This quirky graphic novel is a fast and funny read. It opens with a repeat of the familiar Humpty Dumpty rhyme tucked under the acknowledgements, then introduces Humphrey, a smaller brown version of his darker brown egg parents and nephew of the famous Mr. Dumpty. Both are hovering over him as he prepares to go out, reminding him of all the rules for his safety, especially no sitting on walls!
Humphrey slowly and nervously makes his way to the park, where he admires the scenery and meets a mysterious voice in a tree. The voice turns out to belong to a scruffy, red-haired girl named Princess Jane. She invites him to play and, despite the many rules Humphrey has to follow, the two have a fun afternoon, sharing stories of their lives and adventures. Well, mostly Jane’s adventures, since Humphrey isn’t allowed to have any. In fact, they have so much fun that they get locked into the park! What will happen when Humphrey has to break the most important rule of all and climb the wall? If he falls off, will Princess Jane’s father’s horses and men be able to put him back together?
Hanaor’s spare, tongue-in-cheek text is well-matched with Wynter’s line drawings and pastel art. The landscapes are lush and green with a few details hidden here and there for eagle-eyed readers to find, like the elderly woman zipping past Humphrey on her scooter. Most of the focus is on Humphrey and Jane; although they are small figures in the landscape, their emotions fill the whole page. Since his body is also his head, there’s plenty of room for Humphrey to express emotions, from his first nervous venture outdoors to his relief at arriving safely at the park and his initial horror at meeting the cheerfully active Jane. Princess Jane, although clearly bewildered and eventually frustrated and annoyed by Humphrey’s overly cautious approach and multiple rules, still manages to be patient with him and find something they can both enjoy – telling stories together. Wynter lets her imagination, and her pen, fly free with Humphrey squishing into odd shapes and the hilariously detailed expressions of the king’s men (including a female soldier) and their horses.
It’s hard to qualify this graphic novel for a particular age level. It’s a quick read, less than 100 pages, with deceptively simple illustrations and retells a classic nursery rhyme, which seem to aim it at a younger audience. However, there’s a lot of humorous nuance in the story and art and the font style is not conducive to beginning or transitional readers. Even adults might get a laugh and a reminder to let kids take reasonable risks from it. I would put this one in your juvenile collections and promote it to readers who like funny, quirky, unique stories.
The egg incident Â
By Ziggy Hanaor
Art by Daisy Wynter
Cicada Books, 2024
ISBN: 9781800660434Â
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11)
