Night of the Homework Zombies

(Paperback)

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Description

Now younger readers can have their own graphic novel adventures in books especially designed for them. Robots, giant bugs, ninja heroes, aliens from outer space and a boy allergic to danger are just a few of the loopy and lively characters that readers will meet in these side-splitting pages. Good-humoured stories with wacky comic book-style artwork will spark the imagination of any reluctant reader.

Reviews

STORY SYNOPSIS -- The fourth grade students have a substitute teacher, but something is just not right. Luckily for Trevor, he had to use the restroom. When he got back to class the other children had all been turned into zombies who ... loved homework. He realizes things are bad when his best friend, Bo, would rather do math than play video games. It is up to Trevor to figure out how to save his best friend, save the rest of the class, and get to the bottom of the mysterious evil substitute teacher. STORY REVIEW -- I gave this to my 7-year-old second grader and she powered through it. She is a good reader though, averaging 45-55 books per month. I gave it to her while she was reading in bed. She took it, read it and gave it right back. I asked her what she thought of it she laughed and said: "It was funny." There you have it from the mouth of an honest-to-goodness kid in the recommended age range. ART REVIEW -- The art is very child-centered. There are only 2-3 panels per page, the inking is heavy, the colors bright, and the panel movement is straightforward. BE AWARE -- There is nothing of concern, unless the subject of zombies is a problem. IN THE CLASSROOM -- Many students really enjoy scary stories about creatures and such. This is the perfect opportunity for comic monsters. The teacher has access to an interactive CD, where the entire book can be projected onto a screen and read as a whole-class activity. A Reader's Theater is also available, which could be a lot of fun for children. Right off the bat, the reader is given a clue as to Mr. Winklepoof's real identity: "I am Mr. Winklepoof, a genuine substitute teacher and not an escaped mad scientist wanted by the law." The children should pick up on that and make the connection that they should be skeptical of Mr. Winklepoof. They should refer back to the title, his strange statement about not being a mad scientist, and then make predictions about what might occur in the story. OTHER INFORMATION -- NIGHT OF THE HOMEWORK ZOMBIES can come with Reader's Theatre and an interactive CD. An interesting tidbit is that the book is constructed with at least 10 percent post-consumer waste, a teaching opportunity for those teachers who are concerned with the environment. MY RECOMMENDATION: Recommended. This is a great comic for the emerging young reader and struggling elementary reader. It is funny and appropriately written for a young audience.-- "The Graphic Classroom Blog"

Author Bio

Born in 1962 in Denver, Colorado, Scott Nickel works by day at Paws, inc., Jim Davis's famous Garfield studio, and he freelances by night. Burning the midnight oil, Scott has created hundreds of humorous greeting cards and written several children's books, short fiction for "Boys' Life" magazine, comic strips, and lots of really funny knock-knock jokes. He was raised in southern California, but in 1995 Scott moved to Indiana, where he currently lives with his wife, two sons, six cats, and several sea monkeys. Steve Harpster has loved to draw funny cartoons, mean monsters, and goofy gadgets since he was able to pick up a pencil. In first grade, he avoided writing assignments by working on the pictures for stories instead. Steve was able to land a job drawing funny pictures for books, and that's really what he's best at. Steve lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wonderful wife, Karen, and their sheepdog, Doodle.