Ninja Camp

September 15, 2018
Aspiring ninjas attend camp, where they hone their skills and guard the coveted Shadow Blade.A multicultural group of kids and their teacher arrive in a bamboo forest littered with tents, "Ninja Camp is finally here!" Evenly paced rhymes narrate as the students practice throwing ninja stars and work on strength training. Their teacher challenges them: "Are you fierce and unafraid? / Will you guard the Shadow Blade?" The real test comes when a rival camp steals the blade, calling for a battle showdown. The simple plot reads well aloud. Bright, digitally rendered characters against the colorful natural landscapes will keep readers' eyes engaged. There are visual missteps, however. Liberal artistic license is taken in the styling of the ninja clothing, eschewing classical Japanese attire despite ninjitsu's cultural origins. During training, the student with the darkest skin tone is shown last in line, while their white classmate leads. On the same page, another white student overtakes a distressed student of color during a run. The final honor of the Shadow Blade is bestowed on the white student who acts as focal character; this child perches on a rock while a student of color looks up in admiration. The culmination of these portrayals makes for a regrettable message.Unfortunate images compromise this ninja mission. Look to Sanae Ishida's Chibi Samurai series for cultural accuracy and quirky ninja fun. (Picture book. 3-7)

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March 1, 2019

K-Gr 2-Ninja Camp is a place where aspiring Night Ninjas learn the how to be stealthy, strong, and smart. Every day the campers learning new skills and moves and work toward mastering ninja weapons bringing them one step closer to their goals. The final challenge lies in a battle against the rival camp; the Day Ninjas have stolen the Shadow Blade and the Night Ninjas must use all of their newly acquired skills to regain possession of it. Though the opponent is also highly skilled, after a furious battle, the Night Ninjas do prevail, proving that they are the true masters of their art. The brightly colored cartoon illustrations are very visually stimulating, helping propel the story toward its thrilling ending. The snappy, rhyming text will appeal to early readers and read-aloud audiences. VERDICT A recommended purchase for any library, this book will have kids asking when they can enroll in Ninja Camp!-Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2018
Preschool-G Welcome to Ninja Camp, where you will join a team for training to become ninja warriors and guard the Shadow Blade. Come hurl throwing stars and move with silence and speed, all while following the ninja creed of fighting with honor and respect. But wait! What's that? The Ninjas of the Dawn?your rival ninja camp?stole the Shadow Blade? Time to test your newfound ninja knowledge, ready or not! As could be expected in a book about introductory martial arts, there is solid messaging about working hard, facing your fears, and practicing without complaint that could lead to further discussion on character development. There is also very understated multigendered and multiracial representation among the campers. While the simple cadence and rhyme scheme can, at times, feel too juvenile for the content and concepts actually being discussed, the coloring is full of wonderfully saturated rusts and blues, and the triumphant story is satisfying. A perfect choice for kids enamored with Barbara DeCosta's Nighttime Ninja (2012), Arree Chung's Ninja! (2014), or Chris Tougas' Dojo Daytrip? (2015).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)