Patrick Eats His Peas and Other Stories (Toon Books Level 2)

PreS-Gr 2--These books explore the ups and downs of family life. In Peas, four chapters show Patrick and his parents in humorous conflict over vegetables, chores, baths, and bedtime. Patrick's imaginative naughtiness comes alive in Hayes's detailed colored pencil drawings, and the young bear's antics may remind readers of Calvin, Dennis the Menace, and other comic scamps. In Balloon, an older sister exuberantly bosses her younger sister in a series of rainy-day escapades, while Liniers's ink and watercolor illustrations convey each of the sisters' emotions, from enthusiasm to trepidation and even gleeful disgust at mucky worms. These easy readers feature familiar environments, a limited number of characters, and vocabulary that will gently challenge young readers with words like "beautiful" and sound effects like "burble burble." While the expressive thought bubbles, dynamic panel layouts, and perfect pacing make both titles enjoyable first comics, they may be even more successful in beginning-reader collections serving younger children.--Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library