Ninja! Series, Book 1

March 24, 2014
The ninja wannabe who wreaks stealthy havoc on his or her household is now a staple of the children’s bookshelf. But Arree, a designer making his picture book debut, shows there’s still plenty of kick left in the premise, thanks to a bold visual style and a keen sense of comic timing. With a dark and saturated palette, long shadows, and graphic-novel framings, Arree hits the sweet spot between sinister and spoof, while showcasing his hero in a repertoire of covert action poses worthy of the most loose-jointed action figure. As the little ninja ambushes his napping father and delights his baby sister by stealing cookies and milk from the kitchen table (until she becomes collateral damage during his escape), the narration is parceled out in hushed, breathless sound bites: “Against all odds,/ he must believe/ in his ability/ to rebound/ and overcome/ all challenges.” Lines like that are made for dramatic, movie trailer–style readalouds, but children will get just as much pleasure out of the young ninja’s DIY getup and the faux gravity of the obstacles he surmounts. Ages 4–7.

Starred review from May 15, 2014
Silently the young ninja stalks through the house to reach his objective: baby sister's prized milk and cookies.Throughout the quiet house, Ninja Maxwell moves on fleet feet. He has two objectives: surprising his sleeping father and pulling off the ultimate heist of his baby sister's snack (along with his awesome red ninja cup). The young ninja however, is not without feeling. When his ninja skills leave his little sister saddened and him both caught red-handed and "dishonored," Maxwell seizes the opportunity to impart to the next generation (aka selfsame baby sister) the "way of the ninja." Young readers should certainly relate to Maxwell's familiar assemblage of household ninja props: a stick (a pool cue), ninja rope (a jump rope) and, of course, a ninja paddle (a paddleball game). A gentle rhythm propels this lively and charming text: "A ninja sneaks / creeps, / tumbles, / hides, / and is fast on his feet." Told through a blend of traditional picture-book illustrations and comic-book-style panels, this seamlessly hybridizes the two forms, creating the perfect jumping-in point for readers interested in ninjas and comics.High-flying fun to be read aloud or independently. (Picture book. 3-6)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from May 1, 2014

K-Gr 2-Readers riding high on the ninja craze will find this treatise on how to be a successful one quite enlightening. For instance, ninjas need special equipment-a thick stick, silent footwear, sticky gloves, etc. A ninja sneaks, creeps, and is fast on his feet. He will face danger (look out, family pets), show courage, and, most importantly, master the art of SURPRISE! Readers follow the main character through comic-book-style panels as he moves with stealthlike precision, covertly navigating each room and the furniture, to fulfill his mission of capturing his prize: his sister's snack. Silent as a spider, this cartoonish little guy is regaled in makeshift black ninja fashion (where is Dad's necktie?), with only his wide eyes (and several teeth) visible to his enemies. Acrylic paints and mixed media enhance the comic-strip portrayal of a modern ninja on his quest. Heavy, dark tones are enhanced with bursts of color, such as brightly hued, fiery dragon images in keeping with the theme. Oversize heads and exaggerated expressions round out the laugh-out-loud fun. Prospective ninjas, take notice!-Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2014
Grades K-2 Almost every kid has skulked around the house like a ninja, snuck up on unsuspecting targets, and gone unnoticed (or at least pretended to go unnoticed). This boy takes it a step farther, donning night-fighter garb and arming himself with a thick ninja stick (pool cue), an unbreakable ninja rope (jump rope), and more. Mission one: remove the obstacle of the family dog and pounce upon the sleeping dad. Mission two: enter kitchen unseen and steal milk and cookies from the little sister. Both objectives are met with stealthy success, though the latter gets him sent to his room: I am dishonored. Chung's warm acrylics do wonders with the dim, shadowy interior of a middle-class home, alternating between dynamic full-page illustrations and comic booklike panels that detail the boy's meticulous maneuvers. Atop this, Chung sometimes paints fiery dragon outlines that let us in on the boy's imagination. The result can clutter the proceedings a bit, but this is nonetheless relatable, action-packed fun for wee little ninjas everywhere.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)