Blacksad: A Silent Hell (v 4), by Juan Diaz Canales, 112 pages

Blacksad: A Silent Hell (v 4), by Juan Diaz Canales, 112 pages

The Blacksad books are simply beautiful works of graphic art- Juanjo Guarnido, the illustrator, does the whole piece with watercolors- which is a challenging medium that he makes sing.  The story itself is also quite good- Blacksad is a 1950s PI so it has a noir feel, with mystery and twists and a fair amount of bittersweetness.  When Blacksad is hired to find a missing jazz pianist in New Orleans, he thinks it will be routine- but he gets swept into a mystery involving drugs, poison, corruption, and a couple of near-death experiences.  This is an outstanding comic with incredible detail- the bonus was that at the end, the author and illustrator showcase some of the preliminary sketches and explain the choices in color and techniques- a really interesting look into the "making of."

Auschwitz: A Doctor's Eyewitness Account by Dr. Miklos Nyiszli

Auschwitz: A Doctor's Eyewitness Account by Dr. Miklos Nyiszli- 222 pgs

When the Nazis rounded up the Hungarian Jews and sent them to Auschwitz, Dr. Nyiszli was one of them.  He escaped the gas chamber because he was a doctor with a background in pathology.  He worked directly under Dr. Josef Mengele, who was known as "The Angel of Death", performing "scientific research" Mengele requested on the prisoners of Auschwitz.  Nyiszli was also the doctor to the Sonderkommando.  These were prisoners who worked exclusively in the four crematoriums at Auschwitz and who were routinely executed after four months to guarantee that no information about what was happening there got out.  Dr. Nyiszli spent eight months at Auschwitz and watched thousands of people walk to their deaths in the gas chambers in the crematoriums.  He did have a happy ending, though.  He was liberated and reunited with his wife and daughter after the war was over.

This was a short read, but a sobering one.  Dr. Nyiszli tells the stories of how one Jewish girl survived the gas chamber, only to be executed later, how the people were told lies to comfort them before being gassed, that when the crematoriums were to busy to handle a new "shipment", these people were led out to a field to be shot and thrown into a pit of fire.  I can't imagine what it was like to see that on a daily basis.  This is a good book to remind yourself of the horrors the Jewish, Gypsy and other people deemed "not good enough" suffered at the hands of other men.

MSCHMITT--- Walt Disney's Planes by Ellie O'Ryan 31

MSCHMITT--- Walt Disney's Planes by Ellie O'Ryan 31

Dusty Crophopper finally makes his dreams come true of flying in the Wing Around the Globe competition when he overcomes his fear of heights with some good friends and a lot of determination.

MSCHMITT--- Lady and the Tramp by Ellie O'Ryan 31

MSCHMITT--- Lady and the Tramp by Ellie O'Ryan 31

Walt Disney's Classic tale of Lady and Tramp and the adventure that brought them together. Through trouble they find in the end that they belong together.

MSCHMITT--- Lets Paint the Garage by Melinda Melton Crow 31

MSCHMITT--- Lets Paint the Garage by Melinda Melton Crow 31

The Trucks of Wonder Wheels Garage decide their home needs a new look, so they all get to work with their cans of paint to spruce up the garage.

MSCHMITT--- Truck Parade by Melinda Melton Crow 31

MSCHMITT--- Truck Parade by Melinda Melton Crow 31

Wonder Wheels garage is getting ready for the big truck parade and Firetruck and tractor realize they need to get ready for their big day with decorations and of course…Candy!

MSCHMITT---The Long Train Ride by Melinda Melton Crow 40

MSCHMITT--- The Long Train Ride by Melinda Melton Crow 40 Train sets out on a long adventure to help his friend tractor get a new set of tires.