How to Spot a Sasquatch

With bite-size chapters and an entertaining plot, this is tailor-made for kids just starting to get comfortable with graphic novels.

Four campers and their guide set off on a backpacking adventure. Jay hopes that he will see a Sasquatch, but fellow campers Robin, Wren, and Martin tease him for believing in the mythical beast. It turns out that Sass (as the creature is known to her forest friends) is a fan of granola bars and people-watching. Her parents, a pair of brown bears, warn her to stay away from humans, but she can't resist—dousing their unattended campfire, swimming underwater to tug on their fishing lines, and, crucially, coming to Jay's aid when he falls into a fast-moving river. Her curiosity leads her to take several selfies with Jay's digital camera (he doesn't have a smartphone), and Jay is faced with a choice: share the pictures and prove that he was right, or delete the evidence and protect Sass's privacy and habitat. Sass has a round, friendly face, is covered in shaggy orange brown fur, and wears a crown of flowers and leaves. The campers have a range of skin tones and hair textures, and the straightforward illustrations clearly depict their actions and emotions. However, the art is flat in many panels, and though this upbeat story ends on a satisfying note for both Jay and Sass, it lacks tension and development. VERDICT An additional purchase for large graphic novel collections.—Jennifer Costa, Cambridge Public Library, MA