Book Summary:
Two daring
pets of a superhero go through training to become their master’s sidekicks.
During their training, they discover the runaway former pet of their master and
recruit the cat to be their trainer. Danger ensues when a sly new superhero
captures four powerful evildoers and threatens to betray the town.
APA Reference of the Book:
Santat, D. (2011). Sidekicks.
New York, NY: Scholastic.
Impressions:
I
read this graphic novel in under an hour. I really enjoyed it. The story line
was fast paced and easy to follow. The pictures are simple and flow throughout
the story. The characters were cute and
humorous. This graphic novel was just lighthearted and fun. I enjoyed the spunk and perseverance of Fluffy
and the naivety of Shifty. I like that Captain Amazing’s weakness is a peanut
allergy. I do not enjoy superhero movies or comics like Superman and Spiderman,
but I did enjoy reading this superhero book.
Dan Santat makes the reader cheer for the underdog or under hamster in
this novel.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
A veritable bonanza of
capes, heroes and pets with superpowers abounds in illustrator Santat’s first
solo graphic novel.
Captain Amazing, the
muscled hero of Metro City, is aging, and after a botched takedown of four
nefarious villains, he decides he is in need of a trusty sidekick. Unbeknownst
to Captain, his own pets are clamoring for the job (and for more quality time with
their beloved owner). Fluffy, his hamster, has yet to discover his superpower,
but this rodent has a lot of heart. Manny the cat (who has the ability to
electrocute bad guys) had run away after his beloved toy Nummers went missing,
but the prodigal cat returns just in time to help the Captain. Roscoe (a.k.a.
Metal Mutt) has a gruff exterior but is fiercely loyal. Shifty, the newest
addition to the family, is a color-changing chameleon who adds a dose of comic
relief. The lovable menagerie of crime-fighting pets offers lots of laughs and
a boisterous and exuberant storyline; Santat’s illustrations are clear,
engaging and neatly stacked into easy-to-read panels. While there is no mention
of a sequel, subsequent volumes would certainly fly off the shelf faster than a
speeding bullet, so here's hoping.
A vibrant volume sure to
zoom, pow and swoosh its way into the hands (and hearts) of young superhero
fans. Extremely entertaining. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
Kirkus Review. (2011, May 19). [Review of Sidekicks
by Dan Santat.] Kirkus Review. Retrieved
from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dan-santat/sidekicks-santat/
In the Library:
To introduce graphic novels to my patrons, I would read Sidekicks. We would discuss the
characteristics of graphic novels, such as text boxes, speech, and noise
bubbles, and panels. Then we would make an anchor chart or web of how this book
reminded us of similar characters, books, or movies. After completing our chart, I would give the
students paper and have them fold the paper to make four to eight different
panels. The students would create their
own graphic novels.
No comments:
Post a Comment