Captain Bun & Super Bonbon

This third book of the “Bunbun & Bonbon” series begins with the rabbit Bunbun and his fancy candy friend Bonbon enjoying a picnic. A packed lunch, comics, capes and donuts make this a perfect day until suddenly a storm breaks. Bonbon’s cape gets trapped under a tree. When Bunbun uses his strong feet to free the cape, the friends decide to become superheroes like in their comic books. Hearing a cry for help, Captain Bunbun and Super Bonbon are off to help Silver, a raccoon, find his kite which the storm blew into a cave. But each one of them is scared of the dark. If they are truly superheroes, their combined bravery will help them. The story ends with the mission accomplished and Bunbun and Bonbon enjoying their interrupted picnic, but, this time, the two superheroes are joined by their new friend, the Silver Shadow.

Captain Bun & Super Bonbon is a graphic novel from Scholastic’s “Graphix Chapters”. Author/illustrator Jess Keating gives newly independent readers an easy to follow eye-catching layout. The bright colours of the cartoon style illustrations with their large bordered panels and clear text font guide the child through the story. The cute characters and their antics add humour to the book.

Superheroes are a popular topic with the intended age group. In this episode of Bunbun and Bonbon, young readers share in an adventure that includes costumes and helping someone in need. As in the other books in the series, problem solving, friendship and fun, including donuts, are key elements of the story. The clear picture clues support and enhance the text. Shared reading with an adult would help the beginning reader with unfamiliar words. Captain Bun & Super Bonbon would more likely appeal to younger emerging readers in grades 1 and 2.