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Aaron Renier
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Spiral-Bound Paperback – September 13, 2005

by Aaron Renier (Author, Artist)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 13 ratings
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  1. Will Eisner Comic Industry AwardsWinner, 2006
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  • With an ensemble cast straight from a box of Animal Crackers, this is a delightful tale of ambition, morality, and self-discovery drawn in a decidedly beautiful fashion reminiscent of Richard Scary and Lewis Trondheim, yet utterly unique. Renier's fully-realized and compellingly adventurous narrative is at once both achingly naive and profoundly worldly. A remarkable debut, this tightly crafted novella is the real deal, and will charm your socks off.
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  1. Part of Series
    Spiral-Bound
  2. Print length
    144 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Top Shelf Productions
  5. Publication date
    September 13, 2005
  6. Reading age
    13 - 16 years
  7. Dimensions
    7.3 x 0.7 x 9.6 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    1891830503
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1891830501
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. In this graphic novel about the young animal characters who live in the Town, Turnip the elephant is using the summer to find his artistic voice through sculpture, his friend Stucky the dog is building a submarine, and Ana the rabbit is working on the town's underground newspaper. Their stories all wind around the town's deep, dark secret about the monster that lives in the pond. Kids who enjoyed novels such as Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy and Roald Dahl's Matilda will find a similar sense of adventure here. The characters seem like real children, wholesome without being too sweet, and Renier's art is light and fun, a sort of Babar meets underground comix. Readers older and younger than the target audience will enjoy this, too. Tina Coleman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Top Shelf Productions (September 13, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1891830503
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1891830501
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 16 years
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.02 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.3 x 0.7 x 9.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

About the author

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Aaron Renier

Aaron Renier

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AARON RENIER is the author of three graphic novels for younger readers; Spiral-Bound, Walker Bean, and Walker Bean and the Knights of the Waxing Moon. He is the recipient of the Eisner award in 2006 for talent deserving of wider recognition, and was an inaugural resident for the Sendak Fellowship in 2010. He teaches drawing and comics at universities in Chicago.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
13 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Gregory A. Huneryager
    5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging all ages book.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This is a fun hilarious story. It does have one bit where it "jumps the shark" with a bit that I think even a little kid will think, 'that wouldn't work.' Regardless of that it's a great well drawn story. I think kids will like and if you're an adult fan of comics like Sugar and Spike or old Plastic Man comics I think you'll like it to.
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  • emergencystoppingonly
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books ever made
    Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2009
    The kind of cartoon books I love are the kind that take you so far into a fantasy world that you get lost in it, and regardless of how impossible it seems to have talking animals you get swept up in their lives anyway. That kind of magic happens once in a blue moon for me in books like Jeff Smith's Bone and some Disney stuff. Spiral Bound is one of those books. Not only is it beautifully drawn (and I am very very very particular and critical about how funny animal cartoons should look like if you are going to be original about your design), but wonderfully played out. The characters are so lovable, too.
    This is one of those books that is great for kids or adults, like a Pixar movie. No cartoonist should be without this book to learn from and be inspired by.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Chris Schweizer
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Childrens' graphic novels of all time
    Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2008
    Spiral-Bound is one of those rarest of birds, a book that is truly engaging to both children AND adults - either group could be positive that the book was written for them, and simply HAPPENED to be accessible to the other demographic.

    The characters are very true-to-life, with each one demonstrating the best and worst that a particular dominant personality trait can exhibit - a desire for the truth, for example, can lead one to be bold and courageous and inventive, but it can also cause one to overlook the feelings and concerns of others in the attempt to find and expose that truth. Children can learn a great deal from the wonderfully nuanced characters and plot, and adults can enjoy an engaging and whimsical story that winds as much as the underground press tunnels featured in these pages.

    I'd say that this is easily among, if not the best, children's graphic novels ever created.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Silly Billy
    2.0 out of 5 stars Confusing
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2016
    I had to stop reading this less than halfway through. The artwork is ADORABLE. The animals are so cute and every panel was incredibly detailed. But I could not follow the story for the life of me. It kept jumping around and yet nothing really happened. The only reason I'm giving it two stars instead of one is because of the art.

    As a middle school teacher, I like recommending graphic novels to struggling or reluctant readers. Unfortunately, I can see me students trying to read this and just getting frustrated and confused.

    I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Magda Zmijan
    3.0 out of 5 stars For a start I'd like to mention that the publisher did not provide me ...
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2016
    For a start I'd like to mention that the publisher did not provide me with the full book, I received about a half of it. Unfortunately, it wasn't mentioned in the description on Netgalley since I tend to avoid partial reads. You can't really get a full image from simply glancing at it. But, on the other hand, I wasn't really much into the story anyway. It only just started to be interesting when the sample ended and I was left hanging.

    This story is designed for kids and yet I have a feeling a kid would get lost here and quickly get bored. Characters are fun, but a bit chaotic. You don't really know what's going on most of the time. Until, finally, you're getting some explanation, some hint of a character's destination, what they need to do and who will be actually doing it.

    The book does look like fun it certainly has a potential. I did like the variety of character portrayed as animals. All of them walking, flying and driving in big aquariums around the town. I liked that part.

    With a story like this book could really use some colors. Especially with the audience, it was intended. The simple black and white drawings were nicely done, but I still wished for some colors at least in some places. Or maybe some textures here and there.

    To sum it up, the novel seems fine and a good ending might add a point or two, but, for now, I can only tell you I did not enjoy it much.
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  • Wayne A McCoy
    4.0 out of 5 stars A pretty adorable adventure with really fun art
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2015
    'Spiral-Bound: Top Secret Summer' by Aaron Renier follows around an adorable cast of animal characters as they follow different pursuits.

    In a town full of all kinds of animals (including whales that roll around in giant aquariums), we meet a series of younger animals that are looking for things to do for the summer. Little elephant Turnip wants to go to art school to create a sculpture based on Viola, the girl he's got a crush on. His friend Stucky, a dog, wants to finish up a submarine he's making. A little bunny named Carrot Flower may have a chance to join and underground newspaper. There are also concerts and town conspiracies.

    The story was a bit confusing at times, but the black and white drawings are what kept me turning the pages. Every frame is filled with details, and the animals that inhabit the pages are cute beyond measure. It's a perfectly appropriate graphic novel for kids, and I enjoyed it.

    I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Top Shelf Productions, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
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