PIP & PALS #1

Friends take part in a cosmic game of pretend.

TJ, a small bird, encounters a strange-looking creature—but it’s just Pip the otter, covered in seaweed! She shakes it off, but while taking another dip, she gets tangled once more (swimming’s a challenge for her)—and this time, it turns her green. TJ decides that Pip must be from “otter space” (pun definitely intended), just like an alien in one of TJ’s comics. They speculate about what Pip’s home planet might look like and decide that Pip will split her time between Earth and space. “So you’ll migrate like me!” points out TJ. The friends build a spaceship with the help of the crafty Gulley. While things don’t go quite as planned, it all ends with a message of self-acceptance. Pip’s earnestness and TJ’s wild imagination make for a winning combination; though TJ’s off-the-wall fantasies are hilarious, the bird’s confidence in Pip is just as satisfying as the moments of zaniness. De Oliveira relies on a few panels per page and relatively short sentences, resulting in an easy reading experience. The story takes place almost entirely by the seaside, and the pages are filled with blue skies and yellow sand. Between Pip, TJ, Gulley, and Herman the hermit crab, there are plenty of colorful species to bring visual variety to each lighthearted scene.

An imaginative and ultimately affirming day at the beach, with more than a splash of laughter.