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Summary
Summary
A little boy flexes his ninja chops in this hilariously sweet adventure, written and illustrated by debut author Arree Chung.
A ninja must be strong, courageous, and silent! He creeps through the house on a secret mission. There may be obstacles! But have no fear--a true ninja can overcome all challenges.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Readers riding high on the ninja craze will find this treatise on how to be a successful one quite enlightening. For instance, ninjas need special equipment-a thick stick, silent footwear, sticky gloves, etc. A ninja sneaks, creeps, and is fast on his feet. He will face danger (look out, family pets), show courage, and, most importantly, master the art of SURPRISE! Readers follow the main character through comic-book-style panels as he moves with stealthlike precision, covertly navigating each room and the furniture, to fulfill his mission of capturing his prize: his sister's snack. Silent as a spider, this cartoonish little guy is regaled in makeshift black ninja fashion (where is Dad's necktie?), with only his wide eyes (and several teeth) visible to his enemies. Acrylic paints and mixed media enhance the comic-strip portrayal of a modern ninja on his quest. Heavy, dark tones are enhanced with bursts of color, such as brightly hued, fiery dragon images in keeping with the theme. Oversize heads and exaggerated expressions round out the laugh-out-loud fun. Prospective ninjas, take notice!-Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The ninja wannabe who wreaks stealthy havoc on his or her household is now a staple of the children's bookshelf. But Arree, a designer making his picture book debut, shows there's still plenty of kick left in the premise, thanks to a bold visual style and a keen sense of comic timing. With a dark and saturated palette, long shadows, and graphic-novel framings, Arree hits the sweet spot between sinister and spoof, while showcasing his hero in a repertoire of covert action poses worthy of the most loose-jointed action figure. As the little ninja ambushes his napping father and delights his baby sister by stealing cookies and milk from the kitchen table (until she becomes collateral damage during his escape), the narration is parceled out in hushed, breathless sound bites: "Against all odds,/ he must believe/ in his ability/ to rebound/ and overcome/ all challenges." Lines like that are made for dramatic, movie trailer-style readalouds, but children will get just as much pleasure out of the young ninja's DIY getup and the faux gravity of the obstacles he surmounts. Ages 4-7. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Maxwell, a creative--and hungry!--young ninja, will inspire legions of nascent warriors with this tale of an epic snack-time quest. Chung's humorous and vibrant illustrations and simple text achieve the right pacing for Maxwell's singular mission: chocolate chip cookies. A good ninja is a prepared ninja, and Maxwell is well accessorized: a thick stick (pool cue), silent footwear (slip-on sneakers), gloves (rubber ones from the kitchen), rope (jump rope), etc. With a confident "I AM A NINJA!" leap, he sneaks, creeps, tumbles, and climbs his way through obstacles (that are not actual impediments) to the kitchen, where, under the watchful gaze of his toddler sister, he steals her cookies and, in a remarkably well-executed finale, a cup of milk. Maxwell's maneuvers are captured in digitally manipulated acrylic paintings with collage, through comic-style panels and double-page spreads rich with details both real and imagined. A mischievous dragon oversees the snack grab and guides our ninja's stealthiest moves--then sticks around to celebrate. Readers will applaud Maxwell's over-the-top ninja antics and giggle as he takes his unsuspecting family by surprise. Pair this with DaCosta and Young's Nighttime Ninja (rev. 11/12) for additional proof that the way of the ninja is easily integrated into daily life. pamela yosca (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Silently the young ninja stalks through the house to reach his objective: baby sister's prized milk and cookies.Throughout the quiet house, Ninja Maxwell moves on fleet feet. He has two objectives: surprising his sleeping father and pulling off the ultimate heist of his baby sister's snack (along with his awesome red ninja cup). The young ninja however, is not without feeling. When his ninja skills leave his little sister saddened and him both caught red-handed and "dishonored," Maxwell seizes the opportunity to impart to the next generation (aka selfsame baby sister) the "way of the ninja." Young readers should certainly relate to Maxwell's familiar assemblage of household ninja props: a stick (a pool cue), ninja rope (a jump rope) and, of course, a ninja paddle (a paddleball game). A gentle rhythm propels this lively and charming text: "A ninja sneaks / creeps, / tumbles, / hides, / and is fast on his feet." Told through a blend of traditional picture-book illustrations and comic-book-style panels, this seamlessly hybridizes the two forms, creating the perfect jumping-in point for readers interested in ninjas and comics.High-flying fun to be read aloud or independently. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Almost every kid has skulked around the house like a ninja, snuck up on unsuspecting targets, and gone unnoticed (or at least pretended to go unnoticed). This boy takes it a step farther, donning night-fighter garb and arming himself with a thick ninja stick (pool cue), an unbreakable ninja rope (jump rope), and more. Mission one: remove the obstacle of the family dog and pounce upon the sleeping dad. Mission two: enter kitchen unseen and steal milk and cookies from the little sister. Both objectives are met with stealthy success, though the latter gets him sent to his room: I am dishonored. Chung's warm acrylics do wonders with the dim, shadowy interior of a middle-class home, alternating between dynamic full-page illustrations and comic book-like panels that detail the boy's meticulous maneuvers. Atop this, Chung sometimes paints fiery dragon outlines that let us in on the boy's imagination. The result can clutter the proceedings a bit, but this is nonetheless relatable, action-packed fun for wee little ninjas everywhere.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 Booklist