Not having read the novel, that Escape from M. Lemoncello’s Library, the graphic novel is based on (that is of the same name), I am not sure how this book was adapted. However, the author Chris Grabenstein did the adaptation, so I am assuming it is mostly the same. Regardless, this graphic novel illustrated by Douglas Holgate is a fun, easy read that has puns, hidden surprises, a good message, and a lot of books that are mentioned, that are read and that are used to solve a mystery. Fun, easy, bold illustrations wrap it all up. And there might be balloons!
That is the buck fifty tour. Now I need about two hundred more words. At first, I was not a fan of things, it seemed to easy and simple for even the aged eight and up (thought younger could do). There were too many references that might be too dated, or in a few years would be too dated But as I went along the idea of a Willy Wonka Librarian-like millionaire who was created a Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory maze/contest was not as bad as I thought. I just had to forget that yes, the puns were bad, the references to Dahl obvious, and things were easy, but that was okay. It was there so the reader could have fun and learn the lessons the kids learn: about teamwork and how awesome a library can be.
The cast is mostly diverse, there were a few questions I had about why the ones picked to opt out of the contest were chosen, why the kids had the personalities they did, but overall it was good. Granted, I could have done without the color at 90 percent and things medium busy with the details, but it works out. This book works well for readers and nonreaders a like. It is a simple book, that if kids take their time with, that allows them to learn reasoning, math, and other skills, plus a little how an old fashioned, but terribly magical, library works.
