Ker-splash!

by George O'Connor

Being the good guy isn't always a day at the beach!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime

40 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base and there are multiple George O'Conner's that illustrate comics

George O'Connor is the author of several picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Kapow!, Kersplash, and Sally and the Some-thing. JOURNEY INTO MOHAWK COUNTRY was his first graphic novel, a long-held dream that weaves together his passion for history and ongoing research into Native American life. He's also the author/illustrator of a new picture book, If I Had a Raptor.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably would only give this 3 stars but since my 3 year old loved it so much I had to give it more. I do love how this shows the play and imagination of children, that and I loved when they invite the little brother into their play instead of harassing him, he gets to be on their team! Kids are amazing and their minds are a wonder; I could take a long, good lesson from their examples, especially my own.

[Heather Dunbar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another cute book. While I personally don’t like comic books I know that lots of children do, and that’s how this book is set up. Two kids (eventually more) are playing make-believe at a beach while waiting for their mother. They go back and forth between being normal and being super heroes! There are two main lessons in this book: one, anybody can be a superhero, and two, make-believing can be a lot of fun (I don’t think kids use their imagination as much as they should).

[Hannah Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superheroes are some of the best crime stoppers there are. Sometimes they fight for different things but when they have they same goal, they join together and fight for what's right. Read Ker-Splash to see how the American Eagle, the Amazing Bug Lady, and the American Eagle's younger brother, Manphibian, join together and stop a bully in his tracks.

Ker-Splash had comic strip type pictures and I thought it was pretty cool. I've never read a comic book before but I liked the layout. I also loved how they are kids but they used their imagination to envision themselves as these great Superheroes. Everyone should see themselves as those kids did in the story. I thought it was really good how the big brother saw how poorly he had treated his little brother and apologized. Sometimes it's hard to admit when you're wrong and this story sets a good example of how to act.

Kids could learn to apologize when they are wrong and how to be kind to others. It could teach kids to not take things from others without asking first. They could also learn to listen to their parents and not go into the ocean alone if they are at the beach.

[Emma Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of two kids at the beach. They imagine themselves as superheroes and work to avoid one of their little brothers. When they are confronted with a bully, they realize how they have made the younger child feel. All three then work together to confront the bully and rescue their prized crab.

I really enjoyed this book. It told the story in a really fun way. The way that the children imagine themselves as superheroes shows how vivid their imaginations can be. It also shows how hurtful bullying or being left out can be.

I would use this as a fun way to talk about kindness. I think the pictures would make it very interesting to students.

[Nomad nimrod · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another boring one.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We started reading the Olympians series by George O'Connor recently and when I posted my review here on Goodreads, I noticed that he'd written several picture books as well and I thought we'd check some of them out at our local library.

We found this book to be quite humorous and entertaining. I like that Bug Lady and American Eagle realize that they've been bullies when they get bullied themselves. It's a humorous tale, but I'm not sure that it's a great example of how to handle a bully. Our girls loved the imaginary personas of the Bug Lady and American Eagle.

The illustrations are colorful and cartoonish and are the highlight of the story. We didn't like this book quite as much as we liked Kapow!, but we still enjoyed reading this book together.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a preschooler, story might be a bit scary and hard to follow as pages of kids as themselves alternate with pages of kids as big bold superheroes and villains. Last page leaves us with bully watching the kids as they swim with their mom, but eventually they'll come out of the water...

I did like that the older brother eventually apologizes to his younger brother and asks him to take part in his activities.

I was looking forward to a rare superheroine, Bug Girl, but her adult version wears about half the clothes as the adult version of the boy hero American Eagle.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not a storytime read. It's too busy in format as well as illustrations. But I love the imaginations. The story was cute. And there is even a lesson in there about sibling relations and such. Perhaps I'll have it ready as a possible book talk choice, in case there are children in the group who are hungry for anything hero-related.

[Shaley Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kind of reminds me of a short comic book. It is all dialouge and it is about a boy and his brother at the beach. It really shows the two brothers coming together to get back at the bully on the beach

[Elle Belle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great story line, but will use this in the classroom with younger elementary to teach onomatopoeia. Also, the characters use their imaginations, learn about bullying, and show respect for their mother.

[Kaitlyn Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the book because of the illustrations. I think this book could be used to interest students who do not enjoy reading. The superhero theme would keep their attention but they will also be reading the story as well. The story could be connected with a lesson on bullying.

[Paul Hankins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of George O'Connor's OLYMPIANS series might enjoy seeing what he was doing earlier on. . .simple comic format for younger readers.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rote.

[Nicole Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

strange not one I woudl ever read,

[Bookslut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the switch back between comic book art and little kids playing at the beach. Cool story, great illustrations, and funny. Everything I like in a picture book.