The Adventures of Captain Underpants

The Adventures of Captain Underpants

Dav Pilkey

1997 * p. 121 * YA Graphic Novel

George and Harold are both troublemakers and like to play jokes on people--like putting soap in the band's instruments or pepper in the cherrleaders' pom poms.

They also love comics. They create a comic about the fabulous and heroic Captain Underpants- a superhero who wears only a cape and underwear. Everything is all fun and games with the pair until their, principal, Principal Krupp, catches them on film pulling one of their pranks. He uses the tape as blackmail to force Harold and George to behave. But George and Harold hypnotize Krupp to make him forget about the tape. They have fun playing around with making Krupp do things like act like a monkey or chicken.

Suddenly, they get a great idea: make him think he's Captain Underpants!

"Good idea," said George. Snap! "You are now the greatest superhero of all time: The Amazing Captain Underpants!"

Mr. Krupp tore down the red curtain from his office window and tied it around his neck. Then he took off his shoes, socks, shirt, pants, and his awful toupee.

"Tra-La-Laaaaaaaaaa!" he sang (55).

George and Harold think it's funny at first, but when "Captain Underpants" jumps out the window, many troubles lie ahead.

This graphic novel is silly and fun. It even has an interactive section for readers. If a young adult likes comics they will certainly enjoy this graphic novel. The author has also written sequels to the graphic novel.

-Reading level: ages 10 & up

-Appropriate except for a few references to boyish humor like potty humor, etc.

-No real theme. More of a mindless but entertaining read.

-A fast read with mainly pictures and large text.

The Arrival

The Arrival

Shaun Tan

2006 * p. 128 * YA Graphic Novel

This is the first graphic novel that I have ever "read." When I first heard the term, I thought it meant graphic as in explicit and offensive material. But a graphic novel is essentially book that is mostly drawings and read almost like a comic book.

The Arrival, however, is solely pictorial. The drawings are beautiful, whimsical, and emotional.

Tan "tells" the story of an immigrant who leaves his home for a new country. He experiences the fustrations and awe of being introduced to a new language, culture, and way of life.

No nationalities are given, except I think that the main character, the man on the front cover, is European. I think the new country is America. America is portrayed as a bizarre and beautiful planet. The new country is so foreign and strange to the man that he feels like he is in another galaxy. Tan continues this almost sci-fi feeling througout.

The following are some images from the book:

-Reading level: grade 7 & up

-Themes: Immigration, loneliness, adaptation, community

-No text, only images.

-Read the book in about half hour

-Beautiful pictures