Dadbot: Rise of the Badbots
Jack Noel
Piccadilly Press

Dadbot returns in a second zany graphic novel story. It begins as Josh and Daisy are going back to school after the summer holidays. However, much as Dadbot would like to join then, Dad assures Josh and Daisy that with the school having banned smartphones, there’s absolutely no chance that “a massive robot with a butt printer” would be allowed so Dadbot must stay at home without them. When the doorbell rings, it’s not as expected their neighbour, but a representative from a company called Rust In Peace showing an interest in and offering loads of money for Dadbot. However Dad sends the rep. packing, but is suspicious of the turtle’s motives.

While Josh and Daisy are at school Dadbot has, with the best will in the world, interrupted Dad and his work but then there’s another ring of the doorbell and a large parcel is left by a delivery guy. It’s not the air fryer Mum has ordered; it’s an AI home assistant, something called a Honey. Dadbot is thrilled to have some company, especially as it’s another robot device. But then things start to go wrong: the internet for the entire town is down and Josh and Daisy are sent home as apparently the school can’t function without whiteboards and computers. Moreover they’re not sure about this new arrival; it feels as though she’s watching them and, her voice keeps on changing. Even worse, Dadbot seems totally besotted with Honey. Things get even weirder.
Dad takes Josh and Daisy to Silicon Valley to follow up on a label that was attached from one of the little robots that has appeared and to discover what exactly is going on.

However they find themselves face to face with a surprising character with a mission; and, Dadbot is definitely in danger. Things escalate and Josh and Daisy need to act super-fast to save not only Dadbot but their whole town; can they do so? Maybe with help from an unexpected source …

With plethora of puns and robots, this is huge fun especially for young tech. enthusiasts.

Pandora in Puzzlevale: Call of the Crow
Paul Duffield, Siobhan McKenna & Poqu
David Fickling Books

We’re back in Puzzlevale, the curious town where virtually everything is a mystery. Trapped there in a weirdly eerie mist that seems to transform whatever it touches, is Pandora, lover of mysteries. She knows that if she’s ever to see her parents again, she must unravel Puzzlevale itself and escape its clutches. There are twenty five mysteries in all to unravel in the story and to do so, she’ll need to crack codes, work through mazes, locate hidden objects and solve riddles, aided and abetted by readers.

This is a graphic novel and puzzle book all rolled into one, with intriguing puzzles that make for a thoroughly entertaining read. (At the end of the book are hints and answers called Pandora’s notes, some of which have visuals.)