NINJA!

Silently the young ninja stalks through the house to reach his objective: baby sister’s prized milk and cookies.

Throughout the quiet house, Ninja Maxwell moves on fleet feet. He has two objectives: surprising his sleeping father and pulling off the ultimate heist of his baby sister’s snack (along with his awesome red ninja cup). The young ninja however, is not without feeling. When his ninja skills leave his little sister saddened and him both caught red-handed and “dishonored,” Maxwell seizes the opportunity to impart to the next generation (aka selfsame baby sister) the “way of the ninja.” Young readers should certainly relate to Maxwell’s familiar assemblage of household ninja props: a stick (a pool cue), ninja rope (a jump rope) and, of course, a ninja paddle (a paddleball game). A gentle rhythm propels this lively and charming text: “A ninja sneaks / creeps, / tumbles, / hides, / and is fast on his feet.” Told through a blend of traditional picture-book illustrations and comic-book–style panels, this seamlessly hybridizes the two forms, creating the perfect jumping-in point for readers interested in ninjas and comics.

High-flying fun to be read aloud or independently.