

The book begins with a tour of the setting, the Burrs' homes, and an introduction to the Burrs. Sticky Burr is unlike the others; he paints and likes music instead of wanting to irritate things by getting stuck on them, which is what every good Burr should do, I suppose. Some of the other Burrs make fun of him and even want to kick him out of the community, which leads Sticky Burr to go off on his own and accidentally have an adventure involving a twisted old tree and a group of fireflies.

I might have enjoyed this story slightly more if I wasn't interrupted every few pages with an informational insert (e.g. Insects I Have Known, Dangers in the Forest, The Maze Tree, Sticky Situations, etc.). I didn't feel like they added all that much to the story and wish they could have been integrated seamlessly or taken out completely. I was initially drawn to the book because of the illustrations - the cartoon Burrs are cute, and I do appreciate all of the shades of greens and browns used. But cute illustrations aren't enough to carry a story, and this one was just a tad too scattered and a bit flat for my taste.

Wonderland by Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew

Wonderland written by Tommy Kovac and illustrated by Sonny Liew
published January 2008 by Disney

160 pages, YA 

Told through the voice of Mary Ann, the White Rabbit's housemaid, this graphic novel picks up where Alice's story ends. Mary Ann is compulsive about her cleaning, after all, she is a maid, and that is precisely what amused me so much about this book. While Wonderland is the same as Carroll's original creation with appearances from the Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts, the Jabberwock, and others, it's Mary Ann's docile personality that grounds the ridiculous happenings of the story - and I love the contrast.

The story begins with Mary Ann frantically trying to launder a spot off her apron because she detests uncleanliness and insists on a crisp, clean outfit. She is late in attending to the White Rabbit, who is oblivious to the fact that the Queen of Hearts is after his head for associating with the Alice Monster and who is about to show up at his door. After the Queen barges into the White Rabbit's house and accidentally dirties Mary Ann's now clean apron, Mary Ann bops her on the head in a fit of rage and must flee to safety with the White Rabbit. Thus, their adventures begin.

The illustrations in this book are pencil drawn and digitally inked - with magical, muted yet vibrant colors to convey all that is Wonderland. I could flip through (and smell - oh, how good they smell!) the pages all day every day; they are that pleasing to my senses. The story itself is suffused with Carroll's witty, wry humor that will be appreciated by teens and adults alike. At parts, I could not suppress my giggles of delight. Mary Ann is such an ordinary character in a world of chaos, peculiarity, and indulgence. And of course, that is why I love her and the comedic genius of Kovac. I would recommend this book to just about anyone.

I expect that there will be renewed interest in Carroll's original tale as well as the myriad of spin-offs and retellings since Tim Burton's version will entrance us all come March 5, 2010. I might just have to re-read the classic myself! 

Link love:

The Written World: Buddy Review, Part 1

things mean a lot: Buddy Review, Part 2

 

Graphic Novels Challenge

I was wandering around the blogosphere last night looking for some graphic novel recommendations and realized that it has been entirely too long since I've gone on a GN reading binge. I used to read a lot of manga when I worked at a high school, but since being in a middle and elementary school, I haven't had the desire to venture into the graphic world. Which is completely unacceptable! Therefore, I've decided to not only join the Graphic Novels Challenge, but also to set a much higher goal for myself.

I hope to read and review at least 25 graphic novels this year. I plan to read at least 50 because I'm sure I will want to continue series without necessarily reviewing each book. Considering I have 14 checked out right now, I think I can achieve this goal. I just have to make a monthly concerted effort to go to the library and browse the various graphic novel sections. :)

I encourage you all to join! Or at least check out the blog - tons of great resources!

Oh, and I'll record my progress here:

1. Wonderland by Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew - review - read 01/16/10
2. Adventures in Burrwood Forest by John Lechner - review - read 01/19/10
3. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Tim Hamilton - review - read 01/28/10 
4. Korgi (Book 1): Sprouting Wings! by Christian Slade - review - read 02/09/10 
5. Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi - review - read 02/27/10
6. Amulet: The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi - review - read 02/28/10
7. Chibi Vampire (Volume 1) by Yuna Kagesaki - read 03/14/10
8. Chibi Vampire (Volume 2) by Yuna Kagesaki - read 03/14/10
9. Blankets by Craig Thompson - read 04/10/10 
10. Zeus: King of Gods by George O'Connor - read 04/20/10 
11. Calamity Jack by Dean and Shannon Hale - read 05/05/10 
12. Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures by J. Bone and J. Torres - review - read 06/09/10
13. Alison Dare, The Heart of the Maiden by J. Bone and J. Torres - review - read 06/09/10
14. Zoey Zeta and the Sisters of Power: Family Secrets by Robert Simon - review - read 11/06/10
15. The Adventures of Ook and Gluk by Dav Pilkey - review - read 11/30/10
16. Amulet: The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi - read 12/05/10