Stuck Together

July 1, 2020
Grades 2-4 The new graphic novel imprint HarperAlley kicks off with this wacky adventure starring a young pea, a disguised queen bee, and a flightless blue jay. Pea wakes up with the sun, literally ready to roll?it's a farm thing. But Pea has barely gotten going when he's stopped by a heated argument between Strawberry and Cherry about who has rolled the farthest. Not to be outdone, Pea joins in, only to be issued a challenge: roll to the big red-leafed tree beyond the fence. Gulp! As Pea gets rolling, a storm moves in and blows him off course and directly into Bee, who also happens to be lost. The two pair up and, after a hilarious misunderstanding, are joined by Jay, who agrees to help them get home. Running gags, eye-rolling puns, and action sequences are accentuated by the colorful cartoon art, which makes impressive use of Pea's large, expressive eyes, his best and only feature. Fans of the Bird & Squirrel books are a natural fit for this fun and funny new series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from August 31, 2020
A green pea, a bespectacled honeybee, and a blue jay become fast friends in this lively graphic novel early reader. “No rolling too far from our row,” warns Pea’s mother, but it’s not long before a dare sends Pea on a fast-paced adventure beyond the farm. Smith’s cinematic panels capture the action with suspense and style: storm clouds gather in the distance as Pea rolls under the fence and eventually to a stop, lost, beside Bee. Though Bee claims that birds are “the absolute worst,” the pair is soon joined by Jay, a flightless lone bluejay. Venturing forth, the trio works together to get past tough-talking acorns, raspberry-blowing raspberries, and a sly, yellow-eyed villain. Puns and jokes abound, making this series opener as silly as it is sincere about friendship’s value. Pea, Bee, and Jay may make for unlikely companions, but just like the sandwich, they form an unbeatable team. Publishing simultaneously: Wannabees (Pea, Bee, & Jay #2). Ages 6–10.