There Might Be a Kazoo Emergency: Ready-to-Read Graphics Level 2

by Heidi E.Y. Stemple, Selom Sunu (Illustrator)

A very prepared boy might have to break out his emergency kazoo in this zany Level 2 Ready-to-Read Graphics novel from the author of Flamingo Bingo and Toucan with Two Cans !

Gregory likes to be equipped for any situation and carries several essential items in his backpack like a feather duster, a colander, and even a kazoo! “There might be a kazoo emergency,” Gregory explains to his new friend, Lola, on their way to school. Not long after, their school bus gets into trouble! As the bus gets tangled in a rope hanging from a hot air balloon and crashes into a dinosaur, Gregory wonders if this is just the kazoo emergency he’s been waiting for!

Ready-to-Read Graphics books give readers the perfect introduction to the graphic novel format with easy-to-follow panels, speech bubbles with accessible vocabulary, and sequential storytelling that is spot-on for beginning readers. There’s even a how-to guide for reading graphic novels at the beginning of each book.

Genres: Humor, Graphic Novels

64 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2023

About the author

Heidi didn’t want to be a writer when she grew up. In fact, after she graduated from college, she became a probation officer in Florida. It wasn’t until she was 28 years old that she gave in and joined the family business, publishing her first short story in a book called Famous Writers and Their Kids Write Spooky Stories. The famous writer was her mom, author Jane Yolen. Since then, she has published 20 books and numerous short stories and poems, mostly for children.
Heidi lives and writes in Massachusetts on a big old farm with two houses.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun installment in these "ready to read graphics" series...

There Might Be a Kazoo Emergency follows a main character who keeps a variety of random items with him at all times, particularly a kazoo. In his mind, he believes that you never know when it could come in handy to save the day. This book is definitely for younger readers who enjoy graphic novels and stories that are a little chaotic. I'm not sure that I understood how we got from point a to point b in some of the situations, but it was fun. The artwork was bright, fun, and engaging and serves as a perfect entry point for younger readers who want to begin reading more graphic novels.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun to read and look at, but the story is a little too nonsensical for grownup me.

What happened with the bus in the first place to get caught in the balloon? Why is there a dinosaur? Why is no one surprised that there's a dinosaur or scared of it?

Kids will probably appreciate it and not care about the absurdity; as a friend said, it's the kind of story kids themselves tell.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“That kazoo kid is saving us!”

Gregory James is prepared. In his backpack, there’s a feather duster, a collander and a kazoo, because you never know when there might be a kazoo emergency. And lo and behold, on his way to school he needs each one of those items to help save a group of kids on a school bus.

[La Crescent Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Join Gregory James and his new friend Lola as they navigate their way to school. You never know what might happen on your way, and you never know what you might need to overcome the challenge.

A silly graphic novel story - quick read for grown-ups, perfect for early readers!

~ Emily

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read! Cute story.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

You never really DO know when there might be a kazoo emergency.

[Olie Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I also carry a kazoo incase of a kazoo emergency! Meant for very young kids. Not much plot. Random weird things happen. Cute but obviously not meant for me.

[Emily Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Join Gregory James and his new friend Lola as they navigate their way to school. You never know what might happen on your way, and you never know what you might need to overcome the challenge.

A silly graphic novel story - quick read for grown-ups, perfect for early readers!