An engaging interpretation of the poem whose richly detailed pages demand and reward attention.
The children’s classic nonsense poem from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass (1871) gets new and colorful illustrations by Rodgers.
The original John Tenniel illustration for the Jabberwock was black and white, but this newly illustrated version of the poem renders scenes in full color, spreading the 28-line poem in snippets over 18 pages. (The final page gives the poem in full.) In his debut book, Rodgers conjures up an alien landscape for “Jabberwocky.” It has some of the primeval feeling of Tenniel’s, whose Jabberwock had the leathery wings of a pterodactyl, but is richly colored and original. A variety of creatures, some blobby, some multilegged, some tentacled, inhabit this lushly verdant world. The young warrior is green and hairless, wearing Bronze Age–like clothing, and of course well-armed with the vorpal sword. He poles himself through swampland, then climbs up to a high clifftop to find his manxome foe. The Jabberwock itself is a frightening creature with its red eyes, lobster-claw–ish horns, and low-set bulk. And its horrible tongue could well burble; Rodgers adds some burbling for effect as the hero lures the Jabberwock to destruction and headlessness. Galumphing, in this case, involves using floating creatures roped to the Jabberwock’s head to transport it home. The father is rather frightening himself, a giant many times the size of his son, but his pride is palpable; an onlooker jumps for joy. Rodgers does a wonderful job opening up the poem, commenting on it artistically, and reimagining its figures.
An engaging interpretation of the poem whose richly detailed pages demand and reward attention.Pub Date: March 21, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4800-9565-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth.
Superman confronts racism and learns to accept himself with the help of new friends.
In this graphic-novel adaptation of the 1940s storyline entitled “The Clan of the Fiery Cross” from The Adventures of Superman radio show, readers are reintroduced to the hero who regularly saves the day but is unsure of himself and his origins. The story also focuses on Roberta Lee, a young Chinese girl. She and her family have just moved from Chinatown to Metropolis proper, and mixed feelings abound. Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane’s colleague from the Daily Planet, takes a larger role here, befriending his new neighbors, the Lees. An altercation following racial slurs directed at Roberta’s brother after he joins the local baseball team escalates into an act of terrorism by the Klan of the Fiery Kross. What starts off as a run-of-the-mill superhero story then becomes a nuanced and personal exploration of the immigrant experience and blatant and internalized racism. Other main characters are White, but Black police inspector William Henderson fights his own battles against prejudice. Clean lines, less-saturated coloring, and character designs reminiscent of vintage comics help set the tone of this period piece while the varied panel cuts and action scenes give it a more modern sensibility. Cantonese dialogue is indicated through red speech bubbles; alien speech is in green.
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth. (author’s note, bibliography) (Graphic fiction. 13-adult)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77950-421-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Feb. 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet bedtime story.
A boy and his stuffed bear head into the woods.
Having captured readers’ attention with Born a Crime (2016), his bestselling memoir of growing up in South Africa, comedian and television host Noah has written a parable about decision-making. As he puts it in a brief prologue, “It’s about disagreements and difference—but it’s also about how we bridge those gaps and find what matters most, whether we’re parents or kids, neighbors, gnomes, or political adversaries. It’s a picture book, but it’s not a children’s book. Rather, it is a book for kids to share with parents and for parents to share with kids.” With plentiful illustrations by Hahn and in language aimed at young listeners, it tells the story of a small boy so impatient to start his Saturday adventures that he rebels against the rules of his household and heads out without brushing his teeth or making his bed, despite the reminders of his stuffed bear, Walter. “We can’t just run away,” protests the bear. “Your mother will miss you. And where will we sleep? And who will make us waffles?” “We’ll build our own house,” the boy responds. “And we’ll grow our own waffles!” From there, the pair go on their walkabout, encountering a garden gnome, a pair of snails, and a gang of animated coins who have lessons to offer about making choices. Though the author suggests in the introduction that adult readers might enjoy the book on their own, those looking for a follow-up to the memoir or a foray into adult fiction should be warned that this is not that book.
A sweet bedtime story.Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9780593729960
Page Count: 128
Publisher: One World/Random House
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
