Missed Meal Mayhem (The Hunger Heroes #1)

K-Gr 3--The Hunger Heroes are a group of taco ingredient superheroes who rescue people suffering from hunger. There's a bold bean named Mr. Toots; Chip Ninja, who's armed with gadgets; Tammy, a tamale who loves to sing; and Leonard, a nervous piece of cheese. When an elementary school student named Jason misses breakfast on the day of a big math test, the heroes head to his elementary school to help him get back on track. Bathroom humor and over-the-top antics abound in this colorful graphic novel. The text is large with plenty of white space in the speech boxes, making it accessible even for emerging readers. Some of the more complex vocabulary is explained, and the illustrations effectively support and help provide context. The graphics are bright and cartoonish; Jason is brown-skinned, and the other humans pictured are racially diverse. The humor will appeal to the age demographic, with plenty of food and fart jokes to go around. The ending leaves the door open for more adventures of this taco crew. VERDICT Fans of Andy Griffiths and Dav Pilkey will enjoy this zany graphic novel.--Ellen Conlin, Naperville P.L., IL