MAYOR GOOD BOY

When a dog wins the local mayoral election, siblings Abby and Aaron team up with the political pup to help the town.

In this graphic novel, the underdogs turn out to be the real heroes. Leveraging his motto, “All bork. No bite. Sometimes that’s all it takes!” Mayor Good Boy communicates with renegade zoo animals to coax them back to their pens. And when it comes to mean old Mervis Hogpepper and his Anti–Good Boy Society, Abby and Aaron prove there’s room for kids in politics and problem-solving. Scatological humor and a stinky sock moment attempt to elicit laughs, but it’s Abby and Aaron’s portrayal as true siblings—equal parts annoying and loving to one another—that holds the highest appeal. While the moral of the story lacks subtlety, “Just because you’re a kid doesn’t mean you can’t change the world!” it’s an important message that is, fortunately, qualified (“I realized that even the smallest things could make the world a little better!”). The story flows well, with an interesting color palette: Lime greens and shades of blue are used in the background to distinguish scene changes. People of all skin tones are represented; Abby and Aaron’s father appears White, and their mother has brown skin and curly brown hair. The end includes a fun section showing how to draw the main characters and information for kids on participating in politics.

Presents a timely topic through likable characters.