It's graphics galore in this week's Junior Reading Room. Cut out the coupon (available only in the newspaper) to enjoy 25% discount, on the featured comics, autobiography and picture books, at Kinokuniya Bookstore.
Reading Room
StarTwo, 13th April 2007
Demon Slayer
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Author: Fuyumi Ono
Publisher: TokyoPop, 464 pages
YOKO Nakajima is an ordinary, well-behaved high school student and dutiful daughter until, almost overnight, she discovers that she is destined to become a demon slayer in an alternate universe where monstrous beasts and evil humans abound. Released 10 years ago in Japan, Twelve Kingdoms spawned a hugely popular anime series. This is the first volume of the manga to be translated into English and there are another six due. This graphic novel is as much a fantasy quest as a story of one girl’s transformation into womanhood, as she faces challenges, learns to accept responsibilities and comes to terms with who she really is.
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Editor: Ivan Velez
Publisher: Dutton Books, 80 pages
NINE tales of horror make up this comic book that will delight fans of teen horror flicks like Scary Movie and Nightmare on Elm Street. The stories have one thing in common: they are all about teens who attend the same high school. And the teens share a common fate: they end up undead! So now, you know what the title refers to. There are lots of icky moments and some funny ones, but nothing very scary really. Freddy Krueger could be the inspiration considering the largely corny script, but then DC Comics’ Tales from the Crypt was also big on cheese. Let’s just call Dead High a tribute! Dead funny!
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Author: Jacqueline Wilson
Illustrator: Nick Sharratt
Publisher: Doubleday UK, 307 pages
THIS is an autobiography of sorts, by Jacqueline Wilson, written specifically for her own audience who, used to the author’s realistic portrayals of teen life and childhood, will appreciate her gritty and honest assessment of her own salad days. Britain’s children’s laureate concentrates on the first 11 years of her life and describes, vividly, frazzled parents, nasty teachers, disgusting school dinners and lonely hospital stays. She ends each chapter by linking an episode in her own life with the fictional moment that it helped recreate, highlighting how every experience can be used as a basis for art.
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Author: Chris Hornsey
Illustrator: Gwyn Perkins
Publisher: Walker & Company, 24 pages
MURPHY, a pet dog, asks questions that many children have groaned and thought when faced with the difficult task of doing as their parents say. “Why can’t we play ALL the time?” “Why do I have to be good when we have company?” “Why can’t I drive the car?” Parents, when you come to Murphy’s owner’s very sensible answers, be prepared to be greeted with hoots of derision and much heckling from your kids! Never mind, everyone will fall madly in love with cute Murphy who, actually, eats out of a dish and not off the floor. Well, some people (and dogs) are just too nit-picky for their own good!
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Author: Kevin Henkes (Author, Illustrator)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 32 pages
THE day starts rather badly for four animals – a bird, a terrier, a fox and a squirrel. The yellow bird loses a feather. The little dog’s leash gets tangled up. The fox loses sight of his mum. And a ripe acorn falls out of the squirrel’s grasp. However, these are but temporary setbacks, as each cute little beast is soon back to his bouncy, jaunty self when things take a turn for the better. “This too shall pass” is the point of the story and Henkes’ vibrant and vivid colours underline the positive message. The animals are adorable and the little girl, in the final frame, joyfully crying, “Mama! What a good day!” just makes it so!
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Author: Anthony Browne
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 32 pages
A LITTLE boy sings the praises of his big brother: He scores “FANTASTIC goals”, writes “BRILLIANT stories”, runs “so FAST that he can FLY!” etc, etc. Big bro has cool hair, cool clothes and cool sandals. He can wrestle gorillas. He draws so well, his pictures come to life! And best of all, this wonderful brother seems to have nurtured self-confidence in his little fan! Anthony Browne’s unfussy lines on clean, uncluttered backgrounds are easy on the eye. There are also interesting details to pore over. And his characters’ resemblance to gorillas will raise a few chuckles.
These are interesting books.....!
Posted by: Robert | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 19:20
Kino's having a great six-month promotion too, though you've prolly heard about that by now.
By the ways, nice blog. <3
Posted by: Nuri | Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 13:27