You can't go wrong with some classic Peanuts cartoons, am I right? Peanuts Vol. 9 created by Charles Schulz (and written by Jason Cooper with illustrations by Vicki Scott and Paige Braddock) is a collection of our favorite kids and their antics. (Do you recall the sound of the incomprehensible droning of the adults in the cartoon?) This (being volume 9) is obviously one of a series of collections like this that put together some of the best of the best of the Peanuts gang. From what I can tell they don't have specific themes and it doesn't matter which order you decide to read them. This was such a trip down memory lane for me and it made me vividly recall Sunday mornings and reading the newspaper cartoons in color. If you've never experienced the hopelessness of Charlie Brown, the ingenuity of Snoopy, or the wisecracking Lucy you owe it to yourself to settle down for some lighthearted hilarity. Pick up something sweet and fun to settle down with for the weekend! 10/10

PS When did Marcie fall in love with Charlie Brown?! I knew about Peppermint Patty but Marcie threw me for a complete loop!

PPS Do kids know about the Legionnaires? Do you? Well, I suggest you do a little homework because there's a whole set of jokes about them in this volume and you'll surely be lost if you don't.

What's Up Next: Star Trek Destiny #1: Gods of Night by David Mack

What I'm Currently Reading: Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond

by Paige Braddock

graphic novel

Age range: 8 and up.

Cecil has a relaxed life at the pond, where his worst problem is hawk blocking the sun when he is trying to take a nap. This change the day a group of school children arrive to a field trip to the pond. They find Cecil and take him to their terrarium at school. Any other creature would have been terrified, but lazy Cecil quickly learned the benefits of the terrarium, being the most remarkable being fed. Nesbit the chameleon, his "roommate", is a different story. He can be really annoying.

At the pond, Cecil's friends start planning a grand rescue. But they are not the only ones who want Cecil back at the pond.

Funny story with adorable characters. And a graphic novel for middle grade children is always welcome!

At the end of the book you'll find a chapter with fun facts about the chameleon and the garter snake (the other roommate at the terrarium), plus a guide to make your own terrarium.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.