Review by Frank Plowright

Max and Chaffy’s introduction in Welcome to Animal Island was Jamie Smart pulling back from his specialities of the surreal, the SF and the smutty as showcased so admirably in Bunny vs. Monkey, to produce a gentler comedy based on exploration for an even younger audience. Max is the inquisitive young girl living in a lighthouse, and Chaffy is her small, bouncing round companion, and the island they live on is populated by eccentric characters and features distinctive looking locations. With the open friendly illustration and simple charming cast it’s almost designed for Cbeebies.

For the time being Chaffy is one of a kind, but Max is convinced there must be others, which leads to Foghorn, who has his own boat, extending the search to a part of the island only accessible from the sea. There they meet a puffer fish resembling Chaffy who encloses them in an air bubble and takes them to the bottom of the sea.

Although that might sound dangerous, and indeed Foghorn prefers to stay in the boat, Smart’s creating a magical world, not a fearful one, and the bubbles are protective as well as holding air. The jokes are restrained, silly, but gentle, and the eventual quest for Captain Boombox’s lost treasure will carry young readers through the adventure. And as it says on the back cover, they can help. Smart includes puzzles. There are four opportunities to find a hidden Chaffy in detailed spreads, and the pirate treasure is actually scattered around different locations, so once the story’s been read, youngsters can head back in to locate the treasure.

Simple, yet delightful, younger readers will love Max & Chaffy.