K-Gr 2-Another gem from Toon. In this one, aliens Zig and Wikki set out to catch a specimen for their homework assignment. Zig is the somewhat sensible, one-eyed one and Wikki is a fearless computer-screen being. They land on planet Earth and encounter all sorts of creatures: flies, dragonflies, frogs, and raccoons. When they encounter each rarity, Wikki's computer-screen body pops up with a different science fact, effortlessly weaving educational information into the narrative. The story and pictures remain comedic and the paneling keeps the plot moving. Kids will love this one.-Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Kearns Library, UT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Aliens Zig and Wikki mistakenly land on Earth. Zig's homework assignment is to find a class pet, and there are no shortages here: they encounter a fly, dragonfly, frog, and raccoon. The text, set in lively cartoon panels, includes occasional factual asides about each animal, with the tone just right for the intended audience: "Some frogs shed their skin...and then they eat it." Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.

Can TOON Books do no wrong? Comics luminaries Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly are maintaining a consistently high quality for their line of comic-format picture books geared toward the youngest readers. The latest features Zig, a more-or-less responsible cyclopean alien, and his pal Wikki, a somewhat irresponsible computer-screen alien, as they are dispatched on a homework assignment to collect a specimen for the class zoo. And where better to pick up peculiar specimens than the planet Earth? This proves a fine opportunity to get into trouble with the old shrinking ray but also to learn all sorts of interesting information about forest denizens such as flies, dragonflies, and frogs. First-time author Spiegelman weaves the science facts into the breezy narrative cleverly and painlessly, and the art isn't weighed down with the SpongeBob aesthetic that is beginning to prevail in young-reader graphic novels but, rather, balances comedic alien figures with realistic animals to support both the educational elements and the zingy story.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2010 Booklist

While Zig (a young alien child) and Wikki (a walking computer) are out flying their spaceship, Zig gets a call from his teacher reminding him that his homework is late, again. Zig must find a pet for the class zoo, and his teacher warns him to not take Wikki with him since the two of them always get into mischief. Despite that, the two friends land on planet Earth in search of a pet. During their adventure, they learn about how the food chain operates, until Zig accidentally uses his shrink ray on Wikki instead of a raccoon. Each time they find a potential pet, Wikki's built-in computer screen flashes with a photographed image of the animal, as the book mixes appealing cartooning with informational "Wikki's Fun Facts" about animals. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved