Review by Horn Book Review
In their third imaginary interplanetary adventure (following Space Boy and the Space Pirate), Niko, dog Tag, and toy robot Radar encounter the fearsome Snow Monster from Planet Ice (a.k.a. Niko's sister, Posh), who takes Radar captive. Curtis's energetic, very funny text stays true to Niko's perspective. Neubecker's lively digital illustrations strike the right balance between what's actually happening in their snow-covered backyard and what's pretend play. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Sneering punk snowmencheck. Crazed killer snow bunnycheck. Rampaging fanged snow monstercheck. Space boy Niko's third rip-roaring adventure is ready for takeoff. But trusty co-pilot Radar the robot is missing! All clues lead to the Snow Monster's lair on Planet Ice. Upon landing, Niko spots the monsterwho sounds suspiciously like his big sister, Posh. The Posh Monster is wily and has an army of menacing, mohawked snowpunks awaiting the indomitable space boy and his space dog, Tag. They're attacked. Frozen projectiles fly! Ducking and weaving, Niko follows Snow Bunny's tracks to Radarthe rescue mission is a success. But wait! The frosty cottontail's eyes are glowing red, and are those fangs? "Killer Bunnies are not to be trusted!" Can they possibly escape? Niko's impassioned play-by-play narrative flawlessly mimics that of kids boisterously immersed in dramatic worldbuilding. Regan's minichapters and short, exclamatory sentences sustain the escalating tension, while Neubecker's wacky illustrations augment the humor by orchestrating action shots counter to Niko's script. For instance, as Niko blasts into space to find "lost" Radar, the poor robot is shown desperately hanging onto the ship's horizontal stabilizer, and the "cautiously" advancing dog is pictured cavorting above the drifts with joyous abandon. Each detail-packed frame energetically propels the story forward with chuckle-inducing results. Cardboard boxes and duct tape are sure to turn up missing in many a household as spaceships roar into screen-free adventures. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
