Flop to the Top!: TOON Level 3 (Toon Books)

Overpriced. Kids didnt like it!

The artwork is fantastic and yhe story is fun and relevant.

Great book! My students love it!

We meet Wanda: she’s a little girl with BIG dreams. She’s a superstar – just ask her, she’ll tell you! She’s surrounded by adoring fans (otherwise known as her brother. James, and sister, Jade) who she shoves off the red carpet and has no time for – she’s a star, baby! Her biggest fan is her floppy dog, Wilbur. Wilbur is a sweet mush of a dog that patiently tolerates Wanda’s self-centered behavior, acting as her pillow and her pashmina. Much like Jade and James, Wilbur is relegated to second-class citizen status while Wanda watches her favorite show, The Star Show.Wanda snaps a picture of herself and Wilbur and uploads it before bedtime. When she wakes up, the picture has gone viral and there are adoring crowds outside of her home – but to Wanda’s chagrin, the fans are there for Wilbur, not Wanda! How will Wanda handle Wilbur’s newfound success?Flop to the Top takes a tongue-in-cheek look at fame and social media in this day and age, at the same time teaching a valuable lesson in friendship and humility to kids. Wanda’s a pretty rude kid, but learns that the world doesn’t revolve around her, and even more important, the consequences of selfish behavior. Kids will love Wilbur, will catch onto the social media jokes, and just maybe, learn to treat others with the respect we all deserve.I’ve been a fan of Eleanor Davis’ work since my son went nuts for the Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook a few years ago. I’ve got her TOON Books on my library shelves, and press them into the hands of every parent I can get over to my graphic novels section. Her book, Stinky, received several awards, including designation as a 2009 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book, a 2009 Booklist Notable Children’s Book, and a Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Book of the Year.TOON rates this book a Level 3, for more advanced beginners (grades 2-3), but don’t let that stop you if you have younger readers in the house. I curled up with my 3 year old and read it, and he cracked up at the artwork and the story, and fell in love with Wilbur. Go with it – read to your kids! That’s half the fun right there!Davis’ husband, Drew Weing, shares art duties on this book, and it’s perfect for young readers. The bright art has a retro feel, and the multicultural characters have wildly expressive faces that kids will glom onto. Wilbur is adorable, and a big old mush dog that any kid (or grownup) can imagine watching TV with and using as the world’s best pillow.

"I'm a superstar!" so says Wanda. Her brother and sister are her loyal "fans", but her most loyal of all, is her dog Wilbur. She and Wilbur do everything together, including watching their favorite show "The Star Show" and Sassy Cat! Wanda is ready to show the world how Wanda-ful she is and has just posted her latest selfie. When she wakes up in the morning she finds it has 20 million likes! And Wanda is ready for her fame! Except...they've come for...WILBUR???!? Now Wilbur is the famous one! And Wanda is all alone. What's a girl to do?In this fun and engaging book cartoonists Eleanor Davis & Drew Weing create a story that is sure to resonate with many young readers (and older ones as well.) In this day and age of "superstars" where you compete for your fame on every show possible, Davis & Weing have given us the most superstar of superstars in Wanda, who is ready to be famous, just because...she's Wanda. But what happens when Wanda discovers, she isn't the superstar she thought she was? That's where the story really starts to pick up and Davis & Weing have Wanda start to take a close look at herself and wonder...maybe she isn't all that, just because she wants to be? Maybe, just maybe, she's just Wanda and that's all that the world might need.The bold, warm colors in the story capture Wanda's energy and lively spirit and her wide eyed smile will help readers relate to her, even if she is bossy. In fact, the only muted color in the entire book is Wilbur. The down to earth, humble, yet big star, dog. It sets him apart from the bright colors of his endearing fans and Wanda's own energy, allowing the reader to easily follow him along his journey. The varying panel sizes and perspectives on each page help the reader follow the energetic pacing of the story and the excitement that the reader feels as they wait to see what happens between Wanda and Wilbur. They keep up the varying panel sizes and perspectives until the very end when...well I can't tell you that part. That would spoil the story! But you'll see how it fits.This engaging story will keep readers giggling as Wanda prances around the early part of the story declaring herself a superstar and pause to think as Wanda begins to realize maybe...she's not the superstar she thinks she is. And maybe, just maybe, she'll learn something along the way. This book is recommended for all ages, as well all can use a dose of humility and learn that we aren't all superstars and that perhaps we don't need to be.Review copy provided by Toon Books

Current, fun and original. Quirky, cool illustrations. Great for storytime and young readers. One of my favorite early chapter books of 2015.