Roto and Roy To the rescue!

Roy Thunder, a superhero-size pilot with broad shoulders and a wasp waist, leaps into the cockpit of Roto, a jaunty-looking yellow helicopter, and they lift off into the middle of booming thunder and zigzag lightning to rescue people caught in a sudden, massive storm. This action tale, told in colorful digital illustrations and a comic-book style, is the second in the new Roto and Roy series (the first is 2022's Roto and Roy: Helicopter Heroes) created by the author of the enormously popular Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site books. The Roto and Roy adventures feature the Goodnight series' easy-to-follow rhyming couplets; words and punctuation that wonderfully mimic sounds; and vibrant, detailed artwork. But this time Rinker emphasizes rescue over construction and adds a human element in the enormous form of Roy, an equal partner to the dauntless Roto. The setting here is the American Southwest, with desert landscapes and adobe homes caught in torrents of rain. Together, helicopter and human perform heroic feats, including lifting the cab of a jackknifed truck dangling precariously off a cliff road and using a helicopter rescue basket to save a family of four from their nearly submerged car. Propulsive action, engaging illustrations, and a great message about the value of determination and teamwork make this a must.

Roto the helicopter; her pilot, Roy; and Red, their pup, are back to save the day. A bad storm has caused mayhem and destruction. Amid torrents of rain and gusty winds, Roto and Roy take to the skies to help. They see a semi dangling dangerously off a cliff and work together to hoist it back onto the road ("[Roy] holds steady, / sure and still / while Roto aims / her hoist with skill"). Then they see a car stuck in rising floodwaters, with a family stuck inside. Roto keeps her beams trained on the vehicle while Roy swoops down in a rescue basket to save the family. Their teamwork is unrivaled: "With strength, control, and nerves of steel, / this awesome team is just unreal!" Rinker's energetic rhymes pulse with suspense and bravado. With broad shoulders, oversized hands, and a square jaw line, brown-skinned Roy is the epitome of a superhero. The strategically placed comic panels help pace the action. Tate plays with perspectives, showing dramatic scenes from an overhead view before switching to low-angle shots showing Roto and Roy coming to the rescue. Characters are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Nature can be intense; (super)heroic teamwork puts things right in this thrilling tale. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.