Guibert, Emmanuel & Sfar, Joann. Sardine in outer space.

GUIBERT, Emmanuel & SFAR, Joann. Sardine in outer space. First Second. 122p. illus. c2006. 1-5964-3127-X. $12.95. J

Sardine in Outer Space chronicles the adventures of Sardine, Little Louie and their grown-up uncle, Captain Yellow Shoulder. Zooming through the cosmos in a kidney-shaped space ship, our heroes explore new worlds and make trouble for the nefarious Supermuscleman. They picnic on the planet Ouchypoo, where the cha-cha fly makes its home. This dreaded insect's bite makes you sing bad dance tunes. They visit Zargon, a carpet-covered planet inhabited by the Zargonites, who are all carpet salesmen. And of course, they make Supermuscleman's life difficult. Supermuscleman is the most powerful man in the Universe--we know this because he wears a skintight red costume. Despite his fearsome reputation, Supermuscleman is probably the most incompetent supervillain I've seen in my life. He constantly loses to a pair of kids and a pirate.

Sardine in Outer Space is a good choice for younger teens, especially middle school readers. The lively, imaginative stories are designed for younger readers, and are as much fantasy as science fiction. The full-color art is cartoon-y and quite detailed; Sfar's aliens look like drawings by someone like Dr. Seuss or Maurice Sendak. Sardine in Outer Space contains potty humor--the cha-cha fly poops chocolate turds, and there is a reflection that shows Little Louie seemingly urinating on the planet Bubulina (where Supermuscleman makes his home). Recommended for graphic novel collections that cater to middle school readers. George Galuschak, YA Libn., Montvale PL, Montvale, NJ

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.