Sidekicks

by Dan Santat, Dan Santat (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

An adorable and hilarious story of super pets stepping up for their superhuman, Sidekicks asks the most important question, such as why can't your dog also be your sidekick? Or your chameleon for that matter?

Caldecott Medalist, National Book Award Winner, and New York Times bestselling creator Dan Santat returns to Sidekicks! This expanded edition includes a brand-new cover and sixteen pages of a never-before-seen epilogue! Suit up for high-octane action and laughs!

Captain Amazing is searching for a sidekick!

Captain Amazing, the hometown hero of Metro City, is so busy catching criminals that he rarely has time for his pets — he hasn't even noticed they've been developing superpowers of their own!

So when he announces that he needs a sidekick, his eager pets — a dog, a cat, a hamster, and a chameleon — all decide to audition for the part and a chance for some one-on-one time with the Captain.

But Dr. Havoc, Captain Amazing's longtime nemesis, is hatching up an evil scheme, and the Captain is in serious trouble. Can the warring pets put their squabbles aside to save Captain Amazing and Metro City?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338879551
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/15/2024
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Dan Santat is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, which won the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal in 2015. He is also the creator of the acclaimed graphic novel The Aquanaut, and his graphic memoir, A First Time for Everything, was the 2023 National Book Award Winner for Young People's Literature. His art is featured in numerous children's books, including Dav Pilkey's Ricky Ricotta series as well as picture books by Henry Winkler and Jake Gyllenhaal. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and pets. Visit him online at dansantatbooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Hilarious and heartfelt... a charming and well-told tale about friendship." — Kazu Kibuishi, creator of Amulet

"The lovable menagerie of crime-fighting pets offers lots of laughs and a boisterous and exuberant storyline; Santat's illustrations are clear, engaging, and neatly stacked into easy-to-read panels." — Kirkus Reviews

"Lively, insightful, and just plain fun, this convergence of capes and creatures will find a wide audience in animal lovers and superhero fans alike." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Praise for The Aquanaut:

★ "Kinetic panel artwork impresses throughout, with smart pacing that swings between hilarity and suspense." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The art in this graphic tale is something special... Santat's vividly expressive visuals are, even more than usual, riveting." — Kirkus Reviews

"A spirited and thrilling story." — Shelf Awareness

"A humorous and heartwarming tale." — BookPage

From the Publisher

Gr 3–6—Middle-aged superhero Captain Amazing is looking for a new sidekick after his superpowered house pet and former cohort Static Cat runs away. His dog, Roscoe, is posing as superhero Metal Mutt in order to audition for his replacement, while his other pets—a hamster and a chameleon—train secretly with Static Cat as well. The artwork has an easily accessible style, and the characters display a distinctly identifiable design; they are rendered in such a way that makes them seem both solidly dimensional and appropriately cartoony. The story has a strong narrative continuity with a number of small details returning with dramatic importance later on, and each character has a particular arc of exploration and discovery. Full of inoffensive broad comedy, and providing a number of characters to relate to, Sidekicks is perfectly enjoyable, while still lacking the particular spark or inventiveness that would make it memorable. It should come as no surprise that Santat also created Disney's The Replacements, as this story has the tightness and pacing of a cartoon feature—-Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

School Library Journal

A veritable bonanza of capes, heroes and pets with superpowers abounds in illustrator Santat's first solo graphic novel.

Captain Amazing, the muscled hero of Metro City, is aging, and after a botched takedown of four nefarious villains, he decides he is in need of a trusty sidekick. Unbeknownst to Captain, his own pets are clamoring for the job (and for more quality time with their beloved owner). Fluffy, his hamster, has yet to discover his superpower, but this rodent has a lot of heart. Manny the cat (who has the ability to electrocute bad guys) had run away after his beloved toy Nummers went missing, but the prodigal cat returns just in time to help the Captain. Roscoe (a.k.a. Metal Mutt) has a gruff exterior but is fiercely loyal. Shifty, the newest addition to the family, is a color-changing chameleon who adds a dose of comic relief. The lovable menagerie of crime-fighting pets offers lots of laughs and a boisterous and exuberant storyline; Santat's illustrations are clear, engaging and neatly stacked into easy-to-read panels. While there is no mention of a sequel, subsequent volumes would certainly fly off the shelf faster than a speeding bullet, so here's hoping.

A vibrant volume sure to zoom, pow and swoosh its way into the hands (and hearts) of young superhero fans. Extremely entertaining. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews