Stinky Cecil in Operation Pond Rescue (Family Comic Friday)

Stinky Cecil the Toad and his friends from the swamp go on an epic quest to save their beloved marshlands from becoming a highway.

  If the plot sounds like something you might have seen before- you have. Borrowing heavily from animated films like 'Over the Hedge' and 'Ferngully' with a plot twist straight from a Simpsons episode, Stinky Cecil was still quite original. Written by longtime Peanuts writer, Paige Braddock, this 2015 graphic novel contains characters that were funny, witty, and they had some great one-liners to boot. Their tiny attack on the giant bulldozers were so comical and creative as well.

   Stinky Cecil, while very light reading and aimed at kids in grades 1-5, tackles some heavy subjects. The main subject is environmentalism. It's not preachy but having a group of swamp creatures fight for the protection of their wetlands is the human equivalent of chaining oneself to a giant oak.

   Another subject that this book tackles is death. From just about the first page, the circle of life is hit head on when Reggie the house fly dies after his 5-day lifespan is up. Reincarnation is also addressed here as the gang all expect the beloved bug to regenerate at any moment. It also might be a little harsh watching a ferocious hawk try to make frog legs out of poor Cecil.

     Stinky Cecil was a funny read and though not too original in terms of plotting, the humorous dialogue was quite refreshing. Filled with silly sight gags, corny puns, and some toilet humor (this is a book about a stinky toad) it will appeal to most young readers. But, if you feel that death is a touchy subject or you have qualms about reincarnation- this book may be a bit too old for your child.

   While environmentalism can boil over into some heated debates, the message of being a good steward of our planet by taking steps to recycle and to not haphazardly rape and pillage nature for no reason other than progress for progress sake are lessons that can be applied early in life without being too liberal or conservative.

    Like the coke can you recycled last week, I have a feeling you'll be seeing Stinky Cecil and his wild friends again someday soon.

   Worth Consuming

  Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.