Croaky: Search for the Sasquatch

This illustrated adventure comedy for children introduces a new hero – Croaky – and will be an immediate favourite for fans of the Super Happy Magic Forest series.

Croaky is an adorable, energetic and enthusiastic little frog who is in search of the kinds of exciting adventures that his hero, Tennessee Toad, has on a weekly basis on TV. Sadly, the grown-ups in Croaky’s life have no time for wrestling alligators or riding on rickety mine carts along rusty rails. Croaky doesn’t let such negative outlooks get him down, though, and he joins the Woggle Scouts in an attempt to find some kindred spirits.

Initially, the scouts are a little underwhelming: the group’s only members are a puffed-out old puffin called Winston and a know-it-all mouse called Sheena whose sole ambition seems to be the acquisition of badges. However, everything changes when Croaky chooses to ignore all the warning signs and open the ‘Ultimate Danger Door’!

Croaky and his two new adventure pals bond over a camping trip in the woods, where Winston is sure they can discover the long lost sasquatch (though Sheena and Croaky have their doubts). Throughout the story it is clear that Winston and Sheena are hiding something from Croaky, but his loveable character and boundless enthusiasm mean that he is very happy to hop onto the adventure and simply see where it takes him, even when it requires him to climb a mountain using his tongue or – even worse – to sample Winston’s kipper sandwiches!

Typically, Long uses a broad range of devices to develop his new characters in ways that readers will find funny. As well as outlandish, action-filled illustrations, there are special notes to the reader, labelled diagrams and brilliant speech bubbles that make reading the book a lively and varied experience. The book is also generously published with a glossy, textured cover and an original, frog-green palette that makes it feel like you are reading something special.

As a character, Croaky is a hilarious combination of bold ambition and total naivety. He’s more than happy to take on terrifying, mythical monsters, but sometimes gets stuck in his sleeping bag or forgets to change out of his pyjamas. Readers will hope that Croaky and the Woggle Scouts have many more adventures ahead of them.