Blue, Barry & Pancakes

December 1, 2021
Scaling Mount Choco is just the tip of the ice cream--ahem iceberg--in Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson's latest adventure featuring a trio of unlikely friends. In this outing in the Blue, Barry & Pancakes series, Barry the frog is dead set on winning a trophy to relieve the shame of his empty trophy room, so his friends Pancakes the bunny and Blue the worm vow to help him win a grand sundae-making contest. Realizing they need something special to carry the day, the pals set off on a dangerous journey to get the best chocolate ice cream from a yeti. To do so, they must cross the Sea of Seasickness and trek up Mount Choco. Challenges and mistakes along the way test the strength of their friendship. There are obvious morals about living in the moment and appreciating the people you meet on life's path, and some scenes are genuinely moving. The adventurers, amusingly, don't look anything like your typical worm, frog, and rabbit; Pancakes looks like a huge potato with a pink tufted tail, and Barry is square-shaped. The pictures are both funny and spectacularly bright. Unfortunately, the plot almost feels like an afterthought in this overwrought graphic novel. There are multiple dance sequences, some with instructions, and too many supporting characters vying for the limelight; on one double-page spread, there are 19 different animals, including a bright pink pig with a Dal�-esque mustache, suggesting a whole life history. An absolutely hilarious caper bogged down by excess detail. (game and activity section) (Graphic novel. 4-8)

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March 1, 2022

K-Gr 3-An ice cream sundae contest turns into a humorous quest for Blue, Barry, and Pancakes, everyone's favorite worm, frog, and rabbit trio. To build the best sundae and help Barry finally win a coveted trophy, the three friends seek the greatest chocolate ice cream in the universe, located in a yeti's lair on top of Mount Choco. Each protagonist helps overcome obstacles, from crossing the Sea of Sea Sickness to impressing the yeti with funky dance moves. Creative paneling and focus lend variety to the layouts-Barry's echoing cry in his empty trophy room takes up a full page, while Blue's underground jaunt to retrieve sunglasses results in the dynamic and fun display of character movement known as the De Luca effect. Back matter includes extra gags and a guide to making a miniature comic. VERDICT Humor carries three tight-knit friends underwater and over mountains; new and returning readers alike will be charmed.

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