Two titles posted today as I added them to my book review blog at work. The first is Bad Boys Get Cookie by Margie Palatini and the second title a graphic novel based on the Time Warp trio television series, Nightmare on Joe's Street. I am a fan of previous titles by Palatini, specifically Oink!, Zoom Broom, and Piggie Pie, so I was looking forward to this new title. It is as clever as the others, but I was not as impressed with the illustrations (yes, I know, different artists rendered the images).
Bad boys Willy and Wally Wolf are back for another adventure and this time they want cookies! To satisfy their sweet tooth cravings the boys pose as private eyes, from the firm Dewey-Ketchum and Howe, to help Mr. Baker locate his recently escaped gingerbread cookie. Cole’s colorful illustrations highlight the ensuing mayhem as Willy and Wally track down the cookie in true Gingerbread Man fashion. Children will enjoy the cookie’s repetitive refrain, “Na-na-ni-na-na! Lookee! Lookee! You can’t get me I’m one smart cookie!” Eagle-eyed readers will recognize the boy’s Hansel and Gretel-like disguise as the cookie, the story, and maybe Willy and Wally, come to an end.
Nightmare on Joe’s Street is a graphic novel adaptation of the popular Time Warp Trio cartoon series. The story begins with a series character introduction along with a description and synopsis of the time warp device, a book, and a listing of “special guest stars” for the episode. In this episode, the monster appears in Joe’s house looking for his creator. Sam and Joe decide to warp back to the nineteenth century and return Frankenstein to Mary Shelley. Along the way the boys meet Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron as they use music to sooth the savage monster, prevent history from changing, and locate their lost book to return home successfully. Color illustrations appear to be screen shots of the television series and perform well in graphic novel format. Fans of Scieszka’s Time Warp book series may prefer the originals; this offering may appeal to a new group of readers as well as fans of the television show.
Since it is more challenging finding graphic novel titles specifically for a juvenile collection, I was very interested in Nightmare because of it's correlation with/to the original Time Warp Trio series by Sceiezka. I enjoyed the book, the illustrations were in color, and I could envision it being used as a starter lesson for lessons on historical authors. Several reviews mentioned the illustrations were indeed screen shots from the television series, but I was unable to verify that fact online or on the series website. I imagine if the first several volumes are popular, we can look forward to more of the same.
Tags: Margie Palatini, Henry Cole, Bad Boys Get Cookie, Jon Scieszka, Zachary Rau, Nightmare on Joe's Street, Juvenile literature, Graphic novels
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