Barry's Best Buddy: Toon Books Level 1

by Renee French, Renee French (Illustrator)

Overview

When Barry the bird and his goofy pal Polarhog start off, there’s a new adventure around every bend. But when they turn the final corner, the surprise Polarhog has prepared brings a tear to Barry’s eye–and yours.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781935179214
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	03/12/2013
Series:	Toon
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	GN300L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Renée French lives in California with her husband Rob in a beige-colored house. The best birthday present she got as a child was a giant box of art supplies as big as her body. Growing up, she would play hooky from school in order to lie on the couch all day and draw—which, in fact, is exactly what she does all day long now. Renowned as the author of many books of comics for both adults and children (including H Day, Micrographia, and The Ticking), she’s been nominated for best artist by the Eisner, Harvey, and Ignatz Awards.

Editorial Reviews

Comics creator French, who has written and illustrated two picture books as Rainy Dohaney, presents an offbeat story of misdirection, generosity, and opposites-attract friendship. Barry, a squarish bird with half-lidded eyes that telegraph disinterest and disdain, is awakened from a nap by his doughy, rodentlike friend, Polarhog, who promises him a surprise. Polarhog leads Barry on a rambling journey down a path, with stops along the way for hats (“I do not like hats,” grumps Barry), ice cream (“I don’t like ice cream,” sniffs Barry), and a found meatball (“EW. Then maybe don’t eat it,” suggests Barry). Their perambulation unfolds over full-bleed spreads in a palette so milky one would be forgiven for thinking the artwork was printed on vellum. As Barry and Polarhog move from left to right, a crew of ants travels in the opposite direction; armed with paint, light bulbs, and wire, they hint at what awaits Barry when he returns to his house, which Polarhog had dismissed as being the color of “snooze.” French’s sharp, pared-down dialogue easily establishes the friends’ personalities and provides many moments of humor. Ages 4–up. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Comics creator French, who has written and illustrated two picture books as Rainy Dohaney, presents an offbeat story of misdirection, generosity, and opposites-attract friendship...French’s sharp, pared-down dialogue easily establishes the friends’ personalities and provides many moments of humor.
—Publishers Weekly

The needs and nuances of children’s literature are well represented, as echoes of Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad books find their way into the slightly morose Barry and his upbeat pal, and friendship and cooperation are the key themes here...Yet another winner from TOON.
—Booklist

With its sophisticated look and easily decodable blend of art and text, this friendship story should win early readers looking to conquer something on their own.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

This funny story has plenty of jokes to keep reluctant readers’ interest. A few higher vocabulary words like “tragedy,” “bliss,” and “decorate” are sprinkled throughout and add to the richness of this excellent little comic book. The whimsical artwork adds subtle humor to the story.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

K-Gr 2—When an excited Polarhog wakes Barry up from his peaceful slumber in his boring gray house, promising a surprise, Barry is not impressed. The two friends meander through the woods and past the hat shop, where Polarhog is determined to find the perfect hat for his bird buddy. Throughout the story, ants are seen carrying all kinds of objects that leave a trail for young readers to find Barry's surprise. This funny story has plenty of jokes to keep reluctant readers' interest. A few higher vocabulary words like "tragedy," "bliss," and "decorate" are sprinkled throughout and add to the richness of this excellent little comic book. The whimsical artwork adds subtle humor to the story. Barry's expression when he is wearing his hat is perfectly captured, and the tear in his eye when his surprise is finally revealed is poignant and sweet.—Alison Donnelly, Collinsville Memorial Public Library, IL

School Library Journal

Bored Barry's buddy has a surprise for him, but when will they get to it? Snaggle-toothed, big-nosed Polarhog (who looks like a big, white groundhog) knocks on the door of his friend Barry, a small, big-headed blue bird, waking him from a lovely nap. Polarhog has a surprise for Barry somewhere. On the way to the surprise, they pass a hat store. Despite Barry's insistence that he doesn't like hats, Polarhog buys them both hats...but that's not the surprise. It's not the ice cream Polarhog buys his buddy, nor is it the meatball Polarhog finds (don't ask where). They return to Barry's house to find it gloriously painted and decorated for Barry's birthday by the ants the friends have been passing throughout their long walk. French, winner of several comics industry awards for her trippy, often disturbing work for adults, releases her first children's title not under the "Rainy Dohaney" pseudonym. As a "level 1" comic for emergent readers, it will likely confuse children more than entice them to the format. The full-bleed illustrations have no panels. The friends walk a continuous path in the illustrations and appear multiple times on the two-page spreads. At one point, they stand outside the hat shop, and on the same page, their voices also come from within. This nice story of friendship breaks too many rules of the format for readers just starting out. A rare miss for this innovative imprint. (Graphic early reader. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews