I bought this and was under no obligation to review. All views and opinions are our own.
Pablo and Splash by Sheena Dempsey, published by Bloomsbury
I'm always on the lookout for new kids comics/graphic novels that I think Peapod would like after he's torn through Bumble and Snug, Dogman, Bad Guys and most of Bunny vs Monkey so when this arrived in work last week I knew we had to have it!
Pablo and Splash live in Antarctica. But Splash is fed up of the freezing temperatures and dreaming of sunnier climes (I feel you, Splash, I feel you!).
Pablo (the more sensible, less hasty of the two) is not so convinced that they need to leave the icy comforts of krill-pops, huddles and ice-sculpting for something dangerous like a holiday.
But with a bit of convincing, he finds himself masterminding a plan to get them somewhere hot and sunny and far away. The pair can't believe their luck when they stumble (quite literally) upon a scientist's lab, with a strange machine called Timebender who it appears is taking them on their holiday...
Of course, all is not as it seems and (after a perilously close detour past the sun) they realise that Timebender isn't called Timebender for nothing....
I can't tell you how much we loved this! There's echoes of so much good stuff coming together to make a stand out new comic...well...splash!
The penguins themselves are thoroughly loveable and very funny; there's echoes of the likes of Rabbit and Bear in their opposites-attract pairing and it's such a winner for the reader to see way before they do what's going on.
Peapod loved being one step ahead of them and the use of this very visual format lent itself so well to this - their arrival on their holiday beach had us both gasping and laughing simultaneously! Genius.
It's pitched so well too
Clearly aimed at the younger end of the comic/graphic novels but with a sophistication and sharpness that doesn't dumb anything down or over-simplify.
It has the friendship, warmth and over-riding optimism of something like Dogman but with less chaos and a slightly more British humour.
The dinosaurs are fantastic - we loved the one pecking around in the hedge, the stolen sunglasses and of anyone was going to end up riding a T-Rex bucking bronco style it'd have to be Pablo of course!
The Professor was a brilliant character who kept Peapod guessing and it'll be interesting to see how things progress in the next book with her and our fish-loving friends!
Timebender too was just the right level of robot mischief, reminiscent of Red Dwarf's Holly in their general compliance but overall dry edge; he'll make an excellent addition to the series.
I also loved the fact pages at the back, enhanced by funny comments from the penguin pair and some less than reliable facts of their own, they retain the humour of the book whilst also being informative.
And there's How to Draw... pages for both Pablo and Splash too. Peapod loves drawing so we'll be having a go at these soon - watch this space!
Safe to say, this is a perfectly put together and polished example of excellent kid's literature. And after several nights of "just one more chapter? Pleeeeease?!" we're now eagerly awaiting book two (September can't come quick enough!)
Peapod says: "I like it when they meet the T-Rex and when - *spoiler alert* - at the end."
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