Mimi and the Cutie Catastrophe: A Graphix Chapters Book

Mimi #1

by Shauna J. Grant

Rising star Shauna J. Grant makes her Graphix Chapters debut with this humorous and wholesome series.

Get drawn into reading with Graphix Chapters!



Graphix Chapters are ideal books for beginning and newly independent readers aged 6-8. With approachable page counts, easy-to-follow paneling, and artwork that supports text comprehension, these engaging stories with unforgettable characters help children become lifelong readers.



Meet Mimi. She's charming! She's cheerful! She's cute!



But that's not all! She's also a loyal friend and fun playmate, who has the best adventures with Penelope, her magical toy dog. But when Mimi notices people treating her like she's too cute, can she show them that she's much more than meets the eye? Or will she be stuck in this cute-astrophe?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Childrens, Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Contemporary, Fiction

80 pages, Hardcover

Published July 19, 2022

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh ya'll! This was so incredibly cute! I've been attempting dive more into children's graphic novels and this was such a great place to start.

Mimi and the Cutie Catastrophe is part of the Scholastic Graphix chapter books line where they introduce younger readers to graphic novels in chapter book format. This specific series focuses on Mimi and her stuff animal dog Penelope. While going out on their daily adventures, Mimi begins to notice how everyone calls her cute. Eventually she begins to feel bothered by it and does everything in her power to not be cute. The story comes full circle when Mimi realizes that she is perfectly fine being herself.

What Worked: Everything about this worked! I loved that there are graphic novels that are designed for readers ages 6-8. As an avid read of graphic novels, I wish that there was something like this that created a different level of accessibility when I was that age. From the vibrant artwork to the large paneling, it is easy to see how kids could get drawn into these "chapter book" graphic novels. These are also great resources for reluctant readers that want to transition into reading longer books. Graphic novels are a great way to engage readers through a combination of text and art and Scholastic creating these early chapter book formats was absolutely ingenious. This story also includes themes that younger readers will find interesting especially the theme of being comfortable with yourself.

This was an absolute joy to read and I can't wait to dive into the next volume. If you haven't had the chance to read this one, I definitely recommend it checking it out.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of this author/artist since meeting her at the Small Press Expo years ago and getting one of her Princess Love Pon comics. So cool that she's branching out into cute comics for younger kids! This story is sweet and adorable, with a nice message, and I'm sure lots of kids will enjoy it.

My full review is posted on No Flying No Tights.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mimi is an ebullient Black girl with a magical toy dog sidekick named Penelope. When she exclaims, “Twinkle, Twinkle, La La, Dress Up!”, she is magically attired in whatever outfit she has chosen for the day. She knows her outfits are cute, but she cannot stand it when people call her cute. It always means something limiting, such as she can’t get messy in that outfit, or she’s too cute to help out. Mimi tries several other clothing personas – a superhero, a teacher – so that people will think of her differently. But they feel limiting to her, so she goes back to being the cutie who dresses how she wants, so that she can “…be me, cute and all!”

I love Mimi’s spirit, and her feelings about the double-edged sword of cuteness. I think lots of kids want to be taken seriously no matter what their clothing denotes to the outer world. Mimi loves who she is, plays around with her image, and values her choices on her own terms. This adorable easy graphic chapter book has a few common Spanish words sprinkled throughout, as her best friend’s dad speaks Spanish, and they are defined in notes on the page. Large, framed and unframed panels are easy to follow, and language is perfect for newly independent readers. With the pink and purple cover with, okay, I’m saying it, a very cute child and her stuffie, I think this book will appeal to many in the early grader graphic novel reading public. This is book one of a projected series.

[Veronika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was (even though Mimi won't like me using this word lol) CUTE! I loved the representation and the artwork and colors. I think the lesson to be learned was to be comfortable in your own shoes and try not to be someone else.

I would love to see a YA graphic novel spin-off where we get to learn more about Katie and Sadie.
I'm definitely looking forward to what else this author/illustrator publishes and will be requesting the second book in this series from my library so I can see what other adventures Mimi and Penelope go on together.

[Yentl ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute book! Mimi and Penelope (her plushie) are BFF's who play together all the time. Everyone knows that Mimi is cute, but the more she hears it the more she starts getting annoyed by being labeled as just "cute". She can do other stuff too! She sets out to prove that she's more than that, but figures out that being yourself is the best. I really liked this book and can't wait to read the next one.

[Becky H · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up
A good story for kids who are struggling to be seen as more than just one thing...like 'cute'. It shows the effect of words on young kids and how they can (with the help of friends) become more confident in themselves, regardless of labels that people put on them. Cute illustrations and a great message.

[The Coat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rare to find a book so good on so many fronts - has a great and well paced story, is whimsical enough for little kids to be enchanted, has a cool message without being didactic, AND has amazing art. Great book. Relief to read a comic geared towards young kids that is also executed with magisterial comic drawing skill.

[IvyInThePages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.3 leaves out of 5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Children/Fantasy
Type: Ebook/Comic
Worth?: Yes!

Hated|Disliked|It Was Okay|Liked|Loved

Super cute children comic. Graphics and story is wonderful!

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

...

...

...



Goodreads takes me to some strange places sometimes.

The stranger, the more obscure and girly, the better.

I couldn't help myself.

So.

'Mimi and the Cutie Catastrophe'

It's cute all right.

Yet, for such a small comic and chapter book made to look cute and appealing, and to teach children to read and follow comic panels, it is surprisingly enjoyable for me, too.

The brilliant, vibrant, bouncy, funny, chibi, manga-esque artwork, the pink and purple colours, the entirely-POC cast of characters, and, other straight facts: the Black little girl protagonist with a flooffy skirt and a Steven Universe T-shirt, Mimi, is a magical girl. She is cute, but she wants to be seen as more than that - "cute" is not her whole personality, and it frustrates her.

She has an outrageously yet serenely adorable little plushie mascot bestie called Penelope, who is magic and can transform Mimi into different outfits. This seems to only effect her outward appearance, not granting her magical powers. Hmm, a be-yourself metaphysical commentary? Or am I reaching in a comic intended for five-year-olds?

I'd like to know the backstory of Mimi and Penelope. How did they meet? How did they become best friends? Was Penelope an ordinary plushie originally, magically given life? What makes Mimi so special as to be gifted a magical, talking plushie, that all of Mimi's friends and family know about and are cool with?

Morals and lessons abound in this story. Good ones for kids to take to heart. Like, be yourself. Be a kid and get dirty! Play with your friends. Help your friends.

Cute or not, 'Mimi and the Cutie Catastrophe' is a fun, sweet little product for the kiddies, by Shauna J. Grant, a Black, pink-and-cute-and-magic-loving author, on a mission to add diversity to the comics community. I especially recommend her 'Mimi' creation to kids who love pink and girly things, and magical girls.

It is like a preschool cartoon. It should be adapted into a preschool cartoon series.

There you have it, a small review for a small book.

How charming, and, heh, cute.

Final Score: 3.5/5

[Elizabeth Sisley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beginner graphic novel is so adorable! It tells the story of Mimi and her magical stuffed animal Penelope as Mimi explores her perception of self. Everyone keeps calling Mimi cute, but often too cute to do things or get dirty. She has never been bothered by the word before but now she decides she wants to be known for something else so that she can be more free. She tries out a bunch of different identities (by magically changing into the prettiest outfits) but finds that none feel authentic to her. She decides to keep being her cute self but to set boundaries about others’ expectations of her. This was a lovely way of teaching kids about being theirselves while still acknowledging that sometimes you need to explore to find what fits. It also explains how sometimes words that can be meant as a complement can make someone feel patronized or lesser in certain contexts. It was a wonderful, easy to follow story which would be perfect for readers who are wanting to transition from picture books into longer books with more words. I also love that this is the perfect introduction for young readers to the magical girl sub-genera! I’m a huge sucker for magical girls! 💕

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more bookish thoughts, see my blog: Craft-Cycle

A fun, wholesome story featuring Mimi and her magical plushie, Penelope.

When everyone calls Mimi cute, she starts to worry that she's just cute. She wants to be more than that. She tries on different personas, but nothing feels quite right. With the help of her friends, she learns that she is so much more than just cute. She's smart, strong, helpful, cool, and cute just by being herself.

A wonderful story that focuses on being yourself, being there for others, standing up for yourself, and talking through big feelings.

The artwork is... for lack of a better word... cute! The illustrations are so adorable. I loved the character designs, cutesy elements, and anime-style emotions. Great for kids who enjoy dress up, plushies, and all things cute. This is a fantastic beginner graphic novel broken down into manageable chapters.

An adorable start to the series. Looking forward to reading book 2.

[Ardin Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Scholastic for providing this ARC.
I absolutely loved the illustrations for this book! It reminded me of Pretty Cure when I saw the cover, and as a kid that was one of my favourite series.
The story itself was wonderful, and Mimi is super relatable. I can recall when I wondered whether being considered cute was a bad thing, and tried to make myself seem more "cool" like my older cousins and friends...even though I absolutely adored my stuffed animals and other cute things.
I think that exploring the thoughts and emotions that Mimi faces in this graphic novel, is excellent for young readers who are most likely facing similar situations, as I did growing up.
Mimi is such a sweet character, and I loved seeing how she grew throughout the story, and interacted with her friends, family and neighbours. I can't wait to see what adventures she has going forward, and I look forward to seeing this book in stores!

[Lorina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher! Thank you Scholastic!

Goodness, I wish I could give this book move than 5 stars. From the opening scene of Mimi sleeping in her little purple bonnet, I knew this story would be spectacular. Mimi and the Cutie Catastrophe follows Mimi and her best friend/magical stuffed animal Penelope as she learns the importance and beauty of being herself. This short graphic novel focuses on themes of identity and also shares an important message about not putting kids, especially young black girls, into boxes. At the end of the day, the most spectacular, amazing thing you can be is YOU!

I’ll definitely be reading more of this series when it comes out!

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lighthearted adventure perfect for anyone who loves the energy of magical girl manga, but maybe you're a cautious parent who doesn't love what sometimes comes with it: the sketchy stuff. None of that here! Mimi is a little girl navigating her cute identity, and lands at the end right on her feet knowing she can be cute and all manner of other wonderful traits, too! I'd love to see more of the transformation magic in upcoming stories. What else can her enchanted friend help her with? Are there other superpowers Mimi can get to help her community? Looking forward to more from this creator!

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am clearly not the target audience for this! The text is large and full of exclamations, which gives a feeling of being yelled at by the characters. The message is good: Mimi is tired of being spoken down to for being "cute." She tries on a variety of personas to combat others' perception of her, though none feels quite right. In the end, being herself and using her voice is the best choice of all. I would recommend this book to a 5-6 year old new reader. It's about on par both size- and text-wise with a Level 1 reader, and the concept is shared in a simple way.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kid brought this book home from the library and asked me to read it so that we could talk about it. So I did, especially since it was a super easy graphic novel and it only took me like 12 minutes to read. This unassuming little story is packed with everyday feminism and I love it. I identified with Mimi's desire to be labeled as something other than "cute," and how in the end she realizes that the opposite isn't simply applying a different adjective to herself. Instead, she realizes that she contains multitudes and can be and do many things.

[Ricielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love both books Mimi and the boohoo blahs and also Mimi and the Cutie catastrophe they were both so good and like and Mimi and the boohoo blahs, she woke up angry but then she also started like blah blah blah like me in the morning sometimes but then she also found things that she could do and at the end of the at the end of the story she found things that she could actually do and she found out that she only has to be herself you shouldn't have to change yourself just to be like somebody else.🥰😘😚😘😊🥹😚😆😂🤣😭🥳🙂‍↕️🤩🤩🤩😍😍🥹😍😍😍😍😍

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute little children's comic about being true to yourself and processing your feelings. Great for starting conversations about emotions and being true to yourself. The diversity feels organic and blends in nicely with the story and messaging. And the art style is so cute! It's a fun mix of western and anime-inspired with a hint of some magical girl tropes. Great for the kiddos and for younger classrooms.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Scholastic, Inc.
Mimi doesn't want to be cute any more. She feels like no one lets her do anything but be cute. She tries to copy others to be a superhero, teacher, cool, etc., and discovers it never works to be someone else. The artwork is fun to look at and shows the magic Penelope can do. I appreciate Grant's message to be yourself and enjoy life with friends.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulously cute and sparkly little girl and her stuffed friend go on adventures and chafe against the restrictions people put on her for "being cute" (like, don't get dirty, or she can't be strong enough to help). She unsuccessfully tries on different personas/outfits before figuring out how to be her cute self AND advocate for herself. An easy read right on that sweet spot between Easy Readers and chapter books, give to 1-3rd graders. Even Kindergartners will enjoy having this read to them.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mimi loves all things cute, but everyone thinks she only loves cute things. They tell her not to get dirty, not to help move heavy things, and that she's not old/mature enough for certain things. With her stuffed dog Penelope, she tries to prove that she's not cute, but maybe you can be cute AND whatever you want. A good beginner graphic novel for those beyond Narwhal and Jelly. For fans of Princess Truly, Bunbun & Bonbon, and stuffed animals.

[Kennedy Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Mimi encounters a cute catastrophe, she still manages to find out that she can be cute and cool at the same time while being herself. I understand Mimi’s annoyance with being called cute because it feels like people are giving her a label of cute while doubting that she can do other things, even if they don’t explicitly say it. Very cute graphic novel! Love how Mimi embraced her cuteness while realizing she is also smart, cool, helpful and strong.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mimi and her stuffed puppy Penelope are living their best lives. Then, Mimi gets it in her head that being "cute" is bad, and transforms into a superhero, a teacher, and a "cool girl", to shaker her cute image. In the end, she decides to give up being cool and embrace the cute girl she is. Penelope uses "magic" to turn Mimi into her different personas, but otherwise realistic fiction.

[Jennifer Eckert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute graphic novel perfect for young readers. Mimi loves all things cute, but she’s started to notice that people don’t take her seriously because of it, so she decides to try to be like others who are more serious, like teachers and superheroes. Eventually she learns that she is the most powerful when she is being herself.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare I say this was cute? While Mimi tries to get away from only being cute her magical plush dog Penelope helps her dress up as a superhero, a teacher, and a cool big kid. But maybe the best way to be not cute is to be herself. Interesting comic about a young girl finding agency as she asks for space to get dirty while playing, help with chores that her male friend is expected to help with but she is deemed "too cute" to do initially, and hang with her friends.

[Chelsea Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

My four year old adored this book! I told her we could read one chapter before bed and we ended up finishing the entire book that night. The next morning she drew a picture of Penelope. We can’t wait until the next book comes out!

[Maleeha Siddiqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, dare I say, SO CUTE. I love that it's a graphic novel chapter book for young readers. It's basically written for my very imaginative almost 6-year-old daughter who is into all things pink and purple right now, and loves plushies/stuffed animals! A perfect match.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a little heavy-handed in its message- that a kid can be "cute" but still be smart, strong, and helpful, and play hard- but will have some appeal for younger readers who like pink. The chapter headings are hard to see, which might make it harder for those newer readers to find a stopping place.

[Andréa]

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

[Dolank · Rating 4 out of 5]

The struggles of the super cuties are real. I have seen my youngest with the expectations of being 'cute', and I think this book will really resonate with some kids and parents.