<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Akiko zooms into all-out action!
Review: Akiko on the Planet Smoo is a wonderful story about a ten year old girl who is asked to lead a mission to rescue a prince who just happens to be from another planet. The problem is that Akiko doesn't want to be a leader. She is content just to be on the sidelines. The main characters who make up Akiko's rescue team are very colorful and somewhat eccentric. Spuckler is the swashbuckling, take action type. Mr. Beeba is the scholarly, but very cautious one. Gax is Spuckler's loyal rusty robot. And Poog is the mysterious, floating ball with big eyes. The story has Jaggasaurs that make Godzilla look wimpy, giant robots that outshine those in Star Wars, huge flying pirate ships, and heart-stopping action that will leave you breathless! The author and artist, Mark Crilley, does a wonderful job of fleshing out the characters without slowing down all the action. His illustrations throughout the book are simply amazing. Underneath all the action and adventure, Akiko on the Planet Smoo is really about a ten year old girl who discovers the true potential that is inside us all. A little bit of the Wizard of Oz and a touch of Star Wars make Akiko an exciting read for children and adults. I give this book my highest recommendation!
Rating:
Summary: A lot of fun to read! :)
Review: I borrowed this book from my little brother, not really knowing what to expect. I was really surprised. Despite it's major potential for being the world's cheesiest book series, the Akiko books are really funny and the characters are all fun to read about. My favorite is Poog (the mysterious, purple, and perpetually-floating spherical alien). This book tells the story of the fourth grader Akiko being whisked off to a strange planet to rescue the Prince Froptoppit from his evil captor, Alia Rellapor while accompanied by her new friends Spuckler, Gax, Poog, and Mr. Beeba. Believe me, it's not as corny as it sounds. Akiko On the Planet Smoo would be a great book to read to a 2nd or 3rd grade class. I also highly recommend the Akiko comic books.
Rating:
Summary: Action Packed!
Review: I read Akiko on the Planet Smoo in one day. I couldn't put it down, and I went right down to my bookstore and bought the next one when I was done. There was one part when Spuckler was driving a space ship and all the characters got caught in a pirate's net that was hanging from their ship in the sky over the ocean. I liked when Spuckler made the big dinosaur-like Jaggasaur run into a wall. I think the whole series is great and I hope Mark Crilley keeps coming out with them 'till I'm dead.
Rating:
Summary: A Favorite of 4th Graders!
Review: I'm a recent convert to the Akiko comic book, and I decided to check out the children's books, as well. I found this book to be every bit as entertaining as the comic, and I think it would be a great way to get younger children interested in reading. The writing and art is great fun, and the book is a very attractive package for a relatively low price. Great for children, or adults who never grew up, like me.
Rating: 
Summary: An all-ages pleaser
Review: Mark Crilley's _Akiko on the Planet Smoo_ is one of those rare gems that both children and adults can enjoy. The story chronicles the adventures of fourth-grader Akiko, as she journeys to the far-off planet Smoo to rescue a missing prince. The strength of the book lies in Crilley's portrayal of the main and supporting characters. Each one has a specific and different motivation and perspective, but they surprisingly complement each other well, from bookish Mr. Beeba, to swashbuckling Spuckler; from the mysterious Poog to the robot Gax; and especially little Akiko's relationship to them all. The author does a good job making this text accessible to younger readers as well as veterans of fantasy fiction. Seeing the story through the eyes of Akiko helps the reader to identify with her situation, and with her important mission. Be aware, though, that the book is only the first part in a much larger story arc. If you enjoy the fantasy storytelling stylings of JK Rowling's _Harry Potter_ series, you should find _Akiko on the Planet Smoo_ a delightful excursion, as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book to Read Aloud
Review: My 5 year old daughter and I love to read these books together. The chapters are short, the story is silly fun, and it's quite easy to get into character (if you want to add that element of different voices to your story). All in all we're both happily hooked on Akiko!
Rating:
Summary: We loved it!
Review: My Daughters and I love this book! It has been our bedtime story (2 chapters a night) and we just finished the first one. I'm going to go ahead and order the rest of the books in the series. My 6 year old can't wait for bedtime so we could read more about Akiko and her friends. It's a perfect mix of sillyness and adventure. The characters are lovable without being syrupy-sweet.
Rating:
Summary: Book club review
Review: This book was used for my Mother-Daughter book club. All the girls, age 9, thought the book was spectacular. I enjoyed the concept that Akiko was a girl on a quest to rescue the prince, as opposed to other stories where the girl is the princess waiting to be rescued. I did find that we were a little light on character topics for the girls to relate to in real life, but it was a fun a little book for them to read.
<< 1 >>
| 
