Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite!

Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite! 

by Ashley Spires

Burt the Beetle isn’t a biter, but he is a hugger!   Unfortunately, that appears to be all that this Ten-Lined June Beetle can do.  In this informative graphic novel, Burt shares the exciting abilities of other insects, then laments that he lacks their amazing powers.   He finds a way to be useful, however, when the other insects find themselves trapped in a spider’s web!

This entertaining graphic novel has a fun story combined with great facts about different insects!

Pawcasso

Pawcasso 

by Remy Lai

Bored, and with no friends outside of school, eleven-year-old Jo is not excited about her summer break from school.    Things take a turn, however, by an unusual sight.   From her window, Jo spies a dog, with no owner, walking down the street carrying a basket.   A curious Jo follows the dog as it proceeds to the town and visits stores to collect items from a list in its basket.   Jo’s fascination turns to panic when she is assumed to be the owner of this amazing creature, and she suddenly finds herself surrounded by friends and attention.   Although Jo attempts to keep up this facade, the growing popularity of her canine companion (who she names Pawcasso), makes the truth harder to conceal.

This fun graphic novel has a sweet story and wonderful illustrations!  A great choice for fans of graphic novels.   

The Time Museum

The Time Museum
by Matthew Loux

Delia is competing for an internship at a unique museum: the Time Museum.   Her fellow competitors are kids from all over time, including ancient Rome and the distant future.  To prove themselves worthy of the internship, they participate in time-traveling missions where they realize that, in order to succeed, they must learn to trust each other and work together as a team. 

This fun graphic novel is the first in a new, exciting series!   Humorous, yet full of action and unexpected twists, this book will be a great choice for graphic novel fans as well as readers who enjoy science fiction.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series, which is scheduled to be released in June!

Author's website: http://www.mattloux.com/

Star Scouts

Star Scouts
by Mike Lawrence

Avani does not want to be a Flower Scout.   All they do is talk about makeup and boys, while Avani would rather be doing something more adventurous.   She unexpectedly gets her wish when Mabel, a Star Scout from outer space, accidentally teleports Avani to her troop meeting.  The Star Scouts are everything that Avani wishes the Flower Scouts were.  Unfortunately, a trip to the Star Scout camp may cause her membership in the troop to be a short one!

Star Scouts is the first book in an exciting new graphic novel series.   With engaging illustrations and a humorous, action-filled storyline, this will a great choice for many readers!

Mighty Jack

Mighty Jack
by Ben Hatke

When Jack trades his mother's car for a box of mysterious seeds, he's in for a huge surprise!  In this modern, graphic novel version of Jack and the Beanstalk, our main character lives with his single mother and younger sister.  After trading his mom's car for seeds at a flea market, he soon realizes that these are no ordinary seeds when his garden starts to come to life.  

I love traditional tales (and frequently do a Jack and the Beanstalk unit with my classes) so I was very excited to see this retelling of one of my favorite stories!   This exciting, graphic novel version was full of thrilling twists and engaging illustrations.    I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Mighty Jack and the Goblin King.  Fans of adventurous graphic novels will want to read this fantastic story!

Author's website: http://www.benhatke.com/

Hippopotamister

Hippopotamister 
by John Patrick Green

When the old City Zoo falls apart, Hippo's friend Red Panda takes off in search of better things in the outside world.  After several visits back to the zoo, Red Panda convinces his unhappy friend to become a Hippopotamister and join him in finding a new, better job.  Although Hippo does well in every job he tries, Red Panda's spectacularly hilarious mistakes makes the pair less than successful in staying employed!  Frustrated and unhappy, Hippo returns to the zoo, where he finds a way to put his new talents to good use.

This is a great choice for growing readers ready to try a comic book.  Most of the pages have only one or two panels, with occasional pages of three or more.  The amusing illustrations are large, colorful and engaging.  Combined with the entertaining dialogue, this funny graphic novel will likely bring about laughter in many readers.

Author's website: http://www.johngreenart.com/

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea!

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea!
by Ben Clanton

When a waffle-loving narwhal meets a jellyfish while out for the swim, it is the start of an exciting new friendship!  Narwhal and Jelly may have little in common, but that doesn’t stop them from having some great adventures together, including creating a fun-loving “narwhal” pod with a variety of other sea creatures and using their imaginations to turn a blank book into a wild story. 

Told in short chapters, this cute graphic novel is a great choice for growing readers.  I like how author/illustrator Ben Clanton uses a combination of comic book panels as well as full paged spreads. The story also includes a short chapter with facts about the two sea creatures.  The simple, yet engaging, illustrations are done in mostly pale blues and greys, with an occasional burst of yellow and other bright colors throughout the book.

Fans of Mo Willems Piggie & Elephant books will want to give this story a try! The next book in this fun new series will be published in May, I’m looking forward to the continued adventures of these entertaining sea creatures.

Book website: http://www.narwhalandjelly.com/

The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth

The Stratford Zoo Midnight Review Presents Macbeth
by Ian Lendler
illustrated by Zach Giallongo

What happens in a zoo at night after everyone goes home?  A performance of the Shakespeare play Macbeth, of course!  Why else would the animals look so tired during the day?  The latest production by the Midnight Revue is quite an entertaining one, as they perform the famous Shakespeare play, with the lion playing the lead role of the villain Macbeth.   The audience, made up of various zoo animals, make an entertaining addition to this graphic novel as they contribute entertaining comments throughout the performance.    Will the Shakespeare play be a hit with the zoo audience?

Full of hilarious characters, funny twists, and awesome illustrations, this graphic novel turns a Shakespeare classic into a wild zoo adventure!   A great choice for fans of graphic novels or anyone looking for a funny read!  Those who like this book will look forward to the Midnight Revue's next production: Romeo and Juliet!

Author's website: http://ianlendler.com/home
Illustrator's website: http://zackgiallongo.com/

Houseboat Mystery

Houseboat Mystery (Boxcar Children Graphic Novels)
by Gertrude Chandler Warner and Joeming Dunn
illustrated by Ben Dunn.

Taking a drive through the country, the Alden family come across a houseboat for rent.    After Grandfather agrees that the family can rent the houseboat, the Aldens prepare for a journey!    Their journey's start is almost interrupted when they almost get into an accident with a speeding car as they head home to pack for their houseboat adventure, but they are soon able to begin their exciting vacation.   However, it seems that they mysterious car they encountered keeps appearing everywhere they go, causing the family to be suspicious.  When a valuable vase gets stolen from an auction the family attends, they find themselves involved in the mystery and wonder if the suspicious car is somehow connected to the theft.   Will the Aldens be able to solve the mystery?

The Boxcar Children series was one of my favorites when I was in elementary school, so I was thrilled to see that a graphic novel version of this series is available!   Joeming Dunn's retelling of Gertrude Chandler Warner's story paired with great illustrations by Ben Dunn make this graphic novel a fun read.  I hope that those who find enjoy this book want to then read the original story, which I do have in the library!

Earthling!

Earthling!
by Mark Fearing

Imagine getting on the wrong bus on your first day at a new school!  That's what happened to Bud.   After moving to New Mexico with his father, Bud accidentally gets on the wrong school bus on the first day.   Not only does this bus go to a different school, it goes to a school in outer space!   Arriving at the Cosmos Academy, Bud soon learns that Earthlings are feared by everyone in the galaxy.   With the help of a new friend, Bud hides that he is from Earth by posing as an exchange student.   Unfortunately, pretending to be an exchange student from the planet Tenarian isn't as easy as he thought.  Will Bud be able to find a way to get home to Earth before everyone learns his secret?

With great illustrations and a lot of humor, Earthling! is a great choice for fans of graphic novels as well as readers who enjoy science fiction.  

Author's website:  http://www.markfearing.com/

Book trailer:

Giants Beware!

Giants Beware!
by Jorge Aguirre
illustrated by Rafael Rosado

Adventurous Claudette is desperate to slay an evil,  foot-eating giant!  To do so, however, she must find a way to escape the gate and tall walls of her highly protected village.   Along with her younger brother Gaston and best friend Marie, she manages to sneak out and the three friends embark on a dangerous, yet frequently humorous, journey to find the infamous giant!  

Full of great illustrations, entertaining characters, and plenty of humorous twists, Giants Aware is a fun read and a nice combination of adventure of humor.  I can see many fans of graphic novels enjoying this book.



Book trailer:  

Benny and Penny in Lights Out

Benny and Penny in Lights Out
by Geoffrey Hayes

It's time for bed and Penny just wants to read her book.   Unfortunately, her brother Benny has other ideas!    Just when things seem to quiet down, Benny realizes he has left his pirate hat in the playhouse.   Penny tags along with him as he sneaks out to retrieve his hat.   They soon realize that the backyard at night can be a scary place!  

This latest book in the Benny and Penny series is a great choice for younger readers looking for a graphic novel!    Using a comic book format, the story is full of funny pictures with an easy to follow storyline.  



Book website:  http://toon-books.com/lightsout/

Kristy's Great Idea

Kristy's Great Idea (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novel)
by Raina Telegemeier
based on the series by Ann M. Martin

Kristy loves to baby-sit and, when she sees her mother struggling to find a baby-sitter for her little brother, she comes up with a great idea: a club for baby-sitters!   She and her friends and fellow baby-sitters Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey form the Baby-Sitters Club.   As the club begins to bring in new baby-sitting jobs for the four friends, they experience the challenges of unusual clients as well as difficulties in their personal lives.    Will the club be able to survive despite these challenges?

I was very excited to read this graphic novel version of the Baby-Sitters Club!  I became a huge fan of the original series many years ago when I read my first BSC book in 5th grade.  It's great to see that the series is still going strong!   I loved the graphic novel version just as much as the original and found that the pictures brought the story more alive for me.    It's wonderful to see students in my library enjoying a story that I loved when I was their age!  

Author's Website:  http://goraina.com/

Zita the Space Girl

Zita the Space Girl 

by Ben Hatke 

When Zita and her best friend Joseph discover a mysterious hole in the ground, they have no idea of the wild adventure that lays ahead for them! Inside the hole is a device with a button, and with the press of that button Zita and Joseph find themselves being swept away to a planet of strange creatures and robots. When Joseph is taken by a group of evil aliens, Zita must find a way to rescue him so they can both escape the planet before it is destroyed by a meteor. Will Zita be able to rescue her friend and get off the planet before it is too late?

This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels and science fiction. It is full of wild adventures, unusual creatures, and great pictures. The shocking ending will leave many readers anxious for more Zita stories!

Author's Website:   http://zitaspacegirl.com/

Book trailer:  
 

Sidekicks

Sidekicks
by Dan Santat

Superhero Captain Amazing is looking for a new sidekick!   Many want the job, including his three pets: Fluffy the hamster, Roscoe the dog, and his newest pet, Shifty the chameleon.  Fluffy and Shifty seek out the help of Manny, the former feline sidekick of Captain Amazing, to help practice their crime fighting skills.  Roscoe, not to be outdone by his companions, shows off his own strengths as a potential sidekick.  While the three pets battle to be the sidekick to their beloved owner, the evil Dr. Havoc emerges from prison with a devious plan to defeat all superheroes.  Will Manny, Roscoe, Fluffy, and Shifty be able to come together to help Captain Amazing save the world from Dr. Havoc?

This is a fun graphic novel with great pictures and a lot of action!   I think this is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels or anyone who likes superhero stories!  

 Sidekicks book trailer:

Adventures in Cartooning

Adventures in Cartooning: How to Turn Your Doodles Into Comics
by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold & Alexis Frederick-Frost

A princess trying to draw her own cartoons gets a little help and puts together an exciting adventure with knights, dragons, and other unusual creatures. Useful tips for cartoon making are included as the story unfolds.

This book is a great choice for readers who are looking for a fun story as well as some tips for making their own cartoons.