Happy Book Birthday, The Terrifying Turnip Takeover by Lydia Lukidis!

Yippee! It's time to shoutout another book birthday. Today's read is the second in a humorful series of graphic novels for beginning readers, who are very sure of their words but not quite ready for larger, middle grade novels. I read the first one in the series last summer (see review HERE) and found it entertaining. The characters were quirky and fun. So, I'm hoping that this second book holds more of that. Let's open it up and find out!

THE TERRIFYING TURNIP TAKEOVER

Groucho, The Grouchy Groundhog

by Lydia Lukidis

Illustrated by Tara J Hannon

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Children's Humor  /  Graphic Novel

80 pages

ages 6 to 8

For fans of Grumpy Unicorn, Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog is back with his half-pig, half-uncorn (and all smiles) sidekick, Blork! ​ And while Groucho would much rather be eating pancakes or napping, Critter Creek might need him to save the day…again.

Groucho is a Grouchy Groundhog (NOT a mole, moles are different. See page 78 in Book 1 for more). When a terrifying turnip appears in the sky, it’s up to Groucho and Blork to see what Lord Turnip from Planet Jupi-TURD is up to.

Lord Turnip and his legion of zombie farmers have been prowling the universe, looking for the perfect place to plant their tasty turnips. But their Poo Poo Glue Slime is killing all the plants in Critter Creek! Can Groucho figure out how to stop them?

This original graphic novel sequel brings back all of your Critter Creek favorites!

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Turnip eating aliens and poo-forming-goo are only the beginning to this silly and surprise-filled adventure.

Groucho wants to take a shower, eat pancakes, and sleep, but his friend Blork isn't about to let him do any of that. Groucho's not even allowed to shower in peace thanks to an emergency. An alien named Lord Turnip has appeared with a spaceship and wants to turn entire Critter Creek into turnip fields with his Poo Poo Glue Slime, which oozes everything into turnip fertilizer. Groucho simply wants to eat his pancakes, but when Lord Turnip attacks Groucho's house and the pancakes are threatened, it's time to take care of the matter.

Quirky adventure rolls from every page as these unique characters try to save their home. Groucho hits with his grumpy and rude-ish style adding an edge to the, otherwise, ridiculous circumstances. And the evil villain from book one returns with a different twist, letting the latest villain swamp everyone with the new threat. There's a sense of urgency to make sure the adventure doesn't fall short. It creates a quick-paced read, where anything can happen and a happy ending isn't guaranteed...and not only because Groucho is never happy. Still, the characters provide many reasons to smile as they fumble and bumble through everything in a way which draws in.

The graphics are well done and lead the tale along smoothly, while also letting humor gain hold. The text fits readers, who are very sure of their words but not quite ready for larger reads. Heavy messaging stays far away in these pages, but friendship is golden, and it's shown that individuals can change for the better. The author does refer back to book one a few times, and even uses it to round off this read. So, it is better to take this series in order...although it isn't difficult to sink right in with book two, either. Those who enjoy odd fun and silliness are sure to enjoy Groucho and his friends. 

And here they are...

Tara J. Hannon lives in a house on a hill near the Chesapeake Bay. She writes and illustrates from her home studio, alongside her husband, two daughters, and one overly excited dog. When not creating, she can be found enjoying the bay with her family, jogging at a slow and friendly pace, or drinking coffee.

Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024) and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, and Cybils Award nominee. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. Lydia is represented by literary agent Miranda Paul from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.

Groucho, The Grouchy Groundhog by Lydia Lukidis

I've been waiting to get today's read up here, since it sounds fantastic. It's for chapter book readers (those readers who need a little more practice before heading into the middle grade realm) and a graphic novel...but what caught my attention was the grouchy groundhog and the promise of super-silliness on the cover and in the blurb. And pancakes because who doesn't like pancakes?

Anyway, let's open it up and see if it holds to my expectations.

(Note: This read was so fun that I'm adding it to my possible favorites of 2025 list)

GROUCHO

THE GROUCHY GROUNDHOG

by Lydia Lukidis

Illustrated by Tara J. Hannon

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Chapter Book   /   Graphic Novel

80 pages

ages 6 to 9

COMING...

JULY 15th!!!

Commander Hare E. Bun Bun has stolen all of the pancakes in Critter Creek! Grumpy groundhog Groucho and his annoying, cheery neighbor, Blork, the unicorn pig, must work together to save breakfast!

Groucho and Blork can’t be more different. Grouchy is a grumpy groundhog whose motto is “Go Away!” Blork is half unicorn, half pig, all smiles, and absolutely convinced she is Groucho’s bestie. They’re only united by an incredible love of pancakes.

So when they learn that the evil Commander Hare E. Bun Bun has stolen all of the pancakes of Critter Creek, along with the secret recipe, Groucho and Blork dash to save the day and become an unlikely pair of crime fighters!

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Grouchy might seem to be a negative turn, but this read proves that tons of fun can be hidden behind even this grumbly word.

Groucho is a grouchy groundhog, who just wants to sleep and eat pancakes. He doesn't even want to admit that his perky, maybe-unicornish neighbor could be his best friend, especially when she forces him to wake up. But this time is different. An evil plot is brewing thanks to Commander Hare E. Bun Bun, and it could mean the end of pancakes for everyone.

This is a super fun read with tons of laughs. The characters are furry (for the most part) and all are definitely cute...even the evil villain, whose attitude and plans could be kinder. The adventure is very quick paced and draws in immediately, holding to the very, very end. First, readers get a quick bio and overview of each character in a presentation, which highlights their personality with hints of silliness. At the end, there's another presentation surrounding Groucho, which showcases several of his attributes and such to add a last, nice touch.

Everything about this read screams fun, which is perfect for those readers who need to practice their words. The entire thing is divided into chapters, and these are kept pretty short to make sure breaks are readily available. The text is easy to read, always just enough to keep the story clear and moving, and still makes sure to add just enough to work those word skills. But readers will be so caught up in Grouch and Blork's adventure that any 'work' on this end becomes nonexistent. 

The illustrations are bright, bold, and let the humor flow while sticking to the tension, too. There are plenty of details to build the world without distracting. These balance nicely with the text and make the tale that much more grabbing.

This is a funny and grabbing read with just the right amount of tension, nonsense, friendship, and saving-the-day. It's a great start to what promises to be an exciting series.

And here they are...

Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 60+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth's Atmosphere (Capstone, 2025),  and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner for the Canada and North America division, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, a Cybils Award nominee, and winner of the Dogwood Readers Award. What else does Lydia love? Garfield, pancakes, and slapstick comedy!

Tara J. Hannon is the author/illustrator of the graphic novel series BRITLE (Amp Kids) and the chapter book series THE ONLY GHOST (Penguin Workshop). She is excited to be illustrating this graphic novel series, GROUCHO, THE GROUCHY GROUNDHOG.

Up, Up High by Lydia Lukidis

 Today's read heads into the realm of poetry, and I believe this is for the younger audience out there. With the cover, I'm expecting a little space and sky poetry. It's supposed to wrap in science and STEM themes as well. So, I'm excited to see where this one goes.

Ready to fly?

UP, UP HIGH

The Secret Poetry of Earth's Atmosphere

by Lydia Lukidis

Illustrated by Katie Rewse

Capstone Editions

44 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING JANUARY 1, 2025!!!

Look up—into the blue and beyond. What do you see? The sky—our atmosphere—may seem empty or invisible. But is it? Using spare, lyrical language, author Lydia Lukidis (Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench) takes readers on an imagined journey up, up high to discover the surprising and wonderous things flying, floating, and happening between the treetops and the stars in this STEM-based picture book.

GOODREADS   /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Wonder and awe mix with the joy of poetry while introducing young readers to all sorts of facts about the Earth's atmosphere and beyond.

This book holds more than one aspect, which makes it enjoyable to dive into. First, it's written in lyrical form and flows very well as it takes the reader on a trip up into the sky...reaching higher and higher with every two-page spread. This holds short phrases and verses just right for even shorter attention spans. The text grabs with a sense of adventure, curiosity, and inspiration as it leads the reader through the various levels of the atmosphere. It's just right for younger readers as a read-aloud and also works for beginning readers to pick up on their own. 

The journey begins on the ground and leads the reader onto a rocket ship. At this moment, the very first box of information is found at the bottom of the page, which reveals a few general facts about space ships. These information boxes are visually separated from the poetic read-aloud and appear every few pages, presenting various tidbits and facts as the tale leads higher and higher through the atmosphere. These are written at a slightly higher reading level but still work great for those readers, who are pretty sure of their words. Plus, they can be slid into the read-aloud or mentioned on the side. I was surprised that some of these hold little known facts too, such as space jumping and sprites. None of it is boring, and readers are sure to pick up on some new information along the way.

The illustrations bring across the scenes with an energetic atmosphere, while making certain aspects of the atmospheric levels clear. The art style carries a playful tone, keeping it geared for the younger audience level. Still, the science side comes across clearly and is no problem to identify and understand.

At the top corner, there's a small black box with information holding the name of the atmosphere layer as well as the altitude of where it begins.

At the end, there is a summary of the various levels, a glossary and more. It rounds everything off nicely and keeps the science end rich and useful. At the same time, the entire book makes a lovely, poetic read-aloud, which invites readers to dream about taking a journey on a rocket ship themselves. In other words, there's quite a bit of goodness in these pages, and so much to enjoy.

And here she is...

Lydia Lukidis is the author of more than 50 trade and educational books for children. They include Deep, Deep, Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone Editions, 2023), a Crystal Kite Award winner, a 2024 Forest of Reading Honour Book, Ontario Library Association, and a Cybils Award nominee, as well as Dancing Through Space: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman & Company, 2024). A resident of Quebec, Canada, and a science enthusiast, Lydia incorporates her scientific studies and everlasting curiosity into her books. Visit her website at lydialukidis.com.