Buttons on the Loose (The Gingerbread Man Is Loose #1)

There’s no daring escapes, treacherous chases, or taunting from humans of any kind in this emerging reader graphic novel series by debut author Murray, which stars an upbeat Gingerbread Man dealing with a wardrobe malfunction. Baked and decorated by a racially diverse group of schoolchildren, the animated Gingerbread Man is proud to be “part of the class”: he poses happily in a group photo, and is appreciative of his humble pastry abode, jaunty pink-striped sailor hat, frosting bow tie, and two candy buttons—which have suddenly gone missing. His momentary panic turns to resolve (“But I have a plan. I can find them. I’m the Gingerbread Man!”) and, in sunny, boldly lined cartoons that move at a fast clip, Lowry (Santa Shark) portrays the confection as he comically retraces his steps throughout the school, employing the boundless energy that made him fairy tale famous. When a student offers both empathy—“You look kind of down. Why are you wearing that very sad frown?”—and two red candies from a lunchbox cookie, it’s winning times two in this breezy summation of the frustration and triumph surrounding a beloved lost object, embodied by one smart cookie who’s also cute as a button. Ages 5–7. (Jan.)