Graphic Novel- Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets

Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets

David Pilkey 

Schoolastic: 2000

ISBN: 978-04399995443

I decided to read another classic example of a graphic novel this week. When I went to our local library at DeSales, they were not available! I had to borrow a copy from a friend of mine who read them a long time ago and I can definitely see why they are on the banned book list! This is a story that felt more aimed at pleasing young male readers, which is neither a good or bad thing. In this story, Harold and George are getting ready for the Annual Invention Convention. This is their second convention at the Jerome Herowitz School and last year was not a success. The two trouble makers Harold and George used their invention to keep people in their seats so the Invention Convention was not a success.Everyone was watching these two to make sure they did not pull a stunt like last year. Unfortunately, they got caught and caused themselves to get arrested! Can they get out of this mess? Find out by reading this thrilling book!

I would give this book a seven out of ten, It was not my favorite read and I felt the jokes were crude for young children. I feel in some senses it causes kids to want to act out in school, which was shown by this story. I do however feel that this series is good for young boys who do not feel that reading is interesting. Please pick up this book at a local library near you!

Graphic Novel- Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Jeff Kinney

Amulet Books: 2009

ISBN: 978-0-8109-8391-5

I had to pick a book from the Diary of a Wimpy kid series because it is the most iconic graphic novel that young adults read today. I never read these stories growing up, but I have heard so many wonderful things about the series that I had to try reading one. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is a story about Greg and Rowley who decide to raise money by having their own lawn mowing business. The problem is: they do not know how to use a lawn mower! The story is the encounters that Greg has over his summer. Will they be filled with fun times, or full of tramatic moments? Find out by reading this story in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. 

I would rate this book a ten out of ten. If you are to read a graphic novel, you should start with this series. The way that the pages are laid out makes for really funny moments for the reader. I personally like how the book is broken up with text and pictures. It is not difficult to follow with the mix of pictures and words. I also like how the pictures look drawn. It creates and authentic element and it really makes you feel like you are not reading a book. This is a great book to introduce to children who do not like to read. If this is the case, pick up these books for your child at your local library! 

Graphic Novel- The Adventures of Polo

The Adventures of Polo

Regis Faller

Roaring Brook Press: 2002

ISBN: 1-59643-160-1

One would look at this book and think it is a wordless picture book at a glance, but it is actually a graphic novel for young children. I found it very difficult to find a graphic novel for the kindergarten age group, but this book fits the bill! This puppy you see, Polo, is on a mission. Through the help of different animals, he is able to travel from the highest clouds to the deep sea. How do all of these animals help him travel along on his journey? Find out by reading this enchanting graphic novel!

This graphic novel is given a DanielleMustRead rating of an eight out of ten because of its creative plot. This little puppy Polo is able to go from the bottom of the ocean to an igloo in the arctic, all of the way to the forest where he swings in the trees with the monkeys! The story is easy for the children to follow and the pictures are simple enough to read due to its comic book reading style. The author also does a good job in showing all of the emotions from the characters. The pictures are bold and filled with color, which helps the children stay focused. The story also sparks a child's imagination. Somehow, Polo comes out of a mushroom from the ground and then enters a new one that turns into a rocket ship! My one concern is that the actual plot makes no sense. However, if you look at this story purely for its spectacle, then it would be a good read for children. Find this story at a local library near you! 

Poetry- Look! A Book!

Look! A Book! 

Bob Staake

Hatchet Book Group Inc.: 2011

ISBN: 978-0-31611862-0

This book just popped off the page. I was looking for one last book on poetry and I found this little gem. Not only does the whole book rhyme with some great poems for kids to read, but the cover rhymes too! It was a book that I had to blog about this week. As the reader turns the page, there are things to find in all of the pictures. See the picture above? All of the pictures are just as detailed. In this book, you need to find all of the objects. Can you find them all? Read this book to find out!

I would give this story an eight out of ten. While the concept of the book is really interesting, there is so much going on in each picture. That is the whole fun of the book though! All of the pages have items that you need to find in the book. Why do I say it is a book with poetry in it? Because on each page, there are rhymes about all of the objects you see. Each page has a clever poem that introduces the next page, It is interactive as well. All of the pages have holes in them so the reader can see what is on the next page. While I liked the book, I just found the pictures to be too distracting. This is a great book for a child to read on their own and discover their true love for reading! 

Poetry- The Runaway Dinner

The Runaway Dinner

Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman 

Candlewick Press-2006

ISBN: 076363142-6

I decided for my next story I wanted to pick one that was contemporary for a children filled with poetry. This story, by Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman, is a witty story about how dinner leaves the plate! Banjo Cannon, a hungry boy ready for dinner, is about to eat his plate of dinner when it runs away! He tries to catch it, but all of his food is running too fast! Will he ever catch it? Find out by reading The Runaway Dinner! 

I would give this book a 10 out of 10! It was such a cute read and a funny story for children to be hooked on to. The book is very wide, which allows the running of vegetables to look really realistic. The colors in this book are vibrant and really draw attention to the children reading the story. There are so many jokes in the story even I was laughing. This is a Danielle MUST read and you should definitely buy this book at a library near you! 

Poetry- A Giraffe and A Half

Giraffe and a Half

Shel Silverstein 

Evil Eye Music: 1964

ISBN: 0-06-025655-9

When I was picking poetry-children's books, I felt that it was imperative to pick an author that specializes in this genre. Shel Silverstein was an author that I remember learning about as a little girl. It brought back memories when I was reading this story! In this story, a giraffe and a little boy discover what happens to a giraffe when little things get in the way. How will the giraffe combat all of these different obstacles? Read this cute book of poems!

My overall rating on this book was a 7 out of ten. I think that even though the poems made no sense, it is a poem that would make children laugh. The way it was written reminded me of Doctor Suess books because of its rhythm. The pictures are just in black and white, but this is the author's style. The drawings have a lot of character, but I do wish that there was more color on each page to make the giraffe pop. I would suggest having the whole story in black and white and then the giraffe in color. It would make the story more interesting. I still feel that this story is a classic and is a must read for children! 

Historical Fiction- Little Women

Little Women 

Louisa May Alcott 

Hesperus Press: (Reprint 2014)

ISBN:1843915103

Little Women is such a classic that so many people read during the Holidays. Last year, DeSales University's Act 1 productions did the musical and it inspired me to read this book for the blogs this week. In Little Women, the four women grow up in a time of war, where there father is not home and their mother, Marmee, takes care of the children. The book starts with their Christmas without father. Jo loved to write operas and short stories and all of the girls loved to perform in these stories. Amy, Beth, Jo, and Meg all grew up with different obstacles and many obstacles that all girls face. Meg met the love of her life at a ball and Jo was always contemplating how to get her books published. Will she ever get a good story published in New York City? Find out and read Little Women in the upcoming holidays.

I would give this book a nine out of ten because it is a unique book to read about living in New England during the outbreak of the Civil War. These girls did not have much, but an important thing they learned is the love they have for each other. One of my favorite moments in the book is learning about when Beth is gravely sick with scarlet fever. You could tell from the story how it affected all of the sisters, especially Jo. Jo is such an inspiring character and to me, is a symbol of women's rights and ambition. Please read Little Women if you need a book to warm your heart and to teach you a little about life during this troubling time in New England.