Review by Booklist Review
Mossy and Tweed are two gnomes living in an enchanted wood. These two friends don't always see eye to eye, but when a random coconut from the human world lands on top of Tweed, they agree to check it out. There's a photo of a scenic beach attached to the coconut, so they presume that's what the coconut contains, and they set out to open it. Mossy spots some instructions, but Tweed is determined to do things his way and carries on despite his friend's protests. With escalating comedy--a giant hammer, a slingshot, and dynamite--Tweed's over-the-top plans lead to them finally cracking open the coconut, but will they find their desired beach vacation inside? Hokkanen packs lots of silly, Looney Tunes--style slapstick into this slim early reader comic, and the bright, cartoonish art style is a perfect match for the comedy. The fantasy setting is charming and will appeal to kids moving between independent picture- and chapter-book reading.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
"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. (Graphic novel. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
