Mossy and Tweed: Crazy for Coconuts

I Like to Read Comics

by Mirka Hokkanen

Two clueless gnomes on a quest to crack a coconut make one blooper after another in this over-the-top funny early graphic novel series.

Mossy and Tweed enjoy a perfect day in the Gnome Woods. The air is crisp, their gardens are growing, and the next-door neighbors have a good-natured argument brewing.

But then a runaway coconut lands between their homes. What is inside this strange nut? The tag hints at water . . . sand . . . sunshine . . . Could it be paradise? The gnomes must know! Armed with dreams of an instant vacation, the wacky duo sets out to crack their nut.

Cozy Scandinavian illustrations, oodles of “oopsies,” and easy-to-read banter are sure to delight in this new series for emerging readers. Kids will laugh themselves silly at Mossy and Tweed’s slapstick misadventures.

I Like to Read® Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number of young comics fans. Filled with eye-catching art, humor, and terrific stories these comics provide unique reading experiences for growing minds. Like their award-winning I Like to Read® counterparts, these books are created by celebrated artists and support reading comprehension to transform children into lifelong readers.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Fantasy, Comics

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Mirka Hokkanen is a Finnish-American author-illustrator of Mossy and Tweed, as well as the forthcoming Kitty and Cat series and Little Seasons series. Mirka works mainly in children's books, but also licenses her work, sells on Etsy and teaches on Skillshare. When not in her studio, she likes to knit, sew and explore the outdoors with her three kids.

Reviews

[Julie Abery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this is slapstick at its best!! I adored the hapless gnomes and their adventures to open the coconut. The unicorn and 'tricksy' pixies were super fun. Lots of repetition to help early readers and the bright, comic book art is adorable! Well done Mirka Hokkanen!

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kooky, coconutty, also just nutty early reader! Perfect for kids who like hijinks and antics and physical comedy. For fans of silly, slapstick comedy, it's a great introduction to the comics format.

[Bonnie Kelso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute debut for a promising series! Who doesn't love a pair of little gnomes with a big problem? I won't spoil it, but the unicorn made me laugh out loud! A great little CB graphic novel for emerging young readers.

[Catherine Ciocchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes us to a cozy land depicted in a detailed map at the very beginning...so fun! Mossy and Tweed are a comical pair who work together while not always agreeing, their goal is the same-- A familiar scenario we can all relate to. Young readers will laugh at the unfortunate but "not too serious" mishaps. The detailed illustrations make this story a fun crack up....especially in the end!

[Kaz Windness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this adorable, funny young graphic novel. The illustrations are a blast, the story is fun and fast-paced, and any kid growing into their reading skills will love the lush illustrations supporting the text. Recommend!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to get a glimpse at this one, it's a delightful adventure with very funny scenes. I think children will appreciate the back and forth bickering that occurs between good friends trying to find their voices. Boy, would I love one of their coconuts right about now!

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful first graphic novel for young readers! As I've discussed elsewhere on this site, how can the discerning reader tell the difference between picture book and graphic novel? This volume falls firmly in that latter category, perhaps due to the more formal nature of having multiple panels on each page as opposed to a picture book's preponderance of single images per page or double page spread.

Anyway, now that I've finished being pedantic (for now,) let me tell you more about this delightfully silly hardcover volume that thoroughly amused both myself and my reluctant reader middle child. My reluctant reader youngest child bailed out of reading it with me because, sigh, he'd already read one book that day, but Joseph happily obliged by reading this aloud with me.

As a member of the Space Gnome Discord server (and hello to any of you reading this! I will write some postcards soon, I promise!) I was absolutely tickled to be introduced to Mossy and Tweed, two bickering gnomes who live side by side in Gnome Forest. As they're arguing the difference between being smart and being lazy one day, a strange item rolls onto their farm, flattening Tweed in the process.

Once they recover, they try to make sense of this new arrival. A label affixed to the rubber band around it implies that the hard, hairy item contains a beach vacation, which spurs our duo to attempt to open it. Mossy figures it out first, but Tweed is adamant that they try out all of Tweed's ideas before even listening to Mossy's. Hijinks ensue.

This was a very cute comic, with surprises even for an experienced reader like myself (the unicorn, for example, absolutely cracked me up!) Joseph gave it a nine out of ten stars, stating that the part where they finally open the coconut was his favorite. I enjoyed the lesson about teamwork and listening to each other even if you bicker sometimes, a very valuable lesson especially for my rambunctious family.

This book is the first in Mirka Hokkanen's Mossy And Tweed series, with the story greatly enhanced by her expressive, boldly colored art. The coconut's sad "face" makes me laugh every time I see it. I can't wait to explore more of her universe as she expands upon the series.

Mossy And Tweed: Crazy For Coconuts by Mirka Hokkanen was published January 10 2023 by Holiday House and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!

This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful hardcover comic-book for kids arrived this afternoon and I couldn’t wait to read it. I settled myself down with a some tea and opened the book. The first thing that grabs you are the amazing colors. Gorgeous blues and greens add a sweet softness while the browns and reds give it a lovely earthy feel. The first comic block, set in Gnome Woods, shows a coconut bounce out of a passing truck. It bounces right past two gnomes each working their own vegetable patch and arguing over who is the hardest working, who is the laziest, and who is the smartest. The smart one is a bit slow to dodge the bouncing coconut and gets flattened. And so begins the quest to, figure out what it is, and how to get it open. I burst out laughing many times as I turned the pages. It is a hilarious story. Kids will love these two wacky gnomes and their unhelpful, and sometimes wicked neighbors. (Watch out for the Pixies!) I highly recommend this for kids of all ages because even adults will get a giggle out of it. Side note, every time I see this book on my shelf I get a huge smile on my face remembering the shenanigans of the gnomes. It definitely gets my huggable book award. 😁

[Bonnie Lambourn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book! It is hysterically funny. I don't normally love slapstick, but Mirka Hokkanen has captured the style of cartoon slapstick that all kids know isn't real - and clarified it well early on when Tweed is flattened like a pancake by the coconut. I am trying hard not to reveal the funny punny like places, but the author doesn't miss a beat in her timing and inclusion of funny ideas into the art and story. My favorites are those mischievous pixies, and the old emotional 'Unicorn'.

At the end I missed the funny home improvements until going back for a reread. I think, like me, however, kids will want to read this time and again. Plus a second Mossy and Tweed are on the way soon!

It's a book beginning readers can handle alone, or you can enjoy laughing along with kids as you read it aloud.

[Tales Untangled · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received CRAZY FOR COCONUTS as a gift.

It's adorable!

The frame sequence makes it so easy to read. And the characters are going to have kids in stitches. (One of those books that prove the reader is smarter than the character.)

It's full of zany fun, but it also shows problem solving, tenacity, and friendship.
As a "I like to Read Comics" book, it has high interest and low vocabulary so even reluctant readers will love reading.

There is so much humor in the book too. Wait until you see the unicorn! Oh my goodness, I laughed aloud.

The illustrations are so fun and entertaining.

This book is highly accessible for reluctant readers.

I highly recommend it!

Happy reading!

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mossy and Tweed make reading fun in this comic style early reader. While doing a spot of gardening (and a little arguing), Mossy and Tweed are bowled over by a runaway coconut. Convinced that there’s a beach complete with chairs and umbrella drinks hidden inside the coconut, they come up with plans to crack the nut. After hilarious unsuccessful attempts, (and a few more disagreements) Mossy and Tweed set off to ask Wise Old Unicorn and then the pixies for help. Again, nothing goes according to plan, and when the coconut is finally cracked, there’s a booming big surprise.

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars (It was okay)

I didn't really care for this I Like to Read Comic.

First, it starts off with the characters calling each other names and not really in a playful way.

Then the book follows the two characters as they try to crack open the "nut" (coconut) but just end up getting constantly injured. It's like watching Wile E Coyote.

I see that other people enjoy the slapstick but it definitely wasn't for me.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

For early readers who love slapstick, this could be just the thing. Two clueless gnomes who are trying to open a coconut? Made for a comics-style book!

Here's a sample of the dullards in action:

The Tall Gnome says, "We should get a rock" [for opening the coconut.]

[They get a rock. Or, at least, an acorn.]

The Tall Gnome says, "If we drop it from a tree, it will break."

RATING THIS BOOK

Enjoy the giggles, Goodreaders! FIVE STARS

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love graphic novels, and love children’s graphic novels as well. This was expertly written and illustrated. The humor surprised me at times in a very pleasant way. I actually giggled out loud at certain points. The attempts at solving the situation took me on a fun and interesting journey. The cast of characters are so silly and there were also fun reveals there too. I highly recommend!

[Katie Mazeika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mossy and Tweed have all kinds of slapstick fun trying to get to the beach inside a coconut. Kids are sure to find their adventures fun and the cast of characters entertaining. I can’t wait to see what they do next!

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me some silly gnomes, and Mossy and Tweed and their slightly sarcastic woodland surrounding definitely fit the bill. I particularly love the "wise old unicorn" and the mildly malicious pixies. Perfect.

[Kelly]

I really like that we're getting more graphic novel early readers. I think kids will get a kick out of this one. It's like a cartoon really where one guy gets all the bad things happening to him. I was confused that we got the instructions for opening a coconut but they didn't use them at all.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Roxanne Troup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and sweet and oh-so-relatable!

[Katy Tanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventures in coconut cracking! This is a fun and silly book about two friends vs a coconut. Engaging, energetic illustrations will keep new readers interested. Fun!

[Brianna Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure I like the comic style for “I can read” level readers…

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.