(2) 1-3 Narwhal and Jelly Book series. Excited Narwhal can't decide which costume to wear for Halloween, while scared Jelly doesn't plan to participate. But when Jelly and their friends must "superfy" themselves to bravely rescue Narwhal from a "humongously hungry" sea monster (i.e., Narwhal in too many costume com[cf2boonations), that gives Narwhal the perfect costume idea for their Narwhalloween party...featuring waffles, of course. Humorous puns abound; the varied panel structure and dynamic character expressions in this graphic novel for transitional readers help build age-appropriate suspense. This entertaining eighth series entry includes three "story chapters" plus facts about potentially scary real-life creatures and a "Super Waffle, Strawberry Sidekick and the Bat Attack" comic interlude.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) K-3 Narwhal and Jelly Book series. According to Narwhal, 'tis the season when the Merry Mermicorn spreads "sheer cheer and pure awesomeness wherever she goes!" "The Mira-miny-what-a-corn?!" questions skeptical Jelly, who seeks the perfect present for Narwhal before learning that Narwhal's gift to his jellyfish friend isn't the six new mittens Jelly discovered...did the Merry Mermicorn leave them? Accessible, pun-tastic chapters in this fifth graphic novel for transitional readers feature entertaining supporting character cameos, humorous underwater holiday song adaptations, "Cool Facts" about the ocean and its creatures, and a silly original story by Narwhal and Jelly. Clanton's expressively drawn characters, and an additional splash of holiday red in the blue, yellow, and gray palette, provide extra cheer.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(3) 1-3 Narwhal and Jelly Book series. In their third graphic novel, Narwhal and Jelly continue their absurdist underwater adventures. Jelly introduces waffle-loving Narwhal to peanut butter, causing a new obsession. Five short sections, including an insert of "delicious facts" and a comic-within-the-comic, offer bite-size segments for young readers. The limited palette of blue, gray, and yellow and the simply sketched but expressive characters add to the book's accessibility.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 1-3 Narwhal and Jelly Book series. In their second graphic novel for transitional readers, Narwhal and Jelly aspire to superhero status, donning costumes and assuming secret identities, but Narwhal has difficulty determining a superpower. Accessible text is complemented by engaging illustrations primarily in gray, aqua, and yellow. Three short chapters plus "super sea creatures" facts fit the audience, but an unfinished superhero comic "created by" the duo adds confusion and choppiness to the main story.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 When Rot, a "mutant potato" with a unibrow, enters the Cutest in the World contest, the other contestants, including a blue bunny and a yellow kitty, undermine his confidence. Following his failed attempts to adopt their adorable attributes, Rot must compete as himself. This uproariously illustrated reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder makes even a unibrow look adorable.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS In this companion to Rex Wrecks It!, ghost Boo is new to the neighborhood. Robot Gizmo, dinosaur Rex, unicorn-horned bunny Sprinkles, and monster Wild invite him to play, but Boo isn't good at playing catch or tag. Then they play hide-and-seek, at which Boo excels. Ink, pencil, and watercolor illustrations capture Boo's mood, from trepidation to confidence. The brief text is augmented with often-humorous dialogue and sound effects, comics-style.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(3) K-3 When Liam writes to his mailbox asking for mail, the mailbox delivers a fire-breathing dragon and much more. Cheerful, digitally assembled pencil and watercolor illustrations depict the "oodles and oodles" of creatures and objects that spew forth. Clanton's clever visual incorporation of all things mail-related--including letters, envelopes, and postmarks--bolsters a simple text and heightens the story's humor and appeal.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) 1-3 Narwhal and Jelly Book series. This first installment in a new transitional-reader/graphic-novel series shows the developing friendship between a narwhal and a jellyfish. Three short chapters feature offbeat humor in large, sparsely filled panels illustrated with colored pencil and digitally colored in a limited palette of mostly blue and yellow. Between the chapters, narwhal and jellyfish facts and a "narwhal song" extend the light mood.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 "I wish I could fly! / And breathe underwater." A boy riffs on his impossible wishes; his fulfilled fantasies appear in illustrations of subdued color. His ultimate wish, for "something real!"--he encounters a family of birds singing in a tree--is presented in more vibrant color. Only a junior curmudgeon wouldn't read this book and want to sing along.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS A robot, monster, and magic bunny happily build with blocks, but dinosaur Rex keeps wrecking their creations. Rex can't help himself (although he's "Rawry"), so the pals include Rex and "build something even bigger...and more awesomerific..." which they wreck "all together!" This familiar preschool scenario (Bardhan-Quallen's Tyrannosaurus Wrecks! tackled it recently) plays out entertainingly in the lively mixed-media illustrations.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Mo is delighted with his new mustache. But then all the other monsters get one, too. Mo trades it in for a scarf, and, of course, everyone follows suit. Mo soon understands that copycatting is truly a form of flattery ("Dude! You're one hip, happening hombre!"). Goofy watercolor and ink illustrations add appeal to this story that's overly dependent on its hip, happening language.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 For anyone who's ever wondered why the dish and spoon from "Hey, Diddle, Diddle" run away, where they go, and what they do, Clanton provides readers with the tableware's backstory. The kid-friendly pictures extend the lighthearted text's humor with comments and dialogue bubbles. This might satisfy those not ready for Mini Grey's more sophisticated The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 In a series of self-aggrandizements and petty comebacks, Donkey and Elephant try to convince the reader to "Vote for me!" It's more a drawn-out quibble than a story--until a twist ending kids won't see coming. Adults will appreciate the underlying political joke, while children will appreciate the language ("nincompoop!" "smellypants!") and hilarious black-and-white drawings on rich blue or red backgrounds.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen