Kid Konnection: New Releases from Amp! Comics for Kids

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you two new graphic novels by Amp! Comics for Kids.

Summary: The hilarious tale of a group of amphibians (and one free-range hamster) who set out to save their tiny pond home from one very large steamroller.

Sometimes big stories happen in small places. Sometimes big things happen to small creatures. This is one of those stories . . .

Cecil is a toad. A toad busy doing what any other toad does with its days--judging the pond splashing contest (Reggie the fly is usually the honorary winner by dint of his five-day lifespan), or visiting his friends, Jeff the free-range hamster, Rayray the lizard, Jeremy the worm, or Sprout the frog. And, of course, trying to keep clear of the local hawk.

But when Cecil discovers a freeway construction project aimed right at the pond, he knows he has to come up with a plan to save his home. But what can a small group of amphibians and a reincarnating fly do against construction vehicles and a steady onslaught of hot asphalt? Cecil isn't sure, but he knows they have to try. -- Amp!

STINKY CECIL IN OPERATION POND RESCUE by Paige Braddock is a very funny graphic novel that's sure to delight kids of all ages. The book is geared towards kids ages seven to twelve, and because I have a 10 year old boy, I can most definitely say that the humor in this book is perfect for middle grade readers.

STINKY CECIL IN OPERATION POND RESCUE tells the story of a cute group of amphibians and an adorable little hamster. Stinky Cecil, a toad, is probably the ring leader of the group, although that's not saying a heck of a lot. When he learns that his and his friends' pond is at risk of being destroyed for a new highway, they set into a motion a series of plans to save it. Their antics are hilarious as are their interactions with each other; however, there are also some important messages in the story about natural habitat and conservation.

I really had to chuckle at STINKY CECIL IN OPERATION POND RESCUE! The book was definitely a fun glimpse into the lives of some pond animals. I thought the humor was both smart and silly (perfect for almost anyone with a sense of humor!), and the jokes came at a pretty much rapid fire pace. I actually loved the various characters, even with their flaws; and the way they talked with each other was incredibly cute.

As a mom, I really liked that the book, although hilarious, did have some important messages. There was a little bit of education about the life cycle of these animals as well some information about conservation and endangered species. The messages were definitely there but they were not heavy handed in the least. I suspect kids will soak up these messages and clamor for more of Stinky and his friends.

I can't wait to share this STINKY CECIL IN OPERATION POND RESCUE with the children at our local elementary school. Highly recommended!

Summary: The more Big Nate, the better! Readers will have their fill of Nate's wisecracks and school day shenanigans in this giant collection of hilarious comic strips.

Big Nate's Greatest Hits collects three bestselling e-book only collections--Big Nate Makes a Splash, Big Nate Dibs on This Chair, and Big Nate Pray for a Fire Drill--in this supersized paperback edition.

Eleven-year-old Nate Wright is no one-hit wonder. He’s the king of Monopoly, the Michelangelo of P.S. 38, and a Cheez Doodle poet extraordinaire. He’s a sixth-grade superstar—at least, that’s what he tells everyone—and he’s going all the way to Number One. Whether he’s having an imaginary near-death experience, creating another hilarious episode of “Doctor Cesspool,” or meeting the girl of his dreams at summer school, Nate’s always at the top of the charts. The hits just keep on coming in Big Nate’s Greatest Hits! -- Amp!

Another recent release form Amp! is BIG NATE'S GREATEST HITS by Lincoln Peirce. I have reviewed quite a few Big Nate comic books on this site over the past few years, and I can definitely say that fans of the series are going to love this new one. BIG NATE'S GREATEST HITS is actually a collection of three e-book only releases including Big Nate Makes a Splash, Big Nate Dibs on This Chair, and Big Nate Prays for a Fire Drill.

If you are familiar with Big Nate (and who isn't?), then you have come to know and love this interesting 6th grader. Nate is always finding a way to get into trouble and out of trouble, and his antics are nothing short of hilarious. As a mom, I appreciate the humor (but not like my son) and I like that these comics encourage even the most reluctant of readers to pick up a book!

Thanks to the publisher for providing review copies of these books.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!