Pops and his grandsquirrel are visiting the local Farmer's Market. They
stop to sample some apples when - Oh no! Pops is accidentally loaded
into a truck full of apples! He's always wanted to visit the country but
not via the apple processing factory at the local orchard. Fortunately,
Norma, Belly and their friends are on the case to rescue Pops
before there is a pie-tastrophe.
This is the second book in the Norma & Belly series. I have not had a chance to read the first one since both copies are currently checked out at my library but I have it on hold.If you have a preschooler/Kindergartner that is ready to jump into the pool of graphic novels, be sure to share
this one with them. Lots of good problem solving and a subtle nudge that
learning to read can be really important. I liked how everyone pitched
in to help rescue Pops.
Be sure to have a yummy apple snack on hand to share at the end!
Melly is a dog - usually referred to as Mellybean. She lives in a home with two humans and three cats. Melly is -- annoyingly chipper and cute. She drives the cats crazy. So they trick her into going outside and then they lock the door. While digging a hole, Melly falls into another dimension - one with a gigantic creature that may - or may not - be a monster. The cats figure this out - eventually - and decide to rescue Mellybean. Can Mellybean be saved? Will she be thrown into a dungeon in the alternate world? Or will she perkily make a bunch of new friends? Giant Monster is the first in the Mellybean series - followed by Wicked Witch. I enjoyed the first one and am looking forward to the second. At 208 pages, this is a little longer than Grumpy Monkey or Norma & Belly but it has chapters so - still very accessible to the K-2nd crowd.
Look for Mellybean #2!
Meet Jim Panzee - aka Grumpy Monkey! If you've ever felt a little grumpy (which TBH is everyone) then this is definitely one to add to your TBR pile. Grumpy Monkey heads out for his calming, morning walk but is quickly ambushed by well-meaning friends who want to accompany him. Many opportunities for grumpiness ensue!
I am glad that the author/illustrators have decided to expand from their picture book format into a graphic novel format for Grumpy Monkey. Again, this is a great book to introduce graphic novels to younger littles especially if they enjoyed earlier Grumpy Monkey stories. The books are silly and fun with just a tiny bit of potty humor (poop in the pool?!) but also provide opportunities for discussion. How does Monkey work on not being grumpy? And shouldn't that bird cover up his sneezes?! Plus - instructions for making a frozen banana treat!
There are three Grumpy Monkey picture books (each 32 - 44 pages) but Freshly Squeezed moves Grumpy Monkey into the graphic novel scene and is 88 pages long! Lots of room for discussion with all of these books. But also lots of laughs. Be sure to have a few bananas on hand for the treat! And some oranges or something squeezable for your little ones.
Thanks to Randhom House and Net Galley for E-ARCs!
