|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Want to be alerted when the next update goes live? Join the no flying no tights blog email notification list! Click to go to the blog
What do the letters mean? | Printer-friendly Version of this Page
This diamond means this book is one of the top ten recommended titles!
|
Most people have never seen or heard of New York City's first inhabitants, shadow beings called the kurbs who love the dark and cold. Unbeknownst to most of the city's residents, the kurbs control New York's weather, and in return for light and warmth, every year a human New Yorker must find the source of the kurbs' power (disguised as a subway token) and return it them. If the human messenger fails, the kurbs will take the city's heat and light, leaving it dark and icebound forever. Over many generations, the responsibility for solving the kurbs' puzzle has passed down from mother to daughter along with magical abilities, until the evil Thor Underton decides to steal the kurbs' token for himself. In the middle of a magical struggle to keep New York from freezing, Sarah Stubbs discovers her mother's secret identity, and befriends some local kids and a very interesting dog to recover the magic token and save the city. My favorite elements of this story were the homemade airplane (I definitely wouldn't try this at home!) and the scenes of some secret places around New York from a pigeon's- and a dog's-eye-view. Review by alison |
|
Poor Ug. He's stuck in the stone age -- literally, as his pants, and everything else, are made of solid stone. Stone baseball bat, stone blankets, stone bed -- you get the rather uncomfortable picture. Smarter than his family, Ug can sense that there's a better way to do things, but he can't quite put his finger on how to go about it. Not only that, no one listens to his ideas at all, except his perplexed but well-meaning father. Are they a match for his cranky mother? Many of you may know Raymond Brigg's more famous, elegant The Snowman. This tale is not so beautiful, nor so melancholy, but it's not meant to be. This book is meant to make you laugh and groan in sympathy with Ug's puzzlement, and maybe along the way learn a little tolerance for those who might one day be genius, but today are kind of odd. review by Robin |
In The Clouds Above, Jordan Crane has composed a charming tale about a small boy named Simon and his long-tailed cat, Jack. Simon is chronically late to school, and one day, he escapes the notice of the teacher and ends up on the roof, where he finds a stairway to the clouds. Simon and his cat climb the stairs, meeting birds and sentient clouds. They spend the day having various and sundry exciting adventures in the world above the clouds--until it's finally time to go back to school. Jordan Crane drew The Clouds Above in a panel-a-page style, so that it in many ways resembles a very long (216 page) picture book. This, and the simplicity of the art and storyline, makes this book a perfect introduction to comics for younger children. The Clouds Above reads like a combination of Louis Sachar's Wayside School stories and Windsor McKay's Little Nemo --it's a fun and fantastical book for children and adults alike. review by gina |
| Tellos involves things familiar to all readers of sword and sorcery tales: honorable thieves, loyal companions, threatening adversaries, and a young boy destined to be a hero. The great thing about Tellos is that it makes every single one of these tropes feel new and vibrant. Young outlaw Jarek, accompanied by his faithful friend Koj, a tiger-man, stumbles into an elaborate and desperate mission to save his world. Suddenly pushed into the role of savior, Jarek gains an amulet that will raise the god of good to fight an encroaching evil. Fated to be a hero, he has little choice about his path. Happily, Koj is close by his side, and his newest ally, pirate captain Serra, is invaluable for her fighting skill, her guts, and her quick thinking. Add into the mix a truly terrifying villain, the team of bumbling thieves Hawke and Rikk, and a wondrous landscape, and you have some of the best action fantasy around. Illuminated like the best animated films, the visuals are rich with color and movement, and the dialogue is a separate feast of classic fantasy prose and witty repartee. review by Robin |
| First things first: do not, I repeat, do not peek at the end of this title! The twister at the end of this tale is such a wonderful, wrenching treat that any preview will kill your enjoyment. If you peek, I will track you down and whap you on the head. Really. Rejoin Jarek, Koj, Serra, Hawke and Rikk on their journey to save their world. Despite the best intentions, these comrades are facing some terrible losses despite the two groups finally finding each other. Koj, once a slave, longs to discover his homeland and people again. Jarek instinctively knows his place as hero, but finds it hard to grasp that one small boy could be so important. Serra finally tracks down her wandering love Hawke, only to be once again frustrated by his secrets. None of our heroes, however, have much time to rest before the evil that is still storming across their home will strike and rip them all apart. A truly satisfying conclusion to a major storyline awaits, once again with the humor, drama, and derring-do of the first volume of Tellos. The buckle and swash are here in spades. review by Robin
|
| Will Eisner is a giant in the comics field, having turned his hand to many different kinds of stories over the years. It's easy to see why he's so revered, even in a work as brief as The Last Knight. The Last Knight is a comic picture book that introduces young readers to Miguel de Cervantes' classic Don Quijote. Eisner's retelling is faithful and literate, but the real joy of this book is in the pictures: his Don Quijote is perfect, from his drooping mustache to his wild-eyed enthusiasm for the lost ideals of knighthood. The ink and watercolor artwork really shines. The Last Knight will fit seamlessly into a children's collection as a graphic novel and a supplement to a classic work of literature; the reading level is that of an easy chapter book. Fans of knights in armor and slapstick humor can just enjoy the silliness of it all. review by Jen |
|
One of the great Will Eisner's short graphic novels for children, The Princess and the Frog takes the traditional tale of an ungrateful princess and a persistent frog and expands on it. In fun, Disney-esque style, we learn how the poor prince ended up as a frog and how he gets his revenge on the evil sorcerer who did the deed. Eisner also fleshes out the relationship between frog and princess; the reluctant maiden grows to respect and cherish her frog companion, finally releasing him with a kiss. The text is easy to read, and the art is lots of fun. review by Jen |
|
Raymond can hear his mom calling him, really he can. He'd just rather not go. So, in a moment of creative genius, he decides he'll use that means of escape he sees in comics all the time. Raymond scrawls "Meanwhile..." in a text box and boom, he's on a pirate ship. It's certainly an escape, but is it a good one? That plank is looking mighty close...Join Raymond in his genre-shifting adventures and you may realize, along with him, that sometimes home is the best place to be. Jules Feiffer is a master of liquid, vibrant comic art, and this book is no exception. review by Robin |
|
All the loveliness of the English countryside in the spring and summer is balanced by the coziness of wintertime in Water Rat's hole in the river bank, complete with a library and fireplace. Each animal in this little community has his own story line and preoccupations, and their personalities unfold in slyly humorous counterpoint to Mr. Toad's grandiose schemes and continual accidents, and Mr. Badger's blunt manners and introspective nature. Although the animals and dialogue are sometimes a little goofier than I'd like (and that's a Wind in the Willows purist talking) the illustrations are perfect, particularly Plessix's renderings of the woods, river, fields, and living rooms where the action unfolds. Plessix also manages to incorporate a good deal of the book's original dialogue into his frames, and depicts Kenneth Grahame's poetic and spiritual passages beautifully in his illustrations. This is a story of intrigue, hair-raising schemes, and happy companions, taking place on a small scale that feels both very close to home, and like a long look into another world. review by Alison |
|
As any cat lover will tell you, felines operate under their own logic. Racing around as if chased by an invisible enemy, attacking pieces of lint-- we'll never understand why they do the things they do. In Baron: The Cat Returns, an ordinary schoolgirl discovers that cats really do come from their own world when she rescues a feline prince from an oncoming truck. The king of cats wants to reward Haru for her kindness, but the cats' idea of thanks (in addition to the cases of cat food that mysteriously appear at her house) is to make her the prince's bride! Only the mysterious Baron, a toy cat come to life, can rescue her from her overly enthusiastic new friends. Haru's adventure leads her into the land of cats and reunites her with a beloved former pet, but Haru must learn to let go of her old friend if she's to escape turning into a cat forever. Everything about Baron is stellar: art, storytelling, and translation. Fans of anime may recognize this manga as the inspiration for the Studio Ghibli anime The Cat Returns. Baron is part of Viz's Studio Ghibli library, which includes manga adaptations of popular Studio Ghibli anime. Unlike these other titles, which are made up of movie stills, Baron was meant to be read in comic form. The drawing, layout, and pacing all work, and Haru's dramatic escape from the land of cats on a ladder of birds is particularly exquisite. Like all the best children's stories, this funny and creepy fairy tale won't just appeal to children. It's unclear whether further volumes will follow, but even on its own Baron: The Cat Returns is a must-buy. Review by jen |
|
What's a 6th grader to do when he's suddenly cohabiting his own body with a master Go player from the Heian period (think early medieval Europe in the West)? Well, basically, he plays go. Go is a game similar to chess (apparently, if chess is a batlle, go is a war). Hikaru Shindo finds himself trapped when he attempts to sell his ancestral Go board and uncovers instead that its history, and his own hidden talents, allow the ghost of Fujiwara-no-Sai to possess him at will. Sai, though by nature a sweet-tempered man who's only desire is to play Go and achieve the "divine move," get's a wee bit stressed when he's not allowed to play. This stress manifests itself by making Hikaru vomit suddenly, and as much to keeps things clean as to pacify the ghost, Hikaru journeys into a Go salon for the first time. As he learns more from his new guest, and gets to like being able to beat the pants off unsuspecting players, Hikaru manages to catch the eye of Akira Toya, a prodigy player who's startled at Hikaru's novice clumsiness paired with the wisdom of his moves. What Hikaru doesn't know is that he's just picked an opponent who's one of the best in Japan, and who's father, Toya Meijin, is the world's leading player. This sweet and energetic book manages to make Go exciting and suspense-filled. The characters are all natural and at the same time show the marks of any serious players: they are committed, focused, and always striving for the next level of play. The artwork is also wonderfully clean and sweeping, giving Hikaru an adorable swagger while Sai retains his robed majesty even as a spirit. review by robin |
| Sephie lives in an ideal world-- destined on day to rule as Minister of her land, Meridian, in her father's place, she adores her family and friends and, most of all, the miraculous floating island she calls home. Everything changes in one horrible night-- Sephie is marked with a mysterious symbol of power, her father dies, and her uncle whisks her away to his own cold and sinister court. At first Sephie is too overwhelmed by shock and despair to see the changes in her uncle -- he too was marked that night and can destroy anything he chooses with a simple touch. Without any consideration for Sephie's right to rule and driven by greed, her uncle attacks Meridian and enforces a harsh rule. Stunned out of her daze, Sephie flees back to Meridian and starts to discover the true nature of her own power. review by Robin |
| In my last review I introduced you all to Meridian and the world of Sephie, Minister, girl, and rebellion leader. In Going to Ground, Sephie realizes that though she desperately wants to return to Meridian immediately, in order to defend it she will need plans and allies. In a world where the elite hover miles above the poisoned ground, Sephie begins to see that the teachings of the upper world, that the lower ground is barren and wretched, is far from true. In fact, these lands may hold the key to her victory. As she makes new friends, her family and friends attempt to recreate their lost home on a new island. In this volume, the artwork varies as each new artist takes up their tools, but the overall impression is still colorful and exciting. This tale concentrates on Sephie, her family's history, and her new-found powers, and the threads of the battle she must wage are beginning to come together. review by Robin |
| In this third volume of Crossgen's epic fantasy, the tale shifts into a higher gear. Sephie is growing ever ber, testing her new powers and blossoming into the leader her father knew she could be. As she grows more confident, however, the dangers she faces gain complexity and fierceness. Particularly intriguing about Meridian as a whole is that the conflict takes on the realistic focus on the control of trade ¿ as a historian friend of mine always says, more wars have been caused by economic conflict than anything else. As Sephie declares her independence and attacks her Uncle's forces more directly, Sephie also realizes that despite her great powers, war by its very nature leads to tragedy even she cannot prevent. review by Robin |
|
Do you enjoy books like Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted or Donna Jo Napoli's Zel? b heroines who survive by their wits, humorous dialogue to rival The Princess Bride, friends from a knight who happens to be a horse to a butler who looks suspiciously like a stork -- all these things fill the pages of Linda Medley's witty original fairy tales. The Curse of Brambly Hedge (can you guess what fairy tale that refers to?) relates the origin of Castle Waiting, a towering home for misfits and wanderers who need sanctuary. The Lucky Road follows the tale of Lady Jain, a classic heroine with a dark secret, and her welcome into the rag-tag extended family at Castle Waiting. review by Robin |
| Compared to The Golden Compass, this series, now three volumes long and counting, follows the adventures of Rubel, a young thief. As he wades his way through the history-making events around him, Rubel encounters pirates, kings, soliders, mysterious ladies, and one particularly nasty sorceress. Mr. Oakley has apparently been building Rubel's world in his head for years, and the rich detail and careful plotting certainly shine! The author's drawing style is similar to japanese manga but has its own distinct energy. review by Robin |
Owly is a small round owl who has a house at the top of a tree. He lives alone, feeding the neighborhood birds with seeds he buys in the local nursery and doing arts-and-crafts projects. One day it begins to downpour, and Owly finds a bedraggled worm drowning in a puddle. He rescues the unconscious worm, bringing him to his home and giving him shelter from the storm. But when the worm wakes up, he's aghast to find himself trapped at the top of a tree with an owl! After some conversation, the worm, Wormy, and Owly make friends, and Wormy recounts how he was swept from his home in the downpour. Wormy and Owly go on a quest to find his parents. Then two hummingbirds migrate to the area that Owly lives in. He and Wormy make friends with them, only to find that they migrate south in the winter. Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer is a great book for beginning readers. Not only does it have a cute, likeable main character, but it's also mostly wordless - Owly speaks largely in idea bubbles (to say 'good luck' he makes a speech bubble with a horseshoe and an exclamation mark in it, and to say 'we should make a map' he thinks of a map and drawing implements). Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer is a wonderful story about friendship and caring. review by gina |
|
In this wonderful West African folktale, Shadusa believes his is by far the best man in town. And why not? He carries two antelope at once and everyone in town knows they've never seen anyone ber. He strides about town proclaiming his is the Master Man and challenges anyone to beat him. Then Shadusa's wife Shettu meets a stranger at the well who's baby is ber than Shadusa by far, and he's only a baby. Curious and looking to make her husband be less of a braggart, Shettu asks about this mighty child. It turns out the baby's father is the source of that strength, another "Master Man." Has Shadusa met his match? This vibrant tale booms across the page with evocative language and artwork of cut paper that breaks out of its panels and disrupts the story, just like Shadusa. A great tale to read out loud, to be sure, and maybe you can have your try at carrying an antelope or two. review by Robin |
|
The Bones look like a cross between Snoopy and the Schmoo, and there are three of them: Fone Bone is honest and brave; Phoney Bone is a cross between Scrooge McDuck and the Grinch; and Smiley Bone is the village idiot personified. They are the stars in what is, in my opinion, the best graphic novel series of the past fifteen years. The Sandman series is highly praised, of course (and rightly so), but there are patches in Sandman where the storyline meanders and the art is quite uneven; the quality of the Bone graphic novels is remarkably consistent. Many reviewers also ignore the fact that Sandman is best enjoyed by an older audience, whereas Bone can be enjoyed by all ages. read more... review by george |
|
This book chronicles the adventures of Big Johnson Bone-- Frontier Hero, founder of Boneville, and venerable ancestor of the Bone cousins (Smiley, Phoney and Fone). Big Johnson Bone hitches a ride on a twister with his mule (Blossom) and his monkey (Mr. Pip) and lands in the middle of a valley that should be very familiar to readers of the Bone series. The talking animals of the valley beg Big Johnson for aid against the invading rat creatures because their guardian, a small dragon named Stillman, is of no use (Stillman can't breathe fire and is reduced to throwing rocks). Big Johnson Bone agrees to help, of course, and pretty soon he's swinging rat creatures about by their tails. He runs into trouble in the form of the Rat Queen's son, a 50-foot rat creature named Tyson, who swallows him whole. But Big Bone Johnson does prevail, and we learn why the rat creatures chop off their tails. There's also a bonus story, drawn by Stan Sakai (author of the Usagi Yojimbo series), about an obnoxious talking pig named Riblet, whom the rat creatures kidnap and then can't wait to return. This is a fine addition to the Bone series, although the story got a bit too Looney Tunes for me-- - adults can read and appreciate most of the Bone series, but this one is more for kids. review by george The Complete Bone Series |
| A kind of prequel to Jeff Smith's Bone series, this tale follows the exuberant and fierce warrior princess Rose. About to be tested by the greatest mages in her land, Rose is confident in her own power and right to rule, though she despairs for her sister, Briar, still to be touched by the magics of the land. With the arrival of an ancient, cruel dragon, both sisters are thrown toward a wicked fate and Rose will painfully learn the truth of battle, power, and mercy. review by Robin |
|
Fairy tales are often strange and surprising, and this anthology of fairy and folk tale comics only proves there's a fairy tale for everyone, every style, and every lesson. What's wackier than a prince who thinks he's a rooster? Or a demure egg-obsessed couple who determine if all the king's horses and all the king's men can't do it, they very well can. Inviting a crowd of some of the most famous names in comics illustration, Maus author Art Speigelman and his editor wife Francoise Mouly gather together tales from all over the world. Some cautionary, some hilarious, some just silly, all the tales are vividly illustrated in distinct styles, and the larger format of the book makes everything just a little bit grander. Not only that, there's a board game hidden in the book's endpapers. review by Robin |
|
Anyone who's ever yearned to travel the high seas and see unknown places may do well to read Sinbad's account of his seven trips into the great beyond. An incurable wanderer, Sinbad can't help but be pulled into adventure on the waves even if all is well at home. You'd think after the first time he almost drowned his wanderlust might've waned. Nope. It takes 7 trips, countless escapes from death, wonders almost too amazing to believe, and a really big bird to make Sinbad stay home. As with all sea stories, though, they make the best after dinner conversation. Williams once again brings old tales to life, and the rich colors of Bagdhad and the ocean blue make the illustrations especially fine. review by Robin |
City
of Light, City of Dark
Ug:
Boy Genius of the Stone Age
Tellos: Reluctant Heroes 
Tellos: Kindred Spirits 
The Last Knight
The Princess and the Frog
Meanwhile...
The Wind in the Willows 
Two best friends
meet up for the first time beside a river in the springtime. A conceited
song is suppressed, a barge is overturned, and numerous motor cars
are smashed to smithereens. All in a day's work for Water Rat and
Mole, Mr. Badger, the Otter... and the (in)famous Mr. Toad. The
story begins when the Mole throws caution to the winds, abandons
the task of spring-cleaning his burrow, and sets out into the wide
world. This impetuous act from an otherwise sensible animal takes
us into the middle of the waterfront society of hedgehogs, mice,
and ducks (none of whom are very interested in spring-cleaning).
Cementing their newfound friendship with a picnic and a misshap
involving a small boat, Mole and Water Rat set out to explore their
world, compose poetry, and get their friends out of some tight spots.
Hikaru No Go
Meridian: Flying Solo 
Meridian: Going to Ground 
Meridian: Taking the Skies 
Castle Waiting 
Thieves and Kings
Master Man: A Tall Tale of Nigeria
Bone
Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails : The Adventures of Big Johnson Bone,
Frontier Hero
Rose
Little Lit: Folklore and Fairy Tale Funnies
Sinbad the SailorBack to no flying, no tights
copyright Robin Brenner 2002-2003