Comic Squad: Recess!  

Edited by Jennifer & Matthew Holm 

and Jarrett Krosoczka

Holm, J., Holm, M., & Krosoczka, J. (2014). Comics squad: Recess! New York, NY: Random House.

The graphic novel is one of the hottest reading trends for children today.  Ask any kid about Captain Underpants or Babymouse and chances are they will know who you are talking about.  This compilation brings together the minds of 10 of the leading authors in graphic novels for children in the industry including Jennifer and Matthew Holm, Dave Pilkey and Raina Telgemeier to name just a few.  From the boy who gets left out of the Super-Secret Ninja Club, to the Lunch Lady saving the school from a pizza monster, to Babymouse who just wants to make it through the day and get to recess, this book has something for everyone and will have readers cracking up and begging for more.

Evaluation Criteria: Setting and Style

The style of this book is very unique in that it is a collection of 8 completely different graphic short stories written by 10 of the leading authors of graphic novels for children today and based on some very popular characters that readers may already be familiar with.  Although each story is written by someone different, they are all equally hilarious filled with informal, witty dialogue and silly illustrations using a basic color scheme of black, white and orange.  What ties all of these stories together is that each of them take place at school, either in the building or out in the yard, and revolve around the theme of recess.  While the characters may be fantastical, such as pizza monsters, a fraction battling mouse and a talking cupcake, readers will definitely be able to relate to and find humor in these scenes and situations that are faced in and around school on a daily basis.

Book Trailer for Comic Squad: Recess!