FICTION

Belinda the Unbeatable

by Lee NORDLING
illus. by Scott Roberts. 32p. Graphic Universe. Oct. 2017. Tr $25.32. ISBN 9781512413311; pap. $6.99. ISBN 9781512454130.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—This wordless graphic novel by an Eisner Award—nominated duo centers on an unusual competition. Belinda is a born leader who makes friends easily. Barbara is timid and shy. As best friends, they balance each other perfectly. Together they play a magical game of musical chairs. In the fantasy world, players must dodge oversize musical notes bouncing down the path and run up and down hills in the quest to sit upon numbered thrones that ensure players' safety and passage to the next round. The game is nearly ruined when two children exhibit poor sportsmanship, but Belinda and Barbara win in the end. Their kindness toward each other promotes a powerful message: friendship is more important than competition. The vibrant digital artwork, with its cartoonish style, is reminiscent of Sunday morning comics.
VERDICT A great comic book for the early elementary crowd. Put this on the shelf beside the Toon books series.
Reviewed by Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Andrew sketches a purple blob; next thing we know the creature's outside his window and a (frustrating) game of hide-and-seek ensues ([cf2]Seeker[cf1]). During Belinda's game of musical chairs with classmates (including Andrew), each time the music starts the gymnasium morphs into a candy-colored playland of animate musical notes ([cf2]Unbeatable[cf1]). These companion wordless comics both convey volumes through facial expressions, perspective, and dynamic panel progression.
 , Jun 01, 2018

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