Some things should just sell themselves.

TOON Books is easily one of the most interesting lines of children’s literature being published right now.  The concept is simple-these are easy readers, written with a limited vocabulary, in a comic book format, complete with panels and word balloons, created by some of the masters of comics, like Art Spiegalman (Pulitizer-Prize winning creator of MAUS) and  Jeff Smith (creator of Bone).

While I’m one of the comics-are-art crowd, the way the best comics combine art with the written word to capture the readers interest has special magic to children-even children who otherwise shy away from books.  And while I think it would be great to include some kid-appropriate superhero fare in the classroom library-that’s not what TOON Books is about.  These are stories about talking animals, animated toys, kids going to school-a wide range of classroom-appropriate topics.  The creator are great artists, renowned in their field, creating books with the express purpose of getting kids into reading.  The stories are simple and charming, the illustrations are beautiful, and did I mention that each book has an accompanying, age-appropriate lesson plan available at the TOON Books website?

Even if you’re not a comic fan, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.

Grade Level:  1-3

Rating: ★★★★★+