Giants Beware!

This winning graphic novel will inspire kids dreaming of becoming knights and princesses alike by mixing appealing fairy-tale plots with unconventional solutions. Tiny but tough and feistily redheaded, Claudette is unwavering: slaying giants is every responsible citizen’s duty. Adults, including her own father (who lost two limbs fighting monsters), warn her that violence is not always the answer, nor does it always work out as she expects. To protect her hometown and its people, our headstrong tomboy enlists the help of her best friend, princess-in-training Marie, and her cautious younger brother, Gaston, to kill the rumored local giant. The three set out on a quest but learn that monsters may not actually be what they are reported to be, and that being worthy heroes takes heart, smarts, and courage. With bright colors and a simple, caricature-heavy art style, the book reflects its creators’ honed animation skills. Humorous facial expressions and deft comic timing from panel to panel fill the book with as many laughs as suspenseful confrontations. The violence stays light, despite Claudette’s initial bloodthirsty attitude, and while the quest is straightforward, the lessons learned along the way are suitably complex for the older-elementary kids who will most enjoy this title. A few conversations hint at back stories that could lead to future installments, and further adventures of this trio would no doubt be welcome. robin brenner