Catch-up Post 2: Children's Comics

Definitely Not for Little Ones by Rotraut Susanne Berner

• Brief retellings of Grimm fairy tales as comics.  Humourous and a little wicked, these are not as sanitized as common versions parents tell their preschoolers.  The book includes a mix of popular and lesser known stories.  Some episodes feel too abrupt, but this should appeal to young readers in elementary school who like their stories quick and just a little dark.  

Binky to the Rescue by Ashley Spires

• In Binky the Space Cat's second tale, the eponymous kitty must survive an adventure into outer space (outside his house).  His companion and copilot (a mouse toy) has fallen out a window and is in danger from aliens (wasps).  Binky is a hilariously delusional cat and readers will enjoy his misunderstandings and imagined dangers in a very normal home environment.  Spires has created some fun comics for new readers to devour. 

Smile, by Raina Telgemeier

Smile is an adventure in orthodontics.  The author chronicles the pre-teen trauma of knocking out her front teeth and the dental procedures that followed over the next few years.  This is a warm, lighthearted read with some social awkwardness and a few cringe-worthy moments.  The illustrations are colourful and inviting, and the story has more substance than most graphic novels (or non-fiction) for children.

Mouse Guard, Fall 1152, by David Peterson

Mouse Guard is one of the best graphic novels in the children's section at my library. The visuals are fantastic, and it's an excellent storyline for children.  Sometimes I felt that the narrative could be a little more solid, and character arcs could be a little more straight forward, but I enjoyed reading this book.

The New Brighton Archeological Society, by Mark Andrew Smith

Their parents lost during an expedition, four children are sent to an old manor house to live.  There, they uncover secrets their parents had kept and begin to pursue their legacy.

I found this story predictable, characters flat, and plot contrived.  All problems are solved too easily and with too little thought, as though no alternatives exist.  While children are less likely to be bothered by structural blandness, I'm unlikely to recommend this widely.  There are better stories available.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by Eric Shanower

True to the original material, as far as I can recall.  I appreciate that it features interesting elements and events that do not appear in the film.  This may direct some folks to read the L. Frank Baum novel.  I recall not being terribly impressed by Baum's writing, but that's neither here nor there.   Fantastic art.  Quite well done over all. 

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

Korgi is a wordless comic about a fairy-like girl and her magical corgi-like dog who evade some mean monsters.  Nice emotive ink drawings.  Clear, straight-forward narrative.  Good for building visual literacy skills and teaching children to tell a story with their own words.

Rapunzel, retold by Stephanie Peters

This children's graphic novel is from a series featuring classic fairy tales.  I loved the tones of Jeffrey Stewart Timmins' illustrations, and the use of shadows, circles and sharp lines.  The images are simple, but rich.  I am less fond of the grotesque depiction of the witch, and the abruptness of the storytelling. To me, it reads more like a storyboard than the story itself.  However, I did appreciate that the story maintained grimmer aspects of the original tale that are often whitewashed from versions written for children.