• Age: 5 to 8
• Grade: k to 4

A duo of strawberry-sized sleuths cracks a case in this cute and lively picture book with graphic novel touches -- the first in the Poppy & Sam series.

It’s a beautiful day in the garden when Poppy and her panda friend, Sam, hear a commotion. Their friend Basil—who has always been known for his elegance—is in tears, because somebody nibbled his leaves last night!
Poppy puts her detective skills to work, with help from Sam, and together they set out to find the culprit. They start by interviewing the insects, but Ms. Honeybee, Madame Ladybug, and Mr. Bumblebee all have contradictory suspicions of their own. So Poppy and Sam test some creative methods to catch the vandal red-handed. After a few misadventures, they find the remorseful nibbler—and Basil helps him understand that everything tastes better when it is freely offered.
Illustrated with charming details and lots of kid appeal, this is an easy-to-read graphic novel with friendly characters and a suspenseful story line.

Montréal-based artist Cathon makes children's books and comics. After self-publishing a couple of critically acclaimed zines, she published her first professional book, La liste des choses qui existent, in 2013 -- an absurd encyclopedia co-created with established cartoonist Iris. Her first solo book, Les ennuis de Lapinette, was published in April 2015 by Comme des géants. Vampire Cousins sees her exploring moodier territories, while still retaining her uninhibited drawing style.

Alexandre Fontaine Rousseau spends most of his time writing film reviews and comic books. His first graphic novel, Pinkerton, created in collaboration with François Samson-Dunlop, was nominated for a Joe Shuster Award. His second book, Poulet grain-grain, pondered the subjects of chickens and revolution. With Vampire Cousins, he conjures up a humorous homage to old-school Hammer horror and Jean Rollin's cult vampire classics.

Cathon's profile page

• A Junior Library Guild Selection
• Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens - STARRED SELECTION
• Little Maverick Graphic Novels 2019 reading list

“The episodic narrative breaks it down into easily digestible chunks, and the large panels, clearly drawn action, and ample white space around the words make this particularly well suited to newly independent readers.”

Booklist

“Young readers will enjoy this comic-book style storybook.”

Canadian Review of Materials

“An appealing whodunit about friendship and community, great for fans of comics.”

Kirkus Reviews

"Told in comic book-style speech bubbles, Cathon’s whimsical illustrations will delight young readers."

School Library Connection

"A great choice for young readers who may not have read graphic novels before."

Resource Links

"The setting is enchanting and the resolution delightful. Children will build reading skills, and they’ll soon be asking for the next Poppy and Sam story."

School Library Journal