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90 pp.
| Candlewick
| September, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-8827-1$14.99
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
LeUyen Pham.
When a monster threatens the Interkingdom Science Fair, the brave Princess in Black (Princess Magnolia's alter ego) and her friends work together to relocate the monster and save the fair. This sixth installment maintains the early chapter-book series' lighthearted adventures and good humor while introducing some simple science concepts. Pham's cheery illustrations match the energy of the text.
326 pp.
| Disney/Marvel
| March, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-368-01126-6$13.99
(3)
4-6
As a middle schooler, fourteen-year-old Doreen Green fumbles through friendships and schoolwork. As her alter ego, Squirrel Girl, she battles a sinister force causing two towns to fight over a new mall's mascot. The narrative is told from varying perspectives; text messages, "Friendbook" comments, email exchanges, and Doreen's first-person footnotes inject humor into the tightly paced, action-packed story.
325 pp.
| Disney/Marvel
| February, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4847-8154-8$13.99
(4)
4-6
Fourteen-year-old Doreen Green, half-girl, half-squirrel, uses her squirrel powers to save her New Jersey neighborhood from her arch-nemesis in this origin story to the comic books. The focus shifts among Doreen, squirrel Tippy-Toe, and Doreen's deaf bestie Ana Sofía; throughout, Doreen adds first-person footnotes that are humorous but also interrupt the story's flow. Comical text-message interludes with other Marvel characters are a welcome bonus.
323 pp.
| Little
| October, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-316-35282-6$14.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-316-35284-0
(4)
4-6
Monster High/Ever After High series.
In this fairy-tale/monster mash-up, Ever After High's Apple, Raven, and Maddie team up with Monster High's Draculaura and Frankie Stein and narrator Brooke. Their mission: protect the World of Stories by stopping the Evil Queen from unlocking the power inside Shadow High. The climax includes a clunky Choose-Your-Own-Adventure element, but fans of both series will nevertheless gobble up this light and pun-filled read.
90 pp.
| Candlewick
| September, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-8826-4$14.99
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
LeUyen Pham.
A shape-shifting monster eludes capture by the Princess in Black (Princess Magnolia's alter ego) and sneaks along on her playdate with Princess Sneezewort. Cries for help, dramatic costume (and shape) changes, and the introduction of a new monster-fighting hero--the Princess in Blankets--help the series maintain its winning mix of humor and excitement. Pham's cheery illustrations match the energy of the text.
90 pp.
| Candlewick
| February, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-6513-5$14.99
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
LeUyen Pham.
The monster-fighting princess returns in two early chapter books. In Horde, the princess laughs off the threat of a pasture full of bunnies--until the cute, ravenous critters threaten to eat her. Vacation introduces new hero Goat Avenger and sends the overworked princess to take some time off. Both installments feature lighthearted illustrations and satisfying, funny adventures. Review covers these titles: The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation and The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde.
88 pp.
| Candlewick
| November, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-6512-8$14.99
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
LeUyen Pham.
The monster-fighting princess returns in two early chapter books. In Horde, the princess laughs off the threat of a pasture full of bunnies--until the cute, ravenous critters threaten to eat her. Vacation introduces new hero Goat Avenger and sends the overworked princess to take some time off. Both installments feature lighthearted illustrations and satisfying, funny adventures. Review covers these titles: The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation and The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde.
90 pp.
| Candlewick
| October, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-6511-1$14.99
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
LeUyen Pham.
At her birthday party, Princess Magnolia's monster alarm goes off repeatedly, so she must don her disguise to rid the goat pasture of monsters and keep her guests entertained and unsuspecting. The second book about the tough, unflappable princess who's at home in both pink and black has the right mix of humor, adventure, and bravery--all captured expertly in Pham's illustrations.
90 pp.
| Candlewick
| October, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-6510-4$14.99
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
LeUyen Pham.
Princess Magnolia is entertaining the nosy Duchess Wigtower when the monster alarm sounds, summoning her to transform into her alter ego--the Princess in Black--and send a wayward blue monster back where he belongs. The Hales have boiled the adventure story down to its essential elements, and Pham's action-packed color illustrations keep things light. Clearly a series-starter rather than a standalone story.
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Michael Slack.
"Where is your coat, Jimmy Choat?" Throughout the week, Jimmy blames his pet goat, Patsy Petunia Oat, whenever his parents find something amiss. More than an exercise in resourceful rhyming, this book offers humorous Photoshop art (as of Mama's nose-mucus-crudded tote), gags for grownups (Papa Choat watches The Love Boat), and an ending with a twist.
(2)
4-6
Illustrated by
Nathan Hale.
In this companion to Rapunzel's Revenge, the swashbuckling plot again shines in the graphic-novel format. Frequent wordless stretches show adrenaline-fueled action sequences, while the panel arrangement, shifts in perspective, and sound effects drive the story forward as inexorably as a steam engine. This steampunk-flavored fairy tale will appeal to boy-, girl-, reluctant-, and eager readers alike.
Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2010
(1)
4-6
Illustrated by
Nathan Hale.
In this graphic novel, Rapunzel's a spunky, hair-whip-toting cowgirl. She joins with stolen-goose rapscallion Jack to rescue her mother and end her wicked stepmother's reign. The gutsy tale is particularly well suited to its format, with illustrations mixing the familiar and offbeat. High action, sensory thrills, and the wisecracking heroes are clearly conveyed through image cropping, text placement, and facial emotional cues.
Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2008
12 reviews
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