Writer/Artist: Kazu Kibuishi

Publisher: Scholastic, $12.99 SC, $21.99 HC

Collecting the numerous short Copper stories published online and in the Flight volumes, this nicely designed collection also offers up some new stories so it’s well worth checking out. Fans of Kibuishi’s work from the Amulet or Daisy Kutter will appreciate Copper for the clean beautiful art and fun storytelling, and new fans of all ages should be able to jump right in.

Copper follows the adventures of a young curious boy and his fearful dog Fred. Each story is a short (often one page) story that features the duo just traveling about, letting their imaginations run wild, and just experiencing life. The stories sort of reflect different points in Kibuishi’s life, and often read as an interesting commentary on the balance between self-doubt and embracing the freedom of chance and experiencing life. Some of the inner working of Fred’s mind can be a little sobering in their depression actually, and it’s impressive how much meaning and thought are hiding in a short and fairly innocent looking story.

I’m a big fan of all of Kibuishi’s works, so I’m a little biased in saying he’s kind of an overlooked asset to the entire industry. His scripts are fun and his art is vibrant, and his ability to make something accessible to all ages is impressive and speaks volumes about his storytelling abilities. If you are a fan of Jeff Smith’s Bone then you really do need to do yourself a favor and check out Kibuishi’s books.

If you like this then try: Flight, The Amulet, Daisy Kutter, Bone, Korgi

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