Penny and the Yeti
Childhood is a cherished time in our lives. We seek to define our world, our understanding of it and where we fit within our growing concept of everything that is. Much like our ancestors who used mythology to explain the strange and wonderful, our imaginations seek to enhance and sometimes provide comfort when things get scary or uncomfortable when they change. This comfort can be found in a beloved TV show, sometimes it’s a treasured stuffed animal or toy and in the case of Papercutz’s Penny and the Yeti, it is a sizeable talking Yeti that was once a beloved drawing magically come to life.
The graphic novel by creator Jimmy Gaspero and Amber Akin accomplishes a great balance of fun and serious with its story. We see the playtime with Penny and her new friend where the snow (and of course sledding) appears at random, costumes become reality, books come alive, and joy is accompanied by all the bright colors and laughs one can relive playing with young nieces and nephews if not children of their own.
The creators even throw in a few subtle (and some not so subtle) pop culture references for the adults reading the story to eager audiences at story time or those who’s inner child sits with them in quiet reflection.
But playtime takes a turn when Penny’s inability to ignore the constant friction brought by her parents fighting not only bring forth tears but also plans to alleviate the problems so they can return to this idea of a complete, happy family. While the attempts are adorable, with commentary and input from Penny’s big sister (and technical creator of Yeti) Peri, they highlight the other side of childhood: the perceptiveness of children to adults in their world, the idolization of they place within their parents, and the struggle to understand that the world is often not fair at all. The book’s creators make its characters so honest and realistic that you cheer for their victories/efforts but feel your heart sink when things don’t work out, much less go according plan.
That disappointment and acceptance is one of the hardest lessons as a child to learn and as an adult, it is not any easier to witness and yet Penny and the Yeti has you turning every page, invested to see the story to its bittersweet ending.
With a spectacular story and artwork that residents of any classroom or library could appreciate, Penny and the Yeti is the kind of book that leaves you with a smile on your face and a mental note to place it in a good spot in case you should want to read it again, either at request or for your own amusement later. While the ending leaves the door unlocked for more adventures for this adorable duo, I look forward to see more from these creators, either together or as individuals and my imagination tips its hat at the magic they created and what change it could bring, one reader at a time.
