Posted in: Comics | Tagged: eisners, san diego comic con

Countdown To The Eisners – Best Publication For Early Readers (Up To Age 7)

Published Mon, 20 May 2013 16:30:19 -0500

Cameron Hatheway writes;

The children are our future. Scary, isn't it? So before they get a chance to wreak havoc on the world, let us subdue them for a little while longer and introduce them to comic books. Now while these nominees don't include caterpillars that are very hungry or places where the wild things are, they definitely bring something to the table for both child and parent to enjoy. With that being said, today I'll be focusing on the Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 7) category. If you need a reminder of what's been nominated, you can find the entire list right here, and see what I chose last time right here.

Keep in mind I cannot vote for who wins (nor can you, probably), as per the rules. However, that's not keeping me from being vocal regardless!

Who is not eligible to vote?

Comics press or reviewers (unless they are nominees)
Non-creative publisher staff members (PR, marketing, assistants, etc.)
Fans

Before I get back to work on writing the Crossed Pop-Up Book for Children so I can be eligible for next year, let the games begin!

Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 7)

Babymouse for President, by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Random House)

Review copy unavailable.

Benny and Penny in Lights Out, by Geoffrey Hays (Toon Books/Candlewick)

Brother and sister Benny and Penny prepare for bed, but are constantly distracted; tales of the Boogey Mouse, trying decide on which book to read, and Benny not being able to sleep without his pirate hat. It's very humorous watching the two argue over whose book is better (princesses or dinosaurs), and having to venture out after dark to retrieve Benny's pirate hat from the spooky playhouse. Nice use of color with simple imagery.

Kitty & Dino, by Sara Richard (Yen Press/Hachette)

A boy brings home an egg he found, and the family cat witnesses a baby dinosaur emerge. Unsure of the new arrival, the cat keeps her distance at first, but quickly becomes best friends with the growing dinosaur. The two become inseparable, and have many adventures together in both the house and the woods.

Maya Makes a Mess, by Rutu Modan (Toon Books/Candlewick)

Maya has such terrible table manners. At dinner one night her parents ask her, "what if you were eating dinner with the Queen?!" Sure enough, the Queen beckons Maya to come dine with her, and we see if Maya's manners will improve when in the presence of royalty. Delightfully entertaining, and very well illustrated book.

Zig and Wikki in The Cow, by Nadja Spiegelman and Trade Loeffler (Toon Books/Candlewick)

Alien friends Zig and Wikki return their pet fly to Earth because it misses its home. Upon releasing their pet back into the wild, Zig and Wikki discover the vital roles decomposers play in farm ecology. Very educational comic illustrating the relationship between the grass, cows, and dung beetles, but it may have too many facts to keep the kids attention. Then again, any time a kid gets to read about poop can't be all that bad.

Who I think should win:
Kitty & Dino, by Sara Richard (Yen Press/Hachette)

With a kitten and a dinosaur being the main characters, what's not to love? Richard's stylized illustrations are pure eye-candy, making you scan every inch of the page with the biggest smile on your face. Just a fantastic use of colors! I was really pining for my own pet T-Rex by the end, and hope to see a sequel someday (it leaves it open for one at the end).

The way the kitten first went about interacting with the dinosaur chick was totally believable, for cats and their egos are truly outrageous sometimes. The inner 5 year-old in me proclaimed this the most awesomest thing he's ever read.

Who I think could win:
Maya Makes a Mess, by Rutu Modan (Toon Books/Candlewick)

It was a hilarious sight, seeing the Queen proclaim that everyone eat their dinner like Maya. It was a royal mess, as the guests stuffed their faces silly. Both the story and art were top-notch, and speaking as someone who had despicable table manners as a child, the story was totally relatable.

Who I think should have been nominated:
Owly Volume 5: Tiny Tales: Tiny Tales, by Andy Runton (Top Shelf Productions)

Everyone's favorite lovable owl and his friends are back in a collection of new and old short stories. The kids love Owly, and who can resist those giant kind eyes?

Who do you think should win / been nominated?

Cameron Hatheway is the host of Cammy's Comic Corner and Arts & Entertainment Editor of the Sonoma State STAR. You can send him a dinosaur egg of any kind on Twitter @CamComicCorner.

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