A tale of two different ideas of camping leads to an adventure full of surprises.Wombat BFFs Albert and Pickles are headed on a camping trip. Albert is the more practical-minded and outdoorsy type, while Pickles is more about modern comforts. Their different expectations lead to some mild disagreement until Pickles stumbles across a baby koala in the woods. The wombats also come across their platypus friend Platters, who is in the woods looking for a legendary and dangerous Woolly Moon Beast. This adventure is gentle and light, both in exploring the divergent interests of its central duo and in the search for the koala's mother. Pickles has an exaggerated, reactionary personality that will elicit the most laughs. This graphic novel is rife with humor, from Pickles' hilariously over-the-top fear of the unknown to the baby koala's frequent mispronunciations to characters randomly popping up out of the scenery. Layouts are clearly arranged and easy to follow. Both Albert and Pickles are winsome protagonists-mature, self-reliant Albert is clearly at home in nature, explaining how to read a compass and describing the wonders of nature, while Pickles shows a willingness to try new things despite trepidation. The protagonists respectfully acknowledge each other's preferences and value their friendship.The virtues of seeking and leaving one's comfort zone are both on display during this amusing outdoor trip. (Graphic fiction. 6-9)

As blue-hued Albert and lavender-tinted Pickles, both wombats, embark on a much-anticipated camping trip, they’re shocked to discover that their individual expectations about the event are wildly at odds in this sprightly, chuckle-worthy graphic novel gambol by Frost (Let’s Draw Fun Animals). While practical Albert arrives prepared for the great outdoors with a tent and a compass, chimerical Pickles—who has grand visions of a cozy fire and refreshing hot tub—is equipped with tons of seemingly useless luggage, such as a jar of dill pickles and a donut floatie. After Pickles stumbles into a nearby creek, the marsupial emerges from the water only to find that a gray baby koala has latched themself onto him. Though Pickles is excited for a new friend, Albert insists they locate the infant’s mother, kicking off an adventure through the woods that leads the trio toward myriad situations both exciting and treacherous. Wholesome interactions and lighthearted humor elicit continuous laughter, but the secret sauce is the baby koala, whose huge, endearing eyes and elephant-size ears camouflage their precocious tech acumen. Rather than incite conflict, the best friends’ contrasting personalities provide ample opportunities for narrative give-and-take, modeling thoughtful and sincere friendship. Ages 6–9. (Apr.)

Gr 1–4— Two wombat besties go camping with humorous results in this early reader graphic novel. On the morning of their trip, ever-prepared Albert calls his excitable best friend Pickles to make sure he has everything he needs. Right away, readers will spot that these two have differing ideas about what their trip will entail; asked if he packed "light," Pickles responds affirmatively, adding his party light to the pile. Setting out into the woods, the two only go further afield from what either of them expected, with a chance encounter that finally takes them all the way to the cave of the fearsome Woolly Moon Beast. But in this gentle, good-natured comedy, any trip is an adventure as long as these best friends are together, and the ending offers a surprise that is satisfying to all. With clever wordplay, brightly colored visual gags, and an affable cast of animal characters that also includes Platters the platypus and a baby koala, Frost provides plenty of laughs while successfully establishing a woodland world that readers will be happy to revisit in future volumes of this planned series. VERDICT A sweet, silly series starter. Hand this early reader graphic novel to fans of Brian "Smitty" Smith's "Pea, Bee, and Jay" series.— Andrew Eliopulos