Are you a Bird or a Squirrel?

Can you guess who is the most fun on road trips?

Depending on how many cups of tea I've had, I can go either way.

Bird has goggles. Bird loves adventures. Bird does not worry about things like where you're getting your next meal. Bird does not worry about cat.

Squirrel worries about everything. In fact, I'm pretty sure that Squirrel has worried himself blue.

While gathering acorns to prepare for winter, Squirrel sees Suicidally Optimistic Bird about to be eaten by feral Garfield. Squirrel sacrifices all his delicious acorns to save Bird and in return, Bird gives Squirrel the greatest gift of all: Dangerous adventure in the great unknown.

Except Squirrel doesn't think this is such a swell gift. But the return desk at the Life Changing Experience Mart of the Narrative Forest is closed and instead we get BFF ROAD TRIP!

Bird & Squirrel is like an awesome middle grade Thelma and Louise graphic novel. But instead of escaping the oppressive patriarchy and existential ennui, Bird and Squirrel are running from the cat who wants to eat them. And not metaphorically.

Funny, charming and sweet, Bird & Squirrel is an adventure worth strapping on your acorn helmet for.

The Bookslingers Bookslinging Podcast #20: Like Game of Thrones for Kids

Banned Books Week is from September 30 to October 6th, celebrating the freedom to read vs. increasing numbers of challenges and bans. I think we went over the 2011 list of most challenged titles a little while ago, but in all there were 326 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2011, according to the American Library Association. This is technically an American event - in Canada we have Freedom to Read Week in February - but why limit ourselves, right?

The lists for the 2012 Cybils - the Children's and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards - are out, and you can see them on the Cybils website.

In other news, Ben Hatke's second Zita the Spacegirl - Legends of Zita the Spacegirl - is out, and I will give one hundred dollars to anyone who can put it in my hands by the end of the week (kidding; no actual hundred dollars will be forthcoming, though I could probably muster up a cup of tea).

Our Book of the Week is actually a series of graphic novels - the gorgeous, magnificent, exciting, dark and breathtaking Amulet books by Kazu Kibuishi. The fifth book, Prince of the Elves, has just come out, and is as shivery and wonderful as its predecessors. This is a series-in-progress, but we promise, it is so, so worth it. Also, the Scholastic site has a pretty cool walk-through/question-asking game for the titles and characters.

Books from this week's podcast:

• The Amulet Series by Kazu Kibuishi
• Flight Anthology by Kazu Kibuishi (and others)
• Daisy Kutter by Kazu Kibuishi
• Copper by Kazu Kibuishi
• Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
• The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Abigail Halpin
• The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
• Avatar: The Last Airbender, Graphic Novel (3 parts) by Gene Luen Yang
• The Three Thieves by Scott Chantler

Download the Bookslingers Podcast #20! (Right-click and Save As...)

New Review: Gunnerkrigg Court by Thomas Siddell

Robots, demons, and mad scientists – just another school day for Antimony Carver. After the death of her mother and her father’s disappearance, Antimony enrols in the very British and very mysterious boarding school called Gunnerkrigg Court.

More than just a school, Gunnerkrigg Court is home to a host of strange creatures and characters who hold the key to Antimony’s past. The halls are filled with shadows that speak, portals to alternate dimensions, poltergeists with a peculiar sense of humour, teachers with double-lives, and powerful spirits who all knew Antimony’s mother.

Along with her friend and scientist extraordinaire, Kat, Antimony explores the secrets of Gunnerkrigg Court in this collection of the first fourteen chapters of the popular webcomic.

Read the Bookslingers' Review of Gunnerkrigg Court, Volume I: Orientation

IN BRIEF: How come my high school didn't have robots? When can I transfer?

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Braces are just the beginning of Raina's dental drama.

Before she starts sixth grade, Raina's dentist cheerfully tells her that she's going to need braces for her overbite. And just when she starts to think that being a metal mouth might not be all bad (at least they might force her to stop chewing her nails!) dental disaster strikes.

She trips and smacks into the pavement and her two front teeth are knocked out.

Growing up is hard enough without headgear, removable teeth and retainers. And between her straightenings and brace tightenings, Raina learns about boys, the difference between good friends and not so good friends, getting your ears pierced, bratty younger sisters, art, how to deal with earthquakes, and becoming a dreaded teenager.

Read the Bookslingers review of Smile

But here's the review in brief: I LOVED IT AND I WANT TO HUG RAINA TELGEMEIER.