Archives:
Upside Down: A Vampire Tale
Author/Illustrator: Jess Smart Smiley Publisher: Top Shelf Grade levels: K-1, 2-3, 4-5 Genre: Fantasy, Horror Special Attractions: Child Lead Characters Synopsis: Harold is a friendly young vampire who lives in a piano and LOVES candy. Pretty normal, huh? …until he sets out for a dentist appointment that turns into the biggest adventure of his life! Now he’ll face bats, witches, magic spells, vampire frogs, mad scientists, and so much more! It’s a wild magical romp for all ages, perfect for Halloween or any time at all. School Library Journal Good Comics for Kids review Rue Morgue review Comic Book Resources Robot 6 review […] Read More
Three Thieves series
Author/Illustrator: Scott Chantler Publisher: Kids Can Press Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8 Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Special Attractions: Teen Lead Characters Synopsis: As an acrobat in a traveling circus, 14-year-old orphan Dessa Redd flies through the air with ease. Still, she is weighed down by troubling memories. But when her ragtag circus troupe pulls into the city of Kingsbridge, Dessa feels a tickle of hope. Maybe here in the royal city she will finally find her twin brother — or the mysterious man who snatched him away when they were just children. Meanwhile, Topper, the circus juggler, recruits Dessa and the circus strongman, Fisk, for the job […] Read More
Hopeless Maine
Author/Illustrator: Tom and Nimue Brown Publisher: http://www.hopelessmaine.com Grade levels: 6-8, 9-12 Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Adventure Special Attractions: Female Lead Characters, Teen Lead Characters, Multicultural Lead Characters Synopsis: Being Hopeless isn’t just a state of mind. Trapped on an island off the coast of Maine, the people of Hopeless find life a little darker and more dangerous with every day that passes. The number of orphans rises continually, but who can say what happens to their parents? Plenty of the bodies are never found. This is not the stuff of happy, careless childhoods, it is instead fertile ground for personal demons. In Hopeless, […] Read More
Hocus Pocus series
Author/Illustrator: Sylvie Desrosiers, Remy Simard Publisher: Kids Can Press Grade levels: Pre-K, K-1 Genre: Adventure, Humor Special Attractions: Wordless, Early Reader, Anthropomorphic Characters Titles in this series: • Hocus Pocus: This zany tale pits a grouchy pooch against Hocus Pocus, a mischievous blue bunny who lives in a magician’s hat. When Hocus Pocus spots a bunch of tantalizing carrots poking out of a shopping bag, he decides he must have them. But to reach the kitchen counter, he must risk waking Dog, a pet canine who snoozes nearby. Tiptoeing in a pair of bunny slippers works beautifully at first — until a peanut […] Read More
Hilda and the Midnight Giant
Author/Illustrator: Luke Pearson Publisher: Nobrow Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8, 9-12 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Mythology and Folktales Special Attractions: Female Lead Characters, Teen Lead Characters Synopsis: Hilda finds her world turned upside down as she faces the prospect of leaving her snow-capped birthplace for the hum of the megalopolis. Her mother, an architect, has been offered a prestigious position in the bustling metropolis that she would find hard to reject. Besides, the tiny elven creatures making a daily habit of bombarding them with threats isn’t making Hilda’s case any better. As she seeks ways to stall her mother’s decision, Hilda rushes to befriend the […] Read More
Hiccup!
Author/Illustrator: Mike Herrod Publisher: Blue Apple Books Grade levels: Pre-K, K-1 Genre: Humor, How To Special Attractions: Early Reader, Child Lead Characters, Social Issues Synopsis: Jamie has hiccups on the day of his school play! His best friend and co-star is determined to find a cure–no matter how silly, icky, or weird it might be! Will the show-HIC!-go on? Hiccups–everyone’s had ’em, and nobody wants ’em. The familiar dilemma drives this comically exaggerated story of a boy-rabbit battling the inconvenience and embarrassment of a jumpy diaphragm. Hiccup! is an ideal choice for kids who are more attuned to sweeter brand of slapstick […] Read More
Herobear and the Kid
Author/Illustrator: Mike Kunkel Publisher: The Astonish Factory (Original Publisher), KaBOOM! (TPB) Grade levels: 2-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Superhero, Humor Special Attractions: Child Lead Characters, Anthropomorphic Characters, Social Issues, For adults too Synopsis: After his grandfather passes away, young Tyler inherits an old stuffed toy bear and broken pocket watch. He soon learns that things aren’t always what they seem, and that you shouldn’t judge a bear by its cover. Author’s page Publisher’s page Awards: 2003 Eisner Award Winner: Best Title for All Ages 2002 Eisner Award Winner: Best Title for All Ages 2001 IGNATZ Award Nomination for Promising New Talent: Mike […] Read More
Templar
Author/Illustrator: Jordan Mechner, LeUyen Pham & Alex Puvilland Publisher: First Second Grade levels: 9-12, Higher Education Subject: History/Social Studies Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Political Special Attractions: Social issues Synopsis: Martin is one of a handful of Templar Knights to escape when the king of France and the pope conspire to destroy the noble order. The king aims to frame the Templars for heresy, execute all of them, and make off with their legendary treasure. That’s the plan, anyway, but Martin and several other surviving knights mount a counter-campaign to regain the lost treasure of the Knights Templar. Note: Book One of Templar was previously published in […] Read More
Teen Titans Year One
Author/Illustrator: Amy Wolfram, Karl Kerschl, Serge Lapointe Publisher: DC Comics Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8 Genre: Superhero, Humor Special Attractions: Teen Lead Characters, Multicultural Lead Characters, Social Issues Synopsis: Writer Amy Wolfram (“Teen Titans” animated series) brings readers a colorful re-imagining of how the Teen Titans came together! See how these teammates bonded, and overcame the sheer awkwardness of being teenagers to become of the DCU’s greatest super teams! Comic Book Resources interview IGN reviews Trade Reading Order review Publisher’s title page
Teen Titans Go! Series
Author: Merrill Hagan, Sholly Fisch, J Torres Illustrator: Jorge Corona, Lea Hernandez, Ben Bates, Todd Nauck, Larry Stucker Publisher: DC Comics Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8 Genre: Superhero, Humor Special Attractions: Teen Lead Characters, Multicultural Lead Characters, Social Issues Synopsis: Based on the hit new TV show, feast your eyes on this all-new, all-ages comic book series! Join Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Raven as they display their unique brand of hijinks, mayhem and justice! But giant pizza monsters aren’t the only dastardly and delicious villains on the menu…so dig in, Titans! Titles in this series: • The first incarnation of Teen Titans Go! ran for 55 issues, […] Read More