The King of Kazoo

by Norm Feuti

Overview

Scatterbrained Cornelius, King of Kazoo, and his resourceful daughter, Bing, explore a mysterious cave at the top of Mount Kazoo. There they discover a famous alchemist named Quaf is planning a dangerous and forbidden experiment. Now Cornelius, Bing, and the brilliant royal inventor Torq must go all out to stop Quaf before his crazy undertaking threatens the entire kingdom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545770897
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	07/26/2016
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Norm Feuti is a nationally syndicated cartoonist, author, and freelance illustrator. King of Kazoo is his first graphic novel. Norm lives in Massachusetts with his wife and children.

Editorial Reviews

04/25/2016
Comic strip artist Feuti (Retail; Gil) populates his first graphic novel with hybrid bunny-humans, giving them clever lines and inventions such as the gonkless carriage, which runs by itself rather than being drawn by quadrupeds called gonks. The relationships are established in a slapstick sequence in which the king of the title, a narcissistic twit (“Ah, my subjects love me!”), bickers over the gonkless carriage with his long-suffering mechanic, Torq, and his daughter, Princess Bing. After an explosion on Mount Kazoo rocks the country, Bing, an aspiring magician whose bluebird familiar helps her see what is far away, organizes a trip to investigate. When they meet Quaf, the kingdom’s lost alchemist, Bing and Torq greet him like starry-eyed groupies. Unfortunately, Quaf is plotting to destroy the kingdom. Comic action and lots of maker talk (“Quafflestone roads! Fuse-Mortar Buildings!... The entire kingdom was built on the shoulders of my inventions,” boasts Quaf) add charm to this smart middle-grade comic. As a bonus, readers have the satisfaction of watching the king’s ego deflate after a few embarrassing defeats. Ages 7–10. Agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary. (July)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Norm Feuti:

"I've admired Norm Feuti's work for many years. He's a great cartoonist and a gifted storyteller, with a real ear for crisp, funny dialogue. His talents will make him a welcome addition to the ranks of graphic novelists. He's a total pro."–Lincoln Peirce, author of the Big Nate books

From the Publisher

When a mysterious explosion shakes Mount Kazoo, the selfish King Cornelius believes he has found just the thing to give him a lasting legacy. Bing, the King’s young daughter, is the exact opposite of him, with her magic and quick wits. The royal inventor Torq, Bing, and her father embark on a perilous journey to uncover what really happened on the mountain. After a series of mishaps, the trio runs across the infamous alchemist, Quaf, and learns of his plan to create smart metal. Unfortunately, his scheme comes with a high price, leaving the kingdom in danger of being wiped out by lava. With a little bit of quick thinking, the group thwarts the mad inventor and his creation. The tone of this story is just the right balance of adventure and comedy, as the King himself is frequently the cause of the group’s troubles. In the end, Cornelius learns an important lesson about valuing others’ opinions, and Bing and Torq receive the recognition they have always deserved. With bright and exciting illustrations on every panel, this graphic novel is a fun read that comic fans would enjoy. Although it’s a stand-alone title, the characters and the magical world have a lot of potential for possible future installments. Reviewer: Lisa Czirr; Ages 7 to 10.

Children's Literature - Lisa Czirr

05/01/2016
Gr 3–6—King Cornelius is a bit self-centered. He wants to leave behind a glorious legacy for his kingdom, but he never gives credit to anyone who helps him. He doesn't recognize the talents of his clever daughter, Bing, or even his brilliant royal inventor, Torq. When an evil genius threatens to destroy his entire realm, Cornelius is determined to use the catastrophe to make a name for himself—but first he must learn to respect the expertise of others in order to save his kingdom. This is a fast-paced fantasy with a lot of action and plenty of humor thrown in. The characters are quirky and amusing but very relatable—everyone has something to contribute, and the positive message comes through without being preachy. The art style is very appropriate for the age range, clear and easy to understand. The characters are rendered in a cartoonlike style. Though the broad story line is nothing new, the delightful graphics and witty tone make this a fresh, fun revamping of a favored theme. VERDICT This is a worthy addition to any juvenile graphic novel collection, especially paired with Frank Cammuso's "The Misadventures of Salem Hyde."—Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library, CT

School Library Journal

★ 2016-03-30
A king, his daughter, and their royal inventor set out on an epic quest to locate a mysterious tunnel in a faraway mountain.King Cornelius, a rabbitlike, frivolous halfwit, can't figure out what his legacy will be to his subjects. He lives in his castle with his daughter, Bing, a talented magician who's often accompanied by her familiar, a bluebird named Gypsy. When Gypsy alerts Bing to a strange tunnel that appears suddenly at the top of Mount Kazoo, the father and daughter—along with the mute royal inventor, Torq—embark on a dangerous journey to unearth the truth. Along the way, their expedition is fraught with peril, including run-ins with armed amphibians, zombified villagers, and a vindictive alchemist. With his inflated ego, Cornelius may be his own worst adversary, and without the quick thinking of Bing and mechanical ingenuity of Torq, he would certainly fail. Feuti's steampunk-with-a-medieval-twist worldbuilding is both exciting and imaginative without being jarring or anachronistic. The dynamics between hapless Cornelius and the clever-yet-often-overlooked Bing are exceptionally well-wrought and offer an artful feminist message. The clean lines and character stylizations are reminiscent of Jeff Smith's Bone series and will certainly appeal to a similar audience. Though this volume provides closure, expect an outcry for more adventures in this intriguing world.Clever, fast-paced, and altogether great fun. (Graphic adventure. 7-12)

Kirkus Reviews