Sidekicks

Title: Sidekicks

Author & Illustrator: Dan Santat

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. 

Publication Date: July, 2011

Genre/Format: Fantasy/Graphic Novel

Goodreads Summary: Look up in the sky! It's a BOLD new graphic novel about SUPERHERO PETS! Captain Amazing, superhero and savior of Metro City, is getting old. He's out all hours battling arch-villains, catching thieves, and helping little old ladies cross the street. He doesn't even have time for his house full of pets. He needs - a SIDEKICK! Captain Amazing's four pets agree. But each one of them thinks HE should get the sidekick spot - and a chance for one-on-one time with the Captain. Get ready for sibling rivalry royale as pets with superpowers duke it out for the one thing they all want - a super family. A BOLD and BRILLIANT graphic novel romp by whiz kid Dan Santat. 

What Jen Thinks: I feel like I am still really new to graphic novels. I had to warm up to them because at first they really gave me headaches. After Babymouse and Lunch Lady though, I have gotten used to them a bit more. I love Zita the Spacegirl and Anya's Ghost. This book felt a little more graphic novel-y to me...which means, my brain had to work a bit more but it was okay. I love all the animal characters. They are super fun. I love that while the story is about them vying for a spot as an animal sidekick, it's also about making amends for the past. 

What Kellee Thinks: To be a popular book in my classroom of mostly struggling and reluctant readers (specifically with my boys), it is essential that a story be fast paced, fun, action-packed and it is even better if it is humorous and a graphic novel so I am sure you can see that Sidekicks is perfect! It is being passed around like the loved graphic novels before it- Amulet, Bone, Ghostopolis, Foiled, Knights of the Lunch Table, etc. And as an homage to classic super hero stories, Sidekicks is perfect for students who already are in love with the stories by Marvel and DC or as an introduction to these classics.  

Read Together: Grades 2 to 7

Read Alone: Grades 3 to 8

Read With: Hyperactive by Scott Christian Sava, Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy by William Boniface, NERDS by Michael Buckley, Hereville by Barry Deutsch, Knights of the Lunch Table by Frank Cammuso, Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi, Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel

Snatch of Text: 

"Are there any last requests before you become a late-night snack? -Cat

I-I have to pee. -Shifty

Ugh! I guess we'll start with the blue one first. -Cat

No, No, No! I have to pee too! I- -Fluffy"

Since Sidekicks is a graphic novel, a snatch of text doesn't capture the full essence of the book.
We thought we should include the book trailer as well. 

Mentor Text for: Paneling, Dialogue, Humor, Plot Development, Onomatopoeia, Predicting, Inference

Writing Prompts: If you were a superhero and was going to have an animal sidekick, what type of animal would it be, what would its name be and what type of power would it have? 

Topics Covered: Good vs. Evil, Friendship, Loyalty, Change, Super Powers, Determination, Family

Jen *hearts* it

Kellee *hearts* it

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