Review by Booklist Review
It's time for an epic game of hide-and-seek in this early graphic novel about two friends getting lost in the lush greenery of an aunt's garden. Clyde has invited his friend Monique to explore his aunt's vast homestead when they have the brilliant idea to play hide-and-seek. Monique searches through bush and bramble, in a cobwebby basement, among the chickens in the coop and the berries in the field, but she can't find Clyde anywhere! Full-scene cartoons illustrate a garden that seems to go on and on. Readers will enjoy their own seek-and-find game as they try to spot Clyde in his many ingenious and physics-defying hiding places from page to page as Monique dutifully searches high and low. Clearly written fonts, large-format panels, and accessible vocabulary will make this a gratifying choice for elementary-schoolers on their way to independent reading. A rustic and comical scene of backyard playtime.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--3--Friends Clyde and Monique take on the task of teaching readers to decode and interpret comics by leading them through a lesson in perspective and scale. Clyde, happy to be the hider first, hosts Monique, an enthusiastic seeker, on a romp through his aunt's garden. On each panel and spread, readers will be able to find Clyde, even as Monique continually looks the wrong way or fails to go far enough into the basement, the chicken coop, or the greenhouse to see him. Readers will appreciate that they have a vantage point that Monique does not, opening the way for an understanding of angles and sightlines. The story ends with a big sneeze and the friends sharing a hatful of raspberries, looking forward to continuing their game. Monique is pale with a shock of blonde hair; Clyde has tan skin and short, dark curls. VERDICT A winning title to help readers develop their visual literacy skills. Highly recommended.--Jennifer Costa
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A busy day of exploration for two friends--and readers. After arriving at Clyde's aunt's house, Monique wonders where Clyde is. He pops out and suggests that they play hide-and-seek in his aunt's vast backyard. Monique volunteers to seek, while Clyde is confident in his hiding abilities. The outdoor pastime is a festively furtive affair, with Monique reacting to every investigated corner: The child sneezes at the flowers, exclaims over the warmth of the greenhouse, and recoils in disgust at the basement cobwebs. The yard is filled with vocal animals, too, from a mewing cat to clucking chickens and quacking ducks. Annable slyly plays with perspective, from an overhead shot of Monique gazing into the chicken coop to lovely, panoramic views of the garden. He employs soft, fuzzy linework in keeping with the upbeat tone. The mischievous masterstroke, however, is how Clyde is hidden on nearly every page during the game. Looking for him is truly a lesson in observation and will get readers in the habit of paying close attention to the artwork in graphic novels; this is a tale to build visual literacy and set readers on the path to becoming longtime comics fans. Both kiddos are good sports about how the game concludes, and it all wraps up with a snack and a rematch. Monique is light-skinned; Clyde is tan-skinned. An irresistible playdate.(Graphic fiction. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
