A Newcomer in Pocketville

March 1, 2024
Monti the mole has a morning routine: go the bakery, stop at the library, and then rest on his favorite rock beside the river. One day, his routine is interrupted when he hears whispers about a stranger in town -- and then he finds the stranger on his rock. This beginning-reader comic is for children gaining confidence and fluency. It's told in five short chapters with twenty to thirty words per page; multisyllabic words like stranger, favorite, and talent are repeated throughout the text, giving opportunities to practice them. The stranger turns out to be Leo, a long-snouted green creature; and, of course, he and Monti become fast friends. Kantorovitz presents a fresh angle on friendship, though: Leo has been experiencing some suspicion and hostility since he arrived in town, and Monti makes it his goal to show everyone how amazing Leo is. The digital illustrations mix bold lines and pastel colors to pleasing effect, and Kantorovitz varies the number of panels on each page to control the pace, building small moments of drama and breakthroughs and leading up to a talent show Monti and Leo stage to bring the town together. This cozy book feels both familiar and surprising, and it will likely be embraced by young comics fans. Adrienne L. Pettinelli

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

May 15, 2024
Grades K-2 At first, Monti the Mole's placid daily routine in prosaic little Pocketville is upset by a stranger's arrival, but he quickly learns to relish the fresh outlook of this cheerful lizard. Sticking up for his new friend, Monti makes a point of introducing Leo around town. And when Mrs. Sheep's stubborn dismissal of anything new threatens to thwart their plan for a talent show, a bit of flattery offered by quick-thinking Monti finally wins her over. With upbeat Leo offering encouragement to all, the show goes on, a brilliant success even with a few mishaps. Their shared delight in the night ultimately shows the villagers the charm of taking a chance on change. For her gentle tale revealing the power of friendly acceptance, veteran illustrator Kantorovitz offers art in a new, sweetly spare style, using simple outlining of subtle, flat color fills presented in clean, uncluttered panels. With fun and eclectic clothing details and vivid, expressive gestures, the lively inhabitants of Pocketville are quirky, authentic critters young readers will want to meet again.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2024

Gr 1-3-Pocketville is "a quiet little town" and the animal inhabitants "like it that way." When we meet Monti the Mole, he represents the "perfect routine" that they have created in their town and daily lives. One day when a stranger named Leo arrives, Monti and the others aren't sure how to handle "these strangers that never respect our ways." Through the chapter format and digitally rendered frames, readers follow along as Monti learns to find his voice to promote acceptance and understanding to even the loudest Pocketville citizen, Mrs. Sheep. The theme of friendship gets an upgrade in this tale that is rightfully dedicated "to anyone who's ever felt like a stranger." Kantorovitz covers a lot of territory with her characters and message in a format that works well as a beginner graphic novel. A natural color palette of light greens, blues, browns, and peaches is reminiscent of Arnold Lobel's companions, Frog and Toad, and matches well with the frequent unstructured frames that bleed onto the white background. A unique addition of early sketches is included for the back matter. VERDICT A story with a strong moral that represents a wide range of social and cultural talking points. Purchase where there is a need for beginner graphic novels, or for students who love any animal duo.-Danielle Schwessinger

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2024
A friendly mole learns that strangers aren't always so strange. Pocketville, as its welcome sign advertises, is "a quiet little town"--"And we like it that way!" When a new resident, Leo the lizard, moves in, Mrs. Sheep, the baker, starts gossiping about him. Monti the mole is initially annoyed at Leo; the lizard takes Monti's favorite resting spot, buys the last cinnamon rolls, and checks out the library book Monti wanted. But Leo is also kind and willing to share. The two become fast friends, and when Mrs. Sheep gossips about Leo again, Monti speaks up. He also introduces Leo to his friend Harriet's music, and they decide to mount a talent show. Though the villagers are reluctant to take part, Monti performs some savvy ego inflation to get Mrs. Sheep on their side, and soon everyone is following suit. Seasons appear to progress from spring to winter over the course of the book's four chapters. Monti and Leo's friendship radiates warmth throughout. It's clear that kindness and hostility are choices, and this tale shows that the capacity for both exists in everyone, from mild-mannered Monti's brief bouts of irritation to a surprisingly gracious moment courtesy of Mrs. Sheep. With their long snouts, Monti and Leo cut endearing figures in Kantorovitz's rounded, spare cartoonish art. Most pages contain two to four panels, making the characters' exploits as easy to process as the relatively short sentences. New neighbors, attitudes, and ideas are worth embracing in this community-minded tale. (character sketches) (Graphic fiction. 7-9)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2024
Monti the mole has a morning routine: go the bakery, stop at the library, and then rest on his favorite rock beside the river. One day, his routine is interrupted when he hears whispers about a stranger in town -- and then he finds the stranger on his rock. This beginning-reader comic is for children gaining confidence and fluency. It's told in five short chapters with twenty to thirty words per page; multisyllabic words like stranger, favorite, and talent are repeated throughout the text, giving opportunities to practice them. The stranger turns out to be Leo, a long-snouted green creature; and, of course, he and Monti become fast friends. Kantorovitz presents a fresh angle on friendship, though: Leo has been experiencing some suspicion and hostility since he arrived in town, and Monti makes it his goal to show everyone how amazing Leo is. The digital illustrations mix bold lines and pastel colors to pleasing effect, and Kantorovitz varies the number of panels on each page to control the pace, building small moments of drama and breakthroughs and leading up to a talent show Monti and Leo stage to bring the town together. This cozy book feels both familiar and surprising, and it will likely be embraced by young comics fans.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)