Simone de Beauvoir (Little People, Big Dreams)

author: Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2018/10/29
date added: 2018/10/29
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Simone de Beauvoir (Little People, Big Dreams)' by Ma Isabel Sanchez with art by Christine Roussey is about a very independent woman and famous feminist.

Simone was born into a wealthy family in Paris. Her father encouraged her to read. When the family's fortunes changed, and she saw how her mother worked more than her father, she started to have the ideas that would make her an early feminist. She became a philosopher and writer, and we learn that she had some interesting friends.

I've liked this series for the simplified biographies and different artists for each book. This time around I was really not fond of the art. The story is less interesting it seems like too.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group-Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


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Banana Sunday

author: Paul Tobin
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.75
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/10/29
date added: 2018/10/29
shelves: childrens, graphic-novels
review:
'Banana Sunday' by Paul Toin and Colleen Coover with art by Rian Sygh is a fun story about a normal young woman and her three extraordinary primates.

Kirby Steinberg is going to a new school and she announces it on a Sunday. The reason she does is because of her three talking primates. Chuck is an orangutan and whip-smart. Knobby is a spider-monkey who is in love with love thanks to the love poems he has read. Go-Go the gorilla is small, kind of simple, and indestructible.

Kirby meets a new friend, a reporter named Nickels who wants to know the story behind Kirby's friends. Kirby also makes a new enemy in Skye, the school snob who is out to smear Kirby's name. Can Kirby survive her first week at her new school?

It's an early collaboration from Tobin and Coover, and it's not as good as others. It's still kind of fun, as long as you don't scratch the surface too much. If you do, there are things that don't seem to work so well. I liked the art too. It's bright and the lines are clean.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Michigan: On the Trail of a War Bride

author: Julien Frey
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.94
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/06/10
date added: 2018/10/29
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Michigan: On the Trail of a War Bride' by Julien Frey with art by Lucas Varela is a true story about a French woman who moved to Michigan after World War II.

When Odette was young, she worked in France and met a young American. Over the course of their relationship, they decided to get married and move to Michigan, where he was from and had work. Now it is many years later and Julien travels from France to meet his wife's American family.

There are the oddities that occur when cultures meet and differ, and these are told with some shock and quite a bit of humor. Odette's story is interwoven throughout.

The cover drew me to this title, and the interior art doesn't disappoint. I really like the style. The color choices remain a bit muted, but the lines are clear and strong.

I enjoyed this story of people out of their element and how they deal with things.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Ordinary Victories (Ordinary Victories, #1)

author: Manu Larcenet
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2003
rating: 3
read at: 2017/12/24
date added: 2018/10/28
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Ordinary Victories #1' by Mano Larcenet feels like an odd sort of story to be told in a graphic novel form, but I think it is served well.

Marco was a photographer and spent enough time taking photos of dead bodies, that he's found himself in therapy. He's tired of that, and really doesn't want to work, so he moves to a remote village to try to get by. He takes up with a cat named Adolf and gets to know the quirky neighbors. There is the neighbor with the shotgun and the private property signs, and there is the weird, silent one who just kind of shows up and eats Marco's food. Marco also meets Emilie and she challenges him to rejoin the world around him.

The story feels like non-fiction almost. The category is definitely drama with a bit of humor thrown in. The art style feels a bit weird for this story, but I found myself feeling for this character, so I wouldn't mind a chance to find out what happens next with him.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Hotel Fantastic

author: Thomas Gibault
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/10/27
date added: 2018/10/27
shelves: childrens
review:
'Hotel Fantastic' by Thomas Gibault is a picture book about a hotel destination that may not be for everyone, but can be for anyone.

In a book that reads like a brochure, we are invited to enjoy the amenities of the Hotel Fantastic. From beds to fit any size creature, to Sky Rooms for the airborn guests. There is a gift shop and a restaurant that serves strange food. There are nightclubs and a garage and and infirmary too.

The fun of this book are all the weird creatures that seem to stay at the Hotel Fantastic. From monsters to superheroes to mad scientists, they all seem to be enjoying themselves. The illustrations are lots of fun and have lots of details.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Kids Can Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Diary of a Monster

author: Valeria Dávila
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.45
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2018/10/27
date added: 2018/10/27
shelves: childrens
review:
'Diary of a Monster' by Valeria Davila and Monica Lopez with illustrations by Laura Aguerrebehere and translation by David Warriner is a picture book in rhyme by a lake monster. It's originally from Argentina, and I think some things got lost in translation.

This is the diary of a lake monster told in rhyme form. Except it doesn't rhyme very well or feel much like a diary. The monster describes how fearsome it is and how it likes to cook. The monster talks about a rash on it's tale, then about how it likes lullabies and tales. Then the book just ends.

If a book is in rhyme form, it should have a rhythm to it, and this one just doesn't. It's really not a diary so much as a monologue. The ending is way too abrupt. The monster is just describing itself, then the book just ends. I kept thinking I was missing pages.

I did like the illustrations well enough, but the lack of plot or rhyme makes this one a pretty big pass in my book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from CrackBoom! Books, Chouette Publishing, and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Earthrise: Apollo 8 and the Photo That Changed the World

author: James Gladstone
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/10/27
date added: 2018/10/27
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Earthrise: Apollo 8 and the Photo That Changed the World' by James Gladstone with illustrations by Christy Lundy is about possibly the most famous photo ever taken from space.

In 1968, there was a lot of unrest in the world: wars and racial strife and inequality. Apollo 8 also launched to survey the surface of the moon for a possible landing site. The astronauts on board traveled around the moon, and when they saw the Earth rising out of the darkness, they had to take a photo. The photo showed a planet in space without borders or governments. The photo had a profound effect on some.

This picture book perfectly frames the events around this photo. There is some actual dialogue included from the astronauts. I really liked the illustration style as well.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Owlkids Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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