The adventures of a mischievous child dressed in a tiger costume make for an adorable comic book for young readers in author Agata Loth-Ignaciuk and illustrator Berenika Kolomycka's Mika and the Gurgler. Much like its predecessor, Mika and the Howler, this title uses minimal text to tell a grand story.
Toddler Mika giggles at the reflection of their foaming mouth in the mirror while brushing their teeth, and performs experiments in the bathroom sink with bubbles. When discovered, Mika cleans up and follows their laundry-toting parent to the closet. There the child encounters a mysterious device with a door set perfectly at Mika height. The toddler crawls in and the machine spins. "HA HA HA!" shrieks the delighted tiny tiger. "Look, Frog! A merry-go-round!" Mika squeals before giving Frog a turn. As the stuffed animal completes dizzying turns, Mika's parent unexpectedly pulls the toddler away, leaving Frog in the merry-go-round. Mika tries to entice Frog--"Jump out, Frog!"--but it's no use. Frog is left behind.
Frog's situation grows more dire when Mika's parent fills the merry-go-round with clothes, shuts the door, and "beep"s some buttons. This is no longer an amusing game--this is a gurgling, whirring, shaking monster. Mika recruits stuffed animal friends Spider and Caterpillar to figure out how to save Frog from the gurgler.
The lack of text in Loth-Ignaciuk's sweet story does not limit its depth. Kolomycka's animated illustrations include striking nuances: delightfully evil expressions adorn the gurgler as it spins the captive Frog; an explosion of colors, symbols, lines, waves, and characters visually narrate the battle between child and machine; and Mika's emotions and determination radiate from the young, tiger-head-framed face. The full wonder of Kolomycka's illustrations demands multiple passes to appreciate everything. Expertly accenting Kolomycka's genius art is lettering by Crank! that shows the auditory clash between Mika and the gurgler. Heavy black "WRRRRR"s and "GRGL"s emphasize the power of the gurgler, while large "AAAAAH"s accompanied by exclamation points drive home the fear Mika feels confronting this strange monster. The trio responsible for this delightful childhood exploit shows a true understanding of how extreme the experiences of daily life can be for a toddler, and have blended their talents seamlessly for an exciting literary triumph. Budding book lovers will want this one in their personal libraries, while the adults charged with reading it will never see their household appliances in the same way. --Jen Forbus, freelancer
Shelf Talker: A toddler goes to battle with the mysterious gurgler in order to save her friend Frog in an endearing comic book for early readers.