Pablo and Splash: Roman Holiday: The hilarious kids' graphic novel series about time-travelling penguins

Pablo and Splash #3

by Sheena Dempsey

Time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash must fight gladiators in Ancient Rome in this hilarious full-colour graphic novel. Fans of Bunny vs Monkey or InvestiGATORS will love it.

Shortlisted for the FCBG Children's Book Award

'You'll laugh your flippers off!' John Patrick Green, creator of InvestiGATORS

'Irresistibly funny' Guardian

When their penguin pal Benji won't believe they've travelled through time, Pablo and Splash have a point to prove. The two travel to Ancient Rome, hoping to bring back a centurion helmet as proof of their adventures. But when Pablo and Splash meet an emperor with a passion for collecting exotic birds, only some quick thinking - and emergency time travel - can save them from the fate that awaits them in the Colosseum!

'Pablo and Splash is my favourite book series and I love it! Roman Holiday is my favourite book so far. I couldn't stop laughing my head off' - Dougie, age 9

'Pablo and Splash are hilarious. I love this book!' – Oscar, age 7

'I wish I could time travel with Pablo and Splash. They make me laugh so much' – Noah, age 8

Don't miss the World Book Day 2026 special mini-book - Pablo and The Castle Quest

Genres: Graphic Novels, Childrens

243 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2025

About the author

Sheena Dempsey was born in Cork, Ireland, and studied fine art at the Ireland’s National College of Art and Design. She graduated from London’s Kingston University with a BA in illustration in 2011. Bye-Bye Baby Brother! is her first picture book. She lives in London.

Reviews

[Manic Booksy Dreamgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant brilliant brilliant. This spectacular series needs a dozen sequels so that I can enjoy more Pablo and Splash adventures. The artwork is wonderful, top notch humour and nestled inside is some cracking historical information as well. Couldn’t be quicker to recommend these books.

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

*This review is written in Penguish so if ypu don’t speak the dialect, hit the translate button at the bottom.

I read Pablo & Splash: Roman Holiday with my kids. We loved it & I think it’s my favourite in the series so far.

The plucky duo travel back to ancient Rome in a quest to bring back an artefact to prove they can indeed time travel. When they get there they find a bunch of fethered friends in jeopardy. They can’t just jump in TimeBender and dutch the flock in their moment of need but how on Earth will the birds escape their certain fate at the hands of Rome’s most fearsome gladiators, Brutus and Magnus? There’s also a brilliant side-quest to New Zealand, 57 million years ago, which my son has been obsessed with as his next holiday destination ever since. 🤷‍♀️

There were loads of laughs. I don’t think my kids will ever recover from the scene with the tersoria!* Or the scene which includes the line ‘I am not a baby.’

Among the laughs, there are heaps of facts including Vesuvius’s momentous eruption as well as lots of domestic details of Roman life. 😏 There are some extra information pages at the back that contextualise some of the references.

All-in-all a fabulous graphic novel for kids from 6-66+


*just you wait.

[Eilidh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes books come across your TBR in the most peculiar of ways or at the most unexpected times. This was Pablo & Splash’s Roman Holiday for me.

I bought this as a gift to two young boys. It was lukewarmly received, and so I tried to get the ball rolling by starting to read it / read it with them, so I could chat about it. What transpired was a thoroughly enjoyable time that was a delight to read. Admittedly, I’m certain I enjoyed an “early readers” graphic novel as a woman pushing 30, more than young kids did. I am not ashamed to say in the times we’re living in, this light relief is worth its weight in gold.

Pablo & Splash is hilarious and heartwarming. The themes of friendship, adventure and integrity in a conjuring of a historical period in such a laugh out loud manner… Definitely in my top 2026 reads. An instant 5 star read that made me go out and buy the rest of the series. If you haven’t joined these two penguins on a time travelling adventure yet, I envy you getting to experience it for the first time. You don’t know what you’re missing. I’m really, really looking forward to Viking’s Voyage- already preordered!

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

Considering my love of penguins, I'm surprised I didn't like this more than I did. I appreciated the history that was included, especially since I went to Italy this summer. There were a few things in it that make me not really want to include it in my school library. Mainly the amount of blood and the butt crack you can see when Splash is in the bathhouse.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliant book in this graphic novel series! Pablo and Splash go back to Ancient Rome and end up in a bit of a pickle! This proper made me smile. This would be great for any year group, but especially those that studies Ancient Rome!

[Kerry Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good and another great addition to the Pablo and Splash series. Both kids love the Roman setting age 6 and 10. I really enjoyed reading it with them and the artwork in this book is so good- the best book yet in the series. There are some very beautifully drawn scenes like the volcano and island.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two penguins use a time-traveller to go to Rome where they are trapped and must fight in the colosseum, so they use the time-traveller again to recruit giant prehistoric penguins to join the fight.

Silly fun. Kids liked it.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing it is definitely out despite what Goodreads says. Super funny i loved the look on Benji’s face.

[Tanninsandtales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had access to Time-Bender so that I could send these books to my child self.

[Jamie Hurne · Rating 5 out of 5]

its so cute I love the idea of penguins time traveling. and I love how they waddle i think my favorite part was the shaking of the volcano that was really cool!

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.
Review being submitted to School Library Journal for an upcoming SMS article.

[Jacob Wadsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how there friendship is everlasting it's very cute and was generally a good book 😁