The King of Kazoo

April 25, 2016
Comic strip artist Feuti (Retail; Gil) populates his first graphic novel with hybrid bunny-humans, giving them clever lines and inventions such as the gonkless carriage, which runs by itself rather than being drawn by quadrupeds called gonks. The relationships are established in a slapstick sequence in which the king of the title, a narcissistic twit (“Ah, my subjects love me!”), bickers over the gonkless carriage with his long-suffering mechanic, Torq, and his daughter, Princess Bing. After an explosion on Mount Kazoo rocks the country, Bing, an aspiring magician whose bluebird familiar helps her see what is far away, organizes a trip to investigate. When they meet Quaf, the kingdom’s lost alchemist, Bing and Torq greet him like starry-eyed groupies. Unfortunately, Quaf is plotting to destroy the kingdom. Comic action and lots of maker talk (“Quafflestone roads! Fuse-Mortar Buildings!... The entire kingdom was built on the shoulders of my inventions,” boasts Quaf) add charm to this smart middle-grade comic. As a bonus, readers have the satisfaction of watching the king’s ego deflate after a few embarrassing defeats. Ages 7–10. Agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary.

May 1, 2016

Gr 3-6-King Cornelius is a bit self-centered. He wants to leave behind a glorious legacy for his kingdom, but he never gives credit to anyone who helps him. He doesn't recognize the talents of his clever daughter, Bing, or even his brilliant royal inventor, Torq. When an evil genius threatens to destroy his entire realm, Cornelius is determined to use the catastrophe to make a name for himself-but first he must learn to respect the expertise of others in order to save his kingdom. This is a fast-paced fantasy with a lot of action and plenty of humor thrown in. The characters are quirky and amusing but very relatable-everyone has something to contribute, and the positive message comes through without being preachy. The art style is very appropriate for the age range, clear and easy to understand. The characters are rendered in a cartoonlike style. Though the broad story line is nothing new, the delightful graphics and witty tone make this a fresh, fun revamping of a favored theme.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2016
Grades 2-5 Clever, magically gifted princess Bing is used to her nincompoop father's daffy egomania. Case in point: when an explosion rocks the city square, Bing is sure it has something to do with the tunnel she spotted in Mount Kazoo that morning, but her father sees it more as an opportunity to cement his legacy as the king who fixed the mountain. To make sure nothing goes awry, Bing insists that she and Torq, the brilliant, mute mechanic who's really behind the king's inventions, come along. As they get closer to the tunnel, however, it becomes abundantly clear that there's something calculated and sinister afoot, and Bing, Torq, and the king must cooperate to save the kingdom. Feuti's loose, cartoonish figuresfloppy-eared creatures rendered in expressive pen strokesrecall Jeff Smith's artwork in Bone (2004), and his keen panel layouts relay the caper with ease. Little ones will chuckle at the absurdity of the king's oblivious pronouncements, and they'll cheer when Bing and Torq finally get the recognition they deserve. A great choice for insatiable elementary-school comics fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)