Comics and Cookies: Leon the Extraordinary

IOWA CITY — Each month, the Iowa City Public Library’s will feature a comic or graphic novel for kids, suggest a sweet treat pairing, include a game or activity, and ask a couple discussion questions about the book.

In Leon the Extraordinary by Jamar Nicholas, Leon is just an ordinary kid who lives in a city where superheroes and supervillains are common. Leon’s classmates are suddenly obsessed with an app that turns them into zombies. Without any superpowers himself, how will Leon save his classmates?

Pairs well with: Cherry Thumbprint Cookies. A light summery cookie that also hearkens back to Leon's need to use his brains and his heart to save the day! These cookies are made from a simple sugar cookie dough but feature a heart on top made of jam.

Discuss

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

How can we still be heroes even if we don't have superpowers?

Many of the kids at Leon's school don't understand him or think the things he likes are weird. Are there things you like that other people don't understand?

Leon's mom says his superpower is "common sense." What do you think that means?

Try

This "Imagination Aquarium" Activity comes straight from the book's author, Jamar Nicholas:

Take a piece of paper. Fold it in half. On one side, at the top, write JOB. On the other side, write THING. Now fill up the columns with silly, interesting examples of jobs and things! Ask your friends and family to contribute, too. Write whatever comes to mind!

When you've filled up your paper, find wacky or funny match-ups to create new, fun characters like "Librarian Bird" or "Gym Teacher Lemonade." Take your favorite combo and design a character around it, make a drawing and write a comic strip!