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Cat Kid Comic Club: A Graphic Novel (Cat Kid Comic Club #1)

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Cat Kid Comic Club: A Graphic Novel (Cat Kid Comic Club #1)

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by Dav Pilkey  (Author, Illustrator)

Graphix
December 1, 2020

"Join Li'l Petey [sic], Flippy, and Molly as they introduce comic making to twenty-one funny, rambunctious, and talented frogs. As the story unwinds with mishaps and hilarity, readers get to see the progress, mistakes, and improvements that come with practice and persistence. Can the trio help the class unleash their own creativity?" - GoodReads

Review:
I wish I had known who the psychic tadpoles were from (another series, Dogman) because I was a bit lost since this is the first book in the series. The gist was that these kids (tadpoles) are making their own comics that the father sees as a bit violent (making the world explode), obscene (poop), and strange - so it touches on censorship and what makes art (and a good story). It teaches kids that they can create anything out of everyday objects and that in order to create good art, you will fail first. And that's okay. It's a message grown-up people (like myself) need to hear, too. A little backstory would have been nice on the characters, but it was cute, thoughtful, funny, and insightful.
4/5 stars

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by Lily LaMotte  (Author), Ann Xu (Illustrator)

HarperAlley
October 27, 2020

"Twelve-year-old Cici has just moved from Taiwan to Seattle, and the only thing she wants more than to fit in at her new school is to celebrate her grandmother, A-má’s, seventieth birthday together.

Since she can’t go to A-má, Cici cooks up a plan to bring A-má to her by winning the grand prize in a kids’ cooking contest to pay for A-má’s plane ticket! There’s just one problem: Cici only knows how to cook Taiwanese food.

And after her pickled cucumber debacle at lunch, she’s determined to channel her inner Julia Child. Can Cici find a winning recipe to reunite with A-má, a way to fit in with her new friends, and somehow find herself too?" - Goodreads

Review:
I absolutely loved this spunky middle-grade graphic novel about a Taiwanese immigrant girl determined to win a cooking contest so that she could buy a plane ticket for a grandmother to visit her in the states. So many themes here: immigration, missing a loved one, combining cultural identities, and parental expectations...and I’ve always been a sucker for fancy foods.
This is a great read that can be finished in one sitting, or picked up and put down to savor the chapters. I think many students/children would love the determination that Cici has.
5/5 stars

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Description pulled from Amazon: On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her "Yu-MEAT" because she smells like her family's Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she's reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and courage.

Instead of spending the summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, Yumi is enrolled in test-prep tutoring to qualify for a private school scholarship, which will help in a time of hardship at the restaurant. One day after class, Yumi stumbles on an opportunity that will change her life: a comedy camp for kids taught by one of her favorite YouTube stars. The only problem is that the instructor and all the students think she's a girl named Kay Nakamura--and Yumi doesn't correct them.

As this case of mistaken identity unravels, Yumi must decide to stand up and reveal the truth or risk losing her dreams and disappointing everyone she cares about.

Review: I got this book as part of a Scholastic box set and found that while I personally didn't enjoy it (I suffer from EXTREME second hand embarrassment and had to actually walk away a few times), I can see how children would enjoy it! Yumi comes off as determined and well meaning, if not a bit clumsy like we all do. On some level, everyone can relate to Yumi's longing to be understood and seen by her parents for her talents, not just in school, but in another field.
4/5 Stars

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Description from Amazon: Kitty is special. Her mother is a superhero with catlike powers that Kitty and her little brother Max will someday inherit. But being a superhero involves going on daring adventures at night, and Kitty doesn’t know if she’ll ever be brave enough for that!
One night though, Kitty finds a sleek black cat with white paws waiting at her window. When he introduces himself, Kitty is shocked to realize she can understand him—her powers have arrived! The cat, Figaro, has a problem. There’s a terrible meowing sound coming from the clock tower, and the other cats don’t know what to do. The night outside looks cold and uninviting, and Kitty is afraid of the dark. But she musters up her courage and sets out to find the source of the mysterious sound. Along the way, she makes new friends, uncovers her confidence, and learns what it means to be brave.

I loved the Halloweeny vibes this book gave off! This is a book for younger children, but the vocabulary doesn't dumb itself down for them. This would be an excellent read aloud for younger kids and a fun book for older kids to read themselves. The recommended age group did say 5-8 when I looked on Amazon and its website! I would recommend this book to anyone, Kitty is such a genuine and sweet MC (Main Character) and her perseverance and bravery shines!
5/5 Stars!

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Stella Díaz Has Something to Say

Author: Angela Dominguez

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Publishing Date: January 16, 2018

Summary:

Stella Díaz has something to say! But oftentimes, she has a hard time saying it. It doesn’t help that her best friend, Jenny, is in a different class than her this year either. When a new kid moves into the school, Jenny tries to befriend him, only to embarrass herself by accidentally speaking Spanish in front of the whole class! But as the school year moves on, the class gets to decide on a presentation project to work on. Stella chooses to present on her favorite subject, marine biology. Will this project help Stella make more friends? Will she be able to find her voice?

Review:

This early elementary school novel is the perfect book for those students who are shy or have a hard time speaking up. As Stella goes through the process of finding her own voice, children can learn how to find theirs as well. Based on her own experiences, Angela Dominguez does a great job of putting so many children’s insecurities and difficulties into writing and showing them that it will all be okay.

5/5 Stars

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Sir Ladybug

Author & Illustrator: Corey R. Tabor

Illustrator:

Publisher: Balzar + Bray

Publishing Date: March 29, 2022

Summary:

NOW ANNOUNCING SIR LADYBUG! Sir Ladybug is always getting into quests. He doesn’t find them, they find him! That’s why one day when Caterpillar starts getting attacked by Bird, he is unafraid to jump in and save the day! At least, until Bird threatens to eat Sir Ladybug and his crew as well. Will Sir Ladybug be able to conquer Bird? Will he meet his doom? Will the extremely important power of delicious cake save the day?

Review:

With silly storytelling, Corey Tabor finds a good way of communicating to kids, through comedy and creativity, important themes. The story hits on topics of friendship, building confidence, embracing yourself, and realizing that two people might both be right. The illustrations bring to life the whimsical world, as seen through the small creatures of our land, and overall create a sense of childhood joy. If you are in the market for a book that will capture a new reader, this book is certainly the book for you.

5/5 Stars