School Library Journal Review

Gr 4 Up-Classic works of fiction, such as A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and Don Quixote, have been condensed into 16-page comics. These versions, while not using much of the original language, cover the major plot points and retain the spirit of the original works. "Frankenstein" is still bleak, "War of the Worlds" is still terrifying, and Twain's sardonic humor comes through in "Connecticut Yankee." The skillful artwork adds to the appeal. The tales in Historical Adventures are drawn in a realistic, detailed style that is fluid and expressive, while "Don Quixote," in Great Heroes, is drawn in a lively cartoon style in vibrant colors. The art for "Frankenstein" is shrouded in mournful, foreboding browns and grays, and the extraordinary painted illustrations in "20,000 Leagues under the Sea" are startlingly lifelike. The layouts are simple but dynamic: square and rectangular panels occasionally break to allow larger, more dramatic images, and word balloons spill over into other panels. Everything is ordered and easy to follow, though, and these engrossing stories may encourage some readers to find the originals. Be aware of a typo in the biography of Arthur Conan Doyle in Great Heroes that states that he was born in 1959, instead of 1859.-Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.