The Cartoonists Club

Starred review from March 1, 2025
A small group of middle schoolers creates a club to learn about making and sharing comics in this collaboration by two noted cartoonists. Makayla and Howard are friends with complementary skill sets. Makayla, who reads Black, is full of story ideas, and Howard, who has brown skin and spiky black hair, loves to draw. Their shared interest in the graphic novel series Battle Princess Kishimoto and an impromptu lunchtime brainstorming session inspire their own comic collaboration, but they have so many questions that they don't know where to start. With school librarian Ms. Fatima as their guide, the Cartoonists Club is born. The after-school club soon gains two new members--white-presenting Art is ready for a new adventure (they just love making things!), and Lynda, who has brown skin and hair, is artistically talented but unsure of herself. The resulting introductory how-to guide, presented from the perspectives of the characters, celebrates the art of visual storytelling and is also instructive for readers. From drawing facial expressions and using body language to convey feelings to unraveling the mysteries of the comic lexicon, readers learn the process of creating and sharing comics right alongside the characters. Telgemeier and McCloud simultaneously explore making new friends, overcoming self-doubt, and embracing a growth mindset to practice and improve. Hollman's bold color palette enhances the hand-drawn and digitally created illustrations. Highly imaginative and cleverly conceived. (behind the scenes, glossary, comics jobs, book creation process, resources, comic and cartoon art museums)(Graphic fiction. 8-13)

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