SHOW AND SMELL

Four goofy Martians learn about Earth and its myriad smells in this graphic novel for emerging readers.

Roused one morning by their sentient computer, G.L.O.W., Squishy, Snug, Woof, and Fuzz, a quartet of fluffy Marshmallow Martians, are presented with a large mystery box—the Polite Extraordinary Earth Portal 1000, or P.E.E.P. The sugary squad can use this well-mannered device to explore the third planet from the sun—all it needs to know is where specifically on Earth to send them. G.L.O.W. searches its database to find the best way for earthlings to teach their friends and family about new topics. But uh-oh! The intergalactic Wi-Fi is on the fritz, and all G.L.O.W. can come up with is “SHOW AND __ELL.” What could the last word be? Fuzz sarcastically suggests show and smell, so the group goes in search of Earth’s stinkiest stenches. The burp and fart jokes sprinkled along their path will keep readers giggling as the Marshmallow Martians use high-tech smell suckers to vacuum up rank odors at an amusement park. The wide-eyed characters, all squishy stylized marshmallows, are so adorably huggable, it’s hard to believe they’re not already optioned as a streaming series. The springy palette feels intentionally reminiscent of marshmallow Peeps candy, with a mix of orange, blue, purple, yellow, and green hues combining into a saccharine sweet world that readers will want to bite into again and again. Human characters on Earth are diverse.

These alien confections are silly perfection.