MOSSY AND TWEED

“Jumping Jitterbugs!” This is not the way to open a coconut!

This graphic novel opens with a map of Gnome Woods, orienting readers on the journey and struggles of two tiny bickering gnomes: Mossy (light-skinned, in a red slouch hat) and Tweed (light-skinned, slightly taller, and in a pointy red hat). When a wayward coconut rolls into their garden, the gnomes notice an attached tag with an image of a seashore and mistakenly conclude that a beach is somehow trapped inside. Although the tag has simple and clear instructions on how to open a coconut, Mossy and Tweed are sure that their methods are better. Their plans are clever, but the results are disastrous and hilarious, with the tone of Saturday morning cartoons. A malfunctioning catapult sends Tweed flying. Helpful, blue- and purple-skinned pixies supply dynamite to blast the coconut open, but that doesn’t do the job. The frustrated gnomes scuffle and, in the process, manage to solve the problem that has been plaguing them. The text within the speech bubbles is brief, and though the vocabulary is simple, the dialogue is delightfully dramatic. Colorful and detailed cartoon illustrations capture the comedy well and will keep beginning readers turning the pages.

Readers will giggle at these beleaguered gnomes’ misguided attempts at achieving their goal.