(3) 4-6 Adapted by P. Craig Russell. Illustrated by P. Craig Russell. The fourth graphic art adaptation of Oscar Wilde's fairy tales retains its sharp edge and wit while making the two stories especially appealing to those readers who love comic books. Russell uses Wilde's rich language to good effect in his retellings; the clear, expressive drawings capture both the individual characters and the overall spirit of each work.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Narrated by the Gray Rock of Evil, this African folktale pits Sumanguru, king of Sasso, against Sundiata, the lame prince of Mali. Ultimately, Sundiata grows into a respected warrior who defeats his nemesis and reigns over his homeland as its much-loved king. This graphic novel is engaging, but Eisner uses a bland palette, and some of the characters' faces and expressions seem crudely exaggerated.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Thierry Robin & Isabelle Busschaert. Santa has a run-in with a group of monsters led by a mummy in this Christmas tale with a bit of an edge, a sequel to Li'l Santa. Older kids will enjoy figuring out the wordless story told in the detailed, amusingly creepy comic strip drawings and will be entertained by the heavy-handed but action-filled (read: lots o' fighting) story, in which Santa and the mummy join forces to battle some nasty loggers.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Thierry Robin. In a wordless comic-strip book with as many as sixteen panels per page, Santa discovers he has no trash to use as raw material for his toy-making machine, so he goes to the big city to get some. Although the pictures are sometimes hard to "read," leaving readers to puzzle out the plot, they're Asterix-colorful and filled with numerous funny details or bits of slapstick.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 1-3 Eisner's comic-book adaptation of Melville's novel about one man's obsession with a white whale remains true to the spirit, if not the letter, of his classic work. Purists will blanch at this graphic distillation of a revered work of American literature, but the cartoon panels capture Ahab's quest for vengeance and his descent into madness in a manner that may appeal to reluctant readers, especially boys.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Will Eisner. Don Quixote receives comic-book treatment in this adaptation of Cervantes' Spanish classic. Full-color paneled drawings and straightforward storytelling laced with comic asides follow Don Quixote's adventures as he changes from a figure of ridicule to one of ultimate nobility. Somewhat choppily abbreviated, this retelling provides an entertaining introduction to the classic.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute