Review by Booklist Review
In Lilypad City, tadpole J lives with his older sister, K, above her mechanic shop. While J enjoys cooking and spending cozy days at home, K is a whirlwind of energy and spontaneity. This particular morning's calm is shattered when K pops into the kitchen yelling, "ROAD TRIIIP!!!," as she stayed up all night building a car. Amid the beachy palette--aqua, buttercup, mint, salmon, etc.--the bright yellow dome topping K's car really pops, as do the kelly green siblings, pealike J in charming contrast to K's mature-frog form. They zoom out of the city, taking in the sights until the road ends at the Waterfall Mountains. This is where the story really takes off--because who needs roads? K's mechanical mind finds inspiration around her, whether that's mountain goats or fish or birds, and she modifies the car to overcome whatever obstacle is in their path. This wild adventure's plentiful humor, which lies primarily in the siblings' contrasting dispositions, will delight young readers, as will its spirit of inventiveness.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Two amphibian siblings undertake an audacious impromptu road trip in this madcap graphic novel from Tune and Doughty. J, a tadpole, is enjoying a quiet morning of cooking when older sister K, a frog, proposes they pack up their breakfast and head out in her homemade car. J's reluctance is countered by K's enthusiasm ("She's very smart. But not very considerate"), and the first of the escapade's many suspense-filled scenes shows K gunning the engine to get from their second-floor home to the street while J sweats with anxiety. Dialogue, narration, and multicolored, thick-lined graphics washed with watercolor textures share equally in the high-octane storytelling as the duo exit Lilypad City, passing "Giant Wheel Snakes" and the pink "Domed City of Fafa," until ending up at eggplant-hued Waterfall Mountains. But while J contentedly picnics, can-do K tweaks the vehicle so it can climb the nearby cliffs--the first of many modifications (including fins and wings) that serve to amplify their adventure. Meanwhile, tension mounts between the opposite travelers until a crash landing predictably encourages J to appreciate the unexpected. The creators imagine a bright, surreal world with just enough humor and energy to propel readers through the siblings' wild ride. Ages 7--10. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--5--J, a tadpole with a penchant for baking, wants to spend his Sunday at home in Lilypad City, but his adventurous older sister, K, has other plans. She has designed a brand-new car and ropes J into a road trip, so J packs a picnic basket and tags along. They zoom out of the second story of the shop and drive far outside the reaches of the city. When they hit an impasse at Waterfall Mountain, J wants to go home, but K can build anything. The car turns into a mountain climber, a boat, and even a plane for literal flights of fancy. When the car runs out of gas, J is out of patience for his carefree sister. There's a culinary surprise in store for J, though, which makes the trip worth the while. J and K sort through some of their sibling squabbles, but there's room to explore their dynamic in future installments. A friendly stranger helps them get the craft back on the road for further adventures. Tune and Doughty have crafted a world that is both rad and colorful. The artwork is appealing, with engaging scenery and creatures. Clocking in at a breezy 80 pages and filled with snappy dialogue, this is a delightful beginner graphic novel. VERDICT This imaginative graphic novel will keep young readers turning pages to find out just where K's car can go. Highly recommended.--Gretchen Hardin
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