We Have a Playdate

May 31, 2021
In four chapters each centered on a piece of classic playground equipment—the slide, the swings, the monkey bars, the see-saw—this early reader comic by Dormer (Firefighter Duckies!) chronicles the pleasures, pratfalls, and offbeat problem-solving opportunities of unsupervised fun. Gathered at the playground are white-hued, bullet-shaped Tuna, who sports a narwhal-esque spike; Margo, a pink duck with a toothy grin; and yellow snake Noodle. They’re soon joined by Ralph, a brown bear, who quickly fits right in. Along the way, Dormer reveals Tuna’s mediation skills, which hold the group together; Margo’s elaborate pretend play fantasy as “Cahooga Duck! Hero of All Duck Calls”; Noodle’s intermittently successful engineering prowess; and Bear’s lack of knowledge about their own strength. Crisp, highly distilled art and unconventionally streamlined characters capture the group’s silliness and rapport, while snappy all-dialogue text includes wonderful euphemisms for mild injuries (“Noodle sizzled his zipzoo again,” observes Bear) and occasional jokes aimed slightly over readers’ heads (mention, for example, of the drag coefficient’s effect on swinging). As the sun sets, the playmates concur that it’s been a playdate to remember, and readers should readily agree. Ages 6–9. Agent: Emily Mitchell, Wernick & Pratt.

June 15, 2021
Four quirky animal friends develop their social-emotional skills over the course of four chapters. In "The Slide," Tuna (apparently a land-walking narwhal), Noodle (a lime-green, baseball cap-wearing snake), and Margo (a pink duck) reckon with Ralph, a bear who is unwilling to leave the spot at the top of the slide and let others have a turn. In "The Swings," the now-amicable quartet finds a way to help Noodle enjoy the swingset in a traditional way, and the others learn a new way to appreciate the swingset. In "The Monkey Bars," Margo is distraught to find that their secret hideout has been destroyed by the very robot they built in the first chapter to thwart Ralph (it immediately went amok), and their friends build them a new and quite magnificent den. In "The Seesaw," the quartet learns how to balance their individual needs and play safely together. All characters use they/them pronouns and remain genderless throughout. The characters aren't as unwaveringly sweet as many of their counterparts in similar titles, and their messy, brash earnestness charms. Slapstick humor and light mayhem abound, although unfortunately a couple of jokes at Noodle's expense are tinged with ableism. Bright, cheerful colors, uncomplicated backgrounds and paneling, and large, simple facial expressions make this a strong graphic novel for young independent readers. Silly fun. (Graphic fiction. 6-9)

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July 16, 2021

Gr 1-3-In this graphic novel aimed at newly independent readers, three animal pals meet up at the playground: Tuna, a narwhal-esque creature; Noodle, a green snake wearing a cap; and Margo, a pink bird. Expecting to have the place to themselves, the friends are surprised to encounter a growling bear on the slide. They try to remove Bear-Tuna builds a robot to go after Bear; Margo attempts their most impressive duck calls, but despite Bear's frightening exterior, they aren't the tough, growly type. Turns out, Bear is a bit scared and eager to meet new friends. The book is cleverly divided into chapters with each devoted to a different playground area where the crew has zany mishaps. There is no shortage of giggle-inducing words ("Oh no! Margo fizzled their neenee bopper!"), but this tale also shares valuable wisdom as the foursome all learn important social skills such as sharing and accountability. Dormer designs simple yet accessible cartoon vignettes that early readers will fully embrace. The palette relies on rich tones that are a perfect fit for the animal characters and setting, while the text incorporates short dialogue with onomatopoeia to both engage and enthrall comic readers. Dormer includes a note stating that all characters use they/them pronouns, to honor his daughter, Sam, who is transgender. VERDICT A winning graphic novel that offers a lively reading experience and introduces a delightful cast of animal characters navigating the ups and downs of friendship.-Claire Moore, Manhattan Beach Lib., CA

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