Review by Booklist Review
The third of Cosentino's picture-book introductions to the leading triumvirate of DC Comics superheroes (Batman: The Story of the Dark Knight, 2008, and Superman: The Story of the Man of Steel, 2010) covers the lasso-wielding Wonder Woman. With the earnestness that characterized old-time superhero comics (she is charged to save mankind and unite the people of earth through love and kindness ), the narrative follows her transformation from Amazon princess to crime fighter extraordinaire. Balancing retro comic-book elements with a modern aesthetic, this provides another popular portal to the massive mythology of the superhero canon.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-Similar to Cosentino's Batman (2008) and Superman (2010, both Viking), this title serves as an overview of the Wonder Woman universe. The first half is an origin story, showing how the heroine was formed of clay and grew to have superpowers and an alter ego. The second half introduces the cast of Wonder Woman villains. The conclusion, explaining the Amazon princess's mission to show the world how to live in harmony with nature, seems out of place with the rest of the book. The format is a combination of comic- and picture-book elements. The comic influence comes in the form of caption boxes and the intermittent use of panels. The absence of word bubbles and large-scale spreads provides a picture-book feel. The bold retro artwork has vivid colors and thick black outlines. It's a mix that will work well for the intended audience. Wonder Woman serves its purpose of presenting a classic comics character in a format suitable for younger readers.-Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Some readers may not realize that one of the most famous female superheroes has an engrossing backstory. Cosentino lets Wonder Woman tell her own tale, beginning with how her Amazon-queen mother, Hippolyta, molded her from clay. Wonder Woman also introduces--and bests--four enemies. Sleek digital-looking art suggests a high-gloss comic book; so too do the text boxes that contain the (somewhat campy) narration. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Cosentino's third introduction to a costumed superhero for newly independent readers (Superman, 2010, etc.)adequately covers the basics while resolutely placing its subject on the moral and ethical high ground. Blending the original DC origin story with its several subsequent adjustments and reboots, he lets Diana Prince herself narrate the account. She describes her birth, the athletic contest in which she won her silver bracelets and other gear, how she set out to protect the world from evil Ares and makes it her mission "to teach peace and respect to all...and to show the world how to live in harmony with nature." Using thick black lines and bright colors and working in full spreads with the occasional inset panel or panel sequence, he depicts his scantily clad Amazon in stylized heroic postureslegs wide, fists at the ready, granite chin thrust forward, rosebud lips in a pout of concentration. This rarely varies as she takes out Circe and other threats, rescues an Inuit family from an ice floe, poses with smiling animals and people and soars in her semivisible jet. Wonder Woman uses her Lasso of Truth without ever clearly explaining its powers, and even younger readers may feel some cognitive dissonance between her claim that she works "through love and kindness" and her evident violence against Ares. Still, she stands as proof that there's more to this superhero business than big muscles and testosterone-fueled aggression.(Picture book. 6-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
