These are both recent graphic novel style books from Little Tiger – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

Bad United: Team Spirit
Louise Forshaw

Such are the skills of Bad United that after a series of wins they get some exciting news: Uni-Horn Roamers – a pro league team have invited them to play a friendly match. As you’d expect Bad United are thrilled to bits though manager Serena is not available to coach them; instead she leaves Bones, the captain, in charge of getting them ready for the event. Everyone is enthusiastic until they realise that their captain seems to be taking things rather more seriously than other members of the team, criticising almost their every move. “Up your game” and “Try harder” they’re told.

Tensions rise … and rise as match day approaches. Then when the big day dawns, back comes Serena. Can the team hold it together and make her proud or has exhaustion wrecked their chances. After things have gone badly, come half time Bones makes a revelation and Serena reminds them what matters most in a game. Could this be the turning point of the match and who will win in the end?

The fourth book in the super silly graphic novel series is every bit as fun as the previous ones and will certainly have fans cheering for Bad United.

The Gumdrops: Quest for Bravery
Elissa Elwick

Meet the Gumdrops – Hope, Bubbles, Sparky and Rainbow – guardians of magical Yummy Gummy Land. One day they receive a letter from seven year old Daisy; she’s just moved to a new town and needs an imaginary friend to play with so she feels less shy. The Gumdrops head off to the library where they create a recipe to make her ideal companion. After some investigation they decide on a heap of kindness, a dash of silliness, a pinch of patience and a sprinkle of bravery.

However when they go to the Imaginary Friend Factory to look for the ingredients, they discover a note written by Evilee informing them that she’s destroyed all the Bravery. Intent on helping Daisy, the Gumdrops set off on a quest to find more Bravery, a quest that takes them to the top of the tallest mountain in Yummy Gummy Land.

With its delightful characters (mostly), this brightly illustrated story where interaction is encouraged by the narrator, with readers being asked to do such things as, blowing the page, inverting it, thinking of passwords and shaking the Gumdrops dry after they fall into the Story Swamp, celebrates friendship, determination and creativity.