With his hulking body and sledge-hammer-shaped fists, Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) has been the villain in a kid-favorite arcade video game for 30 years, smashing buildings and causing mayhem throughout Niceland, damage adeptly repaired by the ever-cheerful Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer). Fed up with being another 8-bit baddie, Ralph is ready to take a shot at being the good guy and decides to prove his mettle by earning a medal.

His quest takes him—via power cord—to “Hero’s Duty,” a modern, first-person shooter game starring the stalwart Sergeant Calhoun (Glee’s Jane Lynch) and a mass of evil alien cy-bugs. Next, he crash-lands in the candy-themed kart-racing game, “Sugar Rush,” where he meets spunky Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), a feisty and outspoken youngster who is determined to earn a place in the starting lineup despite her propensity for glitching. The two form an alliance, and Ralph believes he has finally made a friend, until events that he has inadvertently set in action—and a carefully camouflaged villain—cause everything to crash down around them. Will Ralph be able to set things right before it’s too late?

Designed to look and sound like an old-school arcade game, the movie’s official website provides a trailer, a selection of behind-the-scenes videos, and a gallery of movie images. A characters option introduces each of the major players with a bright illustration, a bar chart of personality-specific statistics (e.g., “Fist Power” for Ralph or “Heart” for Vanellope), a brief bio, and downloads. Showcased here are some familiar videogame villains featured in the film, including the orange-colored ghost from “Pac-Man” and Dr. Eggman from “Sonic the Hedgehog.” Kids can also try their hand at online versions of the movie’s three arcade games, providing a fun interactive extension to the viewing experience. Each offering’s graphic style, music, and milieu are cleverly suited to its particular era (a classic 1980’s pixilated veneer for “Fix-it Felix, Jr.,” a super-cute Nintendo-esque ‘90s look for “Sugar Rush,” and a hyper-realistic setting for “Hero’s Duty”).

Book Tie-ins: Picture Books

A selection of Wreck-It Ralph books geared to a variety of reading levels will win over movie fans. A “Little Golden Book” version (PreS-K) of the tale recaps the action in a straightforward narrative, briefly touching upon the story’s highpoints. The colorful cartoon illustrations provide just enough detail to delineate events, while emphasizing Ralph’s super-size fists and Vanellope’s perky nature. Illustrated throughout with glossy large-size images, the “Big Golden Book” retelling (PreS-Gr 4; both Random House) incorporates more elements from the plot, providing dialogue along with a bit more character development. In both the narrative and artwork, transitions between scenes set in the different game worlds and in the arcade are clean and easy to follow.

The illustrations evoke the movie animation, and shifting perspectives and close-ups effectively underscore the unfolding action and the characters’ emotions. The text’s clear writing style and basic vocabulary make the book appropriate for sharing aloud or for independent readers. Some of the same images are presented in Wreck-It Ralph: Read-Along Storybook and CD (Disney, 2012; PreS-Gr 4), a staple-bound paperback that presents a more streamlined retelling. Narrated with plenty of expression, the audio CD also includes lines of dialogue performed by the movie actors, lively sound effects, and background music.

A staple-bound picture book zooms in on Ralph’s adventures in Sugar Rush (Random House, 2012; PreS-Gr 2) as he and Vanellope work together to mix, bake, and decorate a kart confection for the race, and their reluctant alliance gradually blossoms into friendship. Fast-reading text and soft-edged candy-colored illustrations convey the events along with the characters’ growing affection. One Sweet Race (Disney, 2012; PreS-Gr 1), an original picture book set in the world of Sugar Rush, stars Rancis Fluggerbutter, a blonde-haired boy with a jauntily angled chocolate-bonbon cap. When he trades his belongings to purchase a souped-up candy racing kart, it proves impossible to control, and he ends up in a wreck with “bubble gum airbag” deployed. Never fear! Vanellope helps him to piece together a homemade vehicle with a “fudge-bucket seat,” “shock-olate absorbers,” and “taffy bear-rakes,” allowing him to triumph and learn a lesson about friendship. Created by one of the movie’s visual design artists, the artwork depicts the sugar-sweet characters, confection-filled backdrops, and racing action.

Easy Reader/Chapter Books

Game On! (PreS-Gr 1; Random House, 2012), a “Step 2” easy reader, recounts the movie’s plot in a concise narrative that utilizes short sentences and basic, often-repeated vocabulary words. Employing clean lines and muted colors, the illustrations add interest and support the text with visual clues. Beginning readers will enjoy re-living the familiar events, as Ralph discovers that “He does not need a medal to be a Good Guy.”

Standing at 9-feet tall, weighing 643 pounds, and continually yelling, I’m Gonna Wreck It! (Random House; Gr 1-4), the film’s hero recounts his story in a lively first-person narrative. Written in an accessible style, this easy chapter book combines simple vocabulary, short and snappy sentences, and humorous black-and-white cartoons to tell “a pretty crazy story about some Good Guys, some Bad Guys, a cute kid, and lots of gooey taffy.” The text clearly conveys the events, while remaining in character with a warmly informal tone and exclamations like, “Mother Hubbard!” The Kapow! cover (Ralph fisting his way through a brick wall), invitingly open format, and protagonist’s perspective will draw readers into the tale.

Clear and descriptive writing, humorous dialogue, and fast-paced plot make the The Junior Novelization (Random House; Gr 3-6) appropriate for both independent readers and sharing aloud with younger movie fans. The prologue sets the scene by introducing Litwak’s Family Fun Center, with its “ringing bells and electronic beeps,” kids racing from console to console, and the fact that the real action takes place when the arcade closes at night. Told in suspenseful chapters, the tale touches upon themes of finding friendship, discovering untapped talents, and helping others. A colorful cover showing the vivacious Vanellope perched on Ralph’s shoulder, the two smiling affectionately at each other, welcomes movie viewers. Eight pages of captioned full-color artwork are nestled within, along with black-and-white images of a pixilated Ralph.

Go Behind the Scenes

Movie devotees as well as readers with an interest in visual design and animation will enjoy perusing the profusely illustrated pages of Jennifer Lee and Maggie Malone’s The Art of Wreck-It Ralph (Chronicle, 2012; Gr 5 Up). Stating that the movie is a bit of  a departure for Disney Animation, the authors point to the involvement of Moore, who brought with him “an edgy animation aesthetic and a bold, risky sense of humor” along with a commitment to creating a film with a modern sensibility. Well-written chapters delve into each of the very different video-game worlds, describing the design process, settings, and character development (at various times, Ralph was envisioned as a troll, caveman, Sasquatch, and gorilla, as shown in the concept artwork).

Other sections introduce “Game Central” (a train-station-like hub through which the characters travel from one game console to another), scenes set in the human world of the arcade, and characters that were cut before production. Commentary from the creative staff is woven into the narrative, along with pull-out quotes, providing an interesting look at how the film’s look and storyline evolved side by side. The handsome pages are filled with concept art, character sketches, story boards, and models (including an amazing built-from-candy rendition of the Sugar Rush town square).

Publication Information

SAXON, Victoria, adapt. Wreck-It Ralph. illus. by Lorelay Bove. “A Little Golden Bk.” Random. 2012. Tr $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2972-6.

BAZALDUA, Barbara, adapt. Wreck-It Ralph. illus. by the Disney Studio Artists. “A Big Golden Bk.” Random. 2012. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2954-2.

GLASS, Calliope, adapt. Wreck-It Ralph: Read-Along Storybook and CD. illus. by the Disney Storybook Artists. Disney Pr. 2012. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-142316061-8. w/CD.

O’HARA, Ellen. Wreck-It Ralph: Sugar Rush. illus. by Cory Loftis. Random. 2012. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2959-7.

RISCO, Elle D. Wreck-It Ralph: One Sweet Race. illus. by Brittney Lee. Disney. 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-142316628-3.

AMERIKANER, Susan. Wreck-It Ralph: Game On! illus. by the Disney Storybook Artists. Random House. 2012. PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-8116-8; pap.  $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2889-7.

BAZALDUA, Barbara, adapt. Wreck-It Ralph: I’m Gonna Wreck It! illus. by David Gilson. Random House. 2012. pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2958-0.

TRIMBLE, Irene, adapt. Wreck-It Ralph: The Junior Novelization. Random House. 2012. pap.  $4.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2960-3.

LEE, Jennifer & Maggie Malone. The Art of Wreck-It Ralph. Chronicle. 2012. Tr $40. ISBN 978-1-4521-1101-8.

Based on Disney’s Peter Pan franchise, this Annie-Award-winning show depicts the adventures of Jake and his cohorts: Izzy, a girl pirate who has been given a sack of pixie dust by the fairies for use in emergencies; Cubby, the youngest of the bunch and keeper of the Never Land map; and their talking parrot Skully. As they search for treasure or hunt for missing items, often sailing aboard their ship Bucky, the brave buccaneers come into conflict with the dastardly (but entertainingly ineffectual) Captain Hook and his first mate, the more easy-going Mr. Smee.

The children earn gold doubloons for solving each “pirate problem,” counting them up at episode’s end. With a focus on determination, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, the series also incorporates toe-tapping music (including live-action songs performed by the Pirate Band), slap-stick humor, and frequent opportunities for audience participation. A primetime special, Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Jake Saves Bucky (G), premieres on September 19 (International Talk Like a Pirate Day) and will be released on DVD in October.

Young hearties can sail on over to Jake’s website to watch clips from the series, music videos, and full episodes. Also featured are numerous show-related video games that are both entertaining and educational. Introduced by a narrative framework and/or clear directions, the selections emphasize skills such as sorting, counting, color and shape identification, eye-hand coordination, and more. There is plenty of positive reinforcement as the characters cheer on youngsters, and several of the games allow users to progress from level to level (and reward success with gold doubloons). Some of the offerings have a more creative bent (design your own pirate), and coloring sheets and craft projects are also available for downloading.

Book Tie-ins

Kids who love the series will dive right into these colorful volumes starring the familiar characters. The tales follow the format of the show, introducing a problem (usually caused by Captain Hook’s misguided actions), demonstrating how the friends work together to face the challenge, and ending with a clear resolution. In Skipping Day (Random House, 2012; PreS), “A Little Golden Book” appropriate for the very youngest fans, Hook snatches a jump rope from Jake and his pals and ends up in a tangle; however, the kindhearted kids free the captain and show him how to use the rope to have fun. The short and simple narrative is accompanied by soft-hued illustrations that echo the look of the animation, all neatly set off by clean white backdrops, and the book’s small size makes it great for lap-sharing.

Disney Press presents a colorful cache of upbeat tales illustrated with bright-hued cartoon artwork that delightfully depicts the show’s familiar players and island setting. Each book begins with Jake’s trademark greeting, an invitation for readers to join the crew by saying the pirate password (“Yo-ho-ho!”), and “Today’s Pirate Pledge”—a recap of the lesson learned during that particular adventure (e.g., “A good matey does nice things for other people”). The stories end with kudos from the characters for a job well done and a smattering of gold doubloons to be counted. Jake and the Spyglass introduces the cast with full-page portraits and then plunges into fast-paced action. Eyeballing the glow of distant treasure, Hook is unable to locate his own spyglass and steals one from the kids, who must find a way to retrieve it (don’t worry, the light-fingered captain receives his comeuppance from Tick Tock Croc). The book ends with several activity pages (search-and-find, counting, finger-follow mazes, etc.).

Two smaller-size staple-bound picture books take a similar approach. In Let’s Get Jumping!, Hook swipes a pogo stick from the youngsters and manages to end up stuck in a tree (Izzy solves the problem with a dose of fairy dust), and when Cubby’s harmonica goes missing (courtesy of the sneaky caption), the “sea pups” must Follow That Sound! (all Disney, 2012; PreS-Gr 1) to recover the instrument. These inviting books feature vividly illustrated spreads, clearly written narratives sprinkled with dialogue, and smiles all around. Jokes and tongue-in-beak quips from Skully the parrot appear on the bottom corners of the pages.

Part of Disney Press’s “World of Reading” series, two “Level Pre-1” titles incorporate rebus images into the lines of large-size text to encourage youngsters to follow along. Paired with the word they represent, these pictographs are repeated frequently throughout the short and simple narratives, helping kids to make connections between objects and sequences of letters. It’s Hook’s birthday and the “puny pirates” try do something nice, but when The Croc Takes the Cake, they must come up with a way to save the day. Thinking it’s treasure, the greedy Captain snatches a golden egg from the nest of two humming bird parents, and Jake Hatches a Plan (both 2012; Pres-K) to get it back safe and sound. Both tales feature easy-to-follow plots, and the accompanying artwork adds to the action and humor while providing visual clues to support the storytelling. Separate sentences in a smaller font prompt kids to seek out or count objects in the pictures, nudging them to take a closer look and interpret the visual details more carefully. The high-interest subject matter and appealing format of these books will help pre-readers take their first steps toward reading.

Publication Information

POSNER-SANCHEZ, Andrea, adapt. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: A Skipping Day. illus. by Stefania Fiorillo, Raffaella Seccia, & Gianluca Barone. Random/Golden Books. 2012. Tr $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-3029-6.

LA ROSE, Melinda. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Jake and the Spyglass. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-142314944-6.

_____. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Let’s Get Jumping! pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142314924-8.

_____. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Follow That Sound! pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142314943-9.

_____. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: The Croc Takes the Cake. “World of Reading.” pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142315543-0.

_____. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Jake Hatches a Plan. “World of Reading.” pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142315542-3.

ea vol: illus. by Alan Batson. Disney Pr. 2012.

With its timeless themes of family love and burgeoning independence, delightfully unique characters, and blithe blend of humor and adventure, the movie has been captivating viewers ever since (it’s been a best-selling DVD and was named to the American Film Institute’s 2008 list of top 10 animated features). The motion picture will be released on Blue-ray on December 4th, and the underwater antics of Nemo and his friends may soon continue—director Andrew Stanton is reportedly onboard to spearhead a sequel.

Set in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the story follows the adventures of Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks), an over-anxious single-parent clown fish, and his son Nemo (Alexander Gould), a vivacious youngster who is just starting school and can’t wait to make new friends and explore his world. When Nemo is snatched by a scuba diver—ending up in a dentist’s office fish tank in Sydney—the ordinarily mild-mannered Marlin is determined to mount a rescue mission. Accompanied by the always-bubbly Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a kindhearted but forgetful Pacific blue tang, this daring dad embarks on a quest to track down Nemo—swimming through uncharted territory and taking on stinging jellyfish, menacing sharks, and other dangers—while also searching for the wisdom to trust in his son’s abilities. Meanwhile, Nemo has been stirring up the fish tank with a few escape plans of his own.

Kids can cruise over to the movie website to watch previews, play an online game, and access activities. One video clip showcases US Olympic Team swimmers, while others feature interesting behind-the-scenes commentary from the movie’s animators. A scroll-down characters section, divided into ocean dwellers and the tank gang, introduces each player with a colorful visual, species identification, notable quote, brief bio, related videos, and downloadable wallpaper images.

Book Tie-ins

The movie’s second big-screen splash is sure to generate a new school of Nemo fans, ready to join the ranks of kids already familiar with the film from family DVD screenings. Spiff up your collection with some new and re-issued tales guaranteed to reel in movie aficionados and expand the viewing experience to the written page. Finding Nemo (Golden Bks./Random House, 2012; PreS-Gr 4), a “Big Golden Book,” welcomes readers with a colorful cover featuring a face-to-face image of the three fish protagonists. The narrative recounts the movie’s highpoints with just enough detail and dialogue to satisfy those conversant with the plot, while keeping the action moving forward quickly. Attractive double-page paintings, imbued with opulent marine hues and luminous lighting, convey the events, play up the humor, and depict a dynamic cast of characters. The book’s straightforward language and sentence structure, clear transitions between scenes, and steady pacing make it accessible to newly confident readers as well as share-aloud audiences.

Finding Nemo: Read-Along Storybook and CD (Disney Pr., 2012; PreS-Gr 4) allows readers to dive into the action with a lively retelling of the plot. Youngsters can trawl the words and illustrations on the pages of the staple-bound paperback while listening to the audio CD, a beguiling narration enhanced by dialogue performed by the movie actors, music, and sound effects. Utilizing some of the same images as the Big Golden Book, the lush double-page paintings provide plenty of details to hold the eye while emphasizing events described in the text.

Nemo’s Big Adventure (Random House, 2012; PreS-Gr 4) celebrates the film’s foray into its new format with a streamlined retelling and sparkling 3-D images (3-D glasses are included). The clearly written narrative efficiently describes the movie’s major plot elements and underscores exciting moments. Scenes from the movie illustrate the text, and the 3-D special effects add greatly to the presentation. Featured front and center, the characters seem to swim right off of the pages, the ocean backdrops have detail and depth, and the illustrations are filled with energy and motion.

Random House has re-issued two “Step into Reading” (Step 1) easy readers that will win over beginners with familiar film characters, simple texts and large-size type, and vibrant artwork. One tale introduces the Best Dad in the Sea (2003) and his son, accentuating the personality differences between the two (“Marlin is careful. ‘Slow down, Nemo!’ Nemo is not. ‘Come on, Dad!’”) and their enduring affection for own another while touching briefly on the movie’s plot. Colorful and uncluttered, the full-bleed illustrations support the text with clearly conveyed details.

In an original story based on the characters, Nemo dreams of joining the school swim team but worries that the small-size fin he was born with will hold him back. Never fear, Dory is determined to help, providing cheerful encouragement and the advice to Just Keep Swimming (2005; both PreS-Gr 1). The rhyming text is filled with repetition and buoyant rhythms that will encourage beginning readers, and the stylized cartoon artwork, set against clean white backdrops, provides visual clues and creates a sense of excitement. Adorned with fan-grabbing covers featuring the undersea heroes, these very basic beginning readers are available in sturdy library bindings and will become staples of your easy-reader collection.

Publication Information

MARSOLI, Lisa Ann, adapt. Finding Nemo. illus. by the Disney Storybook Artists. “A Big Golden Bk.” Golden Bks./Random. 2012. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2922-1.

Finding Nemo: Read-Along Storybook and CD. illus. by the Disney Storybook Artists. Disney Pr. 2012. pap. w/CD. $6.99. ISBN 978-142316028-1.

WRECKS, Billy. Finding Nemo: Nemo’s Big Adventure. Random. 2012. pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2968-9.

TYLER, Amy J. Finding Nemo: Best Dad in the Sea. illus. by the Disney Storybook Artists. “Step into Reading.” Random. 2003. (2012 reissue). PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-8021-5; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2131-7.

LAGONEGRO, Melissa. Finding Nemo: Just Keep Swimming. illus. by Atelier Philippe Harchy. “Step into Reading.” Random. 2005. (2012 reissue). PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-8041-3; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2319-9.