The Man Behind the Mask

January 1, 2010
Gr 3-5-These full-color chapter books are fast moving and entertaining. In "The Man Behind the Mask, " 20 years after his parents were murdered, Batman comes face to face with the criminal responsible. This encounter brings with it a flood of memories as readers learn about Bruce Wayne's transformation into a superhero. The story serves as a nice starting point for readers unfamiliar with the character. In "My Frozen Valentine", Batman takes on a villain who plans to freeze Gotham City to pull a diamond heist. The retro comic-book illustrations are reminiscent of "Batman: The Animated Series," and appear every few pages, adding a vibrant visual element to the proceedings. Sound effects are displayed in large, expressive fonts and colors, capturing the feel of comics. A glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts provide opportunities for classroom use. While the story lines are fairly standard comic-book fare, these entertaining titles will find an eager audience, and the reluctant-reader appeal is hard to deny."Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI"

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