Five Magic Rooms

I Like to Read Comics

by Laura Knetzger

Come on a playdate to a magical house in this wildly imaginative graphic reader!

Have you ever been to a house with a Gem Room? Or a Bubble Room? Or a Yarn Room? No? Then come with Mina to her friend Pie's home, where everyone wears costumes, cacti grow up to the ceiling, and there's a hedge mage in the back yard! Critically acclaimed comics artist Laura Knetzger pens a sweetly inventive story for beginning readers that not only introduces the senses and basic sense words ("shiny," "soft," "fuzzy"), but also primes children for their first visits to friends' homes--and encourages them to appreciate the differences between their family and others.

I Like to Read Comics are created for kids just learning to read. Sequential art and simple text--and a powerful relationship between the two--are perfect for developing readers.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Childrens, Fantasy

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 24, 2021

About the author

Laura Knetzger graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2012. She has worked as a storyboard artist for Adventure Time. She lives in Seattle and makes comics about feelings.

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entry level comic is good for kids looking to try something that blends the aspects of picture books, easy readers, and comics book styles. I wouldn't say that it exactly belongs to one of any of those as it mixes them around throughout the book.

Given the fluidity of panel styles these days, this might be an alright first comic book for kids interested in exploring graphic books without the confidence or reading skills to quite take on something like The Cardboard Kingdom. The book is the right length to appeal to reluctant readers in a way that CK didn't with its collected story format.

This book might not appeal to kids who already read comics since the formatting is a little unusual.

[Gabry · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fine book for beginning readers that captures the strange magic of visiting someone else’s home for the first time and seeing their normal. What I didn’t like was in the plant room he encouraged his friend to pet the fuzzy cactus. Now I get it’s a kid’s book and magic is in the titled, but fuzzy cactuses are the worst to touch. I should know when I was little I was terrified of cactuses, then one time my mom took me to a swap meet where someone had a fuzzy cactus. I’d never seen one before and stared at talking myself into facing my fears and touching it. After all it didn’t look as intimidating as the ones this big thorns. So I grabbed it with both hands, I even thought to myself “see nothing to be afraid of” as I pulled them off only to discover to my horror my hands were now covered in tiny piercing needles. I had to soak my hands for a whole day and they still hurts for a while afterwards. So no I didn’t like that part of the book because of all the cactus to pet it should NEVER be the fuzzy ones. And I don’t think children need that idea put in their heads.

[Anne Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A peculiarly mesmerizing little Early Reader from the creator of Bug Boys. The protagonist and her friend take a trip through the charming spaces of a (maybe) magical house. Lots of sensory words and gentle dream logic: as with Bug Boys there is a sort of magical and miniaturist appeal to the art and to the narrative.

Obviously a good choice for new readers but this might actually work as a bonus read for older (and voracious) readers who want to indulge in something sweet. Add it to the pile if you know they love Miyazaki or graphic novels full of magical realism.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations with a cute short story. It's like an Early Reader, but in comic form. I really loved the tiny rooms and the boy's mom. Actually, the whole house that the boy and the mom live is pretty spectacular.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pie shows Mina all around his house where they dress up every day. When Mina gets jealous of Pie's house, he reminds her that her house will be cool to him because he has never seen it.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The house was cool, but I'm pretty sure Pie's mother is a witch. Good candidate for 1st grade booklist.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to 3.5 stars.

[Rhica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for sensory storytime! Very cute comic early reader.

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

1st-2nd.

[Lisa]

I liked this; my 4 & 7 year olds were not interested?!

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s pretty simple, but cute.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very simple and cute.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.