Huxley and Flapjack: Wild West Escape

Huxley, the impulsive koala, and Flapjack, the timid penguin, are back in a new adventure! Spotting an advert in the paper, Huxley decides that becoming a cowhand is the perfect way to earn some money. Not deterred when Flapjack points out that they can’t even ride horses, Huxley accepts the job and the two friends find themselves in charge of a herd of cows. However, when they lose all the cows, they must track them all down before heading home to the farm.

Ideal for younger readers, ‘Wild West Escape’ is another delightful escapade for these two loveable, and very different, friends!

As usual, everything goes wrong as Huxley blithely wanders into a new situation, deaf to the cautious voice of Flapjack. Their series of mishaps will have children chuckling and then cheering as everything turns out right in the end! The story is full of gentle humour and packed with lively, colourful illustrations, making it a very engaging and enjoyable read.

One of the many lovely things about this story is that, like the others in the series, it allows for conversations about friendships. Huxley and Flapjack are very different characters and yet enjoy a close friendship. Whilst Huxley brings Flapjack out of his comfort zone and enables him to be more adventurous, there is also scope for gentle discussions about listening to the ideas and feelings of others with the more impetuous or dominant! Whilst Huxley and Flapjack’s adventures never lead them into any real or lasting harm, there are times when Huxley should ‘look before he leaps’!

As well as being very appealing, the illustrations offer plenty of additional information and ‘clues’ about what is going on in the text. Reactions to Huxley’s guitar playing, Flapjack’s many facial expressions and the duo’s final task before they head home are brilliantly captured in this way. Perfect for cuddling up and sharing, the book also falls neatly into bridging the gap between picture books and longer reads!

Huxley and Flapjack: Wild West Escape

Alan MacDonald, illustrated by Francesca Gambatesa

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788957403

You can read my review of ‘Trouble at Sea’ here and ‘Race to the Rescue’ here.

Huxley and Flapjack: Trouble at Sea

One hot day, when Flapjack is keeping cool, reading his book in the bath, Huxley has one of his bright ideas and decides that they should go to the seaside. Once there, they meet Winston, Wizz to his friends, who invites them aboard his submarine to search for a shipwreck called the Isabella. Huxley is keen to look for treasure, leading the more cautious Flapjack into trouble.

Adorable as ever, best friends, Huxley and Flapjack continue to demonstrate that opposites really do attract! Huxley is as impulsive and ever, seizing every chance to seek adventure with little thought to the consequences whilst Flapjack remains quite timid, far more reflective and often giving into his friend’s whims. But whatever their differences, their friendship remains true, strong and affectionate!

The story moves at a pleasing pace, keeping readers entertained and engaged whilst the plentiful illustrations are a joy to ‘read’ alongside the text. Readers will delight in noticing all the little jokes in the pictures and there are plenty of places where the illustrations are perfect for encouraging conversations to develop empathy and recognise where Huxley is mis-reading his friend’s feelings about situations.

A brilliant bedtime or class story, ‘Trouble at Sea’ also lends itself perfectly to being used to inspire a book group session. Huxley, Flapjack and their new little crab friend would all make lovely ‘jumping jack’ figures or stick puppets which could then be used to retell - or reinvent - the story. The story might inspire a sandcastle building competition, going on a picnic or creating a plastic-bottle submarine…

Like ‘Race to the Rescue’, ‘Trouble at Sea’ is a wonderfully funny, enjoyable story, perfect for newly independent readers and thoroughly enjoyable for adults too! Can’t wait for the next one!

Huxley and Flapjack: Trouble at Sea

Alan MacDonald, illustrated by Francesca Gambatesa

Little Tiger ISBN: 9781788956208

Published 4th July 2024

You can read my review of ‘Huxley and Flapjack: Race to the Rescue’ here.

Huxley and Flapjack: Race to the Rescue

Huxley is a little koala filled with energy and zest for life. Flapjack, his penguin friend, is far more anxious and cautious, but together, they make the perfect team. They live in a treehouse just outside the town and when a new store opens, they hop on their tandem to take a look. Although the manager isn’t entirely happy, they have lots of fun investigating everything from the revolving doors to the very bouncy trampoline in the sports department, but when Huxley is mistaken for a thief, they must come up with a plan to prove his innocence.

From its zingy yellow cover to its wonderful colour illustrations, this gorgeous early chapter book is bursting with energy and adventure, sure to capture the imagination- and hearts- of its readers. Huxley and Flapjack prove that opposites attract and that true friends can be quite different to you in both tastes and backgrounds.

Huxley is impulsive, acting before thinking things through, and sometimes (like when riding on the tandem) relying on Flapjack to do all the work. Flapjack is a more sensitive, gentle soul who tempers Huxley’s impetuous urges, yet benefits as the friendship encourages him to do things he might otherwise not do. There is much here to discuss with children who might see themselves in either character!

The illustrations are completely delightful, full of things to notice and smile about. Flapjack’s range of changing expressions is a priceless as he is caught up in Huxley’s madcap pace of doing things! The story could inspire many crafty activities, making it perfect for book group sessions as well as for enjoying at home or school. I could see this series making an excellent cartoon series as well!

Sure to become firm favourites, Huxley and Flapjack are highly appealing characters which children are going to want to read about. Great fun!

Huxley and Flapjack: Race to the Rescue

Alan MacDonald, illustrated by Francesca Gambatesa

Little Tiger ISBN: 978- 1788954174