This is a retelling of the folktale THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES. In this modern version, children should be able to identify with a school principal more easily than with an emperor.

Mr. B , the principal, is known for being a snazzy dresser. So when, Moe and Ivy present Mr. B with their business card – “MOE & IVY – Expert Tailors” with “We Make Suits that Suit You Fine.” on the reverse side, Mr. B. is hooked.

Mr. B. planned to wear the new suit to a school assembly. None of the staff, or students, or even the people on his way to school were confident enough to tell Mr. B. they could not see his new suit. Once Mr. B. began walking down the aisle in the auditorium a kindergartener shouted, ‘ “Our principal’s in his underwear!” ‘ (36) All present quickly loan Mr. B. bits and pieces of an outfit. Mr. B. gave the little kinder a gold star and shook her hand for being so honest. “Everyone cheered. They knew their principal was smart and good at his job. ” (42)

The story is followed by a glossary and a set of discussion questions.

Vashti Harrison’s illustrations of the love shared between this father and daughter will draw you into this simple, yet complexed, story of a father (of color) helping his young daughter style her hair that “kinks, coils, and curls every which way.”

Mom has been away for awhile and now little Zuri wants her hair to be perfect for her mother’s return. Dad steps in to work his magic with her hair.

Written by “former NFL wide receiver” Matthew A. Cherry.

As I sat a top of a hill in Douglas County, Washington State, posing for a photo as I read this book, I knew I was in rattlesnake country. I did not know anything more about rattlesnakes than what I had seen in Hollywood movies and old TV Westerns. Now I do. For starters, there are 36 species of rattlesnakes and their habitats are not just in desert country. Rattlesnakes can strike faster than a human can blink an eye. Sometimes, they rattle after they strike and not before. The snake can determine how much venom it will deliver in its bite and sometimes there will be no venom. This is called a dry bite.

I give distance to rattlesnakes, but I truly am amazed by the HD close-up photos of rattlesnakes in this book! Their scaly skin is as bristly as a pine cone at times, not smooth at all. This book is as close to the real thing as I ever hope to be outside of a live snake exhibit. If you are not a snake person, the photos might just make you shiver.

The Lafayette we know from United States history class comes to life in this graphic novel depiction of his life until his return to France after the American Revolutionary War. The tale is being told by “THE PROVOST, THE HANGMAN, AND THE SPY, NATHAN HALE.” (6) Nathan Hale spins this tale to postpone his own execution, if just until the tale is told. It begins shortly after the death of Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier the Marquis De Lafayette’s father in the Battle of Minden.

The telling includes bits of history at first, mixed with some urban legend, customs of dress, schooling, and arranged marriages of the time. First Lafayette’s mother dies and then his great-grandfather dies leaving him a rich orphan at the age of thirteen. At thirteen, people are already scheming to have Gilbert marry their daughter to advance their family’s status.

At age nineteen, Gilbert has a wife and child, but still dreams of glory on the battle field. He goes against King Louis XVI’s “DECREE, THAT NO FRENCH OFFICERS WERE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE AMERICAN CAUSE.”(35) Gilbert sails to America and eventually meets up with General George Washington. Lafayette has a knack for being in the wrong place at the right time or the right place at the wrong time depending upon which side of the war you want to win. “LAFAYETTE HAS NOW FOILED TWO PLOTS TO OVERTHROW WASHINGTON.” (55) Later, Lafayette will encounter Benedict Arnold before and after Arnold changes sides in the war.

Lafayette is charismatic. No wonder his name is still known today. I’m guessing most people today could not give any specifics about what he did to help the Americans during their revolution.

One small mistake, appears on page 99, in frame 11, where the word ‘their’ appears twice. The second time spelled ‘thier’.

What a wonderful visual way to engage young readers in history!

The Only Living Boy Omnibus, The Complete Saga, by David Gallaher and illustrated by Steve Ellis, keeps you on the edge your seat. The world around the main character Erik Farrell completely changes over night. Erik Farrell fights to stay alive and helps others around him on the way to save his world from the dark force. I love the book in general. The artwork and story is stunning and breathtaking. The way the illustrator made the callout boxes is very creative and smart. There is a little art gallery in the back of the book. I highly recommend The Only Living Boy Omnibus, The Complete Saga to everyone and especially people who like very detailed artwork, fantasy, and adventure. The book will drag you in when you read the first couple pages, you will not want to put the book down. I give the book a five out of five stars.

Review by Rylie

Soof by Sarah Weeks is an amazing story about a troubled girl who might have found a new path than what was meant for her future with the help of her dog Duck. Aurora has to face many obstacles in life even meeting Hedi. Without her closest friend Duck, she would have found her new story. This heart wrenching book is a realistic fiction giving the reader something to look forward to throughout the book. There are even a few tear justling moments waiting to get the best of you anytime. If you love books with family, dogs and adventure, this book is right up your alley. I would give this book 5 stars.

Review by Sophie

I am getting used to the graphic novel’s visual technique of going forwards and backwards in time. In this graphic novel, Gillbert (yes, that is gill with two “l”s because he lives under the sea) finds a message in a bottle, but can not read it without his mother’s (Queen of Atlanticus) help. Just before Gill’s mother arrives to translate the message, Anne Phibian, the mermaid, gets Gill’s attention and whisks him off to an unknown party. Meanwhile in deep space, a fiery asteroid is on a collision course with Earth. Gill’s father, King Nauticus, goes to investigate the asteroid.

Teeq- a space alien and long time friend of the Queen has been sending a message into space calling his sister to planet Earth. Teeq’s sister arrives in the form of an egg and hatches in the Queen’s and King’s presence. They name her Matilda. Shortly thereafter, the Pyrockians come crashing into the ocean from space. They want Atlanticus back for their own, which does not make King Nauticus happy.

Teeq and Anne Phibian leave the party after having Gillbert taken home. Teeq and Anne meet Matilda for the first time. Matilda solves the King’s Pyrockian problem by causing a new volcano to form in the ocean giving the Pyrockians a hot place to live in peace. The Queen now has time to translate the Gillbert’s bottle message, it says,” YOU ARE DESTINED FOR GREATNESS.”

Flip the Bird by Kym Brunner introduces many readers to the practice of falconry. Mercer Buddie is fourteen and gets to capture his first hawk for his apprentice year of falconry. There is tension in the air – between Mercer and his older brother (an expert falconer and accomplished ladies man). More tension with Mercer wanting his father to treat him like an adult but he continues to shirk responsibilities, pout, and lie. The story takes a turn with the introduction of Lucy. Mercer crushes hard and sets on a course to win her heart. Unfortunately, this course involves Mercer acting like someone he is not and lying to his parents, Lucy, and himself.  With an animal rights activism twist, the conflict escalates to a fever pitch and Mercer’s worlds collide. Mercer must decide where he stands and what he believes. Packed with emotion, this page-turner will captivate readers and tug at their heartstrings. Brunner masterfully creates a world where Mercer and the reader discover the nuances of animal welfare, scientific research, animal husbandry, and animal rights activism. The reader also realizes, through Mercer’s mistakes, that lying – big or small – can have profound consequences. Flip the Bird is a great addition to a YA collection.

Emily Edelman really wants her very own cell phone for her twelfth birthday. Instead she gets a family trip to the ocean where her little brother fills her sandwich with sand when she isn’t looking and her big sister spends her tme sulking due to the confiscation of her mobile device.  Emily’s parents are a bit distracted and somehow end up with a cake that’s celebrating Emily’s eleventh birthday. Everyone, except Emily, has a good laugh about the bakery’s mistake. As Emily takes a break from family time, she strolls along the beach where she discovers an unusual beach rock. Later that night, she discovers that the beach rock isn’t quite what it appears to be.  The rock is a magical spell stone and Emily is a Stonemaster. Emily’s discovery lands her loved ones in danger and only Emily can save them. This humorous tale of adventure, fantasy, and friendship will have readers laughing out loud. A recommended purchase where you have fans of fantastic and humorous adventures.

Sherlock Holmes and the Disappearing Diamond by Sam Hearn is a combination mystery and graphic novel. John Watson starts school at the Baker Street Academy where he meets his new best friends, Martha Hudson and Sherlock Holmes. He also becomes acquainted with Baskerville, the academy’s trusty dog. Watson loves to write and Martha is a skilled social organizer. Sherlock can be counted on to use deductive reasoning to ferret out ordinary intrigues as well as solve the case of the disappearing diamond and make connections between the case and his school nemesis, James Moriarty This light mystery will have young super sleuths observing their surroundings with a critical eye. The art work adds to the story by revealing key details and by being fun and fresh. Recommended for young mystery readers who enjoy the graphic novel format.