EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a review from the perspective of a child regarding the new book, “The Return of the Dapper Men” by Jim McCann, and illustrated by Janet Lee. The story is a fairy tale in a world between time that had forgotten its past, and only had the present – with parentless children living in a play land below ground and robots constantly building above, both forgetting why they continue to do so. It tells the tale of a boy and robot girl who are each unique, and the adventure they have when 314 Dapper Men rain down from the sky to set things right. ~Doctor Q

By: Emilie P. Bush

Eleanor is 5. Eleanor thinks this book is awesome.

Emilie: Eleanor, have you ever read a book like this before?

Eleanor: No

Emilie: How is it different?

Eleanor: It has more pages. I’ve never seen pages like this before.

Emilie: What’s this book about?

Eleanor: Robots and kids.

Emilie: And what about the kids?

Eleanor: The kids play under and the robots stay up.

Emilie: What did you think of the pictures?

Eleanor: I think they are awesome.

Emilie: Which is your favorite?

Eleanor: The robot bird and the real bird. They look so pretty. Their wings are taped together. They’re friends.

Emilie: Did you think this was a book about growing up?

Eleanor: Yes.

Emilie: How do you feel about growing up?

Eleanor: I want to grow up. And be a fire fighter.

Emilie: Do you think it is hard to grow up if there are not parents?

Eleanor: Yes, but they do have houses… Can you read it again? The tick tock clang…

(and that’s where I lost her – she went leafing through the book again and I was totally forgotten for about 10 minutes.)

Eleanor is five. She has a limited ability to understand time, she’s never seen a comic book before and she can’t read. I sat with her and read The Return of the Dapper Men aloud over the course of two nights as a bedtime story. She bugged me the second night to get reading on the book. Over the course of the two weeks we had the book; she looked through it several times, and made clock noises. I think this is a book that she will continue to enjoy as her understanding grows, but the meaning and beauty of the book is not lost on her. It’s a wonderful children’s steampunk book. 

EDITOR’S AFTERWORD: As a comic book fan, I also read the book and I can say that it is truly one to pick up, regardless of age. The colorful art and allegorical story are a delight. The book is now available in wide release from Archaia Entertainment.  You can also pre-order it on Amazon.com, which will be available in December but you can find copies now if you inquire at your local bookstore.  I cannot endorse it enough.  ~Q

Reviewer Emilie P. Bushis a broadcast journalist, and author of the Steampunk novel Chenda and the Airship Brofman.