Neville's Great Escape

by Sean E. Avery

A companion story to the multi-award-winning, internationally successful Frank's Red Hat starring Neville, the penguin who was eaten by a whale—or was he?

Neville was a penguin known for being somewhat of a risk-taker.

He was brave, bold, and beloved by all. Until the day he was eaten by a whale. Or so it seemed . . . because that was only the beginning of the story. This delightful—and daring—tale is a companion to the award-winning and best-selling Frank's Red Hat.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Humor, Childrens, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 3, 2026

About the author

Sean E Avery is an internationally acclaimed sculptor, author and illustrator best known for his animal sculptures made from CDs and electronic waste, some of which are featured in the SciTech (Perth) and Ripley’s Believe It or Not (USA) exhibitions. He has presented at various Writers festivals and represented Australia at the International Waste To Art exhibition in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2014.

Reviews

[Reading Rachel]

Wonderful artwork, very entertaining and good for the imagination. I loved this book. A wonderful story about a penguin that gets swallowed by a whale and the penguin plans an escape.

[Fatima Seraj Alam]

Neville is gutsy. I admire his persistence but then again who wouldn’t try to escape a whale’s belly. Reminded me of Marlin and Dory.

[Ryan]

This book is fantastic. It’s tongue and cheek. It’s funny and the illustrations grow on you. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the cover because I kept seeing small thumbnails of it but seeing the illustrations inside of the book, the cover makes perfect sense. Everything works together. We need more Neville books. The tenacious bird that refuses to be eaten. We need more of him. This book was fantastic and I would have a blast reading this at story time.

[Sarah]

Neville the Penguin is a great adventurer, beloved by all… right up until he is swallowed by an orca whale. Neville isn’t one to be defeated easily, however! He may be inside the whale’s mouth, but he isn’t eaten yet. So despite the fatalism of his new compatriot, Reg the Seal, he refuses to give up trying to escape. Will his efforts pay off? Based on the book’s title, the question is less ‘if’ and more ‘how.’

Whether you’ve read Frank’s Red Hat or not, this book is a delight. Reg’s apathy is a nice counterpoint to Neville’s tenacity, and the book’s message—that a situation is never so late or so hopeless that it isn’t worth trying to fix, no matter how ridiculous you may look to others—is timeless. Children will enjoy watching Neville try to escape and will eagerly join in on his refrain: “We are not eaten yet!” Older readers, meanwhile, will appreciate the wry authorial tone.

Avery has once again used digital collage and scanned folded/painted papers to create his cartoony illustrations. Scenes alternate between typical single-to-double-page spreads and comic-style panels; likewise, text alternates between regular text paragraphs and word bubbles. Black and white are the predominant shades in the Antarctic, but the scenes explode into multiple colors once Neville enters the whale’s mouth, providing a sharp visual contrast. Though both Neville and Reg’s rounded bodies offer limited opportunity for body language, Avery communicates a great deal of personality and emotion through their eyes, which can be extra round, narrowed, have lifted eyebrows, and so on.

A dryly humorous story about the power of persistence.

Recommended for ages 4-8. A solid choice for fans of books like Don't Trust Fish and Don't Eat Eustace.


Thanks to Walker Books for the copy via the Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Media Group.

[Mary]

Neville is more adventurous than most of the penguins in his midst, but when he accidentally gets eaten by a killer whale one day, it seems as though his story is over. Luckily, it takes rather a long time to be eaten, and Neville makes an unexpected new companion inside the killer whale's mouth. Not one to be defeated, Neville keeps searching for freedom while he still has breath in his body, leading to an entirely new adventure that just might be the start of something even more exciting. This companion to Frank's Red Hat is placed in the same setting and follows a different character through a dangerous, though amusing, set of circumstances. Tongue-in-cheek humor is found throughout the narrative, pleasing children and caregivers alike with the dry wit that appears both in the traditional narrative and in the accompanying word bubbles. Because of the length of the text, this book is best suited to upper preschoolers and early elementary school aged readers, and it is fun to read aloud thanks to the humor within the narrative and the visibility of the illustrations. A limited color palette adorns the images, giving readers the distinct feeling of being in an Antarctic landscape. Additionally, expressive eyes and faces add a cartoon-like quality to the book that is delightful for young readers. From one unexpected experience to the next, readers will be enthusiastic to learn how (and if) Neville will manage to extricate himself from the jaws of the mighty killer whale, and the book is delightfully primed for more to come. Fun and entertaining, this book is an excellent fit for fans of Frank's Red Hat and for anyone who appreciates a fantastic and slightly zany adventure. This is a highly recommended addition to library collections for young readers.

[YSBR]

In a follow up to Avery’s book Frank’s Red Hat, this story is about the penguin who was shockingly eaten by an orca in the aforementioned tale.  Neville is a daredevil, and a penguin who cannot be stopped by silly things like getting eaten.  After landing in an orca’s mouth, Neville befriends a seal named Reg and tries to make the best of things.  That is, until he realizes “We are not eaten yet…” and sets off to free them both.  The tale ends with both beloved animal characters making it safely back on land.  But Avery leaves the adventure open for more, as the story ends with Neville’s statement–as he sits atop a worried and snow-covered Reg:  “We are not eaten yet.”

Avery is a fantastically funny picture book creator.  Serving as both the author and illustrator, with images created using digital collage and scanned folded/painted papers, Avery masterfully plays between image and text for the perfect comedy.  Whether it’s reading that Neville is a bit “of a risk taker” while watching him take a small hop off a rock, or reading that he could not reach the top of the whale’s mouth “even on his tippy-toes” while seeing he is nowhere close, Neville is sure to entice giggles among all ages.  Avery also ingeniously uses various textures throughout the story, primarily when establishing setting.  He creates the outside world in purely black and white with a soft feel.  However the inside of the whale is colorful and features a variety of textures, reflecting Neville’s exciting new adventure.  This penguin is quite the character, and readers are sure to love his squinty and determined facial expressions. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Barbara]

Happily, it appears that I'm not the only reader who was amused by Frank's Red Hat and Neville. This companion book [3.5 for me!] to that previous one follows the risk-taking, brave penguin after he is snatched up Neville, who is still holding onto his red knitted hat. The colorful pages of the whale's interior show Neville making friends with another victim: a seal named Reg. While Neville is initially scared, eventually he realizes that the two of them are okay because, as he keeps reiterating, they haven't been eaten yet. Being Neville, he looks for an escape route. Although they fail to find one, something irritates the whale, and they have the ride of their lives. Oh, how clever the text for this picture book is. The interactions between Nevill and Reg are amusing, and the artwork, which is mostly images of the whale's tongue and interior has so many delightful details. And since they are still alive, it looks as though more adventures lie ahead. Neville's rallying cry that "We are not eaten yet!" (unpaged) should serve as inspiration for the rest of us to live life to the fullest.

[Stephanie Bange]

Thanks to Publisher's Spotlight for the review copy of the book.
The sequel to Avery's Frank's Red Hat is fun, but not quite as funny.

After he is swallowed up by an orca, Neville finds himself in the whale's mouth with a seal named Reg. The two find themselves bored, so try to escape through the orca's blowhole - until Reg tells Neville that the blowhole is a part of his respiratory system - not his digestive. The two manage to escape with the help of an upset stomach.

The humor feels more forced here than in the first book. I thought exactly what Reg did: Where DID Neville get all that furniture? This is never answered. Though I liked it, I didn't love it.

Once again, the illustrations were created using digital collage techniques and scanned folded/painted papers. This one uses full color when Neville is inside the whale, returning to the white/black/gray with color hats and walrus in their frozen world.

An optional purchase for PreS-grade 2.

[Jennie]

For those who have met Frank and his red hat in a previous Avery story, this is a funny and humorous addition focusing on Neville, a brave penguin who is faced with a big problem when swallowed by a whale. Inside the whale he meets a seal called Reg who is resigned to his fate. Not Neville how problem solves a way out - ridiculous and highly unlikely - but it works!

As the story progresses, Avery expands the colour palette from black and white to richer and deeper colours for inside the whales mouth.The story progresses effectively with a mix of cameo, whole page and double page spreads. The text is clever - dry wit and exaggerated observations add to the humour to engage an older audience. The text is written in different ways - regular print, speech bubbles and carefully spaced to provide emphasis and appropriate pauses.

CBCA 2026 Picture Book Notable title.

[Little Batties]

Neville is the sort of main character you want to see in a children’s story. He is so filled with determination, and he doesn’t give up. This penguin gets eaten by a whale and he does everything he can to escape. It is the kind of story that I can see little ones not only loving to hear out loud, but I can see them wanting to read it on their own.

It also sends a message about the importance of helping others too. With beautiful artwork, a great storyline, and some funny, overexaggerated character moments, it’s sure to delight anyone that reads the story. I would definitely recommend this story, especially to the younger ones, as I can see them enjoying this feisty penguin and his fight for survival.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Spotlight for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sadie-Jane Huff]

Book 019 of 365 ~ 2026

🌟🌟🌟🌟

One star simple because an adorable and gungho penguin was involved.

What an adventure and what a story about resilience.

Love it!

The saying when there is a will there is a way rings true here.

I received a complimentary copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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[Shanna]

Okay, this was even better than the first one. Neville, the lost penguin from Frank’s Red Hat, gets stuck inside a killer whale’s mouth. Being an adventurer, he is not too perturbed by this. Also, he has a friend in a seal named Ren.

But Neville and Ren soon get bored of being in the whale’s mouth and Neville decides they should try and escape. After all, they haven’t been eaten yet. Through much perseverance, the two try their best to get back out into the world. Will they make it back before the whale realizes he hasn’t eaten them yet?

Favorite quote: “We are not eaten yet.”—repeated line. A reminder to persevere in times of trouble.

Mia’s 3rd Year of Books: Day 177

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*]

Neville’s Great Escape by Sean E. Avery. PICTURE BOOK. Walker Books, 2026. $19. 9781761602542
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
When Neville gets swallowed by the giant whale, he could sit back and wait to be eaten. Neville, however, has other plans - Escape!
A companion to Frank’s Red Hat. Avery gives us another penguin adventure - this time reminding us to not give up and to look at things a different way. Avery adds a bit more snark to Neville's character and to his seal sidekick (however unwilling), which I enjoyed.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

[Bailey Young]

Neville's Great Escape by @seaneavery is a humorous, delightful, unexpected, and fun read! I absolutely loved Frank's Red Hat and was thrilled to see the daredevil penguin Neville return in his own adventure. This book takes a tragic ending and turns it into a story of living life to the fullest. Neville's life motto, "We are not eat yet," is call to action and a source of hope to keep moving through life's toughest challenges.

[Vicky]

Neville, a penguin, was a risk taker, and then one day a whale swallows him. He meets Reg, a seal, and when Neville gets bored they play cards. Then the whale shakes and groans and they realize they’re going to be eaten and then… Great ending!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Rachel]

Loved it! Would be a good ST book for older kids. Just like the the author's first book, this one is full of humor, silliness and black and white images with a touch of color. A Penguin gets eaten by a whale and discovers a seal has also been eaten. They both survive inside the whale, until the Penguin can't take it anymore and tries to find a way to escape. Love the sense of humor in these!

[Pug]

LOVED the tie-in with Frank’s Red Hat!!! Of course, since it was the sequel after all, but it gave Neville's side of events as well as his backstory. He was the bravest penguin of all... so brave, as a matter of fact, that he was the one who dared to wear Frank's red hat. With dire consequences! As much as I enjoyed the shock value of Neville being eaten, I admit it's a relief that he survived.

[Sara Beth]

Neville is a risk-taking penguin who gets swallowed by a whale! What would be the end for most, is just the beginning for Neville as he never gives up on finding an escape, determined not to be eaten.

[Emmy]

This book has some of that signature dry humor one might expect to see in a Jon Klassen book. Over all, I thought it was a little strange, but there were a few lines that really made me laugh.

[Miriam]

Deutsch: „Neville gibt nicht auf“
Süß und lustig, schöne Illus.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady]

too long for littles, but I think elementary-aged kids would get a kick out of it

[Tricia]

Amazing book, I won't be giving up, we're not eaten yet!