Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Comics: Tales of the World’s Wildest Beasts.

Tulien, Sean, Blake Hoena, et al.  Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Comics: Tales of the World’s Wildest Beasts.   Capstone Young Readers  2013  144p       ISBN 978-1-4342-4880-0        ms/hs     Hardback    VG-BN Graphic novel

Rudyard Kipling has written the stories of some of the animal world’s most intriguing creatures.  This book contains the stories “How the Leopard Got His Spots”, “How the Elephant Got His Trunk”, “How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin”, and “How the Camel Got His Hump.”  This is a very good graphic novel for young readers.  The colors are bright and simply blended in dramatic drawings.  The drawings themselves are simple yet effectively portray the content of the story. The format of the paperback and the visual layout within the pages add variety and insight into the world of the animals.  This book is recommended for any high-school library and will appeal to many young-adult and reluctant readers.   

Summary: A collection of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories in graphic-novel format.

Legends and myths                                                 --Linda McNeil

Pecos Bill: Colossal Cowboy.

Tulien, Sean. Pecos Bill: Colossal Cowboy.
Stone Arch see Capstone 2010 39p 22.65 Graphic Spin(Stone Arch)
978-1-4342-1896-4 elem E-BN
This graphic novel is the story of the legendary Tall Tale character Pecos Bill. It is said that in the 1920’s, as baby, he fell off a wagon and was raised by wolves. He grew to be a man of legend who could wrestler with wild mares and do all kind of incredible things. This graphic novel is the story of the legendary character Pecos Bill. It is said that in the 1920’s, as baby, he fell off his family’s wagon on the way to the wild west. He was discovered by a she wolf and she adopted him into her family of cubs. He grew to be a man of legend who could grapple with wild mares, ride a wild cat and carry a herd of bulls on his back. As he grew into adulthood he left his pack and took off on his own with such good luck that he was found by his long lost brother, who recognized him. It is said he was the first to use a lasso, he was also the first to invent a branding iron. He met his match when he met Sue.
An entertaining graphic novel on a very colorful legendary tall tale cowboy of the wild west. Kids will enjoy the exaggerations of this legendary character. The book includes a 2 page spread of the Wild West Tribune where the reader will learn all about the legend of Pecos Bill and where it came from and a theory of whether it was based on facts or just a collection of fake lore.
This book also includes discussion questions and writing prompts and a glossary. Kids will enjoy this book and will probably want more information on this character. I am also sure they will be able to invent more adventures for Pecos Bill.
A capstone book with a website that offers student activities http://www.capstonekids.com/. Diaz, Magna