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Pip, pip, hooray! Livermore author Jen de Oliveira recently released “Pip & Pals: Otter Space” – the first installment of her new, kid-friendly graphic novel series.
“Perfect for reluctant readers”, according to a press release from de Oliveira’s publisher, “Pip & Pals” features cartoon friends, kid humor and vibrant illustrations, plus positive messages about friendship and identity.
“Because it’s a comic, the visuals help tell a lot of the story,” de Oliveira said. “I think this makes the book accessible to all kinds of readers, and it may feel less intimidating for kids who are overwhelmed by a lot of text on a page.”
The graphic novel series centers around Pip, a playful, adventurous otter who loves to explore with her friends.
“I’m from the Bay Area, where we have both river otters and sea otters nearby, so I definitely thought an otter would make a fun and cute main character!” de Oliveira told the Pleasanton Weekly. “But once I started developing Pip’s character and thinking about ‘Otter Space’, it became a story about self-acceptance and finding one’s place.”
de Oliveira is a writer, cartoonist, and former elementary school teacher. Alongside “Pip & Pals”, she’s currently working on another graphic novel series, “Nummi Chums”, releasing in 2028, according to her website. The next books in “Pip & Pals” are in the making.
“I can’t reveal the title yet, but the second book will be out next summer,” she said. “It’s another silly adventure and introduces a new friend, but there’s also an ecological theme in the story. I’m excited to continue Pip’s adventure and hope readers will have fun reading it!”
