This fourth installment in the Cat Kid Comic Club series from Dav Pilkey is another triumph, not only because of its trademark graphic format, but for the inspiration within for young writers and illustrators. Join Li'l Petey, Molly, Flippy and the baby frogs, as they share their successes and failures in story creation with the world. They also provide an insight into the process of writing, with each chapter using either a slightly different graphic format and/or a different writing technique. In Wendy and Raine’s chapter about their dad’s life story, they use a traditional comic format in the illustrations, but have incorporated A LOT of exaggeration in the actual story. Gilbert and Curly learn about copyright and parody in their creation of Frogzilla. Summer and Starla use photography and the art of Haiku for their story.

There are chapters highlighting storyboarding, recycling toys to create completely different characters, using real life sequential images instead of illustrations, 3-D modelling, being an agent, getting published, and all the while learning to be respectful, resilient, creative and collaborative. My favourite chapter is Billie and Corky’s story Run Little Baby, Run!!! because it incorporates mondegreens – the misinterpretation or mishearing of phrases to create totally new meanings – and an order of two large French fries and a supa-sized shake becomes two large French flies and a supa-sized snake with hilarious consequences. 
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The thing I love about the Cat Kid stories is that readers won’t even know they are absorbing and learning all of these creative insights because of the very clever and thoughtful way Dav Pilkey writes and presents the books. Bright, colourful, humorous illustrations with large, colourful fonts, and funny, engaging stories that are quick and easy to read, are what capture the children’s imaginations.  And the graphic novel format has been such a drawcard for reluctant readers. Many children who found chapter books a struggle are now avid readers, thanks to authors and illustrators like Dav Pilkey who make reading accessible, appealing and most of all - fun!

Watch the trailer for Melvin and Naomi's comic creation Chubbs McSpiderbutt: Easy Spider below

Supporting teaching themes include family, persistence, resilience, collaboration, respect, copyright, graphic novels, photography, recycling, storyboarding, story writing and publishing.

Find out more about the Cat Kid Comic Club series.
Find out more about Dav Pilkey.

Published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic 
Release date November 29th, 2022. 
ISBN: 9781338846621 (HB)
Highly recommended for ages 7 - 10. 

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Mrs. Wren. ‘You look very, very sad today.’ Mr. Wren is feeling blue and a bit sorry for himself because he can’t do what all the other magnificent birds he knows can do. He can’t laugh like Kookaburra or soar up high like Eagle, and he certainly doesn’t have a sharp beak like Magpie.  But Mrs. Wren knows just how to cheer him up, gently explaining all the things he can do, and helping him appreciate the wonderful things already around him like his family and his forest home. Trevor Todd’s simple, uncomplicated text about being thankful for what we have is beautifully brought to life by the stunning real-life bird images of Mark Eatwell. 
​From the gorgeous front cover of the blue wren to the last page where the sun’s rays break through the misty forest, this book is a delight. A new way of bringing a traditional story to life, and a great introduction for younger readers to some of our amazing Australian birds.  
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​Find out more about Trevor Todd
Follow Mark Eatwell on Instagram 

Published in 2021 by IP Kidz an imprint of IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd)
NB: David P. Reiter Kookaburra image pg. 10. 
ISBN 9781922332721(HB); ISBN 9781922332738 (eBook)
​Recommended for ages 3 - 5