Leo's Poster Challenge. (First Novels, #46). Louise Leblanc. Illustrated by Jules Prud'homme. Halifax, NS: Formac, 2003. 64 pp., pbk. & cl., $5.95 (pbk.), $14.95 (cl.). ISBN 0-88780-608-2 (pbk.), ISBN 0-88780-609-0 (cl.). Grades 1-3 / Ages 6-8. Review by Lisa O'Hara. *** /4

excerpt:

"The worst problem is Butch. He's ruining my life."

"I told you, I'm willing to fight him. We'll stand up to him together. I agree with your idea about the contest."

"You would be willing to do a drawing and use my name?"

"I would love it! It will be like an escape from my crypt!"

Readers again encounter Leo, Butch and Julio the vampire in the second book of the Leo series, Leo's Poster Challenge. In this story, Leo enters a poster contest using Julio's artwork. Butch, who really is a talented artist as well as a bully, knows that Leo couldn't have produced the poster he has entered. He doesn't suspect Julio's involvement though. Instead, he believes that Leo's mom, an illustrator, has created the work. This leaves Leo in a terrible bind because he doesn't want to get his mother into trouble, but neither can he expose Julio to Butch. Butch already might have an inkling of Julio's existence because of the tape he has "found" in Leo's backpack. Julio, meanwhile, is very lonely because Leo has been grounded and isn't allowed to visit him.

     The situation is resolved with a happy ending for all involved, and presumably there is more to come in the series. The characters' actions and reactions are slightly over-the-top, and I'm not sure that some of the situations in the book, such as Leo's cheating and Butch's bullying, are resolved in a satisfactory way from an adult's perspective. The story may be a bit complicated for younger readers who might not understand some of the decisions the characters make.

     The grey-scale illustrations by Jules Prud'homme are very entertaining and enhance the story by expressing the characters' feelings in an amusing way.

     Children in this age group will probably enjoy this story more than their parents or teachers.

Recommended.

Lisa O'Hara is a librarian and mother of three in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

NEXT REVIEW |TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - March 12, 2004.

AUTHORS | TITLES | MEDIA REVIEWS | PROFILES | BACK ISSUES | SEARCH | CMARCHIVE | HOME