Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds

by Elise Gravel

Overview

Perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly, Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds is the first in a new early graphic chapter book series about the friendship between Arlo, an arrogant crow, and a sarcastic little bird named Pips. 

Like most crows, Arlo has a big brain. But Arlo has something else: a little pal who’s not afraid to tell him when he’s being insufferable!

In the first of three episodes, a battle of the brains and bird-to-bird banter soon turns into an unexpected friendship. Arlo and Pips' adventures include a visit the big city and the beach on their hunt for shiny things and French fries. Cool crow facts are included throughout the book.

Arlo & Pips is the HarperCollins Canada Kids' Top Pick for this fall! 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062982216
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	10/06/2020
Series:	Arlo & Pips , #1
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	1,003,547
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	GN500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Elise Gravel loves all animals, especially her two cats, who are not as clever as Arlo but pretty funny all the same. She is the creator of the Olga series inspired by her science-loving daughter, as well as many other books for children, including I Want a Monster!, The Cranky Ballerina, The Mushroom Fan Club, If Found . . . Please Return to Elise Gravel. and Puppy In My Head: A Book about Mindfulness. Elise lives in Montreal with her husband, two daughters, and those splendid cats. Find her at elisegravel.com. 

  

Elise Gravel loves all animals, especially her two cats, who are not as clever as Arlo but pretty funny all the same. She is the creator of the Olga series inspired by her science-loving daughter, as well as many other books for children, including I Want a Monster!, The Cranky Ballerina, The Mushroom Fan Club, If Found . . . Please Return to Elise Gravel. and Puppy In My Head: A Book about Mindfulness. Elise lives in Montreal with her husband, two daughters, and those splendid cats. Find her at elisegravel.com. 

  

Editorial Reviews

Fun and informative! This book will FLY off the shelves!

Ben Clanton

It's an unexpected friendship story! [I]n three short graphic chapters marked by [Gravel's] signature sly humor, facts about crows are sprinkled throughout...making the reader believe that maybe crows are truly as amazing as Arlo says.

Horn Book (starred review)

"Gravel brings the smart attitude of her Disgusting Critters series to a more fictional narrative here, and it’s just as informative and accessible in its provision of kid-pleasing facts...Aspiring birders with a flair for the dramatic may be particularly drawn to Arlo’s braggadocio."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

08/01/2020

Gr 1–4—When Arlo the crow claims that crows are the greatest birds in the world, his diminutive bird buddy Pips is skeptical—there are much prettier birds out there, after all—but Arlo is loaded with information about crows' talents, such as their ability to count and use tools. A red star appears in dialogue bubbles to lead readers to footnotes explaining how Arlo's claims are based in truth (a caption stating that crows are thought to be as intelligent as a seven-year-old child is likely to stir readers at or approaching that age to draw comparisons). Arlo pretends to keel over to dissuade another crow from eating his fries ("Some crows have been seen playing dead to fool other crows and keep food for themselves"), and he becomes elated when he discovers a sharp nail, grabbing it in his beak and flying off ("Crows have a reputation for liking and collecting shiny objects"). Gravel's simple, thick-lined cartoons have a childlike appeal. Panel layouts range from page-filling images to three wide panels stacked together to a six-panel grid. Bright background colors—mostly yellow, red, and blue—provide variety during prolonged exchanges. Though Arlo loves to boast, he's not mean-spirited so much as exuberantly confident; he's also appreciative of Pips's friendship, and the book concludes with the crow offering the little bird a gift. VERDICT Crows get their day in the sun, both as protagonist and subject. Give this to readers who enjoy animal friendships and learning a thing or two along the way.—Thomas Maluck, Richland Lib., SC

School Library Journal

★ 2020-07-14
Two birds become fine feathered friends in this early graphic novel.

Arlo is a cocky crow confident that there is “no greater bird than… / ME. THE CROW, king of the feathered world.” Pips is a small yellow bird who pokes questioning holes in Arlo’s bravado. Arlo doesn’t mind Pips’ frank queries, seeing them as an opportunity to show off his skills, and throughout the book the two maintain an amicable relationship. There is a thin plotline in which Pips shows Arlo around the city where Pips lives, and the two take a trip to the beach, but the real driving energy is the relationship between the two and the opportunities for gentle humor their interactions provide. Through Pips’ inquisitiveness and Arlo’s desire to prove himself, readers also learn much about the intelligence, diet, and behavior of crows. Relevant fun facts about crows are interwoven throughout the book, often in casual and easily accessible footnotes that provide informational context to Arlo’s self-aggrandizing claims. Deceptively simple, this graphic novel’s straightforward sentences, limited color scheme, and thick black outlines make this a perfect match for newly independent readers. Both fans of Gravel’s previous work and newcomers alike will be delighted.

A charming treasure. (Graphic fiction. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews

09/14/2020

Stripped-down forms, bold black contours, and hand-lettered type by Gravel (I Am Scary) reveal crows’ many talents in this simple story of would-be friendship. Pips, a tiny yellow bird, overhears braggart crow Arlo’s proclamations: “No bird is greater than... me. The Crow,” Arlo announces. “Hello, my dear fans,” he greets Pips, tipping his golden crown. “Wait, what?” interrupts Pips. More proud talk follows (“I’m gorgeous”) before the two strike up an acquaintance from which emerges various facts about crow behavior. In one sequence, Arlo spies a sleeve of discarded French fries and promptly keels over when another crow approaches. Pips is alarmed, but it’s part of a plan, and a red star in a speech balloon points to an explanation below: “Some crows have been seen playing dead to fool other crows and keep food for themselves.” More crow facts appear throughout like cereal-box prizes. Pips never makes much headway with Arlo’s huge ego (“You’re a pretty good actor,” Pips says gallantly. “I know,” says Arlo. “I’m the best”), but fascinating crow info paired with Gravel’s distinctive panels and snappy dialogue nevertheless engage throughout. Ages 6–10. Agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

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