Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake) | EASY READER STU | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Park Grove Library (Cottage Grove) | EASY READER STU | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | EASY READER STU | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | EASY READER STU | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Stillwater Public Library | J GRAPHIC STU | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Armadillo is trying to come up with a plan for global domination...but with every new idea, being a bad guy seems a little less fun--especially if ruling the world means losing your best friend. Readers will delight in star cartoonist James Sturm's tender and just depiction of a friendship in peril.
James Sturm is the author of several books for kids, including the Adventures in Cartooning series and the forthcoming Ape and Armadillo Take Over the World . Sturm also helped start a college for cartoonists, the Center for Cartoon Studies, in the small railroad village of White River Junction, Vermont.
Author Notes
James Sturm is the author of several books for kids, including the "Adventures in Cartooning" series and the forthcoming Ape and Armadillo Take Over the World. James also helped start a college for cartoonists, The Center for Cartoon Studies, in the small railroad village of White River Junction, Vermont.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-4-This graphic novel for younger readers is a funny romp into the fantastic world of two friends, an ape and an armadillo. Armadillo, who dons a red cape, wants to play a game of world domination, but his thoughtful friend Ape has another plan. Disappointed at being the sidekick, Ape makes the point that a solid friendship is based on equality. Sturm's deep story line gently teaches children the ways of friendship and compromise. Interspersed throughout are entertaining minicomics where readers learn more about Ape and Armadillo's favorite things and hear their playful thoughts. Sturm, author of the "Adventures in Cartooning" series, understands how to make comics more approachable. Children will appreciate his bold lines and funny and whimsical art. As with each Toon Book, there are tips for parents and teachers on how to read comics with kids. VERDICT An excellent addition; highly recommended for fans of the genre.-Lisa Gieskes, Richland County Public Library, Columbia, SC © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Armadillo has world domination on the mind, but buddy Ape is fed up with assignments that involve trudging through sewers and fending off robot armies. "Why do I have to distract the spitting serpent that guards the castle... while you sneak in with the princess to steal the wizard king's wand," Ape gripes as Sturm shows him getting tossed around by a monster that resembles an overgrown garden hose. (Yes, these plans for global takeover are strictly pretend, though Ape and Armadillo take them very seriously.) Armadillo pooh-poohs Ape's idea of an evil plan (it involves scaring kids out of an ice cream shop and eating all the butter pecan), but after Armadillo imagines blowing up the Earth with a "space cannon," Ape has had enough: "I don't want to blow up the world. I like a lot of people in the world." Sturm (Birdsong) captures the larger-than-life emotions and imaginations of these friends in crisply drafted cartoons as Machiavellian machinations give way to compromise. As a bonus, secondary comics run along the bottom of the pages, helping readers get to know these two big personalities even better. Ages 6-9. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Whats a more unusual friendship combo than a talking ape and armadillo? An evil talking ape and armadillo. (Little) Armadillo, with armored shell and long snout, wearing a red cape, and standing on all fours in what looks like a suburban backyard, is scowling at (large) Ape. Their body language, along with the speech-bubble text, indicates theyre in the middle of a fight. Armadillo: We have an evil plan! You agreed to it! Ape: Well, I changed my mind. As the squabble goes on, humorous details emerge, the gist being that Ape thinks its unfair he always has to do the dirty work. Why do I have to distract the spitting serpent that guards the castlewhile you sneak in with the princess to steal the wizard kings wand? Armadillos response: I came up with the evil plan! Coming up with ideas is the hardest part! Whichever characters side readers are on, theyll appreciate this pitch-perfect push-and-pull between disagreeing partiesand it only gets better (and funnier and more surprising) when Ape comes up with his own plan. Clear digitally colored panel illustrations make the characters imaginative scenarios easy to follow; theres some room for interpretation about whats real and whats part of the pals imaginary play. A series of bonus comics appears below the main story, and a multi-panel sequence is appended, giving these oddball (and not very evil) child stand-ins more room to bickerand make up (and bicker; repeat). elissa gershowitz (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
An unlikely pair of pals engages in creative plans that exercise their imaginations and test their friendship.Armadillo is a feisty fellow with big ideas and a big ego. His best friend, Ape, is huge in stature and more thoughtful and compassionate than his smaller friend. Their story is told in graphic-novel format, with the main plot unfolding in comic-strip panels on the top three-quarters of the pages, complemented by a secondary, episodic story running along the bottoms of the pages. The secondary story is inventive and humorous, giving insight into both characters and setting up their imaginative flights of fancy. The main story begins when Ape refuses to play along with the duos previously conceived evil plan to capture a castle and take over the world. This plan has Ape doing all the dirty work and Armadillo serving as king. When Ape withdraws from the fantasy and goes off to sit in a tree, Armadillo must think up a new fantasy plot with some accommodations for Apes wishes. The pair interacts with humans in several scenes, with the cast of characters including different ages and ethnicities. The cartoon illustrations include lots of motion and emotion as well, with Apes kinder nature shining through and Armadillos learning curve as a friend emerging in a subtle and satisfying way. The text perfectly captures the wildly creative narrative spirit in the play of imaginative children, who are not bound by logical rules and physical limitations. Ape and Armadillo might not have conquered the world in this outing, but they should win plenty of fans who will want to read more about this dynamic duo. (Graphic early reader. 5-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Don't let Armadillo's adorable if armored exterior fool you. This manic mammal is keen on world domination. And despite agreeing to their initial arrangement, in which Ape attacks robots and Armadillo ascends on the queen's royal pegasus, Ape is having second thoughts about the team-up. After all, Armadillo's schemes lead Ape, and Ape alone, through some sticky situations, from spitting serpents and sewer tunnels to cramped car seats. Envious of Armadillo's grand getaways and proximity to the (hypothetical) princess, Ape devises a ploy of his own. But when the duo's ideas of evil clash, the unlikely pals must seek compromise. Sturm's large, vibrant panels are ideal for engaging young readers, and quirky details (is that an alligator in the sewer?) will ensure devoted contemplation. Plus, the mood-coordinated color palette drab taupes and maroons temper Armadillo and Ape's ultimate altercation evokes a necessary dollop of gravity. With additional, unrelated antics in strips adorning the bottom of each page, Sturm's latest standalone is sure to teach youngsters the benefits of loyalty, reciprocity, and, if they're lucky, butter pecan ice cream.--Shemroske, Briana Copyright 2016 Booklist
