A Dog, A Dinosaur and a Boy's Love

On the wall in my home is a signed print by the late artist and author, Stephen Huneck.  Huneck is best known in the children's literature community for his series of Sally, a black Labrador, books. My print is of the front paws, head, chest and winged back of a yellow Labrador, nose pointed upward toward a single shining star, the laces of a dangling shoe, in his/her mouth.  The print is captioned, Dogs Have A Soul.  

If you've ever loved and lost a dog, the need to believe this, for this to be true, is very strong.  When children grow up with a puppy, there is something extraordinary about the bond formed between them and their dog.  It's as if they are the other half of one another.  Author/ artist Doug TenNapel, whose graphic novels, Ghostopolis, Bad Island and Cardboard, are extremely popular with readers, has a recently released, newer version of the title, Tommysaurus Rex (Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic) filled with king-size heart about the remarkable connection between a boy and his canine....er....prehistoric companion.

Ely, an only child, living with his parents in suburbia has grown up with a golden retriever named Tommy.  We are introduced to the characters around the breakfast table as Ely is getting ready to take Tommy for a walk to the park.  On the way to meeting his friends with their dogs, tragedy strikes.  Another dog gets away from their human, chasing Tommy out into the street where he is struck and killed by a car.

Absolutely heartbroken, Ely is comforted by his Dad that evening with the suggestion he go stay with his grandpa, helping him on the farm.  Upon arrival at the farm, amid the greetings, Ely receives the gift of a toy Tyrannosaurus Rex from his grandpa. All goes grandly, as is often the case between grandparents and their grandchildren.

The next day after hours of hard work, Ely takes a break walking around the area with his new, smaller plastic companion.  A local boy, Randy and his two buddies Shem and Beckett approach Ely.  Their intentions, however, are not friendly.

Ely takes off with them in hot pursuit running through the woods trying to hide in a cave.  Caught off guard by strange sounds within the dark cavern, he is nabbed and bullied by the three, losing his grandpa's gift too.  That night neither Randy or Ely can sleep; Randy is filled with anxiety over the absence of his father and Ely hears those same noises, heard earlier, louder and closer, coming from the darkness outside.  Who or what is out there?

Making his way through the night back to the cave, Ely frees a trapped, full-grown Tyrannosaurus Rex.  The friendship between the duo is immediate.  Of course, there is the slight problem of his size, appetite, friendship with a local black cat and fear of fire.

It's up to Ely, Grandpa and Rex to prove to the mayor of the community that he's an asset rather than a liability.  While their determination to succeed seems to be working, Randy is equally driven to make life as miserable for Ely and Rex as possible.  When Randy's efforts roar out of control, Ely's decision alters everything...except for the love he shares with Tommysaurus Rex.


Told entirely in dialogue, visual and sound effects, Doug TenNapel creates a story poignant in its sadness and happiness alike; breaking your heart and fixing it more than once. His placement of humor (and dino poop) are spot-on.  His characters are fully human; flawed but rising to the occasion when they need to be better than they think they can be.  Here is an example:

The newly acquired Rex has just eaten a cow.

Ely: COOOOL!
Grandpa: A dinosaur is eating my cow.
Ely: They do that.
Grandpa: Mmm...so they do.
Ely: His name is Rex.
Grandpa: Ely, that's a Tyrannosaurus Rex! You can't keep him.
Ely: Oh, come on, Gramps! He's gonna be my best and only friend.
Ely: PUH--LEAAAASE!
Grandpa: And don't try to give me "Weepy Eyes"! I've got my Weepy-Eye Shields up!
Ely: Aw, come on, Grandpa! We get a T-Rex dropped in our lap and you wanna get rid of it!
What kind of man doesn't dream of owning a T-Rex?
Grandpa: You've got a point there.
Ely: Look at him go! He finished all of the bowels in thirty seconds!


In perfect sync with the dialogue the graphics accentuate the emotional heartbeart of the story.  Alternating between framed panels, single page and double page illustrations and shifting perspective they captivate the reader, pulling them into the center of the action.  Numerous times the humor is unspoken but obvious.  Some of my favorites are: the series of pages when Ely first encounters Rex foreshadowing events to come, the three panels when Ely throws a stick saying fetch and Rex brings back the local policeman dangling from his motorcycle, when Ely's dad comes to his room to comfort him, lying down on the floor next to him and the uplifting final two pages.


Having read Tommysaurus by Doug TenNapel twice cover to cover and other sections a third and fourth time, I can say, in complete honesty, this graphic novel is a great read.  It is first and foremost a story of the love a boy has for his dog and in turn of the dog's love for his boy.  But, many other life challenges are raised within this story, the why of bullying, remorse, forgiveness and death.  Plan on multiple copies.

Out Of Desperation-Magic?

For several months now I have had two extremely large cardboard boxes stored in my garage.  I know before the winter wood delivery, I should cut them up and take them to the recycling center.  But there's something about those boxes that prevents me from doing so.

I have strong memories of childhood creations fashioned from boxes.  When I look at those in my garage I see hidden potential, endless possibilities.  Ghostopolis (2010) and Bad Island (2011), two of numerous graphic novels by Doug TenNapel have garnered several honors.  It was with expectant glee when his newest title, Cardboard, also published by Scholastic Graphix, arrived on my doorstep less than two days ago.  Having read all three I can say, without reservation, Cardboard is another rousing representation of TenNapel's outstanding talent as a storyteller and graphic artist.

With no prospects for work in sight, Mike, a carpenter is on his way home, wondering what he can possibly afford for his son, Cam's birthday.  A small roadside stand with a vocal, unusual vendor grabs his attention. The stranger produces

the best, most amazing, and utterly stupendous gift in the history of the universe.

This gift which can only be given to a really good kid, (Mike assures him his son is the best of the best.), is a cardboard box.  The cost of the box happens to equal the only change Mike has left in his pocket.  The wily old man warns Mike to be sure to obey the two rules attached to the purchase of the box.

True to Mike's assessment of his son, Cam is not disappointed with his present.  Father and son spend the rest of the evening building a boxer, a man, from the cardboard.  Imagine their surprise, when awakened in the middle of the night, to find that the man, they name Bill, has come to life.

Marcus, the neighborhood bully, and his sidekick, Pink Eye, are quick to notice the addition to Cam's household.  No amount of money, of which Marcus has a handy supply, can convince Cam to part with Bill. Having neglected to comply with the two rules, a near deadly attack at the hands of the malicious duo, causes the inventive Mike to save the day but open the way for disaster.

What was already a fast paced tale shifts into high as the thieving Marcus's wicked plan for world cardboard domination spins completely out of control.  Monstrous mayhem ensues as each moment could mean the difference between life or death for all the characters.  Readers will not be able to turn the pages fast enough to discover how the individual plot lines converge to produce a satisfying, and in one instance a wholly unexpected, conclusion. 

With clever, laugh-out-loud humorous, snappy dialogue Doug TenNapel spins a story of characters caught in the ups-and-downs of life, real and fantastical.  Built into the non-stop action are the honest, open discussions of the son and father at the loss of their mother and wife.  A romantic spark is added by the sincere attentions of the neighbor woman, Tina.  Questions about the emotional makeup of bullies or what it means to be fully human are addressed with thoughtful insight.

Here is a single passage.

Bill:  Good morning, Mr. Mike.  How's the jaw? (Bill is sitting at the kitchen table when Mike walks in.)
Mike:  It's fine, thanks.
Mike: You're reading books now? 
Bill: Yeah.
Bill:  Cam is teaching me about all the great books of Western civilization. (He's holding a book titled The Wrath of Khan.)
Mike:  I see.

Preferring to work in the more traditional ink and brush, Doug TenNapel has nevertheless shown his mastery at designing graphics digitally.  Varied panel sizes on each page mirror and extend the narrative giving it a pulse that slows or speeds accordingly.  Sound effects are boldly splashed across the page adding to the emotionally impact.

Time stood still as I entered the world of Cardboard, completely captivated by the characters' lives, the rip-roaring action, the heartfelt pauses and the expressive, impressive illustrations.  Doug TenNapel gives his audience a story to be enjoyed again and again, noticing more detail and subtleties at each reading.  Multiple copies will be necessary.

Ghosts Galore

Graphic novels have been flying off the shelves at both the elementary and middle schools since they hit the scene and have steadily gained in popularity.  That is certainly no surprise to those of us that have been readers and collectors of comic books for decades.

Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel is one of the finer examples that this genre has to offer young adult readers. In 2000 Mr. TenNapel won The Will Eisner Comic Industry Award (Eisner Award) for his work on Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror #5 along with several other contributing artists.  He is well known for his Earthworm Jim creation.

Garth Hale, a boy who has an incurable disease, crosses paths with Frank Gallows, a less than stellar wrangler for The Supernatural Immigration Task Force.  As a wrangler it is his job to send ghosts back to the afterlife.  When a stubborn as well as illusive horse, a nightmare, finally gets zapped back Garth inadvertently is taken along.

Even though he has been fired for this latest snafu, Frank is determined to bring Garth back.  He enlists the help of Claire Voyant, his on again, off again girlfriend and a ghost no less. By using her plasmapod they should be able to go over and come back without a hitch while rescuing Garth.

 In the afterlife, Ghostopolis, Garth and his new found nightmare friend are having problems of their own while making the welcome or frightening acquaintance of a whole cast of otherworldly characters including Cecil, his grandfather.  Vaugner, a former boyfriend of Claire is now the living ruler of Ghostopolis with a hoard of grotesque, enormous bugs that do his bidding.  By pitting the rulers of the seven kingdoms against one another Vaugner's rule is supreme or it was until the arrival of Garth.  Though dying in our world in the afterlife Garth has acquired super powers that could be the key to overthrowing Vaugner's rule.  Vaugner will do whatever it takes to make sure that does not happen.

Action-packed adventure, quirky romance, creepy characters, friendship and family that stand the test of time, and laugh-out-loud one liners combine to create a fast-paced tale.  Pair that with graphics that tell their own story and readers will be craving the next graphic gem by Doug TenNapel.  This reader will be checking out some of his earlier graphic novels as well as waiting for the Disney production of Ghostopolis starring Hugh Jackman.