Young readers and reluctant readers have more in common than they think. Reluctant readers in most cases just think that they don’t want to read. Assuming that we’re talking about young, elementary school ages, both groups have to find the vehicle that can get them to realize that reading is not punishment. It’s got to be a book so relentlessly fun, over the top silly that it commands young people to engage in something by themselves, for their own enjoyment. The First Cat In Space Ate Pizza is the first book in the series that takes its rightful place alongside Dog Man and Investigators as the go-to graphic novel series for ages seven and up. This book also came out a couple of years ago, so if you’re judging as to why it’s just being reviewed now, I say be curious, not judgmental.
This week in all age comic books has two of the best releases that we’ve seen this year. Each of them is very different and will attract a reader. First up is Investigators, Take the Plunge which is the second book in this series by John Patrick Green. This graphic novel is hilarious, well written, jammed with action, and has jokes that will work for elementary school readers and way up. My wife loved the book. I loved the book and readers ages 8 and up looking something akin to Dog Man need to read this. Investigators, Take the Plunge follows two alligators who try to solve a crime that’s laden with puns, visual gags, and jokes that work for young kids and different ones that skew just a bit older.
My Pencil and Me is by Sara Varon. It’s an illustrated book that breaks the third wall for young readers. This could be a read-along book for those aged five and up. It centers on a writer who’s having trouble writing. Her pencil starts talking to her and the creative insanity grows tenfold from there. The illustrations are great for young ages and feature all manner of animals playing baseball or engaging in the story of the pencil and Varon. This is a great, good-night book that will remain in your forever bookshelf. It’s a shorter book than Varon usually writes. Her previous books like New Shoes have been good but had a softer sense of humor. My Pencil and Me is humor that’s front and center that will make adults laugh and kids want to read (and laugh).
In comic books this week check out My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #90, Star Wars Adventures Battle Wars #5 of 5, or Stranger Things Science Camp #1 of 4. That last title will be appropriate for those mid-middle school students who have seen the show. For all of this week’s comic books just check out the books after the link.
Have you ever been to an incredible restaurant, but then hesitated to go back? You think that it surely can’t be as good as the first time; they probably changed chefs or the servers have all become surly jerks who doing something on Tik Tok with your food. You want to try something new from the place, but have reservations because things let you down. I was like that with Investigators, which was the first book in the graphic novel series by John Patrick Green. The second book in the series, Investigators Take the Plunge does not disappoint. It doesn’t go all Empire Strikes Back on audiences, but it introduces some new characters and produces almost the same amount of laughs.
Waves are a common thing amongst the tides, life and publishing. There will never be another middle grade book series as this. The best all age comic book that we’ve seen in ages has just ended its run. There are no new great all age graphic novels. We have points to counter all of those, but let’s tackle that last one first. A great all age graphic novel is one that’s fabulously entertaining for elementary aged readers without babying down the content. This way it can also be enjoyed by those in middle school, high school and those adults that read to children. For all of those in that sentence check out Investigators by John Patrick Green. This is legitimately laugh out loud funny for adult readers, but is probably intended for readers as young as six.
Happy new comic book day! Technically new comic book day is every Wednesday, but we can celebrate a little early, can’t we? This week has some great all age comic books. In the podcast we’ll talk about My Little Pony, Disney The Little Mermaid, Usagi Yojimbo and a couple other great all age comics. When I first saw InvestiGators I said “this is the next Dog Man”. Our 10 year-old was within hearing distance and said, “the new Dog Man is here”? I followed up by saying that InvestiGators by John Patrick Green is the next Dog Man in that it has the manic sense of fun, plus the bright colors that elementary through middle school readers love. Once you read InvestiGators you’ll immediately want to read more. It’s funny and is just the sort of thing that ages 7 and up want to read.
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