Copper

by Kazu Kibuishi

Overview

From Kazu Kibuishi, creator of AMULET, comes an irresistibly charming pair of characters!

Copper is curious, Fred is fearful. And together boy and dog are off on a series of adventures through marvelous worlds, powered by Copper's limitless enthusiasm and imagination.
Each Copper and Fred story in this graphic novel collection is a complete vignette, filled with richly detailed settings and told with a wry sense of humor. These two enormously likable characters build ships and planes to travel to surprising destinations and have a knack for getting into all sorts of odd situations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545098939
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	182,874
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 9.08(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	GN690L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 18 Years

About the Author

Kazu Kibuishi is the founder and editor of the critically acclaimed Flight anthologies, as well as the creator of COPPER. He lives in Alhambra, California, with his wife and fellow comics artist, Amy Kim Kibuishi, and their son. Visit him online at www.boltcity.com.

Editorial Reviews

Funny, poignant, and occasionally wise, this collection of Kazu Kibuishi's Copper comic strips is yet another standout in the growing library of exceptional children's graphic novels. Readers follow Copper, an optimistic boy, and his loyal but pessimistic dog, Fred, as they stumble into all sorts of odd environments—from a dream world filled with children trapped in bubbles, to an endless field of giant talking mushrooms, to the undersea mysteries in Copper's closet. Most of the time, readers do not know if these places are real or figments of the characters' imaginations—not that it matters since the comic's real charm lies in the dialogue between Copper and Fred as they use these exotic settings to share their views on life, beauty, and companionship. When the two get lost on a mountain climbing trip, for instance, Copper urges Fred to keep climbing and see their problem as an adventure. "You're an idiot," grumbles Fred as he climbs after Copper. "Who're you following?" responds Copper ironically. Such playful insight is reminiscent of Charles Schulz's Peanuts strip—with the twist that here it is the boy who is the capable optimist and the dog who is weighed down by his insecurities. Just the same, Kibuishi also infuses Copper with his own unique style that bridges the gap between fantastical adventure and down-to-earth wisdom. It is a fun combination, made more enjoyable by Kibuishi's imaginative and pleasing artwork. Reviewer: Michael Jung

Children's Literature - Michael Jung

Gr 4 Up—This collection of comic shorts details the wildly imaginative adventures of a boy and his talking dog, Fred. Most of the stories take up a page or two; others are a bit longer. The variety of full-color cartoons makes the book interesting to go through. Readers never know what type of comic format to expect on the next page but will be assured that it is another fun adventure. In a 12-page concluding section, the artist shows how he creates a "Copper" comic. The stories are humorous, and sometimes deeply philosophical, making them appeal to a wide audience.—Nancy D. Tolson, Mitchell College, New London, CT

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