Tamamo the Fox Maiden: And Other Asian Stories (Cautionary Fables and Fairytales)

Gr 6 Up--This follow-up to The Girl Who Married a Skull recounts 21 Asian folktales in comic form. Some, like Jonathan Dalton's take on "The Ballad of Mulan," are illustrated versions of standard tales, while others, such as Shannon Campbell and Lucy Bellwood's "#EndoftheWorld," offer fun twists, like texting deities. Though a number of the featured stories are from Japan and China, effort was made to include offerings from all over the continent. India is well represented, and there are entries from Georgia, Laos, Myanmar, Turkey, the Arabian Peninsula, and Tibet. While each story lists a country of origin, no further background is given, so readers who aren't already familiar with the tales may wish to seek out more information. The black-and-white comics feature a range of styles from a variety of artists including Gene Luen Yang, Nick Dragotta, and Terry Blas. Like its predecessor, this was originally published as part of a successful Kickstarter campaign. VERDICT There is something for everyone here. A good choice for graphic novel collections.--Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA

The black and white art ranges from cartoony to stunningly detailed and realistic. In nearly every case, it fits the story's tone perfectly. Tamamo the Fox Maiden makes for an enjoyable, pictorial excursion into ancient Asian culture. — FOREWORD