Pebble and Wren: A Graphic Novel – A Silly and Sweet Comic About Friendship for Children

by Chris Hallbeck

A little girl and her live-in monster learn about what makes them different—and what unites them. This graphic novel is a silly, sweet, and sometimes gross tribute to friendship, and to the wacky world we live in.

Based on his webcomic of the same name, Pebble and Wren follows human girl Wren and her live-in monster, Pebble, as she teaches them all about how the human world works—from why the moon changes shape to why we don't eat candy wrappers—while trying to unlock special abilities without which Pebble will have to return to the monster forest.

A silly, sweet, and sometimes gross tribute to friendship for fans of Calvin & Hobbes and Catwad.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Humor, LGBT, Fiction, Childrens

240 pages, Hardcover

First published April 11, 2023

About the author

Chris Hallbeck is a roughly human shaped collection of anxieties held together by caffeine and curiosity. He’s been publishing comics on the internet since 2006 with his single panel comic The Book of Biff, followed by his multi-panel strip Maximumble. He was the co-writer and artist for Unshelved at the end of it’s run which led to co-creating the similarly themed Library Comic. With the addition of his voice and animation, his comics have found an audience of over two million followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. He lives in Michigan with his wife, two children, and a small worm in the back of his skull that whispers comic ideas to him.

Reviews

[Rosh (on a short break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A cute graphic novel for middle graders. Goes a bit lengthy in some aspects but ought to be a fun read for its target age group.

Pebble is a little monster who has to go through a rite of passage to unlock his hidden monster skills: he needs to go into the human world and stay with a human family. Needless to say, little Pebble is quite apprehensive. When he reaches the home of human girl Wren and her two dads, Pebble realises that humans can be quite weird but caring. Wren teaches Pebble the ways of the human world. In the process, does he also understand how to become a better monster?

The rapport between Pebble and Wren is cute. Both of them have a mutual friendship, sharing fun as well as learning. Pebble loves maths and uses his common sense in solving practical problems, which Wren is sometimes stumped by. Pebble’s being a shapeshifter and his love for eating (and eating and even more eating) adds many comic elements to the plot.

Through Pebble’s need to leave the comfort of his home and wander into an unknown place, we also get to see his uncertainty over handling new elements and how Wren’s welcoming attitude worked wonders for his confidence. (Helpful to remember and implement this in case of a new child coming to your school.)
Plus points for portraying Wren as having two dads without making a big hoohah about it.

The story is divided into chapters, with each chapter having an episode kind of structure with varying lengths. Each episode has an interesting interaction between the two leads. This could be something as frivolous as having a day out or something educational such as understanding temperature or gravity. It is in the latter that the book falters a bit. The explanations tend to drag at times, making the comic suddenly feel like an illustrated textbook. Sometimes, the concepts are too tricky to be covered within a chapter and hence feels rushed and boring. For instance, refrigeration is too complicated a concept to cover within a few panels.

This book is based on a web comic of the same name on webtoons. The comics have been structured and colorised for this graphic novel. The graphics are quite simple but they work well for the book.

This is no Calvin & Hobbes, no matter what the blurb claims. Though it has some deep thoughts and philosophical ponderings, at its heart, it is a cute comic for kids and just kids.

Recommended to the target age group of 8-12 year olds. The silly + serious combo will work better for them.

3.75 stars.


My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books, Clarion Books, and NetGalley for the DRC of “Pebble and Wren”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.




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[Anneka · Rating 5 out of 5]

well explained engineering principles and friendship 😭

[el (celestialbronz) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars. Pebble is a little monster who had reached a time where he had to spent some time in human world to learn new skill. Then he stayed at a house where a little human named Wren lived. In no time they became inseparable.

This book was fun and hilarious. Wren and Pebble learned a lot of things related to math and science, with simple explanation. It's a nice educational book for young readers.

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 8 -year old daughter read this herself and really enjoyed it. She was just wondering about one detail - why did Pebble start eating the book Wren gave him (p.30), when the whole story began with him reading a book (not eating it)?

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is cute, though some parts are so straightforwardly educational that it kind of takes you out of the story.

[Mad · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I didnt have super high expectations, but this was cute

[Danielle Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO CUTE

Good job, Chris

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book, but it is no Calvin and Hobbs, no matter how much the hype team might want it to be. It is a gentler, version, perhaps.

Pebble is a monster who has to apprentice with a human, and just so happens to find his way to Wren's house, where her two dads welcome him in and he and Wren start having adventures together.

Sometimes they are in their imagination, such as when they take a trip to the moon. Other times they are real, as wehn they went to an invisible monster forest that only monsters could see, but whin Pebble at her side, Wren was able to see too.

All done in form panel strips on each page, sometimes nothing much happens. Other times you get a rip roaring story. It is a bit of that throughout. I found myself bored at times, and other times, wanting to know what would happen.

I am probably not the right audience, and younger kids might really get into this, but I just plodded along through the dull bits.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Jen Petro-Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable! Highly recommended for Phoebe and Her Unicorn fans.

[Rachel Fetzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so cute! I like how Pebble was constantly wanting to eat; I often feel that way! It's a cute story about friendship and learning new things.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute premise. I had been reading this comic on the web for a while, and saw this was available. At first I thought it would be a collection of those strips, but it's a self-contained story that introduces us to Pebble (a shape-shifting monster) and Wren (a precocious ten(?)-year-old girl) while also interspersing some of those strips.

It's a little treacly, but the positivity and representation in the book are enough to overcome it.

[Lys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute, non-scary monster story!

[Kara (Books.and.salt) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pebble and Wren is a super cute comic/graphic novel about a little monster and their human friend. In a lot of ways these two reminded me of Calvin and Hobbes, going off on imaginary adventures and learning along the way.

There's science facts throughout that make this a more engaging read, and there were a few parts that made me laugh aloud. I have to admit that I did feel bored often as there wasn't much happening - it felt more like individual comic strips rather than a cohesive graphic novel. The flow was clunky and the pace changed dramatically from chapter to chapter.

I think young readers looking for a fun story will get a kick out of this one.

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable story of friendship, finding yourself and your talents and pancakes. Along the way we are educated on some fun science facts (at least one of I'm with the dad with: I'm the adult and HOW did I not know that????) Granted, as an adult reader these science breaks did cut the flow of things, but most kids will not have a problem with this. Because of this could work well in a classroom to reinforce some of the pieces. The art is bubbly and simple, even simplistic in a delightful way. I read a reader copy, but it had some of the (almost) finished art and I can't wait to see it all as color on some of the pages would have enhanced it for me, but still even black and white it was a treat.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy for review.

This is a story about friendship, finding yourself and your talents. Pebble is a monster who has reached the age in which monsters travel to the human world to discover a new talent. Pebble does not want to leave his home. When he reached the human world he is taken in by Wren and her fathers. Wren has preconceived notions about what monsters are like but Pebble is far from what she expects.

This was a cute story. At times the story would veer off into a science or math lesson that would last a little too long and I would find myself getting bored. But overall I think kids will really like the humor in this book.

[Jamie Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was lovely. It was heartwarming and sweet. It was educational. The illustrations were adorable. I loved the ending too. Oh and the dads were perfect!
My girls loved it as well.

[Lost in Book Land · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello Again!

Recently I have been in a bit of a graphic novel reading mood. I decided to head to my Netgalley and download a bunch of the graphic novel e-ARCs I had on my account. I then spent several hours having a great time reading through them all! Pebble and Wren was the first graphic novel e-ARC I decided to pick up (a huge thank you to the publisher for a copy of the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions). So without further ado, let’s talk about Pebble and Wren!

SPOILERS AHEAD

Pebble is a monster, he grew up in a world separate from the human world but now he is getting older and his society dictates that he must go into the human world and see what his new powers are. The only way to discover his new powers is to go on this journey. The people in the human world are used to the monsters coming in but not everyone is super friendly or wants one to live in their home with them while they discover their powers. When Pebble sets out on his journey, he spends time trying to find a human house to live in. That is when he finds Wren’s house. Wren is a human child and her family has agreed to take in Pebble. Wren and Pebble’s new friendship starts off a little rocky but they quickly become the best of friends. But can Pebble figure out his new powers? If he does not he will have to go back home. So Pebble must work hard if he wants to be able to stay in the human world.

I absolutely loved this graphic novel! Seeing Pebble and Wren’s friendship evolve. Also getting to see the surprise at the end of the story! Additionally, the art style of this graphic novel, made it pop off the page. Bright colors, sharp lines, and lots of interesting character designs. This graphic novel just came out on April 11th! I highly recommend checking it out.

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

***Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I followed Pebble and Wren on Instagram when it was first created and followed the story arc until this book was promoted. I rather liked that set up better than this book. Admittedly the origin story of Pebble can be considered more harsh than the origin story here. Despite what many reviewers state there is nothing in either story arc that says Pebble is a he or a she, something fortunately the author left to the individual choice of the reader. Unfortunately I suspect many think Pebble is a "he" because of the horns, the sharp teeth and only male monsters can be "scary" to children. It may also because Wren and the mother monster, Violet, wear purple (light shades of purple) that must mean female. When this story was first on Instagram (and Webtoons) it was without colour so trying to identify gender based on colour wasn't a thing. Unfortunately, some still insisted Pebble was a "he" and again I think that was based on the horns and the sharp teeth. The unnecessary prejudice doesn't stop there because every comic with children has to some how be linked to Calvin and Hobbes. That aside, the story arc on Instagram/Webtoons really brings out character and enjoyment of the story whereas this just brushes past everything and it doesn't seem nearly as good. I had hoped the inclusion of Pebbles to Wren's school would have been a great addition to this book. I also don't know why there was the tacked on Pebble must have a purpose to stay with the human family that seems to fluctuate between part of the story and being brushed over. It didn't add to the story line and seemed at times to hinder the story than help it. On Instagram/Webtoons the story arc isn't as strict to adhering to an audience of children like it seems to be here. I recommend that readers go over to Instagram or Webtoons and read Pebble and Wren as it was meant to be.

[Kourtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pebble and Wren by Chris Hallbeck is a delightful graphic novel that celebrates the power of friendship and the beauty of differences. The story follows Wren, a little girl, and her live-in monster, Pebble, as they learn about the human world together. The author does an excellent job of creating a wacky and funny world that will make you laugh out loud.

The book is a tribute to friendship and how it can bridge differences between people, even those who are very different from each other. The relationship between Wren and Pebble is heartwarming, and readers will enjoy watching them grow closer and learn from each other.

The illustrations in the book are fantastic, and the characters are well-developed. The author has created a colorful and imaginative world that is sure to capture the imagination of readers of all ages. The humor in the book is silly, sweet, and sometimes gross, which adds to the overall charm of the story.

One of the book's main themes is the importance of being true to oneself, even if it means being different from everyone else. This message is delivered in a lighthearted and fun way, making it accessible to young readers. The book also explores the idea of perseverance and the value of hard work in achieving one's goals.

Overall, Pebble and Wren is an excellent graphic novel that celebrates friendship, differences, and the wacky world we live in. The story is heartwarming, the characters are endearing, and the illustrations are fantastic. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages who are looking for a fun and heartwarming read.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is no doubt a new favorite graphic novel of mine! Middle grade readers will love it. There’s not much action, but each panel is full of dialogue between our adorable main characters: a kid, and a monster.

Chill cubes, pancakes galore, and hilarious scenes, some of which made me question things I’d never thought about like how many bones we humans have and where we hide them… particularly curious if there’s buckets of them in the squishy parts. 😂

This book is absolutely fantastic.


- - - - -

“This is soaking fusing.”
“You mean so confusing.”
“Sewcon fusing.”
“Close enoughing.”
p. 225

“You moved your hair down to your face.”
“Yeah, sometimes humans do that.”
p. 221

“Your feet are funny. So many toes! What do you need that many for? Seems like such a hassle to have to keep track of them all…”
p. 43

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and funny comic book for children. The story is of a monster named Pebble (that is a childs' age) that comes to live with a little girl named Wren. They share silly times together, as Pebble tries to unlock special abilities-with the help of his new friend, Wren. When Pebbles achieves being able to unlock his abilities, he knows that he will have to return home, to his mother and the monster forest. The silly humor, the imagination and the friendship between Wren (the little girl) and her monster friend (Pebble) made me feel like a kid again.

Thank you to publisher Harper Collins, author Chris Hallbeck and Goodreads for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's edition, in exchange for my review.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a sort of Rumspringa for monsters, Pebble has to venture into the human world to see if he wants to live there, or come back to the world in which he was raised. He ends up at Wren's house, and together they share stories and learning experiences while becoming close friends. But, if Pebble doesn't "find his skills," he'll have to go back to monster world for good.

Well, this one was unusually wordy for a middle-grade graphic novel. Pebble and Wren sure do like to chat. And, though I appreciated the efforts to include STEM topics, I honestly think kids are going to find this one a little dull.

Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the read.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of unusual in that there are lots of educational bits in here when Wren is trying to teach Pebble about the ways of humans. I'm surprised at how naturally they fit into the story because there are quite a lot of them and Wren goes on for a bit for some of them. But except for the part where she's talking about heat transfer (which I found hard to follow), they're pretty easy to understand despite the fact that the info is communicated primarily via dialogue. I'm really curious to learn if kids actually retain the scientific info because it fits so naturally into the story (for the most part). I hope there's more where this came from!
P.S. Shout out to Unshelved!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing and e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book was really cute! I loved the relationship between Wren and Pebble and the idea that monsters need to be paired with human children to learn a special skill. I loved the emphasis on the importance of friendship. The parts that I thought were not as good were these really heavy handed explanations about science and the ways in which the world works. It was overly technical, especially for a kids book, and it definitely took me out of the story.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Pebble and Wren“ with story and art by Chris Hallbeck is a graphic novel about a little girl has a live-in monster

Pebble lives in the monster world, but as part of his growing up needs to spend some time in the human world. He will either develop a power there, or have to live in the monster world for the rest of his life. Wren lives in the human world with her two dads. Wren and Pebble find all kinds of adventures and become great friends. Will Pebble end up staying in the human world or the monster one?

I liked this cute story. I love the artwork. This is very kid friendly book

[Claire (the_reading_apprentice) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun collection of comics and graphic short stories about Pebble, a monster who needs to travel to the human world to learn new magic skills, and Wren, a human girl in the house of the family who hosts Pebble.

It was fun to see the two of them learning to be friends, figuring out how to make things work, and their adventures along the way.

But because it was so episodic, I felt like I couldn't fully connect to Pebble and Wren in the ways I wanted to.

I enjoyed it, but I sadly didn't love it.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

How fun was this!! I absolutely loved the story of Pebble and Wren. This had the perfect amount of humor mixed with education - there were math problems, so many science concepts, I even know how a refrigerator works now! I wish there was just a tiny bit more attention given at the end to whether or not Pebble wanted to change. But this is an excellent book for any parent to read with their kiddos.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little graphic novel that reads more like a series of comic strips than a full-on story, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. There is lots of humor and heart (along with math and science), and Pebble is adorably hilarious as he learns about the human world.

I'm particularly fond of the dry delivery of many of the punchlines, and I love that Wren's two dads are just nonchalantly accepting of everything Pebble and Wren get into.

[Nevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, cute story about a kid monster learning to live with a human family. A lot of it will be appealing to adults who want lightly absurd humor with a heartwarming atmosphere. However, about half of it is clearly aimed at children. (Math and science lessons, simple talk about emotions.) It was a lot of fun to read with my son, and a good break from all the kids stories that aren't worth logging on my Goodreads account :)

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute kids' comic on friendship, and learning new things to try and reach your potential. It also randomly delves into some math and science lessons, which is pretty neat.
My one critique is that I didn't really get the set-up of young monsters having to go into the human world to unlock their special talents, but I just had to roll with it, and read the story for what it is: a cute friendship book.