Mr. Big: A Tale of Pond Life

By Carol Dembicki and Matt Dembicki

A graphic novel for kids about the cycles of nature: “Appealing to fantasy readers . . . bring[s] to life the world of one small pond.” —Booklist

“Spring begins the cycle of life that continues night and day in the pond. Small creatures are born, and some fall prey to Mr. Big, a large common snapping turtle. The fish and frogs tire of losing friends and family to the predations of Mr. Big, so they ask the crows to get rid of him. The crayfish warn that there’s a natural order; if the crows succeed, something worse may come along to take Mr. Big’s place. Even before the crows agree to help, rumors of a giant predator fish begin to circulate. Is the fearsome fish real? Will it fight Mr. Big? Will the crows try to take over? Only Nature knows . . . a graphic novel grounded in the natural world that explains the food chain and pond ecosystems on a middle-grade level . . . With a mix of full-bleed, captioned pages and splashy graphic panels rendered in vibrant natural colors, the struggle against Mr. Big will hold attention while sneakily imparting a science lesson or two.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Themes of life, death, and balance within nature run throughout . . . a lavish portrait of a vigorous ecosystem.” —Publishers Weekly

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Sep 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781620875056

Reviews for Mr. Big

[melydia_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mr. Big is a snapping turtle that the other pond dwellers want killed in this graphic novel. They enlist the help of the crows, who have their own agenda. The ending doesn't provide much resolution, but it does present a realistic picture of pond life. I just wish I knew what kind of fish that was.

[davidscarter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Life in the pond can be cruel. It is home to many creatures: fish, crayfish, frogs, insects, even crows. But it is ruled over by Mr. Big, a giant turtle, who is inscrutable in his actions as he randomly chooses smaller creatures to devour. Some of the swamps denizens have had enough: they want to get rid of Mr. Big to stop his senseless killing; others argue that Mr. Big is part of the swamp itself and should be left alone. A plot is hatched anyway; but as things start to be set in motion, a wildcard in the form of an invasive species arrives in the pond.Mr. Big is an ecological parable, but not in a preachy manner. The Dembickis' story is produced in a realistic way. Although the animals' thought processes are anthropomorphized, they serve a dual purpose in both representing instinctual motivations and as a mirror to aspects of our own human society. The animals look like real animals, not cutesy cartoons, in art that reminds me of Michael Zulli's early Puma Blues work. There's also a great sense of place in Mr. Big, with art that makes it feel 'swampy.' Different border styles are used to differentiate between action that takes place underwater, on the surface, or in the air--a nice touch.A true all-ages book, Mr. Big will appeal to anyone with an interest in nature.Rating: 3.5 (of 5).