Johnny Boo and the Mean Little Boy (Johnny Boo Book 4)

by James Kochalka

Overview

James Kochalka’s beloved, all-ages series continues with another goofy romp! When Johnny Boo announces a play date with his quiet new friend Rocky the Rock, trusty sidekick Squiggle is left to find a new friend of his own. How about this nice fellow named the Mean Little Boy? He sure is fond of his butterfly net, and he’s got a great game to play with Squiggle… but, wait a minute, maybe the Mean Little Boy isn’t actually so nice! It’s up to Johnny Boo and Squiggle to find a way out of this pickle.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781603090599
Publisher:	IDW Publishing
Publication date:	11/15/2010
Series:	Johnny Boo Series , #4
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

James Kochalka is, without question, one of the most unique and prolific alternative cartoonists working in America today. His comics have been published internationally by almost every alternative comics publisher; he's recorded several music albums under the name James Kochalka Superstar (making him a favorite at college radio stations across the country); and he's developed animated cartoons for Nickelodeon and Cartoon Hangover.

He is the first official Cartoonist Laureate of the state of Vermont, appointed in 2011.

Among his best known works are the Monkey vs Robot series, the beloved Johnny Boo and Dragon Puncher series for children, and his magnum opus, the decade-plus span of daily diary comics known as American Elf. James lives in Burlington, Vermont with his wife, Amy; their two sons; and their cats, all of whom appear frequently in his comics.

Editorial Reviews

Fun for kids of all ages. It's AWESOME!" —DJ Lance Rock, host of Nick Jr's Yo Gabba Gabba!

“A perfectly silly early chapter-book graphic novel for kids new to reading on their own… totally funny and appealing.” —Youth Services Book Review

"Kochalka's simple line drawings and bright crayon colors stand out in this sweet, silly graphic novel. Children will easily identify with Johnny Boo’s sense of fun." —Booklist

"A playfully wacky, colorful graphic novel... Highly recommended." —Children's Bookwatch        
 
“Quirky, cute, imaginative, and endlessly re-readable.” —GeekDad

"A great series for young readers with its easy-to-follow panels and big word balloons." —Good Comics for Kids, School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Plenty of potty references and a bully who gets what he deserves thanks to a juicy "sneeze-boo" ensure chortles galore from the emergent-reader set for the ghostly Johnny's fourth appearance. Ghostlet Squiggle-a comma-shaped wisp in Kochalka's very simple colored panels-is on his own while Johnny Boo plays with Rocky the Rock. Lonely, he thinks that Mean Little Boy might be a new friend, but he learns better when MLB traps him in a jar before rushing off to pee. "I hope you PEE your PANTS!" shouts Squiggle after him. "Oh wait. Was that a mean thing to say?" By the time MLB comes back (wearing a different pair of pants), Johnny has shown up to rescue his ectoplasmic little buddy with a loud "BOO!"-accompanied by a messy sneeze, as he's coming down with a cold. Closing with a jovial further discussion of Mean Little Boy's weeing habits, this entry should make as big a splash as the earlier episodes. (Graphic early reader. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews

Johnny Boo is a happy little ghost, and his sidekick friend, Squiggle, returns in his fourth adventure. Squiggle just wants to spend the day playing with him. However, Johnny Boo insists he's playing with another friend (that he makes up), to avoid spending the day with Squiggle. From this simple setup, lessons on friendship and truth telling are learned, as Boo and Squiggle encounter a new friend who isn't so friendly. Kochalka's clearly placed panels, simple illustrations with bright bold colors, and large speech balloons are packaged nicely into short and readable chapters, perfect for beginning readers. The story is made complete with a photo of Kochalka's drawing hand at the end of the book, which many readers will find amusing. Ages 6-10. (June)

Publishers Weekly