Comics Squad: Recess!

Holm, J. ( 2014). Comics Squad: Recess! NY: Random House

     Recess, the part of the school day that students (and teachers) desperately need! This collection of eight stories capture the joy of recess time with an assortment of humorous tales, both realistic and fantasy. Kids will love the fun, bright cover, the silly stories, and the whimsical illustrations. Whether readers know the characters from the authors' other works or are being introduced to them for the first time, they'll enjoy the silly stories about a well-loved childhood pastime. 

    

Textbook Assignment #5 - Evaluation Criteria

Theme - If reaching a reluctant reader is the goal, then a graphic novel about recess would be a smart choice. These eight stories, all centered around recess, make many kids’ favorite part of school even more fun with the addition of super heroes, pizza monsters, magical acorn aliens, and talking vegetables. Some adventures happen at recess while others simply occur while trying to get outside to play. All of them center around a student’s timeless desire for the recess bell to ring and offer a reprieve from the long school day. In a time of emphasis on the importance of recess, it reminds us adults of the value students place on this daily physical and social exercise.

Style - If the theme of Comics Squad: Recess is fun, then the same could be said for its style. The ten authors have collaborated to form a humourous look at the experience of recess. Some take a realistic look but most of the stories have a flair for fantasy. Each of the eight stories have their own unique style, some are just plain silly while others have a more mature voice with sarcastic humor. They share a similar color theme yet they vary in their structure of the graphic novel styling. Each are also uniquely illustrated to represent the tone of the comic and the individual illustrators’ sense of humor comes through in their style and artistry. 

Teaching Books link

http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=39427&a=1

Book Trailer

http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2014/08/comic-squad-recess.html#axzz43ylpU6xC