Paul Gilligan

I received this in the Early Review program. This book is a little odd, but so are children. LOL. Some kids will grasp onto the weirdness of the two main characters and love it. I didn't laugh out loud, but I did chuckle a little. Sadly, my kids are older now, and they didn't want to give me their opinions. The "hip" language is what throws this off the most for me, and I don't think a lot of kids will get it. I do love all the hats and the silliness of it all. It grew on me quickly after initially being a bit turned off by it. It is a graphic novel which is the best gatewat for reluctant readers. The bright colors and fun pictures should also attract those same reluctant readers.… (mehr)

It is a challenge for an adult to appropriately and correctly review a children's book but here it goes and I've cheated: I asked my 8 year old grandson to help me.

The book a graphic novel is divided into three chapters with each chapter reading as a stand-alone (didn't need material except main characters from other chapters. Each chapter has a problem faced by Joe Pidge who with Pluto Rocket as a sounding board more than anything, encounters what is a big issue/situation according to an 8 year old. Pidge shares his thoughts and anxieties as he details the problem for Pluto. After examining options, Pidge and Pluto reach an acceptable outcome for the problem and the chapter ends. I do note that the book is not preachy nor does it dwell too long developing either the problem or solution.

while I wasn't impressed by the physical appearance of the characters, they do have identity and all needed characteristics and stage props but nothing else. Even the setting is bare minimum. My grandson found these notations immaterial. In fact, he really liked the characters. One for the kid.

I was concerned that the lesson learned in the chapter would be lost on my grandson, but he was quick to give me two possible lessons from just chapter 1 Another point for the kid.

I was also concerned that the computer game generation would just find Pidge and Pluto too bland. Actually my grandson gave the book two thumbs up and wants to read more… (mehr)