Blue, Barry & Pancakes: Mayhem on Wheels

Gr 1-3–Best friends Blue, Barry, and Pancakes are ready for a day of fun-filled water safety demonstrations inside the treehouse they share. But when Pancakes inadvertently breaks the water tank they were planning to use and the trio has to chase a rogue ball throughout the town, they discover a new game at which they are remarkably skilled. Playing the game is fun for a while, but when egos begin to grow, the joy wanes and the three companions must rediscover what it truly means to have fun together. This comical graphic novel is well-suited to newer readers with an interest in slapstick humor and cartoonlike characters. Though this is a later book in the series, readers need not have read the previous installments for this one to make sense. Occasional asides guide readers to books where references have been made, but for the most part, this book is its own unique adventure. Using word bubbles, onomatopoeia, occasional butt jokes, and expressive illustrations, this graphic novel keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The overarching premise of the story is one of friendship and acceptance while working through disagreements, and it wraps up on a particularly positive and cheerful note. The clever design and appearance of this book enhances its appeal to young readers.