Today my wife Tina is our 'Guest Blogger' with her thoughts on two Owly Graphic Novels... Owly - A Time To Be Brave (4th GN in the series), and Owly - Tiny Tales (5th GN in the series).   Here's Tina's post:

Owly is an adorable little Owl created by Andy Runton.  Owly lives in a treehouse in a woods filled with friends: a wiggly worm, ducks, rabbits, a racoon, and a possum, to name a few.

Each story is a little adventure and lesson for Owly and his young reader.  Owly is geared to the very young using little language to tell the story. Little ones will enjoy the sweet little stories, while their elders will enjoy how the lessons are told.

Personally I much preferred "A Time to Be Brave" over all the little stories in "Tiny Tales." But I think this is more the preference of an adult than a young reader. "Tiny Tales" offers a wealth of sweet little bedtime stories for pre-schoolers.  "A Time to Be Brave" is a full length story of Owly and his friend Wormy's adventure with a nocturnal menace - the opossum.

Who will love Owly? Pre-schoolers and indulgent grandparents, aunts and uncles.  As my husband Michael, the reformed "bean counter", points out... $10 for a little book of tales (with little words) is pricey.  But paired with a cute little stuffed owl, glow worm, duck or rabbit, an Owly book makes a special gift for a special pre-schooler.

Enjoy,

~Tina

Details for this 4th Graphic Novel: Owly - A Time To Be Brave
Author:  Andy Runton

Earlier this past week I noticed that Miss Lasko-Gross... had a new graphic novel that was just published by Fantagraphic Books.  In one of the comics news magazines that I have a subscription to, it was considered one of five 'Indie Gems' to read.

Since I have not yet blogged about Miss Lasko-Gross's earlier works, I thought I would mention this newest endeavor of hers here in my Blog. 

For those that are not aware of her previous works, 'A Mess of Everything' is the second volume in Miss Lasko-Gross's semi-autobiographical trilogy.  It actually picks up where the first volume, Escape from "Special," left off.

However, You really don't have to search out and read the first book of the trilogy to enjoy this second volume, as 'A Mess Of Everything' is actually separate short stories combined into this volume. 

So what is this volume about?  Well it is about a...  "self-effacing non-conformist Melissa now in high school, where the stakes are higher as she copes with an anxiety-induced drug habit and an anorexic best friend".

This volume finds "Melissa finding herself negotiating the kinds of everyday problems facing young adults today — such as alienating her friends with her uncomfortable honesty and accidentally breaking her best guy friend's heart".

Ok, so this may sound like several young adults you may know... maybe even some of stories will remind you of your earley self?   Well... "Eventually, her woes cause her to nearly flunk out of school, and by the end of the book Melissa faces the choice that we all do at some point: to take the risk and pursue her dreams or settle for a safer, more secure routine"!

So that pretty much says what this second volume in the trilogy covers!   Please note:  This graphic novel does contain language that is now somewhat commonly used by young adults.  It will probably be placed in the YA sections of your local library should that institution purchase a copy.  However it is not for young children, and a caution is noted for the 'tweens' age group because of the language.

I found the graphic novel to be an interesting read, and the art style that Miss Lasko-Gross uses is one that actually grabs me the more I read into the graphic novel.  The storyline is not totally unfamilar to a reader, yet different enough to want you to read more. The growth that Melissa goes through during this time period makes an interesting read. 

It is nice that the stories within this graphic novel are broken up into several story arcs.  So that a new reader doesn't feel like they have to finish the book at one sitting.  Thus you are able to take in the artwork as well as the text during a leisurely reading.