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Johnny Boo #10
Johnny Boo and the Midnight Monsters
The best little ghost in the world--and his pet ghost, Squiggle--continue their award-winning adventures with a spooky story that can turn any night into Halloween!
Are you scared of the dark? Did you know that when the clock strikes twelve, that's when the midnight monsters come out? Johnny Boo knows, but that won't stop him from skateboarding on the back of a wild Tiger and plucking pumpkin ice cream from the gaping maw of a Spooky Tree. He does it all to impress Susie Boom, the cute little girl ghost who lives on the moon. Hopefully she's watching everything with her telescope! "These are the kind of comics that win Eisner Awards," says Eisner Award winner James Kochalka.
Are you scared of the dark? Did you know that when the clock strikes twelve, that's when the midnight monsters come out? Johnny Boo knows, but that won't stop him from skateboarding on the back of a wild Tiger and plucking pumpkin ice cream from the gaping maw of a Spooky Tree. He does it all to impress Susie Boom, the cute little girl ghost who lives on the moon. Hopefully she's watching everything with her telescope! "These are the kind of comics that win Eisner Awards," says Eisner Award winner James Kochalka.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2019
About the author
James Kochalka
215 books108 followersJames Kochalka is an American comic book artist and writer, and rock musician. His comics are noted for their blending of the real and the surreal. Largely autobiographical, Kochalka's cartoon expression of the world around him includes such real-life characters as his wife, children, cat, friends and colleagues, but always filtered through his own observations and flights of whimsy. In March 2011 he will be declared the cartoonist laureate of Vermont, serving a term of two years.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 12, 2019
Book ten of Top Shelf and James Kochalka's Johnny Boo series for K-2 readers, and it looks like, this one actually might have been designed for Halloween. I mean, Boo's not scary, and his sidekick Squiggle is a wee ghost, but essentially harmless, so it's never been anything other than silly. But the cover makes it look like this volume might have fear potential, but (spoiler alert), when Ice Cream Monster shows up hopefully thinking the word "scream" that Squiggle spoke was actually "Ice Cream" we actually find not impending Death but ice cream in that spooky tree you see on the cover.
(Why ice cream in a spooky tree? That is such a boring adult logic question, ugh! The answer is of course "for no apparent reason", or "just because," it's not about logic, it's about being K-2 silly ideas, so why NOT in a spooky tree?!)
Early on, Boo is thinking Susie, the Girl in the Moon, can actually view his skate-board tricks. You won't get a spoiler from me about her, no sir, but the back cover is a complete spoiler on that one, just to warn you. I like the ending as we think something truly scary might actually, finally happen (but not really, we don't really think something scary will happen in a Johnny Boo book). The goofiest guy in children's graphic novels, for sure.
(Why ice cream in a spooky tree? That is such a boring adult logic question, ugh! The answer is of course "for no apparent reason", or "just because," it's not about logic, it's about being K-2 silly ideas, so why NOT in a spooky tree?!)
Early on, Boo is thinking Susie, the Girl in the Moon, can actually view his skate-board tricks. You won't get a spoiler from me about her, no sir, but the back cover is a complete spoiler on that one, just to warn you. I like the ending as we think something truly scary might actually, finally happen (but not really, we don't really think something scary will happen in a Johnny Boo book). The goofiest guy in children's graphic novels, for sure.
October 31, 2019
I was a little disappointed when the line-up for free comics for the 2019 Halloween ComicFest were announced. There was no Johnny Boo! The award-winning graphic novel series by James Kochalka had become a staple offering of the annual comic book store event. Where’s Boo?
But I quickly got my answer as to Johnny Boo, the rad ghost, and his friends absence from HCF 2019. It’s because fans of this series are getting a pre-Halloween treat with the release of the latest graphic novel; The Midnight Monsters!
Johnny Boo and his sprite companion Squiggle are out in the woods doing some awesome late night skateboarding tricks! But the fun turns a little chaotic when the Ice Cream Monster arrives demanding his fair share of frosty treats! Armed with only a skateboard and a helmet made of pumpkin, how will Johnny Boo and his best bud escape this midnight monster?
The Johnny Boo books are recommended for readers of pre-K to third grade. A book full of ghosts and monsters for preschoolers? Well, you know how on Sesame Street Grover and Oscar the Grouch are monsters; but they’re nice monsters? That’s the same way here. A couple of scenes might be a tiny bit spooky, since everything occurs at midnight. But the monsters and surprises in this book are quite harmless.
Series creator James Kolchalka loves to pepper the dialogue of his stories with funny words and silly sayings. This makes the Johnny Boo series a great read for very young readers. The art is childlike but whimsical. Plus, the story has some unexpected turns for a rapid fire approach aimed at youngsters with short attention spans.
One thing that younger readers might not have a problem with but adults like me will is the back cover! Try to avoid looking at it at all costs! No, it’s not scary! But it does contain a major spoiler that ruins the surprise at the end of the book! I blame the editors and design team on this!
A fun-filled graphic novel for all ages! Grab it now just in time for Halloween!
But I quickly got my answer as to Johnny Boo, the rad ghost, and his friends absence from HCF 2019. It’s because fans of this series are getting a pre-Halloween treat with the release of the latest graphic novel; The Midnight Monsters!
Johnny Boo and his sprite companion Squiggle are out in the woods doing some awesome late night skateboarding tricks! But the fun turns a little chaotic when the Ice Cream Monster arrives demanding his fair share of frosty treats! Armed with only a skateboard and a helmet made of pumpkin, how will Johnny Boo and his best bud escape this midnight monster?
The Johnny Boo books are recommended for readers of pre-K to third grade. A book full of ghosts and monsters for preschoolers? Well, you know how on Sesame Street Grover and Oscar the Grouch are monsters; but they’re nice monsters? That’s the same way here. A couple of scenes might be a tiny bit spooky, since everything occurs at midnight. But the monsters and surprises in this book are quite harmless.
Series creator James Kolchalka loves to pepper the dialogue of his stories with funny words and silly sayings. This makes the Johnny Boo series a great read for very young readers. The art is childlike but whimsical. Plus, the story has some unexpected turns for a rapid fire approach aimed at youngsters with short attention spans.
One thing that younger readers might not have a problem with but adults like me will is the back cover! Try to avoid looking at it at all costs! No, it’s not scary! But it does contain a major spoiler that ruins the surprise at the end of the book! I blame the editors and design team on this!
A fun-filled graphic novel for all ages! Grab it now just in time for Halloween!
September 22, 2020
A super weird series but a hit in our house. I think the absurdity of some of this series just really hits a chord with my super silly crazy 6.5 year old. I may not understand it, but I welcome it and like that we can share in the weirdness. I only recommend if you or your kiddo has a weird side. ;)
February 17, 2023
My child loves these silly books but I'm not the biggest fan. They are just too wacky and the storyline is not the best. But we keep reading these because my child laughs like a maniac at the antics by the characters.
July 10, 2023
Checked this out from the library at the start of summer and I think I've renewed it 2 times and read it twice a week since mid-May. My kid loves the internal rhyme, silly humor, honesty of the characters, and silly simple plot line. Definitely going to read more of Johnny Boo and Squiggle!
December 2, 2020
Cute children's night time story.
April 22, 2021
Another graphic novel for the younger elementary kids. Silly to me, probably fun for them.
September 14, 2022
Great book
March 5, 2023
My son absolutely loves this book and I loathe it.
June 16, 2024
Very cute little story about a young ghost having some skateboard adventures.
February 15, 2022
I was excited to find out what else had happened to Johnny Boo.
post COVID: I was not quite as excited to find out what else had happened to Johnny Boo. However, I decided to let my original rating remain.
post COVID: I was not quite as excited to find out what else had happened to Johnny Boo. However, I decided to let my original rating remain.
October 19, 2023
More fun with Johnny Boo and friends.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews