Lights, Camera, Middle School! (Babymouse Tales from the Locker Series #1)

by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm (Illustrator)

Overview

Watch out, middle school! Babymouse graduates from graphic novels in the first of the Babymouse Tales from the Locker series—now in paperback!
 
For Babymouse, middle school is like a monster movie. You can never be sure who’s a friend and who’s an enemy, and the halls are filled with mean-girl zombies. Instead of brains, the zombies hunger for stuff—the perfect wedge sandals or the right shade of sparkly lip gloss—and they expect everyone to be just like them.
 
But Babymouse doesn’t want to fit in—she wants to stand out! So she joins the film club to write and direct a sweeping cinematic epic. Will making the film of her dreams turn into a nightmare?
 
Highly illustrated with black-and-white art throughout and a dozen or so comic pages, this is the perfect showcase for bestselling authors Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm's signature humor. Middle school may never be the same!
           

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593428290
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	03/15/2022
Series:	Babymouse Tales from the Locker Series , #1
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	402,716
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	420L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm are the brother-and-sister team behind the Eisner Award–winning Babymouse graphic novel series and the New York Times bestseller Sunny Side Up. Jennifer is the author of many acclaimed novels, including The Fourteenth Goldfish and three Newbery Honor winners: Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise. Matthew is a graphic designer and freelance writer. They are also the creators of the Squish series. To find out more, visit babymouse.com.

Editorial Reviews

"A smooth transition into a fresh format that should both resonate with existing fans and entice new ones." —Kirkus Reviews

"For fans of “Dork Diaries” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” —School Library Journal

Praise for Babymouse:
“Nobody puts Babymouse in the corner.” —The Horn Book Magazine, Starred Review of Babymouse: Queen of the World

From the Publisher

06/26/2017
The star of the Holm siblings’ Babymouse books enters middle school in this illustrated novel, first in the Babymouse Tales from the Locker series. Babymouse is determined to stand out at school, but she isn’t sure how. “Goldilocks had it way easy,” she laments, trying to choose among multiple activities. “All she had to do was find the right bed!” Deciding that the Film Club might be her “chance to be Famous,” Babymouse signs up, and her grandiose vision of making an epic film lands her the roles of director and screenwriter. A comedy of fiascoes ensues: the cast and crew walk out when Babymouse gets too bossy, they regroup to illegally film scenes at a medieval fair, and they wind up with an inaudible five-hour movie. Babymouse’s bravado and wild romps of imagination (captured in boisterous comics sequences) keep the spotlight directly on her—not that she’d have it any other way. The Holms humorously tackle friendship, persistence, and cooperation; readers who have aged out of the original Babymouse books will happily join her in this new chapter. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. (July)

Publishers Weekly

06/01/2017
Gr 3–5—The Holms, the brother/sister team behind the graphic novel series "Squish" and "Babymouse," continue Babymouse's adventures, taking her into middle school. Much like Lincoln Peirce's "Big Nate" crossover chapter books, this new series will appeal to readers looking for slightly more challenging fare. Though this title contains more text than the original "Babymouse" books, there are numerous illustrations throughout, the font is large, and the difficulty of the language is comparable to that of previous books, making it ideal for fans crossing over into longer chapter book territory. Babymouse is just as energetic as ever, but now she's dealing with middle school drama and algebra. She doesn't want to fit in anymore—she wants to stand out! Babymouse finds the perfect opportunity in film club, where she is chosen to write and direct a movie inspired by her favorite epic dramas. She realizes that it's not as easy as she thought, with a diva leading actress and no budget. Ultimately, Babymouse learns that working as a team is more important than being a star. VERDICT A first purchase where the graphic novel series is popular. For fans of "Dork Diaries" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid."—Jessica Ko, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

2017-04-17
With her trademark sassy panache, Babymouse embarks on a new adventure: middle school. Babymouse has traded in her A-line heart dress for stylish new leggings and is ready for middle school. Anxious to fit in and make friends, she worries over her clothes and her cafeteria social standing. When extracurricular activities are announced, she knows her choice is important. She decides to join the film club, and when her cinematic musings bring the club together, she is named director of their upcoming project, Au Revoir, My Locker. However, being the director is harder than Babymouse expects; when things go hilariously awry, will she be able to pull the group—and ultimately herself—back together? After 20 vivaciously pink and cheerful graphic novels, the Holms have revamped their winning franchise into a hybrid of text and prose, similar to such fan favorites as Cherise Mericle Harper's Fashion Kitty. This first in a series seamlessly blends many beloved elements from the graphic novels, including large comic panels with recognizable black-and-white illustrations, with their lively prose, making for a natural evolution for its maturing audience. Budding filmmakers will be delighted to find a glossary of film terms to help them understand the narrative's jargon. A smooth transition into a fresh format that should both resonate with existing fans and entice new ones. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12)

Kirkus Reviews