The Big Wet Balloon
(Toon Books Level 2)

Liniers tells a quiet story that taps into moments of childhood life the way that few comics manage (or bother to try), augmented by a color palette that creates a deep sense of mood, warm line work, and characters... An uncommonly family-friendly tale, great for parents to share with their kids.

Argentinean cartoonist Liniers makes his U.S. debut with a story that presents an up-close view of a tender sororal friendship. For optimistic and strong-willed Matilda, nothing beats a Saturday. "This is how you wake up on a Saturday," she tells her younger sister, Clemmie, who peeks at Matilda from between the bars of her crib. "Hoooraayy! Hooooraaay! For all day today is Saaaaturdaaaay!" ("Ta-day!" cheers Clemmie, just trying to keep up.) It's pouring rain on this particular Saturday, but that doesn't deter Matilda; she coaxes Clemmie outdoors and shows her the delights of running through a downpour and jumping in puddles. When a rainbow appears, Matilda decides to offer it a gift--and what better gift than that red balloon her sister treasures? Liniers's intimate ink-and-watercolor vignettes give way to a full-spread scene of a forlorn Clemmie chasing the balloon into the distance. He doesn't linger on this transgression, but jumps ahead to the evening, as Matilda makes amends--a reminder that moments of disappointment and dismay can be as intense, but also as fleeting, as a summer storm. A bilingual edition is simultaneously available. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 2--These books explore the ups and downs of family life. In Peas, four chapters show Patrick and his parents in humorous conflict over vegetables, chores, baths, and bedtime. Patrick's imaginative naughtiness comes alive in Hayes's detailed colored pencil drawings, and the young bear's antics may remind readers of Calvin, Dennis the Menace, and other comic scamps. In Balloon, an older sister exuberantly bosses her younger sister in a series of rainy-day escapades, while Liniers's ink and watercolor illustrations convey each of the sisters' emotions, from enthusiasm to trepidation and even gleeful disgust at mucky worms. These easy readers feature familiar environments, a limited number of characters, and vocabulary that will gently challenge young readers with words like "beautiful" and sound effects like "burble burble." While the expressive thought bubbles, dynamic panel layouts, and perfect pacing make both titles enjoyable first comics, they may be even more successful in beginning-reader collections serving younger children.--Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library