Archives:
Laika
Author/Illustrator: Nick Abadzis Publisher: First Second Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8, 9-12 Subject: Science, History/Social Studies Special Attractions: For adults too Synopsis: Laika was the abandoned puppy destined to become Earth’s first space traveler. This is her journey. Nick Abadzis masterfully blends fiction and fact in the intertwined stories of three compelling lives. Along with Laika, there is Korolev, once a political prisoner, now a driven engineer at the top of the Soviet space program, and Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika’s health and life. This intense triangle is rendered with the pitch-perfect emotionality of classics like Because of Winn Dixie, Shiloh, […] Read More
First In Space
Author/Illustrator: James Vining Publisher: Oni Press Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8, 9-12 Subject: Science, History/Social Studies Special Attractions: For adults too Synopsis: In the early 60s, the space race was moving towards its climax. Prior to manned spaceflight, both Americans and Soviets were launching animals up in rockets in order to test the biological viability of manned spaceflight… often with tragic results. Extensively researched, First in Space is based on the true story of Ham, a chimpanzee that NASA trained for the first sub-orbital spaceflight. This rousing adventure provides a snapshot in time of mankind’s early steps at conquering the final frontier. (from the […] Read More
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales
Author/Illustrator: Nathan Hale Publisher: Abrams Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8 Subject: History/Social Studies Genre: Historical Fiction Special Attractions: For adults too Titles in this series: Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy: Nathan Hale, the author’s historical namesake, was America’s first spy, a Revolutionary War hero who famously said “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country” before being hanged by the British. In the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series, author Nathan Hale channels his namesake to present history’s roughest, toughest, and craziest stories in the graphic novel format. One Dead Spy tackles the story of Hale himself, who was […] Read More
Crogan Adventures
Author/Illustrator: Chris Schweizer Publisher: Oni Press Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8, 9-12 Subject: History/Social Studies Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure Special Attractions: For adults too Titles in this series: Crogan’s Vengeance: Sixteen individuals, three centuries, one family. It all starts here! CROGAN’S VENGEANCE, the first in an ongoing series of adventure graphic novels spanning continents and centuries as cartoonist Chris Schweizer climbs through the various branches of the Crogan clan’s family tree! Volume one of THE CROGAN ADVENTURES series introduces us to “Catfoot” Crogan, an honest sailor who finds himself thrust into a life of piracy! Crogan never wanted to be a pirate […] Read More
G-Man series
Author/illustrator: Chris Giarrusso Publisher: Image Grade levels: 2-3, 4-5 Genre: Superhero Special Attractions: Child lead characters, For adults too G-Man Volume 1: Learning to Fly — Synopsis: When Mikey G unlocks the powers of his family’s magic blanket, he is transformed into G-Man, the newest kid superhero on the block! G-Man joins his superhero friends Billy Demon, Tan Man, Suntrooper, and the Spark on their very first superhero adventure. But what are they to do when their enemy is Kid Thunder, son of the city’s greatest champion, Captain Thunderman? And will G-Man’s big brother, Great Man, prove to be friend or foe? […] Read More
American Born Chinese
Author/Illustrator: Gene Yang Publisher: First Second Books Grade levels: 6-8, 9-12 Subject: Social Studies Genre: Fiction Special Attractions: Multicultural lead characters, Teen lead characters, Social issues, For adults, too Synopsis: Jin Wang starts at a new school where he’s the only Chinese-American student. When a boy from Taiwan joins his class, Jin doesn’t want to be associated with an FOB like him. Jin just wants to be an all-American boy, because he’s in love with an all-American girl. Danny is an all-American boy: great at basketball, popular with the girls. But his obnoxious Chinese cousin Chin-Kee’s annual visit is such […] Read More
Explorer: the Mystery Boxes
Editor: Kazu Kabuishi Publisher: Scholastic Grade levels: 4–5, 6–8 Genre: Mystery, Fantasy Special attractions: Anthology, For adults too Seven clever stories answer one simple question: What’s in the box? Funny, fantastic, spooky, and suspenseful, each of these unique and beautifully illustrated short graphic works revolves around a central theme: a mysterious box and the marvels — or mayhem — inside. Artists include middle school favorites Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet) and Raina Telgemeier (Smile), as well as Dave Roman, Jason Caffoe, Stuart Livingston, Johane Matte, Rad Sechrist (all contributors to the groundbreaking comics anthology series Flight), and up-and-coming artist Emily Carroll. (from publisher’s […] Read More
Owly Series
Author and Illustrator: Andy Runton Publisher: Top Shelf and Simon & Schuster Grade levels: Pre-K, K–1, 2–3, 4-5 Genre: Fantasy, Humor Special attractions: Wordless, Early Reader, Anthropomorphic Characters, For adults too Owly is a kind, yet lonely, little owl who’s always on the search for new friends and adventure. Relying on a mixture of symbols, icons, and expressions to tell his silent stories, Runton’s clean, animated, and heartwarming style makes it a perfect read for anyone who’s a fan of Jeff Smith’s Bone or Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the Kid. (from publisher’s website) Books in the series: • Owly Vol. 1: The […] Read More
Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas
Author: Jim Ottaviani Illustrator: Maris Wicks Publisher: First Second Grade levels: 6–8, 9–12, Higher Ed Genre: Nonfiction, Biography Special attractions: Science, Female Lead Characters, For adults too Following 2011’s critically-acclaimed, bestselling science biography FEYNMAN, Jim Ottaviani returns with an action-packed account of the three great woman primatologists of the last century: Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas. These three ground-breaking researchers were all students of the great Louis Leakey, and each made profound contributions to primatology–and to our own understanding of ourselves. Tackling Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas in turn, and covering the highlights of their respective careers, PRIMATES is an […] Read More