Review: Gryphons Aren't So Great by James Sturm, Alexis Frederick-Frost, Andrew Arnold

SUMMARY FROM PUBLISHER:

Adventure and friendship awaits in this latest picture book set in the Adventures in Cartooning universe!
The Knight's best friend is her horse, Edward. They go everywhere together and do everything together! But when the Knight gets a gryphon, suddenly all she talks about is how awesome her new pet is. Edward can't help it—he's jealous! But the gryphon turns out to be more of a peril than a pet, and it's Edward who comes to the rescue in the end. It turns out that gryphons aren't so great...but Edward sure is!
The second of four adorable picture books from the creators of Adventures in Cartooning, Gryphons Aren't so Great is a sweet and accessible story in the Adventures in Cartooning universe.
James Sturm is the co­founder of The Center for Cartoon Studies where he currently serves as the school's director. Alexis Frederick­Frost has been published by Nickelodeon Magazine, First Second Books, and others. Andrew Arnold's work has appeared in several publications, including Nickelodeon Magazine and Cambridge University Press.

MY TAKE:
This is one of the cutest comic books I've read in a long while.

In Gryphons Aren't So Great, Knight finds a gryphon and when she experiences flying on her gryphon, she stops spending time with her horse friend Edward. However, having a gryphon friend isn't all it's cracked up to be, as Knight soon finds out.

I thought this was a sweet and entertaining story. Knight and Edward have a sort of hero-sidekick relationship, that is, the story focuses more on Knight and her adventures, but when she needs it most, Edward comes through for her.

I really liked Edward. He was a horse, but there were times when he acted a bit like a dog, which I thought was charming and perfect.

The drawing style is relatively simple, but the style and the bright colors are perfect for the story and the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. There are drawing guides (of sorts) for Knight, Edward, the bat and the gryphon.
2. The illustrations are a perfect fit for the story.
3. The story is charming.

THE BAD:

1. The story feels quite short. 

READ IT IF:

1. You like stories about friendship.
2. You like it when sidekicks become heroes of the story.
3. You like adventure stories. 

RATING:


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