Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Married creative team Stutzman and Fox (Llama Destroys the World) expand into early readers with this bighearted graphic novel, a collection about the exploits of two ghost siblings. In 11 short chapters, best buds Fitz and Cleo bravely explore the strange noises coming from behind the attic door, face off in a brain-freeze-inducing ice cream contest, stargaze, and generally have each other's backs. Enacting believable sibling dynamics, the duo prove clear opposites, as represented by their interactions with kitty Mister Boo, whom they try to teach the rules of baseball play. Cutesy Cleo, a purple bow atop her head, expresses herself effusively, visually exuding pink hearts upon meeting the gray kitty; know-it-all Fitz, meanwhile, sporting a baseball cap and spectacles, tries to strap the feline to a rocket in the name of "science." Uncluttered digital line drawings by Fox focus all the attention on Fitz and Cleo, whose simple facial features speak volumes. Dialogue-driven, with plenty of wordplay courtesy of Stutzman, this spirited series debut abounds with heart. Ages 6--9. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--Ghosts Fitz and Cleo aren't just brother and sister; they're best friends, too. When they're startled by a mysterious "THUMP!" from the attic, they discover a cat, whom Cleo dubs "Mr. Boo." The siblings discuss the best and worst things about cats: They're cute! They're cuddly! They like to sleep on top of Fitz's head! Fitz and Cleo then visit the beach, eat ice cream, and fly paper airplanes, all while bonding--and building readers' hopes for future sequels. Most pages feature delineated panels with clear narrative flow from one to the next. The adorable chibi character art is engaging. Stutzman and Fox's pivot from picture books to graphic novels is a perfect expansion of their growing body of collaborative work. Though the characterizations play into gender stereotypes (Fitz is smart and nerdy and wears a baseball cap; Cleo wears a bow and squeals over how adorable Mr. Boo is), the story doesn't suffer for it and should prove very popular. VERDICT This new duo will float off shelves, and fans of Ben Clanton's "Narwhal and Jelly," Mo Willems's "Elephant and Piggie," Bob Shea's "Ballet Cat," and Salina Yoon's "Duck, Duck, Porcupine" will be delighted.--Abby Bussen, Muskego P.L., WI
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Ghost siblings ghoul it up in a new graphic-novel series. A "THUMP" from the attic sends siblings Fitz and Cleo up to investigate. The spooky vibes delight Cleo, so she improvises "The Spooky Attic Song." Fitz tries to shush his sister so they can maintain "the element of surprise" as they approach the sound's source. The mystery is solved: It's a cat! Cleo promptly scoops the (seemingly mortal) cat up and names him Mister Boo. Fitz has reservations but relents when Mister Boo sits on his head. Ten subsequent chapters, varying between four and seven pages in length, chronicle the trio's further shenanigans. Husband-and-wife team Stutzman and Fox create an entertaining early graphic novel in the vein of Ben Clanton's Narwhal and Jelly series. Though there are occasional speech bubbles, dialogue is most often connected to the speaker by a solid black line. Sentences are short, and there are at most two speakers per panel. Additionally, with no more than six panels per page and simple backgrounds, the story provides adequate support to emerging readers. Fox's expressive illustrations and clever use of panel layouts effectively build off the humor in Stutzman's text. Cleo is depicted with a purple bow; Fitz with a baseball cap and glasses. Unfortunately, their personalities as well as their appearances play into gender stereotypes. Cute as a boo-ton--if a tad stereotypical. (Graphic fantasy. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
