Sleepaway Champs

Shark and Bot #2

by Brian Yanish

Two besties on a brave new adventure . . . sleeping away from home for the first time! Friendship, hilarity, and superhero doughnuts await in this graphic-novel chapter book.

It's summer vacation, and Shark and Bot are going to sleepaway camp! Shark (always the anxious one!) quickly starts feeling homesick. Can he make it through the week? With his best friend by his side, of course he will. . . . Unless Bot short-circuits at the lake!

Can these two unlikely friends come together to have the most epic summer ever? Find out in this funny and fresh graphic-novel series!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Humor, Childrens, Fantasy, Friendship

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2021

About the author

Brian Yanish is an author, illustrator and maker. He has worked for Jim Henson Productions, trained as a special effects moldmaker, written and performed comedy and designed home furnishings, apparel and toys. He is the creator of ScrapKins®, a Recycled Arts Enrichment program that inspires kids to see creative potential in everyday junk. Brian has presented workshops at schools and institutions across the country and even appeared on Sesame Street. His books include the Shark and Bot young graphic novel series, Pirate Chicken: All Hens on Deck, Junk Re-Thunk, The Build-It Book and the forthcoming Sweet and Sour (FSG 2024). He lives in Rochester, NY and enjoys sharks, robots and gummy things.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
These two delightful characters are back for more adventures. This time they head for summer camp. It's not the place either of them want to be but they decide to have fun and enjoy the time together. I love the over the top portrayal of the perky camp director and the constant happiness push by the entire camp. Well, except for two campers. Bot and Shark don't buy in to the constant smiling, hugging and glitter at first. Then, they too figure out how special it is to be together to take risks and have fun.
Yanish offers mid to upper elementary readers the chance to come along and be part of Camp Sweet Sunshine. The artwork brings the camp off the page and into their imaginations as they join Shark and Bot on their adventure.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

The silliness continues with the shark and robot that are best friends. For some reason here they are at summer camp – neither of them liking one bit the enforced happiness, the weather or the camp ghost – and certainly not the eco-unfriendly glitter. If you want silliness, it's a robot that is not water-resistant, being forced to have a session in the camp lake – they stuff him in a zorbing ball and play volleyball with him (he must be bloody light, is all I can say). This is childish stuff, and unapologetically so, and I don't know if the educational end-matter is there courtesy a clever call-back, or just shoe-horned in gratuitously. For a time when you're about seven and want something disposable, this is fine.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shark and Bot are off to sleepaway camp. Camp Sweet Sunshine asks campers to “fill the world with giggles and glitter,” which presents some challenges to the besties, but they make the best of it. Shark writes poetry and avoids the haunted boys’ bathroom, and Bot continues to yearn for Space Camp. They rise to the camp’s challenge for the talent show finale with an epic rap and dance number with Betty, Shark’s stuffed wombat, and a new friend.

This is such a funny romp, with an unlikely friendship between two memorable characters, and the joys and challenges of camp as the setting. The language is perfect for early elementary readers, and the bright digital art is a hoot. There are facts about wombats at the end, and a drawing tutorial.

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, if I hadn't picked up both books from the library at the same time, I would not have read this one after not really liking the first but I figured I'd give it a chance. It was okay. I saw another reviewer compare it to Narwhal and Jelly but I think it's missing something that makes it as likable at that series. The characters are complaining from page 1. I liked that they ended up making the best of the situation and I liked the oath from the camp (except for the free hug part...that was weird). I find some of the drawing to be kind of crude, especially the human characters.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun easy graphic novel. Perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jellyfish. I enjoyed the humor and the story. The art is nice and bright. The text bubbles are big, with big text and lots of white space, which makes it easier to read. It's a great friendship story as well. (Read a digital ARC from netgalley.)

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think in this case the sequel is a star and a half better than the first book. In this book the author keeps the tension alive by creating an imperfect friendship where the two still get along. I like the story problem, too, that neither of the characters is looking forward to camp, and there's a lot less breaking the fourth wall. A great choice for early readers. My advice? Skip book one.

[Anthony]

Silly summer fun as best friends Shark and Bot attend camp, where ghosts haunt the boy's bathroom, it rains every 112 minutes, Shark can't sleep, and Bot wants to be at space camp. But as best friends Shark and Bot make the best of their surroundings, and together survive Camp Sweet Sunshine.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because my 8 year old wanted read it out loud to do voices!

[Tom Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

To me, a grown man, this comic feels flat and uninspired. But my five year old laughed so hard he wet his pants, so what do I know?

2 stars. For kids.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story for the early independent reader.

[Jenny Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love ❤️ graphic novels I love this one because it is silly and funny. Spoiler alert it's about a shark and a robot.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kind of sort of liked this, but then the boy shark and robot went into the bathroom where a girl was, and then the shark used the bathroom with the girl still in there.