Blue, Barry & Pancakes

K-Gr 3–During a trip to the beach, Barry, a frog with a penchant for problem-solving and inventing, and Pancakes, an athletic large yellow rabbit, play a game of keep away with a beach ball belonging to a studious and introverted worm, Blue. Against Blue’s protests, Barry and Pancakes take the ball, and a series of unfortunate—and hilarious—events ensue. A whale swallows the ball, but when the pals get it back, it soon lands in a flying airplane before being sucked up by a passing UFO. The misadventures continue until the ball is secured and all is forgiven. This graphic novel is the perfect length for younger readers, with most of the panels taking up a full page. The cartoon art is bright and appealing, with loud colors, exaggerated comic reactions, and goofy details. Character guides offer more information on Blue, Barry, and Pancakes (a true bookworm, Blue can often be found “sipping a hot beverage and reading”), which will further endear them to readers.