Flight Explorer: Volume 1    edited by Kazu Kibuishi Order:  USA  Can Villard, 2008 (2008) Softcover      Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto Flight Explorer: Volume 1 is a fun comic anthology from the editor of the Flight series, but geared towards middle-schoolers. However, these short and entertaining comics will please fans of all ages. All of the ten stories told in Flight Explorer: Volume 1 are great (and quick) reads, but my two favorites had to be the first and last ones. The opening tale, Cooper: Mushroom Crossing by Kazu Kibuishi, tells the story of a boy and his dog trying to get across a ravine of mushrooms. Cooper, the boy, thinks it would be fun to jump across the mushrooms but Fred, the dog, keeps pointing out the bridge only a little ways away. Before Fred can stop him, Cooper is bounding across the mushrooms and Fred has to follow, only to learn a lesson when he starts having too much fun. The whole thing made me chuckle aloud. The final piece in the anthology, Snow Cap: 2nd Verse by Matthew Armstong, is a cute, short tale about a girl and her pet monster, who gets a little overzealous in his affection. The entire story is told entirely through pictures, and reminds me of a Pixar short. It is one of the stories that leaves you with a smile and a warm and fuzzy feeling. While these two were my favorites, I enjoyed every single story in Flight Explorer: Volume 1. All the artists have very different styles, and this helped to make the anthology a great read. While the ten stories are all very short (I breezed through the whole anthology in under a half hour), they all make you think (and most make you laugh, too). Because of this, Flight Explorer: Volume 1 is a great choice for both reluctant readers and avid readers seeking short but thoughtful entertainment. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews