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    The Children's Book Review

    4 New Graphic Novels to Love

    Nina SchuylerBy Nina Schuyler4 Mins Read Ages 9-12 Graphic Novels
    A Wrinkle In Time Graphic Novel
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    By Nina Schuyler, The Children’s Book Review
    Published: November 28, 2012

    Lunch Lady Graphic novelLunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril: Lunch Lady #8

    By Jarrett J. Krosoczka

    As if you need one more reason to start reading the Lunch Lady series. After a near collision with a grocery employee who was mindlessly rolling a train of carts straight at me, I mumbled, “What an idiot,” or something like that.

    To which my nine-year-old said, “Remember Lunch Lady.”

    “What?”

    “She looks normal, but she’s got supernatural powers.”

    He’s right, of course. The extraordinary parading around as ordinary. You never know. Besides, it’s good to be kind. There’s enough of that other stuff going around to last you a life time.

    Number eight in the series is now out, Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril, by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Lunch Lady and Betty are trying to figure out why nearly the entire school has come down with a case of acne on picture day. Things get messier when Stefani, the photographer, persuades one of the students that she could be a model, only it will cost $1000 to do the head shots. Betty runs some tests on the photography permission slips and finds they were tainted with acne-inducing chemicals. To get to the bottom of this, Lunch Lady has to use a lot of her fancy tools—the ketchup packet laser, mustard grappling hook, the serving spoon crowbar.

    Ages 9-12 | Publisher: Random House Children’s Books | September 11, 2012

    Graphic NovelA Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel

    By Madeleine L’Engle; Illustrated by Hope Larson

    Can it be done? Should it be done? Why not? If the point is to get kids reading, then why not turn the classics into graphic novels? It’s the fiftieth anniversary of Madeline L’ Engel’s A Wrinkle In Time, and Hope Larson has paid homage to the book by putting it in graphic novel form. Larson, an award-winning graphic novelist, says she fell in love with the book as a girl, and you can see that love poured into her illustrations. Larson brings her talent, imagining the likes of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which and the Happy Medium.

    Ages 10 and up | Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux | October 2, 2012

    Graphic NovelAll-Action Classics No. 4: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

    By L. Frank Baum, Ben Caldwell

    Marvel comic artist Ben Caldwell teams up with L. Frank Baum to bring to young readers, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Baum has gone a step further in reimagining the classic by jazzing up the dialogue. When Dorothy lands in the Land of Oz, she looks around, “Huh. I’m pretty sure I remember Kansas having more prairie and less blue houses.” When she comes across the talking scarecrow, Dorothy says, “Oh, this is just silly. Scarecrows can’t talk!” To which the scarecrow answers, “Hmm. I have so much to learn, you see, I was born yesterday.”

    Ages 10 and up | Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books | September 4, 2012

    Graphic NovelThe City of Ember: The Graphic Novel

    By Jeanne DuPrau

    First published in 2003, then turned into a movie, now The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau, is a graphic novel. Adapted by Dallas Middaugh and illustrated by Niklas Asker, the graphic novel follows the same plot, but comes alive with the pictures. The city of Ember is the last light in a dark world. But with the lights flickering and supplies running low, the world may fall into complete darkness. As the threat becomes more real, the beautiful illustrations become darker, full of brown and black tones. Fortunately Lina and Doon find a mysterious document that may hold the answer to retaining the light.

    Ages 8 and up | Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers | September 25, 2012

    What to Read Next:

    1. Do Graphic Novels Qualify as Books?
    2. Books for Boys: 5 Funny Kids Books
    3. Tales Fom Outer Suburbia: Shaun Tan
    4. Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Ben Caldwell Hope Larson Jarrett J. Krosoczka Jeanne DuPrau L. Frank Baum Madeleine L'Engle
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    Nina Schuyler
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    Nina Schulyer’s new novel, The Translator, has received starred reviews from Booklist and Shelf Awareness. Her first novel, The Painting, was nominated for the Northern California Book Award and was named a ‘Best Book’ by the San Francisco Chronicle. She teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco. For more information, visit her at www.ninaschuyler.com.

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