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Chip Plays Grown-Up

HarperAlley. (I Can Read ­Comics Level 2). Oct. 2024. 32p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780063306486.
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K-Gr 3–Frost tells the classic role swap story with little penguin Chip, who is determined to stay up late. Wise mother penguin keeps her cool; she knows exactly how it rolls at bedtime. Young readers and their caretakers will laugh along as Chip gets a taste of what his mom goes through to get him to bed. There is the bathroom check, the tuck in, the stuffy choosing, the story time, and more. Chip finally thinks he can now go watch TV in peace, but no, his mom calls frantically from the ­bedroom where there is a spider. She also gives Chip her to-do list of things that need to be done before morning, which Chip takes on with gusto. A funny montage follows of Chip doing these chores. Finally, the time to ­relax arrives and Mom appears again to get a glass of water. Before she can go back to bed, Chip, eyes clamping shut, wants to swap back. Mom offers for him to be the grown-up again the next day since he did a pretty good job, but Chip declines. He would rather be a robot puppy. Large panels filled with colorful, cozy scenes have just the right amount of details to add to the dialogue. The final panel, showing everyone tucked in at the igloo, is especially homey. Frost conveys reactions and moods with simple pen strokes. Give this to fans of series like “Friendbots” by Vicky Fang and “Clark the Shark” by Bruce Hale and Guy Francis.
VERDICT Young comic fans will relate to Chip and want more stories about this funny penguin.

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