(2) K-3 This wordless picture book creatively and thoughtfully explores the life cycle of a pencil from tree to drawing implement. The story starts on a blank page with a pencil being sharpened. As the pages turn, the shavings morph into leaves, which sprout into an elaborate forest appropriately rendered with colored pencils and markers in bright colors and intricate lines. Readers looking closely will be able to find a range of birds and other forest animals hidden among the trees. Dramatic page layouts on stark white backgrounds heighten the tension when the trees are cut down, expelling the birds from their homes. Color also plays an important role in the story's unfolding as the vivid colors of the logs from the forest overtake the leaden shades of black, white, and gray of the city and factory, where the wood will become colored pencils. The art returns to full color when a child purchases one of the pencils in an art supply store and uses it to draw the forest back to life. The story poses meaningful questions about the origins of everyday objects and the sacrifices they require to produce, but the creative visual exploration leaves room for delight and inspiration as well. The book closes with well-considered prompts for deepening the experience of reading a wordless book.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

(2) K-3 Little Mouse is playing Supermouse when Mama says it's time for bed: "Even Supermice have to sleep." The affable protagonist settles into bed without complaint, Mama turns off the light...and then Little Mouse notices that the closet door is open. Smith's (long-awaited) sequel to his 2010 Geisel Honor winner, Little Mouse Gets Ready, employs a cartoon format to tell the story. The bulk of the text appears in a handful of speech bubbles at the beginning and end, when the two main characters interact. The middle, when Little Mouse reckons with the cat-shaped shadow in the closet, is told with fewer words; the panels here are dominated by deep blues and violets. This palette stands in contrast to the cheerful, light-filled panels that bookend Little Mouse's dark night of the soul, in which mother and child's affectionate gazes and gentle interactions telegraph security. In the dark, Little Mouse is believably frightened, but readers will feel safe as the mouse creeps out of bed and confronts the "monster" in the closet. Little Mouse screams, Mama comes running, everyone chuckles over a misunderstanding, and Little Mouse is tucked safely into bed once more. A satisfying romp for new readers building their own confidence.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

(2) K-3 Two siblings should be going to sleep, but one of them asks the other, "Can you tell me a story? A SCARY one." That opens the door to three folktales featuring Liniers's distinctive comic-panel treatment. In "The Mermaid and the Pink Dolphin," a captain and his pet monkey navigating the Amazon River are drawn to the singing of the Iara (river mermaid). Following the Iara's tunes takes the captain on a mysterious expedition. "The Owl of Doom" tells of a witch-owl with a woman's face and its call of death. The people live in fear until a child summons the power of music. In "The Evil Light," gauchos riding their horses through the pampas are approaching the sunset hour -- a time the evil light appears and they will have to confront their fears. The siblings' interjections throughout add humor, and the India ink and watercolor illustrations bring the right touch of the macabre to these tales. A useful and informative introduction by David Bowles provides historical and political context, and notes about the mythological creatures and a bibliography are appended. This volume creatively showcases the importance and power of telling and passing stories through generations via oral, textual, and visual narratives. Concurrently published in Spanish as Cuentos de noche: Relatos de Latinoameric.

Reviewer: Sujei Lugo | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) 4-6 This story combines apprehension about moving to a new town, the determination of one sibling to help another, the spine-tingling fear of a haunted house, and the cunning of a resolute cat -- all in one brief, absorbing graphic novel. While Tim enjoys exploring his new town with his faithful cat, Frankie, his older sister, Martha, is having a harder time adjusting. Once immersed in producing original scary music, now Martha can't seem to regain her groove or make any new friends. Determined to help her enter a talent show (and hopefully find some pals), Tim and Frankie embark on a quest to record the creepiest sounds imaginable to give Martha some musical inspiration. But when they find an old, seemingly abandoned house, it's as silent as a crypt. Just as Tim is about to call it quits, Frankie makes an amazing discovery that leads to the spookiest sounds Tim can imagine. The cartooning is fast paced and easy to follow, with just enough text bubbles to establish context and communicate the hilarious and all-knowing motivations of Frankie (who steals the show). The use of bright colors on every page and in many panels' onomatopoeia (to express the spooky sounds) makes the "scary" parts still whimsical and entertaining. Plus, readers will love being let in on the big secret of the story, known only to them and Frankie.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(2) 4-6 Wait, Paul Bunyan wasn't born in Maine and cradled in the Bay of Fundy before making his way to Minnesota's north woods with Babe, his blue ox? It turns out his legend was promulgated in a Red River Lumber Company marketing campaign as a way to promote both the timber industry and, according to an introduction by Lee Francis IV (Pueblo of Laguna), "the common colonial theme of settling various lands and regions that once belonged to Indigenous peoples to make way for 'American civilization.'" This caution paves the way for the graphic-format tale, which imagines a train making its way through Minnesota's winter in 1914, stopped in its tracks by an accident up ahead. The passengers while away the time with stories. Red River's advertising manager delights many with his tales of Paul Bunyan (who looks, in the scratchy ink-and-watercolor panels, a lot like the storyteller in buffalo plaid). The yarns have some detractors, who make note of the clear-cut forests and the displacement of Native peoples--and Van Sciver gives them the last word, effectively complicating the folk-her narrative for both characters and readers. The book concludes with essays by Indigenous contributors Deondre Smiles (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) and the book's coauthor and illustrator Myles (Spirit Lake Dakota), and a map of the region from a Native perspective. It's a busy, thoughtful presentation that will leave readers with much to ponder about the making of this strand of the American mythos.

Reviewer: Vicky Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) K-3 Toon Book series. This level-two TOON comic opens with a poem, reminding readers that "everybody pees!" Owen is on his way to see Grampa, with his mother at the wheel, when the need to urinate overcomes him (in one very funny spread, we see the white of his eyeball fill with yellow liquid). Arriving at Grampa's place, he runs to the bathroom and relieves himself ("Ahhh..."). At the park, Owen admires the fact that his dog, Whizzer, can "pee anywhere." This prompts Grampa to show his grandson the goofy dances that help him when he has to hold in his pee: the Tinkle Twist, the Wee-wee Walk, and the Piddle Patter. Owen makes up two of his own on the spot: the Pee-pee Hop and the Leaky Shake. Soon, there's a line of people in the park contorting their bodies behind grandfather and grandson. This entertaining tale with all its squirmy, wiggly physical humor, marked by Viva's sleek, stylized illustrations, also includes practical tips for children who have to go but aren't in a place in which to do so: on the way to Grampa's, Owen's mother suggests he "try to think of something totally different" (though all Owen can think of is a waterfall, a running faucet, and his water pistol).

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(1) K-3 Liniers (The Big Wet Balloon, rev. 9/13; Good Night, Planet, rev. 1/18) presents a charming celebration of nature, siblinghood, and imaginative play. As three sisters play together on a mysterious island (their backyard), they encounter a plane crash, a tiny gorilla, talking flowers, a dragon, and more. The dragon isn't vanquished until the magic of play is ­broken by a voice calling the girls in for dinner. ("Only ­reality can kill a dragon.") As the children run inside, visuals of their scattered playthings reveal the everyday toys and crafts that inspired their creative ideas. A smiley-faced flower in the final spread hints to readers that there might be more mystery in the world than we suspect. Liniers has a strong command of ink and watercolors, as well as of the comics medium, effectively employing panel sizes, close-ups, and layouts to build suspense and pace readers through the thrilling but never-too-scary adventures. Short sentences, repetition, and numbered pages offer additional support for beginning readers, à la Abby Hanlon's Dory ­Fantasmagory (2014). The sibling relationship is delineated with care and realism; the sisters enjoy the freedom of storytelling and look to one another for guidance as they build on--and sometimes disagree with--various narrative ideas. ("Giraffes don't growl! And we already have a tiny animal.") Endpapers show the characters featured amongst wildflowers in what resembles a spread from a field guide.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Sergio García Sánchez. In engaging comic-format style, ­Spiegelman and Sánchez (Lost in NYC, rev. 7/15) retell the Latin American folktale "Blancaflor," about the youngest daughter of a monstrous ogre. The ogre has cast a spell on a witless handsome prince, which grants the prince good luck every time he plays a game. On the day this luck is set to expire, the ogre invites him to play "the ogre's three," consisting of seemingly unwinnable quests. ­Blancaflor uses her own magical powers to assist the prince. Spiegelman's retelling is a fresh take on the classic story, with contemporary and effortless language that will resonate with modern audiences. Sánchez's energetic illustrations are a visual delight (particularly on the interspersed double-page spreads). Blancaflor is depicted with long brown braids, brown skin, and a comely countenance. Her strength shines through in a calm manner: Blancaflor creates her own fate and does not accept defeat, even when fulfilling the quests nearly costs her her life. The exaggeratedly elongated limbs of the figures reflect the enchanted world in which the characters reside, and the mercurial moods of the ogre are especially well depicted. F. Isabel Campoy writes an informative introduction, and Spiegelman appends an essay on the importance of fairy tales, along with a bibliography. Simultaneously published in Spanish.

Reviewer: Yesica Hurd | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) 4-6 Toon Graphic series. Helping to fill in some of the gaps of our knowledge of the American West, Smith's informative and celebratory comic spotlights three little-known African American figures who helped shape its history. Frontier mail carrier, restaurateur, crack shot, utterly unique; there were many ways to describe the larger-than-life Mary Fields, a.k.a. Stagecoach Mary, the subject of the book's first chapter. Fields epitomized the can-do attitude and versatility that made this time period so rich for storytelling (and ­mythologizing). Accomplished lawman Bass Reeves, the subject of the second chapter, may be America's most well-known Black cowboy. Smith opts to depict a single episode from Reeves's career, one that highlights his ingenuity and wit, as the deputy marshal fools and captures two fugitives. The third chapter features cowboy Bob Lemmons, who pioneered a novel and humane approach to wrangling wild mustang herds of the Texas plains. Well-designed panels and crisp, clean lines and colors allow Smith to present realistic depictions of almost fantastical actions. Occasional full-page illustrations help punctuate the scenes. A note by Kadir Nelson begins the book, and eight pages of substantial and illuminating back ­matter--including photographs, a timeline, and considerable historical background on the experience of Black Americans in the West--are appended. Pair with picture-book biographies Fearless Mary by Tami Charles and Bad News for Outlaws (rev. 11/09) by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson.

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by the author and various artists. Brunetti offers an intriguing comics how-to unique in its support of both novice and experienced cartoonists. Brunetti's encouraging text and approachable illustrations serve as the primary content; frequent sidebars and asides by well-known cartoonists add interest. Focus on drawing characters gradually shifts to a survey of broader fundamentals (comics language, balloons, lettering, pages and panels, etc.). Substantial back matter includes adult-centered tips and brief contributor biographies. Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(2) K-3 Giggle and Learn series. In this fifth entry in the Giggle and Learn series of nonfiction early-reader comics (most recently, Snails Are Just My Speed, rev. 7/18), two peppy young people investigate ants' amazingness. After magically shrinking down for an insect's-eye view, the girl observes ants as they use their four strongest senses to communicate (by touch), listen (through their legs), sniff out food (using their antennae; scout ants' bums leave a "smell trail" leading to food), and then share it...by vomiting into one another's mouths ("Looks like they're K.I.S.S.I.N.G!" says the boy; "Um..." says the girl). The acrylic and gouache illustrations, painted on brown paper bags and using subdued nature hues, give the children--and the ants--plenty of personality. Simple labeled diagrams depict scientific concepts such as anatomy, life cycle, colony structure, and cooperative work. One memorable page shows a thousand black ants working in concert; at the bottom of the page (and the next and the next), a line of leaf-cutter ants marches by. Facing pages close to the end of the book show "What Ants Eat" and "What Eats Ants"; with a page-turn, anteaters get their own say, including humorous speech-bubble dialogue: "Why don't we ever order pizza?" "We're anteaters!" "Okay. How about pizza with extra ants?"

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(3) K-3 Annemarie (from Brunetti's Wordplay) and her classmates are assigned to draw twelve things in sets; she and the others brainstorm with their parents how best to complete the assignment. A simple easy-reader text (leveled for "brand-new readers") and brightly colored comic-panel illustrations will help young children grasp this introduction to patterns and basic multiplication. Appended with tips for reading comics with kids.

Reviewer: Jessica Costello

(4) K-3 "I am one / Here in a body / Alive in a world / Made of air." So begins a succinct poetic look at the interdependence of humanity and nature. Readers disoriented by the book's abstractness--the "I" is a simple black figure standing in for humankind--will nevertheless embrace the dazzling art, which crescendos in psychedelic-fireworks-type explosions of color.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) 4-6 Spanish-language edition translated by María E. Santana. Three amusing and enlightening folktales ("Martina Martínez and Pérez the Mouse" was written by Alma Flor Ada) are presented in a lively comic-book format. Expressive characters and colorful tones add to the stories' playfulness. F. Isabel Campoy's introduction places the tales in the context of folktale traditions of the Americas; primary sources and contextual facts are appended. Also available in Spanish. Bib.

Reviewer: Alicia K. Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(2) K-3 Giggle and Learn series. McCloskey tackles the subject of snails (including plenty of talk about mucus--"YUCK!") in this early-reader-comics series entry. Facts are shared about snail species, sizes, habitats, and behavior. The acrylic illustrations are sometimes realistic, sometimes humorous. The omniscient, informational text is presented in all-caps while human characters and other animals react to the details through lighthearted, speech-bubbled side conversations.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) K-3 After Annemarie defines compound word for her teacher, the girl imagines interpreting compounds part by part: an eggplant, for instance, would be a plant that grows eggs. Spacious graphic-novel panels invite readers to spend time with each of Brunetti's humorous illustrations. The two words that make each compound are highlighted in different colors, reinforcing the lesson and making it accessible to new readers.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(2) K-3 In Argentinean cartoonist Liniers's child-friendly early-reader comic, a little girl's stuffed-animal companion, Planet, comes to life at night. Planet roughhouses with the family dog, grabs cookies in the kitchen, and at the urging of a mouse heads outside to see the "biggest cookie ever"--the moon. Liniers's thin, sketchy ink lines are complemented by a beautiful watercolor palette that adds depth and mass to his forms. Also available in Spanish.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2018

(3) K-3 Giggle and Learn series. In this interesting (if not comprehensive) introduction, two children explain a few fish features and idiosyncrasies. The comics format should appeal to visual learners. The child-friendly illustrations in acrylic and gouache particularly shine in the more thorough story of goldfish, shifting styles as that species travels in time from ancient China to medieval Europe to present-day fish tanks.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Translated by Skeeter Grant. In this comic book translated from the French, Adele escapes a crowded sandbox and embarks on a fantastic adventure. To ease beginning readers, the straightforward, deadpan text runs along the white space at the bottom of the pages. The ink and watercolor illustrations, reminiscent of Maurice Sendak's art, make no such concessions, instead reveling in the grotesque and in their own busy complexity.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(2) K-3 Translated by Françoise Mouly. Illustrated by Philippe Coudray. A twin-brother team supplies "everything you never, ever asked about penguins!" The comic's horizontal trim size allows for four-panel spreads; young emperor penguins hang out on the edges, providing narration and asking and answering silly questions in a kinda-sorta informational fashion. Philippe Coudray's crisp illustrations are rendered in a cool palette, matching the frigid setting. Back matter provides "100% genuine, real facts."

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016