Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale

Bibliographic Information:
Hale, Shannon and Dean Hale. 2010. Calamity Jack. Illustrated by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury.

Plot summary:
Jack sees himself as a criminal mastermind with more than his share of bad luck.  All of his plans and schemes seem to go awry or have unintended consequences.  In an effort to make his mother proud, he plans to quit his wicked ways after one final score.  When the beanstalk mishap results in the death of a giant, Jack must flee his home.  He returns some time later with his friend Rapunzel to discover that Shyport is under the control of Blunderboar the giant who may be in league with the ant people to keep the city under control.  With the help of Freddie, a journalist and collector of gadgets and Jack's old partner in crime Prudence the pixie, Jack and Rapunzel must put a stop to Blunderboar's reign and save Jack's mother, proving once and for all that Jack can live up to family expectations.

Analysis:
Jack narrates the graphic novel in boxes of text that fill in the gaps of dialogue and drawing, describing the capers of his childhood and his descent into a life of petty crime.  Fantastical creatures and characters from traditional literature appear throughout the story.  In fact, Jack will be known to readers as the folktale character who climbed a beanstalk to steal from a giant.  Rapunzel has had a haircut but keeps her long locks to use as tools or weapons as needed.  The blending of familiar characters into a new and inventive story adds interest.

Visually the story is vivid and full of movement, and the appearance of the characters gives an impression of their nature, attractive heroes and heroines with the bad guys disfigured or misshapen.  The varying sizes of the panels enables the illustrator to show fine details or to convey the size and magnitude of the scenes and characters.

Reviews & Awards:
Junior Library Guild Selection
2011 YALSA Great Graphic Novel
SLJ Best Comic for Kids 2011
Horn Book review: "The swashbuckling plot shines in the graphic-novel format... this steampunk-flavored fairy tale will appeal to boy-, girl-, reluctant- and eager readers alike."
Kirkus Reviews:  "something for everyone... Readers will relish this gleeful mix of fairy tale, adventure and romance."

Connections:

• Display with other graphic novels that draw from traditional literature including Rapunzel's Revenge, Cinderlla:  the Graphic Novel, and Trickster: Native American Tales:  a Graphic Collection
• Engage students in creating their own graphic re-tellings of familiar stories.
• Explore the steampunk elements of the illustrations and make connections to other examples of steampunk motif in books and movies.
• Other books by the author:

Hale, Shannon. 2003. The goose girl. New York: Bloomsbury.

Hale, Shannon. 2004. Enna burning. New York: Bloomsbury.

Hale, Shannon. 2005. Princess Academy. New York: Bloomsbury

Hale, Shannon. 2006. River secrets. New York: Bloomsbury

Hale, Shannon. 2007. Book of a thousand days. New York: Bloomsbury. 

Hale, Shannon. 2009. Forest born. New York: Bloomsbury.

The Three Little Pigs: The Graphic Novel Retold by Lisa Trumbauer

Bibliography:

Trumbauer, Lisa. 2009. The three little pigs: the graphic novel. Ill. by Aaron Blecha. Minneapolis: Stone Arch Books. ISBN 1434211959

Plot:

The plot of this graphic novel retelling of The Three Little Pigs stays true to the familiar premise of the tale.  The three pigs are sent out into the world to make their own way by the mother pig and construct dwellings of straw, sticks, and bricks.  When the big bad wolf visits the first two pigs he is easily able to huff and puff their houses away and capture the pigs.  When he is unsuccessful in blowing down the brick house, he invites the third pig on three different outings, but the wily pig is able to get home safely from each one. 

Fed up, the wolf climbs down the chimney into the kettle full of boiling water, scalding his tail and sending him running away.  The third pig rescues his brothers who have not yet been eaten and helps them build sturdier houses for themselves.  It seems as though the brothers will live happily after, but the book ends with the wolf cooling his tail, growing hungrier and plotting his revenge.

Analysis:

The story is told through a comic book/graphic novel format with an overall dark feeling to the artwork.  The artwork lacks the cartoon cuteness of many picture retellings with very messy piggish pigs and a sinister, toothy wolf.  The style may appeal to older audiences, but this selection still offers a faithful retelling of the traditional tale that is capable of drawing in younger readers who are new to the story as well.  The panels contain enough dialogue and transitional text to develop the characters, but the momentum of the story relies, as it should for this format, on the graphic elements.

The plot sequence involving the wolf attempting to lure the third pig out of his home to pick turnips and apples and attend the fair is one that is often left out of picture book retellings and may be unexpected or new to readers who are familiar with this tale, but it serves to further portray the third pig brother as a clever and resourceful adversary for the wolf.  The supposedly weaker animal who outwits the stronger villain is a common element in many folktales, and Trumbauer is able to develop these characters to fit the archetype.

The end of the book contains several interesting extras including a brief history of the three pigs folktale, discussion questions, writing prompts, and an internet site to enrich the book experience.  These elements offer both teachers and individual readers ways to extend the reading experience.

Awards & Reviews:

15 Best Illustrated Children’s Books 2009 honoree by Ashbooks Book Community

School Library Journal review: “The wolf is particularly menacing and its curved claws and glowing green eyes will remain in children's thoughts at the end of the tale as it lies in wait.”

Connections:

• Compare to other Three Little Pig variants and versions. This book will lend itself to conversations about artistic style because of the distinct comic book elements and creepy visuals.
• Explore the book extensions offered in the book such as discussion questions and writing prompts. 
• Encourage children to create comic books/graphic novels of other familiar stories. 
• More folk tales in graphic novel format:

Dahl, Michael, and Luke Feldman. 2009. Beauty and the beast: the graphic novel. Mankato, Minn: Stone Arch Books.  ISBN 143420765X

Hoena, B. A., and Ricardo Tercio. 2009. Jack and the beanstalk: the graphic novel. Mankato, Minn: Stone Arch Books. ISBN 1434207668

Powell, Martin, and Erik Valdez y Alanis. 2009. Rumpelstiltskin: the graphic novel. Mankato, Minn: Stone Arch Books.  ISBN 1434207684