July 1, 2023
Best buds Waffle, Curly, and Sweet Potato mash an invading fleet of UFO-nion Rings in this sizzling series starter. Leaving no possible pun unturned, Geron dishes up a tale of three yummy anthropomorphic fries who, sporting Ghostbuster-style packs filled with ketchup, mustard, and mayo, rise up in defense of Spudtown (in guess which state) when hordes of circle-shaped alien invaders descend from the skies chanting, "Onion ring to rule them all!" Hardly have the grimacing, greasy rounds been properly battered, though, than Mayor Spud is snatched by a huge and bulbous cybernetic Mothership. "Holy aioli." Can the intrepid trio find a way to slice and dice the blooming behemoth before it escapes to "deep-fried space," or will the whole episode end in tears? Using colors as emphatic as the frequent sound effects, Ho cranks up the temperature in simply drawn panels of fast-food action that, ultimately, hurtles headlong into a peaceable caramelization and general celebrations of both differences and three new "home fry heroes." Readers will demand extra helpings. Spud-tacular. (Graphic fantasy. 7-9)
COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
November 1, 2023
Grades 1-4 Welcome to Spudtown, a quaint little city full of potato people and home to Waffle, Curly, and Sweet Potato. Waffle is bored of day-to-day life and dreams of adventure, but Curly and Sweet Potato are content in the small town. Whether they like it or not, adventure finds the trio when they encounter a group of evil UFO-nion rings and a mega-sized blooming onion wreaking havoc on their town. The friends band together to form the Fry Guys, and through teamwork, clever disguises, and lots and lots of ketchup, they protect Spudtown and save Mayor Spud from the nefarious invaders. Ho's thick-outlined figures and bright colors have a playful feel that calls to mind James Kochalka's Glorkian Warrior or Dav Pilkey's Dog Man, and the energetic pace and silly puns keep the tone fun and lively. The memorable potato characters and hilarious antics make this perfect for kids just getting into reading comics independently. Betcha can't read just one!
COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
December 2, 2023
Gr 1-3-Action, humor, and potato puns abound in this fun-filled hero origin story about a group of French fries who team up to defeat bad guys. In peaceful Spudtown, Waffle Fry wishes for adventure and gets more than she bargained for when UFO-Onion Rings launch a surprise attack. She and her friends Curly and Sweets bravely rally against the enemy, employing creative thinking and collaboration to defend their home. With an upbeat tone well-suited for its young audience, the narrative prioritizes laughs over suspense, and the threat of robotic alien invaders comes across as more antic than terrifying. Bold, cartoonish illustrations and snappy dialogue make this series starter a surefire hit for elementary school readers who have already devoured "Dog Man" or "Narwhal and Jelly." VERDICT With zany illustrations, clever wordplay, and laugh-out-loud storytelling, this graphic novel is exactly the right kind of good-humored silliness for emerging readers who are just beginning to discover the fun of books.-Allison Tran
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