October 10, 2016
The Genesis story of Joseph is tailor-made for a graphic novel: it’s full of narrative twists and intense family dynamics, and its hero not only has prophetic powers, but also rises from patriarch’s
pet to grand vizier and hero of Egypt. Newcomer Laff casts Joseph’s family as rabbits (the siblings’ clonelike resemblance to one another is especially eerie when they turn against their brother) while the Egyptians are, of course, cats. Anyone looking for psychological nuance or exegeses will be disappointed: Laff takes her source material at face value. Joseph is portrayed as sympathetic from the get-go and emotionally justified in his treatment of his desperate family when they come to Egypt in search of food. However, Laff expertly capitalizes on the take-no-prisoners narrative momentum of biblical tales. She doesn’t shy away from the story’s bleakest moments (in one harrowing sequence, a tearful Joseph curls into a fetal position on a bed of straw in a dark Egyptian prison), and she gives every composition a cinematic sense of character and spectacle. Ages 5–9.
July 15, 2016
The Old Testament story of Joseph, the brother sold into slavery who becomes the pharaoh's grand vizier, is interpreted in graphic-novel format. Laff retains the familiar elements of the tale, laying them out in graphic panels. Joseph has special dreams and also becomes an interpreter of dreams. All his brothers are jealous of Joseph, Jacob's favorite son, leading to his sale to some Ishmaelite traders. He is taken to Egypt, where he becomes useful in a wealthy merchant's household but is compromised by the merchant's wife and sent to prison. After nine years, Joseph interprets the dreams of the imprisoned butler and baker of the pharaoh. The lucky butler is released and tells the pharaoh of Joseph when the ruler has his own dreams that need interpretation. Joseph becomes the pharaoh's top adviser, saving Egypt from famine. In her brightly colored, detailed panels Laff depicts her humans as anthropomorphic animals: the Canaanites, or Hebrews, are rabbits, the Ishmaelite traders are dogs, and the Egyptians are cats. They wear appropriate clothing, and the Egyptian details and backgrounds are particularly elaborate. Joseph's well-known coat has rainbows, clouds, stars, and fur trimming; it looks an awful lot like a wizard's cloak, but it is eye-catching, especially in a dark double-page spread, set in Joseph's cell, when he is dreaming of the sun, moon, and stars. A lively version of a biblical story of wisdom, wits, treachery, and repentance. (Graphic fiction/religion. 8-11)
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January 1, 2017
Gr 1-4-The biblical story of Joseph is recast as a graphic novel populated by anthropomorphic animals. The tale has been somewhat condensed and the violence and sex glossed over, but the essence of the story comes through. Joseph, his father's favorite son, is an interpreter of dreams. His older brothers resent him and sell him into slavery in Egypt, where he undergoes hardship but ultimately becomes a powerful man. When his brothers come from Canaan to Egypt seeking food during famine, Joseph tests them and finds them changed, leading to a happy reunion for the whole family. The text offers themes of betrayal and forgiveness, the complications of family dynamics, and the desire to belong. Laff's colorful layout gives the ancient story a modern feel and offers a good scope for the visual nature of the tale with its many settings and characters. The Hebrews (rabbits), traders (dogs), and Egyptians (cats) add a playful touch. The panels are small and busy, better for individual readers than for group presentation. The format will appeal to children. VERDICT Jewish and Christian libraries will want to add this title to their collections.-Heidi Rabinowitz, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 15, 2016
Grades 2-4 This comic-book adaptation of the story of Joseph presents the Bible tale in a softened, kid-friendly format. Joseph, a rabbit, is far and away Jacob's favorite son, and his vivid dreams seem to mean he'll be a ruler someday, much to the consternation of his 10 older brothers. When he receives his iconic colorful coat, it's the last straw for his jealous brothers, who sell him to a passing merchant en route to Egypt. Though he experiences plenty of strife there, Joseph gradually gains a reputation for being an expert dream interpreter, and soon he's adviser to the pharaoh himself. Laff emphasizes Joseph's perseverance and humility in the face of misfortune, which could make this story from Genesis more accessible to wider readership. The cartoonish artwork, featuring all-animal characters and gentle, rich colors, gives it even more kid appeal. Kids learning Bible stories will appreciate this inviting, easy-to-read volume.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)