{"id":42574,"date":"2023-08-29T21:37:25","date_gmt":"2023-08-30T01:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=42574"},"modified":"2023-08-29T21:37:25","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T01:37:25","slug":"review-of-boom-by-paul-meisel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=42574","title":{"rendered":"Review of Boom! by Paul Meisel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Boom!<\/em><\/p>\n

by Paul Meisel<\/p>\n

I Like to Read Comics (Holiday House), 2023. 32 pages.
\nReview written July 3, 2023, from a library book.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Oh, this graphic novel for beginning readers is brilliant!<\/p>\n

When we open the book, we see a sunshiny day, but a dark cloud coming into the picture with a big RUMBLE RUMBLE.<\/p>\n

As the story begins, we see a dog and a cat sleeping. Another RUMBLE RUMBLE happens, and the dog sits up, wide-eyed, and says, “What is that?” <\/p>\n

The cat opens one eye and says, “Nothing.”<\/p>\n

As the book continues, the dog is hyperaware of every sound and flash from the storm. The cat? She’s playing with her mouse toy, oblivious. But the noises are getting louder….<\/p>\n

Then, a giant BOOM BOOM with lightning takes up an entire spread, as both animals look out a sliding glass door. But as it goes on, the dog panics and the cat plays with a new toy.<\/p>\n

Finally, a BOOM so big that even the cat is startled comes. The dog goes and hides in a closet. The cat plays with yet another toy.<\/p>\n

But while in the closet, the dog falls asleep and dreams. He dreams he is a superhero fighting the storm.<\/p>\n

So, when he wakes up and sees the storm is gone, his last happy line is, “I made the storm go away.”<\/p>\n

As usual, my description just doesn’t do this book justice. The pictures of the panicking dog and the unconcerned cat will delight kids, picking up on the beautifully-expressed emotion in the illustrations. The dog taking credit for chasing away the storm is the perfect reversal ending. This light-hearted look at a pretty scary storm may help kids deal with their own fears of real storms, as they watch dog’s antics from a safe place outside the book.<\/p>\n

The perfect easy reader is one where you forget it’s easy to read because the story is so engaging. This book achieves exactly that.<\/p>\n

HolidayHouse.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/boom.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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