A Hubbub

November 1, 2010

K-Gr 2-In this sequel to The Meeting (Lerner, 2010), in which Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox met and blended their families, Ginger Fox is having some trouble adjusting to her new life, which includes two badger stepbrothers. In the end she realizes that having a bigger family can only bring more rewards and is happy with her situation. Luciani uses animal characters to bring to life the feelings and frustrations that can develop when children are faced with family changes. The pros and cons that Ginger experiences suggest a realistic view of modern families instead of an idealistic "Happily ever after." The watercolor illustrations help set the mood and provide a great deal of depth to each panel. Each strip depicts Ginger's feelings and makes the text come alive. A good choice for the youngest graphic-novel fans.-Catherine Brenner, Bethlehem Public Library, Delmar, NY

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2010
Grades K-3 This second volume in the Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox graphic-novel series for the youngest readers continues to succeed in offering age-appropriate insight on real-life complexities in the form of an appealing animal tale. The two families have successfully combined, bringing together Mrs. Foxs daughter and Mr. Badgers two boys and baby. The older three kids adjust to the expectations and roles played by their new parent, while baby Ginger copes with her envy over how the others have so quickly adapted to the new blended family. With excellent artwork and nicely handled developmental psychology, this series belongs in any collection serving young readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)