Super Amoeba (Squish series)
by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Grades 2-4
Random House
Released May 2011
Summary:
Squish is just an average grade school amoeba that loves comic books and Twinkies. He goes to school, sits through boring classes, and has a best friend named Pod who likes to mooch lunch money off of Squish for cafeteria tacos. One day, a school bully tries to force Squish to cheat on a test. If he doesn't cooperate the bully will...gulp...eat his cheerful paramecium friend Peggy. Yep, that's right, single-celled bullies in the microscopic world do not threaten to beat up geeks, they eat them. While Squish is a small amoeba, he has always tried to follow his favorite comic book hero's code by finding: "the courage to do what's right!". Will Squish be able to find the courage to stand up to his bully and save Peggy? Find out in the highly anticipated new series, Squish!
Review:
From the creators of the popular Babymouse series, Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm introduce a new series that features a cute microscopic blob and comic book nerd that readers will love! Children will easily identify with Squish's school life, cast of loyal friends, and problems with bullies. This book also highlights facts about the microscopic world that are informative and entertaining to the reader. For instance, when the bully attempts to eat Peggy the author ads a side-note: "Seriously, this is how amoebas eat paramecia. Cool, huh?" There is even a section at the back of the book where Pod teaches kids how to do a science experiment. My only criticism of this book is that the authors decide to make the solution to the bully problem humorous instead of allowing Squish to confront his bully. However, overall this is an amusing and attractive graphic novel that kids will not be able to keep their pseudopods (or hands) off of! The illustrations are simple and easily accessible to new graphic novel readers. Recommended for grades 2-4.
