Punky Brewster

Gr 4–6—Captured by the police for breaking and entering, orphan Punky Brewster has been taken off the streets of Chicago and is now looking for a permanent home. Desperate to place Punky, the orphanage contacts her only known relative, her distant cousin Henry Warnimont. Unlike bubbly Punky, Henry is a curmudgeonly, old loner, unable to take on the task of looking after a little girl. Through a series of hijinks that scare off potential families willing to adopt Punky, Henry slowly realizes that he is the only one that can truly care for the girl. Loosely based on the 1980s sitcom, this graphic novel stays faithful to the characters of Punky and Henry, while tweaking the rest of the cast to better suit the story and update the feel. Sellner has filled the book with Punky-style quips and comical adventures, while Vamos's lively and colorful illustrations help keep the tone upbeat. Adapted from previously published comics, the plot is slim; most of the book involves Punky dodging families, while Henry contemplates adopting her. Child audiences unfamiliar with the sitcom may not feel the nostalgic pull as strongly as their parents.