David Bruins, illustrated by Hilary Leung,
The Way of the Ninja
Kids Can Press, 2010.

Rating: G*

Ninja, cowboy and bear are three unlikely friends. They enjoy playing together, but sometimes "they did not agree on what was fun". When the cowboy suggests painting a picture, the ninja convinces him to try a more daring pursuit. Wordless spreads show the pair jumping on a bed. The fun stops for the cowboy when he takes a tumble and lands on his head. The ninja chides him for being a "poor sport". The ninja then talks the bear into climbing a tree. When the bear ends up with a beehive on his head, the ninja decides to make his own solitary fun, but soon finds that playing ping pong and see sawing solo is "not as exhilarating as usual". He realizes that "The greatest thrills and best adventures were the ones he had shared with his friends". The ninja makes amends and "the three friends had more fun than ever".

Hilary Leung's stylized illustrations are digitally enhanced cartoons that extend the text. The wordless spreads have an animé quality to them. The backgrounds have the look of a wood-grain finish which adds texture and depth to the pages. 

This quirky book will spark discussions about compromise conciliation in friendships.

Thematic Links: Compromise, Friendship, Play

Linda Ludke
Vol. 16, number 1
October 2010

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.