Super Turbo Saves the Day!

October 15, 2016
On an otherwise quiet snow day, a group of classroom pets discovers that there is evil afoot--or rather a-paw. Residing in Classroom C, Super Turbo--second-grade pet by day, superhero hamster by night--keeps watch during a snow day. Feeling brave, he ventures out and quickly discovers that each classroom has its own pet and that each pet is a superhero just like him. The pets--including Boss Bunny, Wonder Pig (a guinea pig), and the Great Gecko--form the Super Pet Superhero League just in time to face off against the nefarious (although very small) Whiskerface, a rat with delusions of grandeur and aspirations to world domination. Will the superpets be able to fend off the diabolical Whiskerface and his rat pack? A spinoff series set in the same locale as the Captain Awesome books, this peppily paced romp mixes prose and graphic-novel-styled panels for a highly visual look that should attract a wide audience of young readers. Kirby's tale is a bit formulaic, but it's a tried-and-true formula that should keep pages flying. Expect fans of the popular Geronimo Stilton or Babymouse series to gravitate to this with its similar stylization, breezy plotlines, and accessibly adorable animal cast. An episodic eyeful that's abundantly cute and silly. (Graphic/fantasy hybrid. 5-8)

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November 1, 2016

Gr 2-4-Rubo is a crime-fighting hamster from the "Captain Awesome" series who takes his job as class pet very seriously. When the kids leave, he turns into Super Turbo, defender of the classroom, fighter of evil, and super pet extraordinaire. When Super Turbo ventures out of the classroom, he meets the other classroom's super pets, Boss Bunny, Green Winger, Professor Turtle, Great Gecko, and Wonder Pig, but their fun is short-lived. An evil rat named Whiskerface and his band of evil rats are trying to take over the school. Can the super pets save the day? The illustrations are detailed and engaging and complement the text well. The story is fun and simple and brings to life Turbo's world. The plot is well-developed, and the adventure aspect will keep pages turning. VERDICT Fans of Kirby's "Captain Awesome" series, superheroes, and action will enjoy this offering immensely; a fine addition for chapter book collections.-Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2016
Grades 2-4 Slipping out of his cage and into a spinoff series is Turbo, Captain Awesome's hamster sidekick, who quickly discovers that he's not Sunnyview Elementary's only class pet with superpowers. When the school is closed by snow, Turbo investigates a noise and meets, in succession, the Great Gecko, guinea pig Angelina the Wonder Pig, Professor Turtle, Boss Bunny, parakeet Green Winger, and Fantastic Fish. Off to the lunchroom the costumed superpals go (Fantastic Fish rolling along in Super Turbo's hamster ball), kicking off their crime-fighting careers with a vigorous, if inconclusive, dustup with the minions of Whiskerface, a megalomaniac rat with dreams of world dominion. Presented as a roughly equal mix of narrative in large, well-leaded type and cartoon panels with added punchlines and dialogue (finished art not seen), the escapade will give fans of Todd H. Doodler's Super Fly (2015) and Dan Yaccarino's Class Pet Squad (2016) another set of small heroes to cheer, plus food for thought about what class pets do when school's out.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)