Picture Book Comics!

Posted on June 16, 2022 at 6:25 am by Gene Ambaum

The Great Zapfino by Mac Barnett and Marla Frazee. Beach Lane Books, 2022. 9781534411548.

Circus performer The Great Zapfino climbs a 10-story ladder to jump into a tiny trampoline, but then decides not to make the leap. He runs for the airport and heads for a place that might be Florida instead. There he works as an elevator operator, but his circus skills do eventually come in handy. This is the most beautiful and stupendous black and white comic I’ve read in a while. Best part: the crowded elevator scenes.

Take A Breath by Sujean Rim. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2022. 9781534492530 .

Bob can’t quite fly like all the other red birds, despite practicing a lot. He kind of loses it, but then he meets the helpful Crow who teaches him to BREATHE. (This all helps Bob relax, and he feels great, and then guess what?) A beautiful little book abou slowing down that can even teach you how to relax when you’re nervous. (I’m giving this one to my wife to show her I am present sometimes.)

Froodle by Antoinette Portis. Roaring Brook Press, 2014. 9781596439221.

All the animals in the neighborhood make the sounds you’d expect until one day a little brown bird doesn’t peep. Crow isn’t happy, but can’t make the little bird stop. And then the silliness gets contagious. My favorite part was when I mis-read “Dove” as “Dave.” I laughed really hard. Oops. (My life is full of Daves.)