5. Pizza and Taco Go Viral

5. Pizza and Taco Go Viral (Pizza and Taco #10) Stephen Shaskan. 2026. 72 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, graphic novel, children's series]

First sentence: What are you watching?

Premise/plot: Pizza and Taco are back in another adventure. (Is this really their tenth book?!?!?!) In this one, the two become obsessed with become StewTube stars. If they start a StewTube channel, can they make a video go viral?!?! What kind of videos should they make together?!?!

My thoughts: There isn't much substance in this one. To be fair, it has its amusing moments. They talk about famous StewTubers that they watch. This allows for some fun puns.

It isn't my favorite or best from the series, BUT, I do love Pizza and Taco as characters.



© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

138. Detective Beans: The Case of the Missing Hat

Detective Bean and the Case of the Missing Hat. Li Chen. 2024. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [graphic novel; j mystery; j fiction; j friendship]

First sentence:  It's Over! I know it was you! 

Premise/plot: Beans is a detective-loving kitten with detective dreams of his own. His first "big" case involves his own missing hat! He left it on the bedside table--next to the open window--and in the morning it is GONE. Can he follow ALL the clues--no matter how many twists and turns--to find the whereabouts of his hat??? 

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, loved BEANS. The world of this one is peopled by CATS, and I'm here for it. I love and adore the illustrations AND the story. I love Beans, his mother, and his best friend, Biscuit. I love the main mystery and the back-burner mystery as well. This is a great graphic novel for young readers...and older readers who love all things CAT.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

264. Tig and Lily: Tiger Trouble

Tig & Lily #1 Tiger Trouble. Dan Thompson. 2023. 96 pages. [Source: Library] [early graphic novel]

First sentence: Snap! Crack! Crunch! Snap! Crack! Crunch! Snap! "It is so great to be home!"

Premise/plot: Tig the cat visits the tigers at the zoo...much hilarity results. Lily, one of the tigers in the zoo's exhibit, KNOWS she is a tiger. But after a confusing (and hilarious) dialogue with Tig (a house cat), Lily is beginning to entertain some doubts. Tig is SO confident, so sure, so dogmatic about being a tiger. Not only does Tig see himself as a tiger, he does NOT think that Lily is a real tiger. Can these two ever become friends? 

My thoughts: I thought this one was funny and adorable. I absolutely loved it. Tig was hilarious. Lily was a charmer too.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

262. Garvey's Choice (The Graphic Novel)

Garvey's Choice (The Graphic Novel). Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III. 2023. [June] 144 pages. [Source: Library] [J Graphic novel; MG graphic novel]

First sentence: Mom's got a talent
for origami, but she
can't fold me into
the jock Dad wants me to be.
At least, she knows not to try.

My thoughts, part one: Garvey's Choice (the original) is a verse novel by Nikki Grimes. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE crazy love this verse novel. It is perfectly, perfect in every way.

Did we need a graphic novel adaptation? If I'd answered BEFORE reading, I'd have said probably not. BUT after reading the graphic novel, I think it is PERFECTLY, PERFECT too. 

Premise/plot: Garvey is an overweight teen who'd much rather sing or read than play sports. There exists between father and son a gap that nothing seems to fill. At least at first. Garvey tries--unsuccessfully--to fill this gap with food. Garvey's dad may talk about sports--a lot--but I don't get the impression that he's actually cruel to his son. The two just aren't speaking the same love languages. In the novel, Garvey makes several choices. Will he choose to try out for chorus and risk rejection or humiliation? He ultimately decides that he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. After all, he's already being teased by his classmates; he's already hating lunch time. What he finds out is that he's really talented at singing; and his singing not only makes him happy in the process, but makes others happy too. That and he makes a second friend. Another choice he makes regards his weight. Will he try to lose weight? Should he try to lose weight? How should he go about it? What can he change in his life to be healthier and happier?

My thoughts part two: EVERYTHING I loved about the original--the turns of phrase, the imagery, the emotional journey, the heart and soul of it all--is present in the graphic novel. Including some/much of the original text. 

Favorite quotes:
Stories are breadcrumbs.
Just follow the trail of books
and you will find me
lost among the galaxies
of scorched stars and ships to Mars. (14)

Over breakfast, Dad
eyes me like an alien
never seen before.
Sometimes, I could swear that he's
hoping to make first contact. (34)

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

149. Failure to Launch (Waffles & Pancake)

Graphic novel: Waffles and Pancake: Failure to Launch. Drew Brockington. 2023. March. 64 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Pancake! This is so cool! We get to watch a space shuttle launch! It's cooler than a Popsicle in a snowstorm, Waffles! 

Premise/plot: Waffles and Pancake (two adorable space-obsessed kittens) are so excited to watch a space shuttle launch. But what will happen when the launch is canceled? Will these two kittens find a different way to spend the afternoon? YES! (Perhaps they've learned from Pete the Cat to keep things groovy and not to cry). These two set out to build (and launch) or "build" and "launch" a shuttle of their own.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this graphic novel for elementary readers. It is the third in the series. It stars two science-loving kitties. I love the enthusiasm these two have for learning. I love the family scenes too.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

145. Pizza and Taco: Dare To Be Scared

Pizza and Taco #6, Pizza and Taco: Dare To Be Scared. Stephen Shaskan. 2023. [June] 72 pages. [Source: Library] [Graphic novel, early chapter book]

First sentence: Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!

Premise/plot: Pizza and Taco are two friends who spend the entire book trying to scare each other. Trying to 'properly' scare one another. Taco scares a bit easier than Pizza. The running gag is one likes dressing up as a "ghost pepper" and scaring the other. After the initial scare, they dare each other to scare each other.

My thoughts: I really enjoy this series for the most part. I like Pizza and Taco as characters. The first three or four titles in the series were absolutely great. I haven't been as big a fan of the later titles. But I still like the characters. Still interested in keeping up with these two friends. 

This one would be good for those looking for Halloween titles but not too Halloween. Definitely more silly than scary.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

136. Gnome and Rat

Gnome and Rat. Lauren Stohler. 2023. [June] 80 pages. [Source: Library] [Early chapter book, graphic novel]

First sentence: Cheep-a! Cheep-a! No more sleep-a! gasp! Oh my goodness! EEEEE! It's today! Hat Day!

Premise/plot: Gnome and Rat star in a new early chapter book series. There are five chapters in this early graphic novel for young readers: "Hat Day," "Gnome Fits In a Hat," "Gnome Grows His Hair," "Gnome's New Hat," and "Back Hat It Again."  In all the stories, Gnome loves, loves, loves his hat. But things aren't always well with his hat. He must go a chapter--or two--without his beloved hat.

My thoughts: I absolutely love this one. It is so adorable and delightful. Gnome is just pure delight as a character. I love everything about him! Rat I have less a feel for as a character. But Gnome, well, I was hooked from early pages. I enjoyed all the chapters/stories. I thought there was good flow between the stories. 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

132. The Underdogs: Catch A Cat Burglar

The Underdogs #1: The Underdogs: Catch a Cat Burglar. Kate and Jol Temple. Illustrated by Shiloh Gordon. 2021. 160 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Let me tell you how many cats there used to be in THE UNDERDOG DETECTIVE AGENCY.... Zero. Zilch. Not one. Then along came Fang. One eye. Three teeth. A kink in her tail. You wouldn't pick her as a Dogtown detective, would you?

Premise/plot: Fang is a cat. Fang was raised in Dogtown. Fang wants to join the Underdogs Detective Agency. But she is a cat. Oh no! (I jest). Since Fang is the only applicant and there is a cat burglar on the loose, Fang gets to join. Can Fang (a cat) catch a cat burglar.

My thoughts: Probably a large part of my finding this meh, meh, super-meh was mood. (Though I don't recall being in a mood when I sat down with the book. Clearly by the end, I wasn't feeling it.) If you don't find it absolutely hilarious that a CAT--get this a CAT, an actual CAT--wants to work with dogs and catch a CAT BURGLAR, then this one probably won't be your cup of tea. The book's really counting on you finding this CAT trying to fit in with dogs thing to be an absolute RIOT. 

Fang (and company) do have a case to solve. And this case does involve--potentially--an actual cat as a cat burglar. This number one suspect is also a cat star. But a suspect is just that--a suspect who is innocent until proven guilty. Will the cat be the actual cat burglar? Maybe. Maybe not.

Again, I think the book is counting on you finding a CAT to be a CAT burglar to be a delightful hoot. 

I am not the intended audience (obviously). I somehow or other got in a mood while reading this one. It probably isn't the book's fault. Kids may love this one. Especially all the pee jokes. (Dogs peeing is hilarious, don't you know!) 

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers