Belinda the Unbeatable

December 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-This wordless graphic novel by an Eisner Award-nominated duo centers on an unusual competition. Belinda is a born leader who makes friends easily. Barbara is timid and shy. As best friends, they balance each other perfectly. Together they play a magical game of musical chairs. In the fantasy world, players must dodge oversize musical notes bouncing down the path and run up and down hills in the quest to sit upon numbered thrones that ensure players' safety and passage to the next round. The game is nearly ruined when two children exhibit poor sportsmanship, but Belinda and Barbara win in the end. Their kindness toward each other promotes a powerful message: friendship is more important than competition. The vibrant digital artwork, with its cartoonish style, is reminiscent of Sunday morning comics. VERDICT A great comic book for the early elementary crowd. Put this on the shelf beside the Toon books series.-Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2017
Preschool-G *Starred Review* A simple game of musical chairs is the setting for a wild adventure in this wordless graphic novel. Belinda and her classmates are off to the gym when she spots shy Barbara and befriends her. Together they join in the game, but when the music starts they're amazed to see the notes and the circle around the chairs come to life! Nordling and Roberts tap into the pure, childlike imagination that makes stories such as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland such classics, and they do it all in a simple comic perfect for the youngest of readers and prereaders. Little ones will savor every panel, especially as things turn weird, with gigantic musical notes raining down from the sky onto an undulating orange road dotted with chairs that have morphed into thrones. Vibrant purples, teals, and golds brighten this fantasy world as well as the realistic but still cartoonish world of Belinda's school, where she and her classmates represent a variety of skin tones and body shapes. Adults will appreciate the gentle message of good sportsmanship, while children will be caught up in the adventure of this wonderful addition to wordless comics for young readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)