Lair of the Bat Monster

January 15, 2011

More charged up than daunted by encounters in previous episodes with vampire squid, ninja frogs and a fearsome were-wiener, irrepressible dragonling Danny charges off into the Mexican jungle to visit Cousin Steve, a feathered lizard and bat scientist. Delivering her punch lines as usual in green-tinted cartoons strewn liberally through the narrative, Vernon dials up reader interest with, first, a visit to a bat cave ("The smell was eye-watering and pungent, and it crawled up inside your nose and your mouth and burned your eyes and your tear ducts and the roof of your mouth. It was like old cheese soaked in cat urine wrapped in gym socks dipped in boiled cabbage. 'You get used to it...' said Steve unconvincingly"). Then Danny's suddenly kidnapped by Camazotz, a not–(as it turns out)–so-legendary monster bat with unsatisfied maternal instincts. A night of narrow squeaks ensues, capped by the discovery of a golden treasure guarded by Camazotz's larger and much more hostile mate. Thanks largely to the efforts of Danny's nerdy sidekick Wendell, the scaly buddies do get home by morning—but not before readers get plenty of reasons to echo Danny's trademark: "That. Is. So. Cool!" (Graphic hybrid fantasy. 8-11)

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February 1, 2011

PreS-K-Thumby, the smallest duckling on the team, is starting in his first opening-day baseball game for the Webbies. The story begins at the top of the ninth, with the opposing team at bat. The artwork is stronger than the text. Morrison provides painterly renditions of the action and draws some scenes with a unique perspective to show how it feels to be a rookie at the plate waiting for the pitch or a novice fielder hoping to catch a ball to make the third out. Readers will sense Thumby's anxiety as he is often portrayed with his thumb in his mouth. Humorous batting tips are sprinkled throughout. New players will enjoy the traditional happy ending with the bons mots on the final page.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

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