Gimme some space by Clayton Zane Comber & Conor McCammon
Gimme Some Space, cleverly created by Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCammon is an absolute blast-off success. The second instalment of the Marvellous Submarine series, this story is jam packed full of adventure, fun and mayhem, and readers will be invested from the very first page.
Twins Poppy and Billy live on Earth on a place called Monkey Island with their brilliant inventor mum, her lab assistant - a gorilla named Harold - an assortment of other special animals, and a robot called Robo-Elvis, who delivers more singing punchlines than you’d think possible. Meanwhile, their dad is off in space, searching for aliens.
When mysterious space rocks come pelting down from the sky, turning life on Monkey Island into chaos, everyone must spring into action. Transforming ‘the marvellous submarine’ into ‘the marvellous (space)marine’, Poppy and Billy, along with some surprisingly helpful creatures, head out on a wildly entertaining mission into outer space to uncover the source of the problem.
When the crew encounters their nemeses, Mr Brains and Mr Brine, the stakes are high, the danger is ludicrous and the solutions are wonderfully imaginative. Young readers will love trying to guess how the team will fix the out of control situation and save both Earth and outer space before it’s too late.
A huge part of the book’s appeal comes from its comical black-and-white illustrations, matching the humour and energy of the story perfectly. The visual jokes add extra punch and personality to every page. With playful fonts and layouts, the reading experience is dynamic and engaging; making it especially appealing for readers who enjoy illustrated novels or are gaining confidence with longer chapter books.
The humour is crazy, clever and constant, ensuring there is never a dull moment. Yet beneath the fun there are some cool facts ingeniously intertwined about space, planets and our solar system.
Fast, funny and packed with action, Gimme Some Space is a highly engaging and accessible read that will hook reluctant readers and delight confident ones alike. It’s perfect for children who love adventure, science, animals and laugh-out-loud storytelling.
Themes: Outer Space, Rockets, Adventure, Problem Solving, Humour.
Michelle O'Connell