Review: Two from Toon Books

Here are my thoughts about two new books from children's comic book publisher Toon Books:

1) Zig & Wikki: Something Ate My Homework, written by Nadja Spiegelman, art by Trade Loeffler, 2010, Toon Books, 40 pages, $12.95

In Zig & Wikki, an alien and his talking encyclopedia/robot friend land on Earth looking to abscond with some local wildlife to fulfill the alien's homework assignment.  They run across flies, dragonflies, frogs, and a raccoon, have a small adventure, and learn some science factoids courtesy of robot Wikki's encyclopedia screen.  It's a cute and simple story, appropriate for all ages.  There isn't too much to say with this one: like all of the Toon Books, I can pretty much guarantee that small children will like it.

READ MORE: Here is a six-page excerpt from the book.

BUY IT: From Toon Books here or from Amazon here: Zig and Wikki: Something Ate My Homework

2) Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker, by Geoffrey Hayes, 2010, Toon Books, 32 pages, $12.95

The brother and sister mice Benny and Penny have already starred in two previous books (Benny and Penny in Just Pretend and Benny and Penny in the Big No-No), so my kids were already familiar with them and looking forward to the new story.  As with the earlier books, Benny and Penny face a problem while playing in their backyard.  Here, their cousin Bo comes to play, and the three of them just don't play well together.  Bo doesn't treat their toys well, and Benny and Penny don't want to include him in their playing.  As with the other books, unfortunately, the kids are pretty mean to each other (every book uses the phrases "cry-baby" or "go crying to your mommy," which seems a little unnecessary -- even if it is clear that it is not a nice thing to say, I don't really want to introduce this phrase to my  kids in the first place).  But the ultimate message of the book is good:  they learn that when they treat each other nicely, they all have more fun playing together.  And I like Hayes's drawings -- they give enough detail to make the world interesting, but don't become overwhelming or too confusing for little kids.

READ MORE: Here is a six-page excerpt.

BUY IT: From Toon Books here or from Amazon here:  Benny and Penny in the Toy Breaker


Lastly, everyone should check out the "Toon into Fun" section of the publisher's website, which has an excellent cartoon maker. My kids LOVE using the characters from the various Toon books to make their own cartoons, complete with word balloons, props, and backgrounds.  Here's one I just made using characters from Eleanor Davis's Stinky (my favorite Toon book):

RELATED: Here are my other reviews of children's comic books published by Toon Books:

• Eleanor Davis's Stinky
• Jeff Smith's Little Mouse Gets Ready
• Art Spiegelman's Jack and the Box
• Geoffrey Hayes's Benny and Penny: The Big No-No

Disclaimer: These reviews are based on complimentary copies provided by the publisher.

Buy this Comic: The Secret Science Alliance

Sorry I haven't been around much recently -- vacation sandwiched between lots of work has meant less time for writing about comic books -- but I'm hoping to get back on the horse soon. In the meantime, here's this week's edition of Buy This Comic (a couple of days late):

Buy This Comic is an ongoing feature in which I recommend one comic book -- and one book only -- arriving on shelves that Wednesday.

There was a lot of very promising stuff out this week, like Strange Tales #1, Cat Burglar Black, and Stitches (which I have reviewed here), but I only get to pick one, so here's this week's pick:

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook, by Eleanor Davis, Bloomsbury USA, 160 pages, $10.99

Here's the description from the publisher's website:

Supersmart Julian Calendar thinks moving to a new school will mean he can shed his nerdy image — but then he meets Ben and Greta, two secret scientists like himself. The three form a covert club, complete with a high-tech lair. There, they can work to their hearts content on projects like the Stink-O-Meter, the Kablovsky Copter, and the Nightsneak Goggles. All that tinkering comes in handy when the trio discovers an evil scientist’s dastardly plan to rob a museum. Can three inventors, armed with their wacky creations, hope to defeat this criminal mastermind?

Illustrated in full color throughout, The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook is a treat for the eyes, with marvelous gadgetry rendered in elaborate detail. And stay on the lookout for more Secret Science Alliance adventures from comic supergenius Eleanor Davis!

Davis wrote Stinky, which is one of my favorite children's comic books (my kids like it too). I really like her art, and she definitely seems to have fun packing in little details and messing with the form.

Check out this drawing of the kids' hideout (click for a larger version):


Plus, the story sounds great -- who wouldn't want to read about whiz kids inventing nutty things in their high-tech lair? (Anybody remember the 80's movie The Explorers? With a young River Phoenix and Ethan Hawke? This sorta reminds me of that.) Anyway, go check it out -- whether or not you have kids, this looks like a winner.

Here's a nine-page preview.

I reviewed Stinky here.

You can read more about The Secret Science Alliance at its website or just go and buy it here: The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook

Review: Little Mouse Gets Ready

Little Mouse Gets Ready, by Jeff Smith, 2009, Toon Books, 32 pages, $12.95

This children's comic book is about a little mouse getting dressed so that he can join his family on their trip to the local barn. It's a cute tale that makes big moments out of small things that are difficult for kids: putting on your socks, fitting a button through a buttonhole, making sure to do everything in the right order even though all you want to do is to go play.

It was written and illustrated by Jeff Smith, who is widely-regarded as one of the top cartoonists on the planet because of his smashingly successful Bone comic book series. Smith plays to his audience here: the narrative is very easy to follow, the drawings are bright and cheery, and there is a nice little punch-line to wrap everything up.

It's sweet and simple, and perfect to read to very young children (or to give to a beginning reader to read to himself or herself).

READ MORE: Here's a three-page excerpt. And here's an interview with Smith about the book.

BUY IT: The book will be available in September 2009. You can pre-order it from Toon Books here or from Amazon here: Little Mouse Gets Ready

RELATED: My reviews of other Toon Books:

• Eleanor Davis's Stinky
• Art Spiegelman's Jack and the Box
• Geoffrey Hayes's Benny and Penny: The Big No-No
  

Disclaimer: This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

Short Reviews: Pluto vol. 1, Hellboy vol. 4, Benny and Penny: The Big No-No

Here are some short reviews of what I've been reading over the past week:

Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka vol. 1, by Naoki Urasawa, Osamu Tezuka, and Takashi Nagasaki, 2009, Viz Media, 200 pages, $12.99

For the first time in a long time, I absolutely cannot wait to read the next volume of a serialized comic book. Pluto, Urasawa's re-imagining of the classic 1964 Tezuka Astro Boy story "The Greatest Robot on Earth," is a sci-fi murder mystery about a robot detective trying to discover who is targeting the seven great robots of the world. IT IS FANTASTIC.

Just to single out a few things: first, the detective's encounter with Brau 1589, a robot who violated the robot laws by killing a human being, is chilling. And the three chapters about the relationship between the former army-bot North No. 2 and his new master, an aging musical maestro, are stunning in their drama and emotional complexity.

I cannot recommend this enough, and I hope the rest of the series maintains this level of quality. If you have not read this, go out immediately and get it.

You can buy it from Amazon here: Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka vol. 1


Hellboy vol. 4: The Right Hand of Doom, by Mike Mignola, 2004, Dark Horse, 144 pages, $17.95

Way back when, I mentioned that Mike Mignola's horror-adventure series Hellboy was on my list of "Things that I wish I was reading." I've since set out to remedy that, and this past week I grabbed The Right Hand of Doom from the library. This collects a number of one-shots and short stories that originally were published in 1998 and 1998. It's good spooky fun, just like I wanted.

The first story, a two-pager called "Pancakes," is just damn funny. Most of the rest of the stories weave in creatures from world folklore, such as an enormous Romanian vampire called the Vârcolac and a bunch of Japanese floating demon heads. The final story, "Box Full of Evil," focuses more on the central mystery of Hellboy himself: what is he, why is he here, and what's up with that big stone hand.

Mignola's art and Dave Stewart's colors are terrific, as always. It's a nice collection.

See a preview here. You can buy it from the publisher here or from Amazon here: Hellboy vol. 4: The Right Hand of Doom


Benny and Penny: The Big No-No, Geoffrey Hayes, 2009, Toon Books, 32 pages, $12.95

My children enjoy this book about two mice who sneak into their neighbor's yard and get into a mud-slinging battle with the new kid living there. It's a short, simple story, and it kept my kids' attention. My only criticism would be that there is some name-calling involved (the term "cry-baby" gets used twice, and Benny calls Penny and the new kid "dumb girls"), which I don't think is all that great for young kids to read. But other than that, it's a perfectly good children's comic book.

See a preview here. You can buy it from Amazon here: Benny and Penny: The Big No-No

Review: Johnny Boo: Twinkle Power

by James Kochalka, 2009, Top Shelf, 40 pages, $9.95

The second Johnny Boo book is just as much of a delight for my three-year-old son as the first volume (which I reviewed here).

This time around, Johnny Boo and his buddy Squiggle get into a spat that can only be resolved by Johnny flipping up his hair, which Squiggle thinks is hilarious. Squiggle heads off to visit the stars, while Johnny encounters the Ice Cream Monster (also featured in volume one). Soon, the three characters have a grand time inventing "wiggle power."

My son finds the story fascinating and funny, and the simple, straightforward cartooning is easy to follow. Kochalka has a good handle on what kids like to read about, whether it's ice cream and burping (volume one), or silly hairstyles and butt wiggling:

The comic won't drive you nuts even after multiple readings, which is always a big plus when you're dealing with books aimed at little children. For the next volume, I wouldn't mind reading a story that has a real beginning, middle, and end (right now it seems like they sort of wander and things just happen), or perhaps seeing Johnny Boo and Squiggle meet a new character, but I think my son would happily follow them anywhere.

You can buy the book from Top Shelf here or from Amazon: Johnny Boo: Twinkle Power

------
Related -- my reviews of other Top Shelf books:

• Jeff Lemire's Essex County Vol. 3: The Country Nurse
• James Kochalka's Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World
  

Disclaimer: This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

Review: Jack and the Box

The new publisher TOON Books has released a number of children's comics that are worthy of a place on your kid's bookshelf. Here is the second of three reviews of their newest books.

In Art Spiegelman's Jack and the Box (RAW Junior/TOON Books, 2008, 32 pages, $12.95), Jack's parents give him a box that contains a wacky talking jack-in-the-box. Jack spends the rest of the story scoping out his surprising new playmate.

The book is aimed at the youngest of readers, effectively using very basic words and pictures to tell its simple story. And it is packed with little jolts to keep kids on their toes.

My young son was fascinated by it, although I found it a little too abrasive for my tastes (too much bickering between Jack and his weird new friend, not enough happy fun). Still, I think it does a good job of introducing new readers to the comic book format, and it certainly will keep their attention.

You can see more sample pages here, and you can buy the book here: Jack and the Box

Disclaimer: This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

Review: Stinky

The new publisher TOON Books, created by New Yorker art editor Françoise Mouly and her husband Art Spiegelman, has released a number of children's comics that are worthy of a place on your kid's bookshelf. Here is the first of three reviews of their newest books.

In Eleanor Davis's Stinky (TOON Books, 2008, 40 pages, $12.95), the title character is a smelly monster who tries to defend his beloved swamp from the encroachment of a friendly boy. Stinky doesn't want the boy around because he thinks kids don't like mud, smelly things, or monsters. But hey - this kid does! And so they become buddies in spite of Stinky's initial feelings.

It's a very sweet story, and one that I felt comfortable reading to my three-year-old. It's fun, moves along quickly, and includes lots of little funny bits about all the gross stuff that Stinky loves.

And the art really is perfect. In fact, in my review of America's Best Comics 2008, I wrote about how creator Eleanor Davis's creatures "seemed to come straight out of childhood nightmares and fairy tales." Well, meet her new creation, Stinky:

You can tell that Davis was born to draw stuff like this. The art is distinctive yet attractive, simple enough for children to follow but never dull. Plus, Davis drew two things that I would have LOVED as a kid:

(1) A Map of the Swamp:

(click to enlarge -- and EXPLORE!)

(2) A cut-away view of a "bottomless" pit:

These two bits give you an idea of the playful nature of this book. The whole thing is a pleasure to read. It's a great comic book for kids.

You can see sample pages here, and you can buy the book here: Stinky

Disclaimer: This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

Review: Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World!

My three-year-old son loves Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World, and he should: author James Kochalka tested out each chapter by reading them to his own three-year-old son as bedtime stories.

The book tells the story of Johnny Boo, the Best Little Ghost in the World (!), and his pet ghost Squiggle. They have a short adventure where they encounter an Ice Cream Monster and use their special ghost powers. That's pretty much it, but for what Kochalka is going for, he's on the money.

This book is perfect if you want to introduce your pre-schooler to comic books. The story is simple and entertaining, with only the three characters. The art is bright, cheery, and easy to follow. It's not scary or violent, but fun and light-hearted. And it zips by: you can read the entire forty-page book to your kid in under ten minutes.

(click to enlarge)

I highly recommend the book to any parent looking for a fun, age-appropriate, and well-crafted comic book to read to his or her young children.

Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World costs $9.95, although right now you can buy it for $7.95 at publisher Top Shelf's website. (Here is a five-page preview.) And be sure to keep an eye out for Johnny Boo: Twinkle Power, due out in December 2008. I know that my son will be happy to see more of Kochalka's bedtime stories.

Disclaimer: This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.