EARLY GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: A Newcomer in Pocketville (Monti and Leo) by Sylvie Kantorovitz
ABOUT THE BOOK
Pocketville is a small town, set in its ways, and the arrival of a stranger causes a stir. Monti the mole is stunned one morning to find Leo the lizard hogging his special reading rock. When Monti visits the bakery and the library, he learns that the last cinnamon roll has been purchased, and the book he was waiting for has been checked out. What’s a fastidious mole to do? When Monti confronts Leo, the newcomer turns out to be agreeable in the extreme, and friendship is a given. Now to convince the town’s cantankerous baker, Ms. Sheep, to stop turning everyone against Leo. Together, Monti and Leo hatch a plot that will have Ms. Sheep singing Leo’s praises in no time. This reassuring tale of friendship against the odds from the creator of the graphic memoir Sylvie draws on the author’s experiences as an immigrant and will appeal to anyone who has struggled to fit in in a new place.
REVIEW
Reminiscent of Lobel's Frog and Toad series, Monti and Leo meet when Leo moves to Pocketville. But things don't go well at first when Monti discovers Leo sitting on his special rock. Criticism from a local shopkeeper doesn't help. But when Monti confronts Leo and Leo turns out to be delightfully friendly, Monti's annoyance softens and they become friends. But the shopkeeper continues to be critical and rude to Leo. In an effort to encourage the town to be more welcoming, Leo and Monti plan a talent show. But will Mrs. Sheep ruin this too? With appealing characters, attractive illustrations, and relatable plot lines, young readers are bound to fall in love with Monti and Leo. I especially loved how Monti uses his persuasive skills to convince Mrs. Sheep to give Leo and his new ideas a fair shake. A winning new series for beginning readers. Recommended.
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