Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon and Happy Birthday Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel

Summaries from Amazon: "It’s not easy for Danny Dragonbreath to be the sole mythical creature in a school for reptiles and amphibians—especially because he can’t breathe fire like other dragons (as the school bully loves to remind him). But having a unique family comes in handy sometimes, like when his sea-serpent cousin takes Danny and his best iguana friend on a mindboggling underwater tour, complete with vomiting sea cucumbers and giant squid. It sure beats reading the encyclopedia to research his ocean report . . .Using a hybrid of comic-book panels and text, Ursula Vernon introduces an irresistible set of characters with a penchant for getting themselves into sticky situations. It’s perfect for both the classroom and the Wimpy Kid set."

"It's Bad Kitty's birthday, and you're invited! Bad Kitty's second illustrated novel is packed with deadpan humor, rich tidbits of cat information -- and even some suspense! Who took Kitty's presents? Why are Kitty's friends so bizzare? Readers will laugh out loud at Kitty's feline mood swings, and they'll be touched by the heartwarming visit from a surprise guest."

I can just see my third graders: "And I learned something, too!"  Both of these hybrid novels include lots of facts about their subject matter (ocean life and cats, respectively).  They're also both pretty funny, even to this jaded curmudgeon.  

Bad Kitty's format of the offscreen narrator having a conversation with BK was perfect for those reaction shots that kids love, complete with tongue hanging out of mouth and sproing-ing tail.  The book also contains plenty of gross smelly humor. There is truly inspired, footnoted commentary from Chatty Kitty.  And, BK manages to get through his entire birthday without once being nice to anyone... well, maybe one cat.  Add some facts on top, and you have a perfect reluctant reader sandwich.  

Dragonbreath is heavier on the text, with perhaps 1/3 of the story told in graphics and the rest in prose.  I think this book would have been equally successful as an illustrated chapter book, but of course I love the graphic novel components.  I really like the character interplay between Wendell and Danny; Wendell has the best one-liners.  I will enjoy seeing this one fly off the shelves as well.

Both books are super follow-ups to Wimpy Kid.  Enjoy!

The Eternal Smile by Gene Luen Yang

Summary from Amazon: "From two masters of the graphic novel--Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) and Derek Kirk Kim (Same Difference and Other Stories) come fantastical adventures through the worlds we live in and the worlds we create: the story of a prince who defeats his greatest enemy only to discover that maybe his world is not what it had seemed; the story of a frog who finds that just being a frog might be the way to go; and the story of a woman who receives an email from Prince Henry of Nigeria asking for a loan to help save his family. With vivid artwork and moving writing, Derek Kirk Kim and Gene Luen Yang test the boundaries between fantasy and reality, exploring the ways that the world of the imagination can affect real life."

Dang.  This one got me.  I guess I'm used to reading kids' books, which are inevitably predictable. This one had me guessing and marveling at every twist, of which there were several!  

I would say this is YA mostly because of the references younger students wouldn't get (Nigerian spam and genital prosthetics, for example), but it was refreshing to read a story with really nothing to be considered obscene.  Um, except for the genital prosthetics, but we never actually *see* those or anything... 

I am hooked and must go read more Yang!

I read this for the 2009 Cybils.

Awesomeness: 8.5 - this book exudes awesomeness!

Wordsmithing: 7 - clever and well plotted.

Personages: 7 - fascinating but not very likeable, though that is not necessary in short story land.

Mesmerizitude: 8 - it captured me.

Illustrations: 7 - three excellent stories in three excellent styles, all by one artist - very cool.  

Amulet 1 & 2 by Kazu Kibuishi

Amulet 1 summary from Amazon: "After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals. Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves."

The most interesting part of this story is definitely Emily's relationship to the amulet.  Even in the midst of part 2, we still have little idea who or what the stone is.  I enjoyed watching her wrestle for control and dialogue with it, but she was a little too predictable and perfect in her response to the amulet's reaches for power.

This was a quick read with lovely graphics.  It reminded me of Bone in some ways, but was more cinematic, with a simpler story.  I can recommend it to my kids at school and know they'll enjoy it, but there's little beyond that. 

I read this as a nominated book for Cybils 2009. 

Awesomeness: 6 - points for a clean, sweeping fantasy story.

Wordsmithing: 5 - nothing too special here.

Personages: 6 - Miskit!

Mesmerizitude: 6 - eh, I'm vaguely interested in the way it comes out. 

Illustrations: 7 - this is my style of comic, but still only good enough

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians

Hairnet donned and stainless steel spoon in hand, the lunch lady is an ageless icon of elementary schools everywhere, but seldom do they have an opportunity to kick some evil genius booty.  Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author of Max for President and the Punk Farm books (and forever esteemed in my school as the illustrator of Bubble Bath Pirates), has provided such an opportunity.  

This is the second in the Lunch Lady series, in which Lunch Lady, her trusty sidekick and three elementary school kids employ fabulous spy gear to catch the dastardly League of Librarians, who plan to steal a shipment of new game controllers (so the kids will read more?  It's hard to say).

Of the kids, Dee is the one who loves to read, and she also takes the lead when defending Lunch Lady against the eeeeevil librarians.  There's plenty of POW, SMACK and WHAMMO, but also some creative plotting and fun dialogue.  Lunch Lady's whimsical, food-inspired epithets add a dash of spice -- pun definitely intended.

Clever, for boys and girls of all ages, and full of "gifty nadgets," it's great to see the poor, ignored lunch ladies get a starring role at last.  

This book is a 2009 Cybils round 1 nomination.  

Awesomeness: 7  -- unique and funny make it a great package for the elementary crowd

Wordsmithing: 6 -- love the silly sayings

Personages: 5 -- cardboard characters with no development, but what would you expect from a superhero book

Mesmerizitude: 5 -- light and fun, but no real connection here

Illustrations: 7 -- just the right amount of detail