Oliver and the Seawigs is the first book in the Not-So-Impossible Tale series by author Philip Reeve.
Oliver grew up in a family of adventurers – but his biggest adventure is about to begin! With his new friends, a grumpy old albatross, a short-sighted mermaid and a friendly island named Cliff, Oliver sets out in search of his missing parents. But before he can execute his rescue plan, the villain Stacey de Lacey and an army of fat blue sea monkeys must contend…
Oliver Crisp lived a rather risky life at a very young age. His parents are adventurers and they’ve decided it’s time to settle down. However, a group of mysterious islands have entered the waters surrounding their home and Oliver’s parents must discover them immediately! Suddenly, Oliver’s parents go missing… and so are the islands! In this exciting story, Reeve and McIntyre introduce the perfect blend of graphic novels and high school multi-chapter books that will engage and delight the whole family!
When I first received this book, I didn’t know what “seawig” was. I think it’s some kind of sea creature that the author made up. I was surprised to find out that “seawig” is just that! A wig…made from the sea! Add a myopic mermaid, some rude sarcastic seaweed, and enough sea monkeys to fill a sea, and you have Oliver and the Seawigs.
This book has so many interesting levels that I ran out and bought myself one! This is the perfect book for children to transition from picture books to chapter books. They’ll enjoy the illustrations on most of the pages and the lines spaced enough that they can flip through the book in no time. The whole layout and design are aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eyes of children. It reminds me a lot of Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck. The plot and artwork are embellished with levels of creativity that will keep the reader turning pages with anticipation.
