Books by Vince Evans

Beast Friends Forever: Meet the Beast

by Nate Evans, Vince Evans

Review ""Nine-year-old Zeke's father sends a care package to Zeke and his younger sister Hannah from an aircraft carrier in the Bermuda Triangle. When the package arrives and the kids bust it open fighting over it, candy wrappers flutter out--but no candy. Soon strange things begin to happen around the house: Snacks disappear, odd voices grumble in Zeke's room, sneakers and dolls vanish. Zeke and Hannah mount a monster hunt and FIND ONE! Beast is a tiny magical refugee from Triangle Island, which is currently ruled by evil trolls. He has the tricksy magic of "swap-o." For a short time, he can swap items from there (Triangle Island) to here. Zeke and Hannah find that can cause trouble, but it can also solve bully problems. Illustrator Nate Evans collaborates with his younger brother Vince for this wide-eyed kickoff to a new series for the chapter-book crowd. Fast action scenes switch to graphic format, and all of the copious black-and-white illustrations resemble cleaned-up MAD magazine comics with more goggling eyes. Good for a few goofy laughs." - Kirkus" - Kirkus""This kickoff volume of the Beast Friends Forever series is a screwball comedy from brothers Nate and Vince Evans (the Humpty Dumpty Jr., Hardboiled Detective books). When Zeke and Hannah's father, who's stationed on an aircraft carrier in the Bermuda Triangle, sends them a box filled with candy, it arrives empty. A shadowy shape lurking behind the kids presages their discovery of an impish beast that has stowed away. An escapee from an island that's been commandeered by trolls, Otto takes up residence under Zeke's bed and wows the siblings with his "tricksy tricks," which include transforming objects into fantastical creatures, one of which helps Otto best the school bully. Most of the story is written as a heavily illustrated chapter book, though it jumps into graphic novel format when the action escalates; the hyperbolic line art helps move the story along briskly. Adding to the inanity is ample potty talk and insult-hurling ("booger-brain" is oft-used), and Otto's lingo--a combination of pirate-speak and nonsense (he calls the marauding trolls "slimy pickle-noses" and "hairy skunk-sniffers")--should bring on giggles." - Publishers Weekly" - Publishers Weekly""This well-plotted and fanciful opener promises a series that early chapter-book readers will appreciate... Set in the kids' house, school, and neighborhood, the tale unfolds with a few nicely handled subplots, including one about a bully who is eventually bested by the beast. It's likely that the nasty fellow will need to be reconquered again in future episodes, adding a dynamic that readers will enjoy anticipating in addition to sillier high jinks from Otto. Bouncy cartoon illustrations and a few passages in comic-strip format punctuate the brief chapters, but the narrative is seamless despite these multiple storytelling approaches. A good start to the Beast Friends Forever series." - Booklist" - Booklist""...a combination beginning chapter book and graphic novel, and it is very fast-paced." - School Library Journal" - School Library Journal""Part comic book, part chapter book, this is a great bridge between the two and your young monster-lover will love it." - Terri Schlichenmeyer, Bookworm Sez" - Bookworm Sez, Terri Schlichenmeyer Product Description Featuring beastly fun comic strips inside!Is there a monster living under your bed?Meet Otto! Zeke and Hannah's new best friend-even if he is a beast.It's up to Zeke and his sister to keep this mini-monster out of their candy, out of their school...and out of trouble! Will they be able to keep him a secret? Will the school bully discover why he's swinging upside down from the basketball hoop in his underpants? More importantly, what does Otto want with Hannah's dolls? From Booklist This well-plotted and fanciful opener promises a series that early chapter-book readers will appreciate. Nine-year-old Zeke and his little sister, Ha