Library Journal Review

At 41 volumes and counting--29 in English so far--ninja-in-training Naruto just keeps riding the best sellers lists. This 2002 fan book is no Naruto 101 for newbies, and don't look for definitions of such basic concepts as shinobi or jutsu or even an index. (The detailed table of contents does help.) This is more like a baroque collage with an assortment of maps, character profiles, social hierarchies, quizzes, historical-cultural details, and fan art that jumble together along with arcane how-tos: how to make hyorogan (ninja military ration pellets), how to cut your hair like character Rock Lee, how to make the 12 shinobi hand signs. Manga-ka Kishimoto includes a long and fascinating section about his own background, workspace, drawing tools, and lifestyle (bottom line: he doesn't get much sleep or leisure). Another special feature is the full text of the original 1997 short story on which the Naruto manga was based. Heavily illustrated and featuring dozens of fan submissions from multiple countries, this bag of goodies will have wide appeal for Naruto readers in all public libraries. A downside: the small size of some of the more detailed graphics. For teens up.--M.C. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.