Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime!

by Lisa Mantchev, Samantha Cotterill (Illustrator)

Overview

“An exuberant picture book...Fabulously fun artwork...Fighting crime definitely takes imagination.” —The Wall Street Journal

“This tale offers the refreshing twist of sibling friendship that parents will applaud. Jinx and the Doom will captivate readers with their irresistible fun.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Jinx and her little brother, the Doom, are pretty typical kids—except when they turn into superheroes and fight crime—in this relatable celebration of siblings and imagination by the author of Strictly No Elephants.

A typical day for Jinx and the Doom looks like this: wake up, eat breakfast, brush teeth—then FIGHT CRIME! These rambunctious kids used to fight each other, until one day they realized that they could use their powers for good instead of evil. So now they protect the planet! Defend the innocent! And then stop to have lunch.

Bright cut-paper, comic book–style illustrations highlight the power of imagination and the joy of having a sibling to play with.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481467018
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	02/13/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lisa Mantchev is the author of many picture books, including the internationally acclaimed Strictly No Elephants, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo; Remarkables, illustrated by David Litchfield; and Someday, Narwhal, illustrated by Hyewon Yum. Lisa lives on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. Learn more at LisaMantchev.com.

Samantha Cotterill has written and illustrated many popular books for children, including the Little Senses series, Thankful and Heartfelt by Elaine Vickers, A Grand Day by Jean Reidy, Look by Gabi Snyder, Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime! by Lisa Mantchev, and Just Add Glitter by Angela DiTerlizzi, which The New York Times called “a sparkle of genius.” Samantha lives with her family in upstate New York. Learn more at SamanthaCotterill.com.

Editorial Reviews

11/27/2017
They defend the innocent—from a washing machine turned monster. They protect the planet—from a Godzilla-like creature menacing a toy city. And then they stop to have lunch. It’s all in a day’s work for two siblings in this imagination-fueled superhero story. Mantchev (Someday, Narwhal) even gives her heroes an origin story: Jinx and her brother, the Doom, “used to fight each other. But then they realized they could use their powers for good and not evil.” Cotterill (No More Bows!) embraces a comic-book aesthetic in hip dioramas featuring paper-cut characters and dramatic shadowing; during a mission from headquarters (aka Mom) to wash the pet dog, the canine casts a fierce shark shadow as it runs away from the tub. Cotterill’s vivid images capture the way pretend play can transform even the most mundane activities into adventures waiting to happen. And with superheroes everywhere in pop culture, Mantchev offers a fun introduction to what fighting crime is all about for kids who aren’t ready for the latest blockbuster action film. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Lisa Mantchev offers a nifty solution to the problem of squabbling siblings under the auspices of an exuberant picture book, “Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime!," for 3- to 7-year-olds. Jinx is a small girl, the Doom her little brother; we read that “they used to fight each other.” Fabulously fun artwork by Samantha Cotterill shows a cartoon-style explosion on a sofa, where brother and sister are biffing it out. After discovering a common cause, they decide to use their powers for good rather than evil. Now the siblings devote their energies to protecting the innocent (saving a stuffed bear from laundering) and protecting the planet (zapping a plastic dinosaur menacing a toy city). “They stop to have lunch . . . but then they get back to FIGHTING CRIME!”

For her illustrations, Ms. Cotterill creates 3-D pictures by photographing hand-drawn cut-outs in bright little tableaux. The shadows are the best part, because they reveal the children’s view of events. In one scene Jinx and the Doom are chasing after their dog, who’s dashing away from the bath with a rubber duck. The splashing bathwater casts a mighty wave-shaped shadow, and the dog, well, we can see from his shadow that he’s actually a terrible toothy shark. Fighting crime definitely takes imagination.

February 17, 2018 - The Wall Street Journal

12/01/2017
PreS-Gr 1—Jinx and her little brother, the Doom, let their imaginations run wild as they unite to fight crime and injustice. The siblings used to fight each other, but now they have learned that cooperation makes imaginative play and saving the world a lot more fun. A stuffed animal's shadow, block towers, and chalk drawings become evil to be defeated. A dirty dog in need of a bath becomes a mission to be conquered. Jinx is a bespectacled, pigtailed girl in a dress, boots, and a cape. The Doom sports a mop of blond hair and a black mask with his cape. The expressive and engaging illustrations are a combination of drawing, cut paper, and digital coloring. VERDICT A high-energy read-aloud for any young fans of superheroes, sibling dynamics, and a fun take on cooperation.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

School Library Journal

★ 2017-10-28
Imagination reigns supreme as siblings Jinx and the Doom take on chores and play with the superhero power to make even the mundane magical. Bespectacled Jinx and her little brother, the Doom, both blond, white children, fight crime. Former adversaries but now allies, the two "use their powers for GOOD" instead of on each other. No shadow monster stands a chance when the caped crusaders are near; and together—by scooter, trike, or cardboard box—they persevere to tackle any mission from headquarters (mom) as a team. Hand-drawn paper cutouts, with digital coloring and collage, are playful and appealing. Done in a warm palette, the compositions contain movement and spontaneity. The artist's simplified characters are expressive and charming, and the use of patterns and half tones creates texture while recalling newsprint comics. But Cotterill's talent is most fully realized toward the end, as the children slumber, hero masks still on, dreaming of the next day's adventures. Here, in full, three-dimensional glory, her process of discovery finds resolution, the artwork timeless in its appeal. With similar pacing and themes to Jacky Davis and David Soman's Ladybug Girl books, this tale offers the refreshing twist of sibling friendship that caregivers will applaud. Jinx and the Doom will captivate readers with their irresistible fun. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews