The Unlucky Kid

"That is one unlucky kid," remarks more than one observer on the travails of protagonist Quin in this three-chapter graphic novel by Holt (The Red Jacket). A beach outing with a large box of French fries makes Quin a magnet for a horde of ravenous gulls ("Fries! Fries! Fries!"). He then finds himself on the receiving end of a 50-foot wave that hurtles him back to his front porch. His "brilliant" two-phase plan (elaborately detailed on graph paper) for extracting a loose tooth results in his inadvertent attachment to a high-flying kite, and a fishing expedition goes awry when the escaping fish drags Quin into the sky--and the path of angry hornets--until the line snaps and he's deposited in a hollow tree trunk filled with small, miffed animals. Holt choreographs the outlandish mishaps with plenty of physical verve and bright color; the characters, including Quin's mother, younger sister, good friend, and pet kitty, all have big googly eyes and exclamation point-studded dialogue that amplify the antics. Yet, no matter how unbenevolent the world, Quin is neither a sad sack nor a Candide, remaining as durable and resilient as his propensity to become airborne. Human characters have brown skin. Ages 6-9. Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. (May)

Gr 1-3--Quin is an unlucky kid with incredible resiliency, as he demonstrates in three humorous stories about regular life events, such as losing a tooth. A cast of main characters is introduced on the first splash page, which includes Mom, Kitty (a cat), Sissy, Jose, and Quin, who is flying above them as if released from a canon. Colorful art panels are clean, and the text is large and spaced nicely for younger readers. Digital art incorporates a bright palette with expressive detail for characters' faces. Quin's first adventure takes him to the beach, where he is overwhelmed by seagulls who want his fries. One splash shows a tiny Quin, with seagulls massed in the foreground. In another panel, he exclaims, "Holy Hitchcock." Quin frequently uses "holy" and a noun when faced with a predicament, and these create laughable moments between adults and children. A master planner, Quin devises methods for pulling his tooth in the second story, and later, for his plans for a fishing trip. Although his schemes fail because he is one unlucky kid, they demonstrate his ingenuity and creativity. Alliteration assists with dialogue flow, although young readers on their own may not understand some language, such as the idiom "let's slow down them horses." VERDICT Recommended for libraries serving young children.--Rachel Zuffa