KidsBBookin: Jaden Toussaint, The Greatest Episode 2: The Ladek Invasion

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Jaden Toussaint, The Great Episode 2: The Ladek Invasion

by Marti Dumas
Illustrated by Marie Muravski
74 pp. Plum Street Press
(Picture book; ages 5-9)
www.martidumasbooks.com

Ingenious genuiousness. Check. Clever pets. Check. Super smart friends. Check. The courage to defeat anything that comes his way. Check. 

These are the tools in a well-stocked tool box of a precociousness black boy genius. Writer Marti Dumas and illustrator Marie Muravski spin this tale of Jaden Toussaint as he uses his five-year-old spunk take on one mystery at a time.

In the second installment of the Jaden Toussaint series, this smarty pants with a super brain sets off to conquer his fear of an alien race of creepy crawlies. In crisp black and white illustrations, the story begins with Toussaint itching to wear his new winter coat. But because it's spring (the worst season in the world by his standards), the winter coat isn't the coolest option. (Ha ha. Get it?) As he goes about his days, Toussaint happens upon his older sister's comic book series, Dr. Hoooo! The comic book boasts a scary story about an alien race of many-legged Ladeks with spikes all over their bodies! (His parents warned him.) Toussaint is so frightened, he can't finish the story, but his sister comes to his rescue to make him feel brave again. Even then, Toussaint keeps any eye out for the Ladeks. The next day, he finds what looks to be Ladeks invading his school's playground. (Or are they caterpillars?) With the help of his friends, family, and community, Toussaint researches to find out more about the creatures taking over his home turf! 

With great wit, succinct prose, and an arc full of wonder, teamwork, and respect for the environment, Jaden Toussaint, The Greatest Episode 2: The Ladek Invasion is a kid-friendly noir that will keep your children' eyes glued to the page (and not the television!). Muravski's black and white illustrations bolsters the narrative, allowing for the prose and the images to work together rather than clamor for attention. This installment is wonderful a testament to child-like imagination and the power of great storytelling.