The Adventures of Anders

Gregory Mackay

Allen & Unwin, 2019

456pp., graphic novel., RRP $A19.99

9781760632076

School holidays are about to begin and the class is introduced to Bernie the elephant who will be joining them in the new term. Anders the squirrel and his friend Eden befriend Bernie and so begins the first of their adventures – three altogether, collected into one volume. – as they  discover an unknown comet, explore an extinct volcano and find their way through a castle maze as they try to complete the over-holiday homework task set by their teacher. Who has homework in the holidays? 

There is a growing body of evidence of the value of graphic novels to support young readers and with the returned upsurge in popularity of Marvel and Dc Comics and associated events like Comic Con, the stigma previously attached to the format has pretty much disappeared and it is regarded as a genuine part of literature.  So if this is your first venture into this genre either as a reader or a purchaser why not start with an award winner? Individually, the stories have been have been shortlisted for the Angouleme Festival, the most prestigious comics awards in Europe, acknowledging the best comics published across the world. Anders and the Comet was also the winner of Australia’s Silver Ledger Award.