STARRED Review for Last-But-Not-Least LOLA!

The School Library Journal gave a very nice, starred review of our first Last-But-Not-Least LOLA book. Below is the full review, or you can find it on the SLJ website. Thanks so much to SLJ and reviewer Sada Mozer, it means a lot to us! 

 PAKKALA , Christine. Last-But-Not-Least Lola Going Green. illus. by Paul Hoppe. 192p. Boyds Mills. 2013. RTE $15.95. ISBN 9781590789353. LC 2013938848.

Gr 2-4 –In school, when your surname begins with “Z,” it means being last at everything. Last to be called on. Last to go to lunch. Last to leave at the end of the day. But Lola Zuckerman’s desire to go to the head of her class is the focus of this winning, environmentally themed book. Competing to win the coveted “green” vest by coming up with the best recycling project, the second grader anxiously watches as her classmates nab all the best ideas. The vest was previously won by her older brother, so Lola really feels the pressure. She is also competing against her former best friend, Amanda. The characters are fully developed, each with their own delightful quirks. For example, her teacher, Mrs. Denedebetti, loving refers to her students in candy terms such as “Jujubes” and “Gummy Bears.” However, when they cause a food fight in the cafeteria, they’re just “class.” Children will root for Lola as she tries to mend fences, save the planet, and come out on top. The lessons of recycling are creatively explored, showing readers big and small ways to help our planet. Those who have enjoyed “Clementine” will welcome this contemporary tale as it tackles family, competition, friendship, and the environment. The pencil drawings are energetic, and the list of Lola’s classmates gives a real sense of what the child is up against. A great choice for early chapter-book readers.–Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

Publishers Weekly reviews Last-But-Not-Least LOLA

Thanks very much to Publishers Weekly for reviewing the first book of Last-But-Not-Least Lola! I especially love that they call my illustrations feisty.

Last-But-Not-Least Lola Going Green

Christine Pakkala, illus. by Paul Hoppe

Boyds Mills, $15.95 (192p) ISBN 978-1-59078-935-3

Outspoken second grader Lola Zuckerman is tired of being last in her classroom, where alphabetical order rules the day. She’s also tired of former best friend Amanda, who used to live next door but has upgraded homes and friends. School isn’t all bad, though: there is the environmentally focused “Going Green” contest that Lola is eager to win. Of course, the students’ ideas are shared in alphabetical order, but Lola manages to come out on top. Winning doesn’t bring Lola the glory she’d hoped for, however, since her brother outshines her by getting an award on the same day. Along the way, Lola comes to recognize her own role in her falling-out with Amanda, navigates family problems, and learns to control some of her more impulsive tendencies. Debut author Pakkala handles sibling rivalry and the pain of losing a friendship with intuition and a light touch, while Hoppe’s feisty b&w spot illustrations subtly enhance Lola’s overall enthusiasm. Deadpan humor and a charming heroine carry this breezy read, first in a planned series. Ages 7–10. Author’s agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. Illustrator’s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Sept.)

If you'd like to get this for your little ones, you can get a signed copy from me personally at New York Comic Con next week! My table is BB5 in the Artist Alley, October 10th-13th.

Peanut Review by The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (circ: 4,000) did a very nice review of Peanut. Thanks so much for the kind words!

"Anxious about fitting in at a new school, sophomore Sadie Wildhack tries to seem more interesting by inventing one little lie about herself: a severe peanut allergy. Soon she is telling elaborate stories of near-death experiences, vigilantly avoiding peanut products, and dodging the school nurse who wants medical forms signed by Sadie’s mom. When she starts to make real friends and catches the eye of a cute boy who is interested in more than her allergy, Sadie wants to leave the lie behind but can’t find a way to come clean.

A simple, honest, yet light-hearted story about a small misstep becoming a big deal, this graphic novel strikes just the right balance between charm and seriousness. Sadie and her friends are eminently likable and real, and readers will enjoy watching Sadie grow more confident amongst her peers, even as she grows increasingly anxious about her lie. Her relationship with boyfriend Zoo is sweetly supportive, even in the face of her eventual humiliation, and understanding adults help temper the impact when her lie is revealed.

The illustrations keep the focus on Sadie, leaving her the only spot of color (she’s always in a bright red top) amid the otherwise black and white scenes. This tale of a lie gone very wrong will strike a chord with readers who have fudged the truth to get attention."  AM

PEANUT Reviews RoundUp

PEANUT, my graphic novel that I was working on for about 3 years and which is written by Ayun Halliday and published by Schwartz & Wade / Random House, got some very nice reviews from respected publications and also online. Here is the lowdown!

Earlier in the year, we got two (!) Starred Reviews, from Publishers Weekly and from School Library Journal, and a super-nice review from The New York Times, who calls it "…a smart, affecting graphic young adult novel…"

I've also already posted about the very nice reviews in The Horn Book and in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Additionally, we were very happy that The Miami Herald featured PEANUT in its Spring graphic novel round up, calling it "…a terrific all-ages effort. Halliday’s bittersweet script is expertly illuminated by Hoppe, whose savvy camera angles and naturalistic layouts add inestimably to the experience."

Also The Buffalo News  wrote a very nice review, calling our book "…a page-turner from beginning to end, as Sadie learns there were probably easier ways to get comfortable with new people in a new place."

VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) wrote:
“Emphasis is put on the importance of Sadie having friends, which will resonate with teenage girls who put popularity at a premium... The black-and-white illustrations are well drawn, with the choice to depict Sadie wearing a red top in each frame a symbolic color for her situation... This is a good selection for both public and school libraries with graphic novel collections.”

There was also a nice endorsment by The Eisenhower Public Library, saying that "…Sadie’s friends are not two-dimensional. Instead, they are slow to forgive and continually transform. The storyline is simple, but Sadie is a complex girl spinning lies with big consequences."

There were also some very kind reviews online / on blogs:

Reading Rants said it "…will feel very familiar to anyone who’s ever tried to break into a new table in the cafeteria…"

On the PlayBack Blog, the Love Fool column said it was "…thought-provoking on a personal level."
And then there was this great mention in Bust magazine:

Many thanks again to the reviewers for spending time with our book, and for the kind words!
If you have reviewed Peanut and you're not on the list, let me know and I'll post it here!

Peanut review in the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland loves Peanut, reviewer Michael Sangiacomo wrote a very kind and thoughtful article about our book, you can read the full review on The Plain Dealer's website.

Here is the second half of the text, which has some very nice things to say about the art as well:

"[…] Halliday, the self-described "chief primatologist" of the popular New York zine "The East Village Inky" writes a simple yet compelling story that offers lessons without being preachy. She found a perfect partner to illustrate the work in Paul Hoppe, who previously wrote and drew a children's book of childhood fears, "The Woods."

Hoppe's style is gentle and engaging. His depictions of the characters are perfect, and, in an unusual touch, he gives Sadie alone a splash of color in the otherwise black-and-white drawings. It sounds so simple, but that slight dash of red on her clothing sets her apart from the other characters in much the same way her fake allergy does.

Most impressive is the lack of stereotypes or overwritten characters. Everyone's actions are normal, plausible, believable. It's a slice of high school life in which a 14- or 15-year-old girl tries desperately to find an identity.

Along the way, Sadie learns about the difficulties of allergies and how constantly vigilant truly allergic people must be. She learns of a girl who was sickened because she kissed a boy who had eaten peanuts. She also learns how tough it is to lie to her mother and the school nurse.
Sadie selects her condition with little thought, reeling from the divorce of her parents and the abandonment by her best friend from the old school.

In some ways, "Peanut" is a universal story about people who are just trying to fit in. Isn't that everyone?"
– Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 31st 2013

PEANUT reviewed by The New York Times

“A smart, affecting graphic young adult novel… Sadie’s allergy may be fake, but the sentiments in ‘Peanut’ are not, and that’s what matters. For adolescents, reality is often more about how you feel about things than about the facts themselves. “
--Pamela Paul, The New York Times

The New York Times reviewed PEANUT on January 23rd, 2013, on their website. It's a very thoughtful and, thankfully, positive review that made me and everybody who was involved in the book very happy. Read the full article here.

I'm especially thrilled about the kind words Pamela Paul had to say about my artwork:

"[…] Hoppe’s panel illustrations are done in a loose, black-and-white pen-and-ink style. Only Sadie’s omnipresent shirt, which goes from tank top to polo to hoodie, according to season, is cherry-red. This highlights her sense of physical and emotional isolation. Hoppe also illustrates Sadie’s thoughts and emotions in inventive ways. A sequence in which she imagines various people’s reactions to her confessing as thought bubbles above her head — each one going pop! as the imagined dialogue sputters — is especially brilliant. […]

I have to admit the "bubbles" sequence was already thought up in author Ayun Halliday's manuscript, and it was one of my favorite parts from when I first read it. I'm glad that the reviewer liked it as much as I did.

Many thanks to Pamela Paul, and once again to Ayun, Rebecca, Ann an Lee!

PEANUT Second Starred Review: School Library Journal

Peanut received its Second Starred Review, this time from School Library Journal. Many thanks to reviewer Andrea Lipinski from the New York Public Library!

“Librarians, teachers, and parents should definitely share this book with teens looking for realistic graphic novels about schools, friendship, peer pressure, or moral choices.”

Previous starred review in: Publishers Weekly
Here is the full starred review:

Worried about transferring to a new school, Sadie comes up with the idea of faking a peanut allergy. She thinks that pretending to have a life-threatening condition will draw attention to her and generate sympathy. Her predictions come true, and she makes several new friends and even attracts a boyfriend. But as time passes, Sadie finds it harder and harder to keep up with her lies, and her story begins to unravel. The girl who became best known for having a peanut allergy is heading toward a future in which she will become best known for being a liar, and she will have to deal with the backlash from people who knew her under false pretenses. Sadie is an empathetic character, and readers will relate to her nervousness about fitting in, her emotional tug-of-war with her mother, and the ups and downs of her friendships. Hoppe’s cartoon illustrations are primarily in grayscale but he also uses one color (red) to highlight Sadie’s character or objects like a flower from her boyfriend. Librarians, teachers, and parents should definitely share this book with teens looking for realistic graphic novels about schools, friendship, peer pressure, or moral choices.–-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
(January 2013 issue of School Library Journal)

"Hip and life- affirming": PEANUTStarred Review in Publisher's Weekly

Here is a wonderful review of PEANUT, from Publisher's Weekly, November 26, 2012! Thanks so much for the great endorsement, and for the kind words especially about my art!
  
    Peanut
Ayun Halliday, illus. by Paul Hoppe. Random/Schwartz and Wade, $17.99 (216p) ISBN 978-0-375-86590-9

    Inventing a deadly peanut allergy isn’t the first thing the average teenager would think of to make herself more interesting, but Halliday (Always Lots of Heinies at the Zoo) takes the idea and runs with it. The moment that sophomore Sadie Wildhack puts her scheme into action, tension starts to build. Chatter from new classmates (“I’m like ‘Oh my God, stop acting like you’ve got cancer!’ ”) makes it clear Sadie will find little sympathy. Commentary from homeroom teacherMr. Larch provides just the right ironic counterpoint: “Ladies, please! This is algebra, not some tatty Guy de Maupassant story.”

The story’s arc is a long, slow fall into public embarrassment; only the attention of Chris “Zoo” Suzuki, a Luddite who hand-delivers his love notes because he doesn’t have a cellphone, saves Sadie from complete social failure. In loose gray cartoons accented with coral, Hoppe (Hat) provides maximum visual information without drawing attention to himself, nailing sequences like one in which Sadie imagines confessing, but struggles to find the words. It’s not easy being both hip and life- affirming, but this team has the secret formula. Ages 11–14. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Jan.)


Coming out January 2013, pre-order on IndieBound or Amazon.

The Horn Book reviews PEANUT

The first Peanut review came in, from The Horn Book!

Peanut by Ayun Halliday; illus. by Paul Hoppe
Middle School, High School,
Schwartz & Wade / Random 210 pp. 12/12

In this introspective graphic novel, Sadie is apprehensive about changing high schools during her sophomore year. She breaks the ice with her classmates by casually dropping hints about her severe peanut allergy. Soon Sadie’s courage in the face of her serious medical condition and her dramatic tales of near-miss incidents attract new friends and a love interest.

There’s just one problem: Sadie isn’t really allergic to peanuts. Inspired by a friend’s suggestion that a new school provides “a do-over” and even the possibility of popularity, she has seized the opportunity to reinvent herself. Sadie orders a medical ID bracelet and researches epinephrine injectors to lend credence to her lies even as she agonizes over whether to ’fess up.

This secret, shared only with readers, places Sadie in a series of increasingly awkward situations, from cringe-worthy (the bronze-plated peanut on a chain with which new beau Zoo proudly presents her) to utterly humiliating (a school bake sale “emergency” where the truth is revealed). Underneath the many funny moments runs a poignant current as readers recognize—better than Sadie herself—the high costs of her dishonesty.

Pen-and-ink drawings, digitally colored in blue tones with Sadie always in red, capture nuances of a wide range of emotions: anxiety, self-satisfaction, guilt, betrayal, and ultimately, forgiveness.
January/February 2013 issue of The Horn Book

Thanks to Katie Bircher and The Horn Book for the great review!

To pre-order Peanut, click here.

The Woods Review on ItsFunToHaveFun

The Woods were included on this list of children's books on the blog Itsfuntohavefun. I'm in great company, and the very kind review says "…The Woods is a perfect read aloud book that has big, animated and well defined illustrations…" Many thanks!

The Woods Reviews Roundup Pt 2: Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, School Library Journal

Ah, this year has been busy, I realized I never posted the great reviews for The Woods that I received from Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly and School Library Journal. And that might just seem ungrateful! But nothing could be further from the truth. To have my book reviewed by them is already an accomplishment, let alone getting such kind words from them. So, without further ado, but with many thanks to these publications and reviewers, here they are:

Kirkus
The night light is on and the bedtime story firmly in the young narrator's grasp, but stuffed bunny is nowhere to be found! There's only one thing to do: He has to go into the woods, which are conveniently right next to his bedroom.

With a toy sword and a wastebasket serving as a helmet, he marches (in his pajamas) boldly ahead, right into the path of "a big, scary brown bear!" Luckily, the bear is scared of the dark too, so the boy shares his night light. The duo sets off into the deeper woods, where they meet two scary giants. These guys in green are just bored, so the boy shares his bedtime story with them. Off this quartet ventures, and comes upon a pink three-headed, fire-breathing dragon... And so on. The procession comes to a big scary dark cave and, holding hands, summon the courage to enter. Inside is a big, hairy, scary monster—holding a tiny red bunny! Mystery solved; the boy invites everyone back to his room, where a final illustration shows him smiling and clutching stuffed versions of all his banished fears. The refrain—"we weren't afraid at all. Until…"—sets a comfortable pattern, and the fuzzy watercolors on thick creamy stock enhance the coziness of the tale.
Hoppe's delightfully quirky monsters enhance this pleasant tonic for bedtime fears.

School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 1–Pen and soft-hued watercolor illustrations admirably relate the tale of a young boy settling down to sleep. His evening routine is disrupted when he goes to hug his toy bunny but it is nowhere to be found. The child decides there is only one place it might be: the Woods. So, armed with a cape, a sword, a bucket on his head, his book, and a nightlight hung around his neck, the child ventures forth to find his stuffed animal. On his quest, he meets a bear, two pirates, a three-headed dragon, etc., but, though afraid at first, he soon discovers that the various characters aren’t really frightening; they just need something the boy can share to appease them.
The refrain “And we weren’t afraid at all. Until… we ran into…” is repeated several times throughout the adventure, making this an entertaining selection. Readers looking for bedtime stories or tales involving sharing, bravery, or overcoming fear of the dark will be pleased with this endearing tale.–Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

Publisher's Weekly
"[L]ast night, I couldn't find my bunny anywhere!" a pajama-clad boy tells readers, looking out at them from under the covers. "There was only one place left to look." The page turns: "I had to go into the woods." Armed with his nightlight, a sword, and a helmet (his wastebasket), he meets a "BIG, SCARY BROWN BEAR" ("But the bear was just afraid of the dark. So I shared my night-light with him"), "TWO SCARY GIANTS" ("But the giants were just bored. So I shared my bedtime story with them"), and other intimidating creatures, which he befriends before getting his bunny back.

In Hoppe's (Hat) jewel-colored pen-and-watercolor spreads, the monsters leer, gawp, and taunt, giving the boy a scare (readers, too, probably), though he always recovers gracefully. The creatures are eventually revealed to be the boy's own stuffed animals, seen scattered on his bedroom floor. Between the lines, Hoppe delivers some wisdom about the vulnerability inside every bully, and his witty artwork (the bear wears a blingy necklace that says "Honey") underscores the welcome bedtime message that there's nothing to be afraid of. Ages 4–8.

Reviews Roundup Pt1: USAToday, NYT, TimeOut NY

I wanted to share some of the very kind reviews that THE WOODS have received. USA Today and the New York Times have featured it, and TimeOut NY even made it a summer reading pick! Thanks so much to all the reviewers! In my next post I'll share some more!


















TimeOut NY Kids
What does a Brooklynite know from the terrors and delights of the woods? Lots, it turns out. Judging by his latest children's book, The Woods (Chronicle Books, $17; ages 4 to 8), author-illustrator Paul Hoppe is not only versant in the vicissitudes of the dark side but also a sublime storyteller. Recounted in simple prose and ultra-expressive drawings with a cartoonish bent, the story follows a boy as he sets out into the night forest in search of his beloved, missing bunny […]

New York Times
[…] There’s a reason boys enjoy confronting big hairy monsters over and over again.

USA Today
[…] The brave narrator encounters bears, dragons and monsters, although none, it turns out, should scare even the youngest readers. Paul Hoppe's text and watercolors make for comforting bedtime reading.

(Please click on the links to read the full reviews).

Thank you also to everybody who came out to my readings and events at Powerhouse Arena, The Word and BookCourt! It means a lot to have such generous support. If you like to know more about my events, and see some photos, please check out my Facebook Page.

DRAWN in the NY Daily News

Now that the great DRAWN IN BROOKLYN Show is coming down, I wanted to share this great article that came out end of last year in the New York Daily News. The show is being de-installed this week, but perhaps you can still get a peek at some of the work if you missed it… I feel so fortunate to have been included in it, and so grateful for meeting all these great artists! Everybody in the children's book field has been so warm and welcoming, it's a true pleasure. (Click to enlarge)

Seven Impossible Things Feature

The awesome children's book blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast did a very nice feature about me and my work. You can see images from my next forthcoming children's book THE WOODS and many other things. Check it out here! It's great blog that's always worth checking out. Many thanks to Jules for all the hard work and for having me on it.

In other news, Elizabeth Bird also featured THE WOODS, along with other books from the Chronicle Spring program, on her very popular Fuse#8 Blog. Thanks for the shoutout!

Syncopated Sightings

Here are some reviews for Syncopated– A Collection of Nonfiction Picto-Essays, to which I contributed a story about Coney Island:

Comics Journal
News-a-Rama
ComicMix
Another article on News-a-Rama,
"Best Shots" (scroll down for article)

When reviewing an anthology, of course every reviewer has different favorites and tastes. But the overall response has been very positive.

Get your copy today!

Review of HAT in the New York Times

Here's a highlight that happened when I was in Germany, the New York Times reviewed my book HAT! It was reviewed together with Sujean Rim's Birdie's Big-Girl Shoes.

From the review:
"(…) For those who get worked up about gender typecasting, Paul Hoppe’s “Hat” will give relief. In Hoppe’s universe, what to some might be a decorative object is to others a means of fending off crocodile attacks, sailing the seven seas and performing magic tricks. A little boy named Henry finds a hat on a park bench. He is about to take it — and dreams of the many venues in which he might wear it — when his mother points out that others might need it more than he does. (…)".

Besides some criticisms about my wording (after all, I am a foreigner) the review is quite positive. I am just so thrilled to have been in it, with so many books out there... You can read the entire text about both books here.

HAT Online reviews

After getting back from a little trip, and while I'm getting back into things, I wanted to share these online reviews of HAT. First, here is a review by DDG Booksellers:
"Hat is a truly rare and wonderful book. A young boy named Henry finds a hat on a bench and imagines all the wonderful things he could do with it. His mother then gently asks, "but Henry, what if someone else needs this hat?" Henry then imagines all the troubles someone might be having from the loss of their wonderful hat and chooses to leave it on the bench. If ever a book taught a single, vitally important, but difficult to grasp lesson, it is Hat."

Another great review can be found on Curled up with a good kid's book, where it says:
" … Hat is a charming and whimsical little book. The text is succinct and the drawings are engaging. Hat is an ode to the imagination of small children everywhere."

Thanks very much for the kind words!

Metal Man Review

Here is a very nice review in the Bureau County Republican:

"Metal Man" is not just any welder. He's a metal sculptor, creating art from junk. Devon loves to watch him work, although Metal Man won't let him come too close. "That torch'll tear you up like a thousand killer bees," he warns. Then, one sizzling summer day, he says something different: "Whaddya wanna make?" Devon reaches deep inside and draws out the image in his head for Metal Man. "I want to live in a star," he says, and from Devon's imaginative description a beautifully crafted Star-House grows under the sculptor's skillful fingers. Beautifully crafted, too, is the text of this rare picture book: each perfect word in the perfect order. Masterful mixed-media illustrations show color and action but also suggest heat, light, and even the texture of metal, fabric, and concrete. Together text and art add up to a picture book that's a pleasure to look at, a joy to read.

More Awards for Metal Man

Hooray, Metal Man has been named one of Bank Street College's 2008 Best Children's Books of the Year!

In addition, a little while ago I wrote that Metal Man was included in the Bookbuilders of Boston Annual New England Book Show. I've received the very handsome catalogue for the show, featuring their selection of the best book design of the past year. I'm proud to be part of it. Congrats also to Susan Sherman, who designed Metal Man.

Also, our book made it into the Librarians' Choices 2008 by the Texas Woman's University, which recommends the best 100 books of 2008. From the review: "[…] Full-spread illustrations in subdued colors and tones mimic the movement of the lively boy and the spark-flying work of the welder. They also provide fine examples of artistic perspective. Together, story and pictures provide powerful encouragement and inspiration for all budding artists."

It's so great to know that people enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed illustrating it.

School Library Journal gets a kick out of HAT

This very kind review of HAT just came out on the pages of the School Library Journal. Thanks very much for the nice words, Laura Stanfield and SLJ!

PreS-Gr 2—During an outing in the park, Henry finds a broad-brimmed hat and thinks of all the wonderful things he can do with it, such as catch mice and perform magic. He lets his imagination run wild: "Hat can be a boat, sailing far away." But after his mom reminds him of all the people who might need the hat, he leaves it where he found it. The text is simple but imaginative. The illustrations bring each imagined scenario to life, and the ink drawings have a slightly retro feel with their subdued colors. The story lends itself to being read aloud, and the red hat pops off the pages. Henry and Hat are sure to be a hit. —Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY