| Title | : | Zig and Wikki in The Cow: Toon Books Level 3 |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1935179152 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781935179153 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 40 |
| Publication | : | First published February 14, 2012 |
When alien pals Zig and Wikki lose their spaceship on Earth, their friendship is definitely in trouble. In order to get home, they must travel underground and through a cow, picking up fun facts about ecology (and picking fights) along the way. Nadja Spiegelman and Trade Loeffler's funny science-based easy-reader is packed with fast-paced adventure and facts about poop: what more could a young reader want?
Zig and Wikki in The Cow: Toon Books Level 3 Reviews
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Zig and Wikki are back in an all new adventure! Zig’s pet fly (he brought a fly home from Earth on their last adventure) isn’t feeling really well. So, Zig convinces Wikki to come back to Earth to make the fly feel better in case it is homesick. They crash on Earth and Wikki lets the fly go without Zig’s permission. Zig sets out to find his fly but he and Wikki soon realize that their ship has been eaten by a cow and they need to get it back to get home!
The Zig and Wikki books have a comic-book format (because they’re comic books) and every now and then a fact box (Wikki’s information screen) will pop up. This is a hilarious way to teach kids about cows and how they eat, the ecosystem, dung beetles and what they do in the ecosystem, what flies do in the ecosystem, and how to get eaten by a cow (not recommended )! I WILL recommend this book to kids 7+, though! The illustrations and comic-book format make a book most kids will like and/or love! This is part of the Toon Books Easy-To-Read Comics series. It’s a reading program to try to get kids into reading! The books are divided into 3 reading levels (Zig and Wikki are a reading level three). -
If you’ve ever poked a cow pie with a stick, you are ready for Zig and Wikki in The Cow. This Toon book by Nadja Spiegelman and Trade Loeffler, is a perfect way to discover what is in that cow pie and how it is connected to a much larger world. The comic begins with Zig and Wikki in their space craft along with Zig’s lonely pet fly. As they speculate about the fly’s problem, Wikki (a walking, talking computer screen), offers up an information screen that directs the friends to a farm back on earth. As the adventure continues, with lots of amusing parrying between Zig and Wikki, the screen reappears every few pages to reveal a series of scientific facts which explain the connection among the flies, the cows, the dung beetles, the grass. The screens are written in a small font, all in caps, enhanced with photos or diagrams, and are clearly meant to be read by an adult while the advanced beginner reader can handle the lively dialogue between Zig and Wikki. Reading suggestions for parents and teachers and a page of additional facts about cows can be found at the end of this lively and amusing science adventure.
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This is the second Zig and Wikki book, featuring two little aliens who find their way to Earth. In this book, the two friends lose their spaceship when they return Zig’s pet fly its native habitat. On the way, the two discover that flies eat poop, that dung beetles use it as well, and that cows have multiple stomachs. It’s all a matter of learning things up close and personal, right down to being swallowed by a cow. This humorous mashup of scientific fact, alien appeal, and comic format makes for an engaging read for young readers.
Read the rest of my review on my blog,
Waking Brain Cells. -
Two aliens come to Earth because Zig's pet fly is sick. Once the fly leaves the space craft, Zig tries to find him again while Wikki just wants to head back home. As they wander around the pasture, they end up in the stomachs of a cow who also swallowed their space craft. Wikki's screen is used to show facts and figures of a cow's digestive system, a dung beetle, how flies act as decomposers and what microorganisms do. This simple graphic novel, another Toon book, blends a short narrative with gross but intriguing facts sure to appeal to many male readers and curious females.
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I'm quickly falling in love with all of the Toon Books. They are perfect for kids who think they don't like to read, and they are hilarious for those of us who already like to read. This one was similar to the first one with aliens Zig and Wikki trying to look for their spaceship and trying to figure out planet earth. I also love how they incorporate facts into the book. You actually learn something while you’re reading it without realizing it.
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I just read this book outloud to my son and his friend. I love the science highlights and how it's explained that species are interdependent. It's the first time I've seen a kid's book mention the energy cycle. The kids loved it.
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Super cute early reader graphic novel.
I booktalked this to local elementary school kids in Spring 2014.
Good combo of zany sci-fi with nonfiction content. -
Graphic Novel
"Zig and Wikki in The Cow"
By: Nadja Spiegelman
Copyright: 2012
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Target Audience: Primary
Zig and Wikki in The Cow is a graphic novel about the earth's ecosystem. Zig notices that his pet fly has become depressed. Wikki tells him it's because he needs to be back on earth and not in space. Once they arrive on Earth and the fly is let out they quickly lose him. This story is about the adventures they encounter on the quest to find the fly and also their missing space ship. Along the way they learn the circle of life and how everything is dependent on something to survive.
Making Connections
Text-to-self
I thought this graphic novel was fun. It reminded me of when I was in early elementary school and spent every waking moment outside, exploring everything. The younger me would have probably thought this book was pretty cool, even though the poop part would have grossed me out. It also reminded me of my daughter Amelia and her pre-school class. They had a "pet" fly in the fall that always buzzed around. Fred the fly. So every fly that came in the house or was stuck in the car had a name and was not allowed to be squashed or let out.
Text-to-Text
Dirtmeister's Nitty Gritty Planet Earth: All About Rocks, Minerals, Fossils, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, & Even Dirt! (National Geographic Kids): This books would be a great non-fiction twin text to go with Zig and Wikki in the Cow. They both give the reader an insight into the workings of the world.
Text-To-World
This book reminded me of a farm. It would be great to read before or after a farm field trip to show students how cows work and the role they play with other aspects of their environment. -
Reason for Reading: Ds read aloud to me as his reader.
I love the Toon Books! I've read every one since they first came out but with this newest batch I've cut back to the Level 3s only as my son has outgrown the first two levels. Zig and Wikki are wonderful here and I love this book even more than their first appearance. This book was a little challenging for him to read but he enjoyed it so much that didn't bother him. He mostly reads in a monotone, or worse in a strange fake voice, but he was actually using expression reading Wikki's parts when he became frustrated with Zig. I could feel his anticipation as these funny parts of the story came up. He is a science-minded boy, so the themes presented interested him and of course you can always entertain a boy with poop! Though he did enjoy the part where they were actually in the cow the most. A great read and I think this series is going to appeal to a wide range of ages since it can easily be read aloud to younger children and the science-based presentations are funny and mature enough for upper elementary kids. Can't wait for the next Zig and Wikki book! -
This is a strange, but entertaining book about tiny aliens exploring Earth. The graphic novel format is fun and our girls were excited to choose one of the characters and read the dialogue aloud together. I got to make some of the noises and read the short blurbs of factual information. The jokes are silly, but I liked the addition of science to the story. We enjoyed reading this book together and I will look for
Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework at our local library.
I checked out
http://www.toonbooks.com to see what other books were available in the series. I think we'll have to look for
The Shark King and
Otto's Orange Day
Otto's Orange Day at the library, too. -
As Zig and his computer buddy Wikki zoom toward their home planet after our last encounter with them (Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework, TOON, 2010), they realize that something is wrong with Zig’s new pet fly. Zig thinks maybe he’s homesick, but Wikki realizes that the fly might need to live in his natural habitat on Earth. Interspersing science facts with humor, Spiegelman and Loeffler pull in new readers with gross details (cow patties!) and interesting animals (dug beetles!). The pacing keeps the story moving nicely from alien spaceship to the farm ecosystem, from cow patties to the inside of the cow’s digestive track. The clear lettering, simple panel progression and straightforward dialog make this successfully targeted for level 3 beginner readers. The factual pieces are clearly written but strive to communicate complex processes, perhaps leading some beginning readers to skip over those sections as they enjoy the humor of the story. Overall, this is a strong addition to the developing cross-over genre of comic books specifically designed for beginning readers.
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Age Range: 6-8
School age alien Zig, and his testy robot companion, Wikki, return to Earth in a misadventure that involves squabbling, dramatic action and scientific information. The pet fly that Zig captured on Earth for a homework assignment, is ailing and the duo are on a quest to help. When information is needed, Wikki’s screen lights up and facts and photographs are supplied. They explore a farm ecosystem that involves cows, grass, poop, flies and dung beetles. The diminutive size of Zig and Wikki creates dramatic tension as they gaze on giant cow patties and ride the regurgitative roller coaster of a ruminant. Loeffler’s illustrations avoid blaring hues. Her various sized panels, and the interspersed ovals containing facts and photographs, keep the story moving with appealing, bite-sized, readable chunks.
Similar Books: Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework by Loeffler, Benny and Penny by Hayes, Frog and Toad by Lobel
Themes: Ecosystem, Recycling, Friendship
Series: #2 of a continuing series. -
Genre-bending to the max, this book tells the story of tiny aliens who have taken a fly away from the Earth. When he gets sick, they decide to bring it back to its home environment, which is near a cow on a farm. Wikki the alien has a screen that displays information about whatever they are discussing, such as cow digestion. This information and accompanying photograph is highlighted, so kids can learn facts as well as read the story. I actually learned something too--cows have no upper teeth!
This series will likely appeal to fans of graphic novels and the nonfiction element is a nice addition. -
Graphic "novel" about two aliens, Zig and Wikki, and their quest to get Zig's pet fly back home to earth. Interesting way to explain the digestive system of cows and their poop. How many other things get the immediate attention of kids, huh?
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2.5 stars, for I liked this storyline better than
Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework. This time, a cow eats Zig and Wikki's spaceship, and they need to figure out how to retrieve it. This is a fine way to introduce children to the glorious world of graphic novels! -
A Toon Book, the pair of silly alien friends find themselves trying to save their ship which has been eaten by a cow. Insets with factual info about cows (body parts, digestion process, etc) are simple but interesting and contain diagrams, other non-fiction formats.
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Picture book done in graphic novel style about some aliens and ones love of a fly.
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In this second Zig and Wikki comic, the alien duo travels to Earth and learns about cows.
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Two words: cow poop.
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Zig and Wikki are on an adventure to Earth. Along the way they learn about ecosystems, cows, cow poop, flies, and Dung Beetles.
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I didn't know cows can stick their tongues into their noses!
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The title says "in the Cow" and they really were!
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Zig and Wikki travel to earth and learn about cows, dung beetles, and other things that make up an ecosystem.
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Very informative while still fun!
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Be prepared to step in a little doo-doo as you join Zig and Wikki in their second humorous adventure.
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The author uses a graphic novel format and humor to teach readers about the food chain and ecosystems.
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Cute and definitely a winner with the under-8 age groups.
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Graphic Novel. I loved this book! I think that it is a great instructional book that teaches about the ecosystem in such a creative way.
