The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Puckett, Kelley

Batman's Dark Secret

32 pp. | Scholastic | January, 2016 | Trade ISBN 978-0-545-86755-9 $17.99

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jon J Muth. Illustrator Muth gives this variant of Batman's origin story the full noir treatment in an unusually somber picture book. Young Bruce Wayne and his parents are on their way home one night when the boy hears two loud bangs and is swiftly orphaned (off-camera). Young fans will appreciate the respect given to their uber-brooding hero's childhood. The final page reveals the grown Batman, positively Byronic.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2016