Killer Underwear Invasion!

June 15, 2022
Basic principles for distinguishing facts from alternate facts. Gravel may insist that "fake news is not funny at all," but with the best will in the world she can't keep a straight face for long--and readers certainly won't either. Relying on made-up examples, Gravel explores how a doctored photo can spark widespread fears of scorpions swarming out of toilets, clickbait headlines like "Governor Marries a Turtle" can raise ad revenues for a website or spread the conviction that underwear is dangerous, and a politician's claim that an opponent pinches puppies can gain more traction through repetition than any denials, no matter how heated. Her cartoon illustrations of googly-eyed jelly beans looking panicked or greasily confident as they spread mis- or disinformation heard on "Wolf News" don't exactly underscore the seriousness of the topic either. Still, even though in pitting reason against human nature she's taken on a tall order, her insights into how fake news are fueled by a combination of fear and confirmation bias but can be countered by common sense and by careful evaluation of actual sources are spot-on. And, had she chosen to use real-world examples, at least half of her potential audience (or at least the adult voters) would have shrugged her off as just another liberal whiner. Beneath the goofiness, an earnest call for logic and better judgement. (Graphic nonfiction. 7-10)

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October 3, 2022
In a useful, funny graphic novel guidebook, Gravel (the Arlo & Pips series) offers examples of how disinformation can prove high-stakes, adversely affecting the environment, democracy, and even individuals’ health. But with vigilance, practice, and some self-awareness (“Never forget that you have confirmation biases,” Gravel writes, providing an easy-to-grasp explanation of this concept), the book shows how readers can navigate disinformation. In six chapters rendered in the creator’s signature cartoon style, a pink creature tutors a blue one—and readers—in why disinformation is so powerful and how it works, explaining that it preys upon vulnerabilities (one character becomes deathly ill after being convinced that shampoo is a cure-all and “doctors are evil”) and offers big economic rewards to those who wield it effectively (“Social media companies want people to stay on their apps because the longer you stay, the more ads you see, and the more ads you click on, the more MONEY the companies make”). A wrap-up includes 10 evaluative tips, from “Check your source” to asking “Is it fact or opinion?” Gravel employs humor and downright goofiness to make this topic feel approachable, profound, and urgent. Ages 8–12. Agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words.

September 1, 2022
Two jelly bean-shaped creatures, one blue, one pink, delve into the intricacies and duplicity behind one of the most insidious and pervasive issues of our time, and the first chapter of this middle-grade comic dives right in: "What Is Fake News?" Gravel (Arlo & Pips, rev. 1/21) does a fine job breaking down complex ideas, beginning with the definition of news ("information about important stuff that's happening in the world right now") and explaining that while disinformation is not new ("Hear ye, hear ye! An evil magician turned the king into a goat!"), the internet and other modern technologies have made it much easier to make lies look real and to intentionally spread them. The hows and whys are explored using specific, goofy fictional case studies; and people's motives (e.g., "Reason 1: To make money...Reason 2: To make money and get famous," etc.) are plainly laid out. Though the examples aren't necessarily serious, the consequences are: "So far, I have given you a bunch of silly examples of fake news," says the pink protagonist, "but fake news is not funny at all. It can actually be very dangerous." The tone is non-blame-y of consumers (but not purveyors) of fake news, with acknowledgment of the ease of being duped ("Admit it -- you'd be curious, too") and useful advice about thinking critically, examining sources, etc. Well-delineated panel illustrations featuring blobby critters and pastel colors make these thorny concepts relatively easy to get and should leave many readers feeling empowered. Elissa Gershowitz

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

December 16, 2022

Gr 3 Up-Words matter, and Gravel provides a clever and humorous take on how kids need to look at the ways information and news can be miscommunicated, mismanaged, and mixed-up. The catchy title will get students talking and laughing. Gravel breaks down the truth of what is fake news, how it is given, and why people give it. Her quirky use of words and vibrant art make the information easy to understand for kids, with a cartoonish style that will draw in younger audiences. This topic is a serious one, and it can be emotional for many readers, but Gravel delivers a difficult message in a simplistic way, with humor to help readers understand. She addresses questions like, how do we know we're reading accurate information, and how do we understand what is real and not real? She equips readers with the knowledge to become media literate so they do not misunderstand information that comes from many different points of view. She gives the facts and sticks to them honestly, without bias. VERDICT A humorous, creative take on learning how the media can generate fake news and how to decipher the real from the unreal. This informational graphic work is a must read for students and educators.-Jacquetta Etheridge

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2022
Two jelly bean-shaped creatures, one blue, one pink, delve into the intricacies and duplicity behind one of the most insidious and pervasive issues of our time, and the first chapter of this middle-grade comic dives right in: "What Is Fake News?" Gravel (Arlo & Pips, rev. 1/21) does a fine job breaking down complex ideas, beginning with the definition of news ("information about important stuff that's happening in the world right now") and explaining that while disinformation is not new ("Hear ye, hear ye! An evil magician turned the king into a goat!"), the internet and other modern technologies have made it much easier to make lies look real and to intentionally spread them. The hows and whys are explored using specific, goofy fictional case studies; and people's motives (e.g., "Reason 1: To make money... Reason 2: To make money and get famous," etc.) are plainly laid out. Though the examples aren't necessarily serious, the consequences are: "So far, I have given you a bunch of silly examples of fake news," says the pink protagonist, "but fake news is not funny at all. It can actually be very dangerous." The tone is non-blame-y of consumers (but not purveyors) of fake news, with acknowledgment of the ease of being duped ("Admit it -- you'd be curious, too") and useful advice about thinking critically, examining sources, etc. Well-delineated panel illustrations featuring blobby critters and pastel colors make these thorny concepts relatively easy to get and should leave many readers feeling empowered.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)