Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Is "Paperboy" a Graphic Novel?

We have received the first two books in the "Paperboy" series written by 13-year-old Jeremiah Omari, and the third is on order. In the first book, 11-year-old Michael defends his schoolmates from bullies. As he becomes a superhero, he runs afoul of the LOEP, the League Of Evil People.
There are the occasional illustrations in each chapter but the book contains more text than a "normal" graphic novel. It is selected for graphic novel reading lists. Does this book qualify as a graphic novel? Hmmm...you decide. It's great to see an African-American superhero, isn't it! You go, Omari!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Unicorns Are Here!



For all those interested in mythical creatures, we've just received the Unicorn's Secret series by Kathleen Duey for second and third graders. In Moonsilver, the first of eight novels, Heart Avamir is surprised when the mare she has been taking care of delivers a unicorn. Heart and the foal, Moonsilver, are threatened and must go into hiding. Does Heart ever make it back home? Follow the series and find out!
Interested in other unicorn books? Try Unicorns Don't Give Sleigh Rides by Debbie Dadey, Unicorn Wings by Mallory Loehr, Blizzard of the Blue Moon by Mary Pope Osborne, Wizard at Work by Vivian Vande Velde or Day of the Unicorn by Mollie Hunter.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Noses, Alphabets and Archie



Vivienne Flesher's new book, Alfred's Nose, will leave you chuckling and begging your family for a dog. Alfred is a pug and his family dresses him in bat wings and walrus tusks, a pink leotard and devil's horns, duck bills, crocodile snouts, and even an elephant's trunk. Oh my! You'll still be laughing the next day!
In Bill Mayer's All Aboard: A Traveling Alphabet, you'll find graphic art deco illustrations from A to Z. (My favorite is the green and black C for cycle.) These illustrations are so good that you may just want to frame them.
Archie's War by Marcia Williams is a written journal of 10-year-old Archie Albright's life in London during World War I. At first Archie's parents reassure him that the Germans will not kill children. But when bombs start to destroy his neighborhood, Archie is not so certain that things will turn out okay. Archie's father goes off to war, followed by his older brother. This book has postcards of the era, cartoon illustrations and flip pages. It is the story of a nation at war and how adults and children coped with the devastation of their lives and community.