Squid Bits! That’s A Nice Hat! Jess Bradley David Fickling Books
It’s great to see a new graphic novel series emerging, this being the first book. Herein readers will find brief, bizarre comic strip tales featuring all manner of creatures named the ‘Doodles’ ie Dog, Cat, Lizard, Rabbit, Mouse and Goat – a motley crew if ever there was one. This crazy lot decide that to please the Squid they should make it a hat, but what kind and will one ever be completed?
One story that particularly ticked my fancy was The Magic Narwhal wherein said narwhal is eager to play tennis but every time a potential opponent appears it ends up impaled on the narwhal’s horn. The title of this is something of a misnomer I have to say. ’Why doesn’t anyone like me or want to play tennis?’the unicorn of the sea wants to know.
There are astonishing sections such as Squid Bits Horoscopes, The Red Panda: Nature’s Jerk, The Adventurer’s Guide #51: Jobs! and Stick Insect Romance. Readers never know what’s coming next and that’s all part of the fun. At the end, Jess Bradley gives some lessons on ‘How to draw the Squid Bits Way’ so everyone can have a go at making their own crazy comic strip.
This book is especially brilliant for visual readers and I imagine if you put a copy into a KS2 classroom there will be a queue of readers waiting for their turn to read it. What more can an educator ask?
Agent Moose For Your Spies Only Mo O’Hara and Jess Bradley Scholastic
This bumper volume contains three previously published Agent Moose books: Agent Moose, Agent Moose on a Mission and Agent Moose: Operation Owl.
In Agent Moose, Special Agent Anonymoose and his owl sidekick Owlfred, are tasked with the case of a missing turtle. With Agent Anonymoose feeling bitter that Camo Chameleon has been awarded his ‘100 crimes solved’ trophy, Moose and Owlfred set about tracking down Terrance Turtle, witness in a recent high-profile robbery. However it seems that something is awry at South Shore where it transpires folks are disappearing, never to be seen again. Is this something to do with Camo who is busy hosting a party to celebrate his award? As Anonymoose and Owlfred are going to have to go undercover to discover what is happening to the Big Forest animals, it’s as well that, thanks to the former’s skill they are able to assume a number of disguises, a mermaid, a palm tree, and a coconut for instance.
Owlfred’s ability to remain calm in a crisis is an asset too. Can they crack this challenging case? You bet they can and in so doing they’ll have readers thoroughly engaged throughout, giggling at the wealth of jokes and the shenanigans of the criminal chasers.
Jess Bradley’s hilarious artwork and Mo O’Hara’s super funny story make for a highly accessible graphic novel, whether or not readers are making their first foray into the genre.
During a period of quiet Agent Moose has been passing the time working on a personal theme tune in advance of a visit from his grandmother. Having met her at the railway station with Owlfred, after Granny’s spectacular appearance, the family reunion is interrupted by an urgent request for help from Woodland HQ.
Once again our not-so-super sleuth sets out to save the day with Owlfred at his side, and Granny along for the ride, just so long as she doesn’t embarrass him; it’s a case of Agent Moose on a Mission. The animals in the forest are being intimidated into giving up their prize possessions by someone, leaving them too terrified to disclose who it is. As the three of them search for clues, drink hot cocoa and attempt to interview victims, it soon becomes clear that they are facing a daunting opponent. Summoning all his courage .Agent Moose battles with his fear of heights in an attempt to save the day in this second exciting, giggle-inducing story.
Agent Moose: Operation Owl sees Moose and his Not-Quite-So-Special-Agent Owlfred on an assignment to discover who is responsible for the flash floods that are causing havoc in the Big Woods. The pressure really increases when Moose’s boss Madame HQ disappears, seemingly kidnapped; but by whom? No prizes for guessing who’s responsible. If Moose can pull off this mission, he might just get that article in The News of the Wild paper he so badly wants. If the excellent disguises are anything to go by, he certainly deserves so to do. And Owlfred receives a well-deserved surprise too.
If you know any primary readers yet to discover Agent Moose, this book of three stories is an absolute bargain and what a wealth of language lessons they will absorb as they follow the splendid silliness.
Red Reading Hub - Jillrbennett's Reviews of Children's Books 