* Imagination reigns supreme as siblings Jinx and the Doom take on chores and play with the superhero power to make even the mundane magical. . . . With similar pacing and themes to Jacky Davis and David Soman's Ladybug Girl books, this tale offers the refreshing twist of sibling friendship that parents will applaud. Jinx and the Doom will captivate readers with their irresistible fun.--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
A high-energy read-aloud for any young fans of superheroes, sibling dynamics, and a fun take on cooperation.--School Library Journal
Cotterill's vivid images capture the way pretend play can transform even the most mundane activities into adventures waiting to happen. And with superheroes everywhere in pop culture, Mantchev offers a fun introduction to what fighting crime is all about for kids who aren't ready for the latest blockbuster action film.--Publishers Weekly
Lisa Mantchev offers a nifty solution to the problem of squabbling siblings under the auspices of an exuberant picture book, "Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime!," for 3- to 7-year-olds. Jinx is a small girl, the Doom her little brother; we read that "they used to fight each other." Fabulously fun artwork by Samantha Cotterill shows a cartoon-style explosion on a sofa, where brother and sister are biffing it out. After discovering a common cause, they decide to use their powers for good rather than evil. Now the siblings devote their energies to protecting the innocent (saving a stuffed bear from laundering) and protecting the planet (zapping a plastic dinosaur menacing a toy city). "They stop to have lunch . . . but then they get back to FIGHTING CRIME!"
For her illustrations, Ms. Cotterill creates 3-D pictures by photographing hand-drawn cut-outs in bright little tableaux. The shadows are the best part, because they reveal the children's view of events. In one scene Jinx and the Doom are chasing after their dog, who's dashing away from the bath with a rubber duck. The splashing bathwater casts a mighty wave-shaped shadow, and the dog, well, we can see from his shadow that he's actually a terrible toothy shark. Fighting crime definitely takes imagination.--The Wall Street Journal "February 17, 2018 "