Alcatoe and the Turnip Child, retro/modern charming graphic novel magic

Fables get a bad rap with upper elementary and middle school students. I taught a class to ESL students that were comprised mostly of fables, you know, those stories that teach lessons. And if there’s one thing that some kids that age don’t want, it’s a lesson. Alcatoe and the Turnip Child is not a fable. It’s also not a fairy tale and not entirely a folktale either. To some readers, Alcatoe could have elements of all of those things, but for us it’s a beautifully paced book about kids, a grumpy witch, the quaint town they live in, and magic.

It’s also presented like an illustrated book but has the storytelling sensibilities of a graphic novel. By that, I mean that the big format reminds us of the illustrated books that are great for elementary school kids. However, it has the bigger-scale storytelling and character development that occurs with graphic novels.

If Alcatoe and the Turnip Child were placed within a Venn Diagram it would have multiple areas of influence with the largest common one being entertaining. This is a very patient story that tells a lot, without sharing too much information with the audience. Oh, it tells a great story, but it doesn’t hold your hand as it moves from plot point to plot point. This is a big story that could’ve been twice as long and half as interesting.

However, as a result of the book’s brevity audiences are more apt to take their time with Alcatoe. They’ll marvel at the art, dig into the details of certain panels and find themselves smiling wherever they are in the graphic novel.

Alacatoe is a grumpy, hermit of a witch that lives in Plum Woods, an area that’s near a populated area; but keenly keeps its distance from the masses for the most part. Plum Woods has a stable population of witches of all sorts, as well as, monsters and haunted forests. The three main kids in the story are curious about spells and being a witch and are aware of their existence, but are more interested in just being friends.

All of this changes when the kids find Alcatoe’s hat. A vegetable pageant is coming up, and the kids want to enter with the biggest turnip the area has ever seen. The judge for the competition is someone who Alcatoe isn’t fond of, so the three combine their efforts for a win/win situation. Factor in a truck with walking legs, a large green swamp monster, a pig the size of a garbage truck, and a very cleverly written graphic novel and you’ve got Alcatoe.

Older readers will find the humor in the graphic novel. There are several instances of droll or pun-laden humor with a high, hit joke ratio of about one per page. Consider that this is an adventure story that’s intent on moving a big plot forward that’s pretty high. Moreover, nothing in the graphic novel feels forced. This is classic storytelling that’s associated with fables, folktales or fairy tales, but is entirely modern.

It’s also worth noting that the book has the classic “This book belongs to” page when you first open it. While audiences might not fill the name in with something, that throwback element will make parents smile and kids hopefully practice their penmanship. The front and back cover also has a couple of elements that are glossy and embossed on the page. That makes it pop and will attract young readers who might otherwise pass this gem by.

Alcatoe and the Turnip Child is by Isaac Lenkiewicz and available on Flying Eye Books.

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