Max & Chaffy: Welcome to Animal Island
For ages 5+
This’ll turn any frown upside down!!
By Jamie Smart (David Fickling Books, 2023)
Hurrah! A new graphic novel series for 5-7 year olds by the legendary Jamie Smart! I’m so overjoyed. Welcome to the high-colour, bouncy, bubbly, cute and clever world of Max & Chaffy. This the first of 3 books publishing this year. This is a story told in full technicolour, sunshine, warmth and a few rainbows here and there for added serotonin/dopamine-enhancing effect. There are a multitude of characters in this series… only one of them is grumpy (some of the time). It’s a buzz!
Words + Illustrations © Fumboo Ltd / Jamie Smart
The story begins with the Boggle family-of-three taking a boat trip across the sea to Animal Island where Max’s dad is to become the new lighthouse keeper. Max’s mum is introduced to the readers as a naturalist, someone who likes to learn about plants and animals. Max is a mixed-heritage kid; dad is brown-skinned and mum is white-skinned. Max’s favourite thing is to find things, to be helpful. Sounds good to me. It’s not called 'Animal Island' for nothing. The Chief Constable is a moose, Orlando the pilot is a pig, Crumbles the baker is a mallard duck, and so on.
Words + Illustrations © Fumboo Ltd / Jamie Smart
The story has an overwhelming theme of being helpful. Max and his new found friend, Chaffy, are champions as finding lost items and reuniting them with their owners all over the island. The only problem they can’t seem to find the answer to where Chaffy belongs!
Words + Illustrations © Fumboo Ltd / Jamie Smart
With a jolly sense of adventure and multiple mini-mysteries to solve, children who find highly illustrated texts more engaging to read will love this series - after all reading for pleasure grows confident readers. Heartwarming and a celebration of friendship and community. It’ll turn any frown upside down!!
FREE Official Colouring Sheets
Care of Jamie and his publisher, enjoy these fantastic Max & Chaffy book-based activity sheets. They’re so much fun!!
