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Pranks and Attacks!
Cover of Pranks and Attacks!
Pranks and Attacks!
Book 1
Tao is studying martial arts at the famous Master Snow's school. But no matter how hard he concentrates on his lessons, mischief gets in the way! Tao plays pranks and jokes around with his friends Ray, Lee, and Kat. He also struggles to get to school on time, learn new moves, and—most importantly—avoid doing his chores.
Tao is studying martial arts at the famous Master Snow's school. But no matter how hard he concentrates on his lessons, mischief gets in the way! Tao plays pranks and jokes around with his friends Ray, Lee, and Kat. He also struggles to get to school on time, learn new moves, and—most importantly—avoid doing his chores.
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Copies-
  • Available:
    0
  • Library copies:
    0
Levels-
  • ATOS:
    2.8
  • Lexile:
    330
  • Interest Level:
    MG
  • Text Difficulty:
    K - 2


About the Author-
  • Nicolas Ryser attended the School of Graphic Arts Estienne in Paris and specialized in illustration and typography. He won several competitions including the Angoulème and works for the magazine Casus Belli in France.
Reviews-
  • Publisher's Weekly

    March 31, 2014
    In this comics series, first published in France, Tao is a bit like Bill Watterson’s Calvin by way of the Karate Kid, boasting and making trouble while his martial arts school chums work hard and follow the rules. Richard’s episodes usually last just a page or two, and the humor is friendly and lightly slapstick. Tao, in his kendo gear, announces, “Tao is coming. Tremble before me!” to roars of laughter; his friend Kat has adorned his mask and armor with pink bows. Later, he tries to tie his robe correctly and his pants fall down. There are a couple of fine moments, as when the blocks of wood Tao crushes impressively turn out to be graham crackers, or when the school’s Master Snow saves Tao from a falling piece of statuary without Tao noticing (“No way! I’m telekinetic!”). Ryser’s style and pacing are polished and professional. The setting and architecture are generically Asian and merrily anachronistic; although backgrounds feature antiques like rickshaws and floating markets, video games and inline skates show up, too. Simultaneously available: Ninjas and Knock Outs! and Clowns and Dragons! Ages 7–11. (May)

  • School Library Journal

    May 1, 2014

    Gr 2-5-Tao is a young student training to be a samurai, but clowning around comes more naturally to him. His teachers, Master Snow and Master Irons, and his friends, Ray, Lee, and Kat, all try to keep him on the straight and narrow. However, Tao still can't help but show up late to class, damage his teacher's prized sword, and get knocked out of a tree by a bird, among myriad other high jinks. The boy is impish, if not completely lovable. It is easy to see him as a younger version of the popular manga character Naruto. Each volume contains more than 50 stories, one per page. There are slight narrative threads running through the tales, but, for the most part, the single-page stories stand on their own. The vignettes start with titles that read like proverbs ("The Bullheaded Must Be Thick-Skulled," "The Fisherman Must Not Fear Getting Wet")and end with a punch line. The text is easy to follow, making these books good for reluctant readers or those who simply want a quick laugh. While the books are mostly comedic, there are some instructive footnotes to explain various martial arts and cultural terms. The panels are appealing to the eye, with crisp, energetic illustrations and vivid colors. A light, entertaining series for most graphic novel collections.-Jenna Lanterman, formerly at The Calhoun School and Mary McDowell Friends School, New York City

    Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

  • Kirkus

    April 1, 2014
    For one wannabe samurai, the path to martial arts stardom is paved with mischief and hijinks. At Master Snow's martial arts school, Tao likes to pretend he's a grandmaster but more often ends up playing the role of class clown. Impetuous and energetic, he struggles with silent meditation and archery; it's a shame his knack for samurai video games doesn't help him with his actual studies. This graphic-novel series follows Tao's scrapes and adventures through a sequence of one- to two-page episodes, each focused on a single gag. Though some later vignettes build upon earlier ones--Tao's puppy-love crush on his classmate, Kat, develops over the course of the simultaneously publishing sequel, Ninjas and Knock Outs!--there's no overarching plot to the volumes or series. Ryser's playful, roly-poly art complements the graphic novel's silly humor, but unfortunately, Richard's worldbuilding is a disappointing, stereotypically "Oriental" mishmash, apparently including everything he can think of: origami, jogging sumo wrestlers, conical hats, gongs and more. The students learn both Japanese and Chinese martial arts--including karate, judo, kung fu and tai chi--as if those disciplines and cultures were interchangeable. Good for a few laughs but only for readers who are willing to overlook the cultural cluelessness. (Graphic fiction. 7-10)

    COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  • The Horn Book

    July 1, 2014
    At Master Snow's Martial Arts School, Tao is the most disruptive and foolish student, constantly late for class and clumsy once he arrives. Despite his silly antics, the likable little boy shows determination in his lessons. The colorful, zippy cartoons feature Tao and his friends as cute rounded figures, and their playful behavior is engaging. Includes cartooning tips from the graphic novels' creators.

    (Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

  • Library Media Connection "Each page is headed with a philosophical teaching of a martial arts concept. The illustrations are colorful and correspond with the text." —Library Media Connection
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  • Publisher
    Lerner Publishing Group
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Book 1
Laurent Richard
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