The Hunger Heroes

K-Gr 3--The Hunger Heroes are a group of taco ingredient superheroes who rescue people suffering from hunger. There's a bold bean named Mr. Toots; Chip Ninja, who's armed with gadgets; Tammy, a tamale who loves to sing; and Leonard, a nervous piece of cheese. When an elementary school student named Jason misses breakfast on the day of a big math test, the heroes head to his elementary school to help him get back on track. Bathroom humor and over-the-top antics abound in this colorful graphic novel. The text is large with plenty of white space in the speech boxes, making it accessible even for emerging readers. Some of the more complex vocabulary is explained, and the illustrations effectively support and help provide context. The graphics are bright and cartoonish; Jason is brown-skinned, and the other humans pictured are racially diverse. The humor will appeal to the age demographic, with plenty of food and fart jokes to go around. The ending leaves the door open for more adventures of this taco crew. VERDICT Fans of Andy Griffiths and Dav Pilkey will enjoy this zany graphic novel.--Ellen Conlin, Naperville P.L., IL

Four foodstuff friends help a student stave off ill effects from a brushed-aside breakfast. Snacks are absolutely not allowed in Mrs. Sternbladder's classroom at the James H. Pinchkid Elementary School. When the four taco-ingredient Hunger Heroes--Tammy the tomato, Leonard the cheese, Mr. Toots the bean, and Chip Ninja the tortilla chip--get an alert about a student's missed meal and his flagging energy before a big test, they immediately take to their taco hovercraft to save the day. This job won't be easy: An autonomous vacuum, a gym full of dodgeballs, and a snack-loathing teacher all stand in their way. The first in a proposed series, this graphic hybrid is bland as white bread. All the elements are seemingly there: cute, cartoony characters, silly jokes galore, and zippily paced chapters. Unfortunately, the whole never quite equals the sum of its parts. The characterizations are thin, the resolution is quick and questionable, and many scenes feel like dreaded heavy-handed teachable moments having all the allure of a brownie made from brussels sprouts. There is little connection for its readers, who most likely will wonder why they should care about a kid (hardly more than a name and a face) who missed breakfast and why taco ingredients care so much. Humans portrayed throughout show a range of skin tones; however, there is little differentiation between adult and juvenile characters. Skip this meal. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.