Total fluff, often making not a lick of sense (in a good way), this will satisfy the appetites of fans of the first—but...
The proprietors of Galactic Hot Dogs return for more evil-bashing high jinks aboard the Neon Weiner.
Earth boy Cosmoe, his ginormous, ex–space-pirate buddy, Humphree, and their half-evil erstwhile kidnapper, Princess Dagger, are having a great time hanging out and hawkin’ hot dogs on the desert planet Arahas…but they aren’t making much moolah. Then Crostini’s Cosmic Carnival and Wonder Circus comes to Arahas. Animal-loving Cosmoe hates circuses, but his two friends talk him in to attending. After a humungous Skorlax attacks the circus tent and Cosmoe shows rare monster-taming talents, Crostini invites the trio to join the circus and sell their wares at each stop…Cosmoe can join the show too. Of course, that doesn’t last for one performance (hey, the story has to move along if there are gonna be enough explosions). Crostini’s working on an evil army for Evil Queen Dagger (the princess’s mom). Can Cosmoe and his friends stop this nefarious plot? Brallier and Maguire bring their webcomic (now with a home full of games and activities and videos at Funbrain.com and Poptropica.com) back for a second venturesome print volume with collaborator Kelley. Jagged comic panes and captioned illustrations, some full-page, propel the story and add to the laffs. Final art not seen.
Total fluff, often making not a lick of sense (in a good way), this will satisfy the appetites of fans of the first—but reading that first is a must (or there will be fewer licks of sense). (Graphic/science-fiction hybrid. 7-10)Pub Date: May 3, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2496-7
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Dizzyingly silly.
The famous superhero returns to fight another villain with all the trademark wit and humor the series is known for.
Despite the title, Captain Underpants is bizarrely absent from most of this adventure. His school-age companions, George and Harold, maintain most of the spotlight. The creative chums fool around with time travel and several wacky inventions before coming upon the evil Turbo Toilet 2000, making its return for vengeance after sitting out a few of the previous books. When the good Captain shows up to save the day, he brings with him dynamic action and wordplay that meet the series’ standards. The Captain Underpants saga maintains its charm even into this, the 11th volume. The epic is filled to the brim with sight gags, toilet humor, flip-o-ramas and anarchic glee. Holding all this nonsense together is the author’s good-natured sense of harmless fun. The humor is never gross or over-the-top, just loud and innocuous. Adults may roll their eyes here and there, but youngsters will eat this up just as quickly as they devoured every other Underpants episode.
Dizzyingly silly. (Humor. 8-10)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-50490-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
With plenty left to be resolved, the next entry will be eagerly sought after.
Drake has been selected by the king to serve as a Dragon Master, quite a change for an 8-year-old farmer boy.
The dragons are a secret, and the reason King Roland has them is a mystery, but what is clear is that the Dragon Stone has identified Drake as one of the rare few children who have a special connection with dragons and the ability to serve as a trainer. Drake’s dragon is a long brown creature with, at first, no particular talents that Drake can identify. He calls the dragon Worm. It isn’t long before Drake begins to realize he has a very strong connection with Worm and can share what seem to be his dragon’s thoughts. After one of the other Dragon Masters decides to illicitly take the dragons outside, disaster strikes. The cave they are passing through collapses, blocking the passageway, and then Worm’s special talent becomes evident. The first of a new series of early chapter books, this entry is sure to attract fans. Brief chapters, large print, lots of action, attractive illustrations in every spread, including a maplike panorama, an enviable protagonist—who wouldn’t want to be a Dragon Master?—all combine to make an entertaining read.
With plenty left to be resolved, the next entry will be eagerly sought after. (Fantasy. 7-10)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-64624-6
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Branches/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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