Pawprint Productions: Stop! Gangster Koala!

The Pawprint Productions series features short stories about animals who work at a TV studio and all the jolly japes they get up to. Stop! Gangster Koala! is a playful introduction to the gangster genre for early readers eager to take on some chapter books.

Archie the koala loves being an actor, and he is excited (but secretly very nervous) about portraying the menacing gangster boss Houdlam Pie-Claw in a new series. When a shambolic accident happens on the studio set, Archie transforms into the meringue-chucking mafioso for real, and embarks upon a vengeful mission to ‘splat’ as many animals as he can!

As hardworking actors, directors and camera operators are trying to shoot their programmes, Archie/Houdlam Pie-Claw causes chaos, threatening everyone with a thoroughly good splatting and failing to understand that the various sets he wanders through – from quiz show to hospital drama – are not real-life.

The setting of a TV studio means that each chapter can play with tropes from different types of show and introduce all sorts of zany characters. Their animal identities will appeal to younger readers, but children are unlikely to be familiar with all of the various types of TV genre portrayed, so may miss lots of the jokes. However, children will enjoy the simplicity and playfulness of the illustrations, which capitalise on the cultural capital of cute and cuddly creatures like giraffes and chameleons, as well as the undeniably adorable Archie the koala.

This story is not without charm and there are a few poignant moments between Archie and his friends, but, overall, a lack of drama or excitement might mean that the book fails to maintain the interest of readers all the way to the end.