Toon Books’ latest wave of child-aimed comics in handsome hardbound editions consists of two titles: Geoffrey Hayes’ BENNY AND PENNY IN THE BIG NO-NO! and Harry Bliss’ LUKE ON THE LOOSE. Both succeed in the label’s stated goal of encouraging kids to read … and its unstated one of entertaining their parents.
THE BIG NO-NO! represents the first repeat characters in the Toon Books lineup, with BENNY AND PENNY IN JUST PRETEND having been part of the inaugural releases. The sibling mouse duo return for an adventure in their backyard … and over the fence when they get curious about the mysterious new kid next door.
They follow the trail of mud into a mess of trouble, not to mention a bout of slapstick comedy that any young reader will appreciate. That comedy quotient is amped up in LUKE ON THE LOOSE, which aims for a slightly older audience.
In it, an African-American boy bored of his dad talking in the park decides to take off running and chase some pigeons. His father can’t find him, and Luke is oblivious to all who are looking after him and all the problems he’s causing. Eagle-eyed readers will spot cameos by Olive Oyl and the Hulk.
Hayes’ book is cute and inoffensive, Bliss’ is more buoyant and endearing, because of its straight cartoon style. Both keep Toon Books a reliable mark of quality for graphic kid-lit. —Rod Lott
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES:
• JACK AND THE BOX by Art Spiegelman
• MO AND JO: FIGHTING TOGETHER FOREVER by Dean Haspiel and Jay Lynch
• STINKY by Eleanor Davis
