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DODO
When Laila’s parents split up, Laila doesn’t understand why her life has changed, and why her dad never comes by anymore. Lonely and confused, Laila ends up befriending a strange bird that lives in the park by her house. Her friendship with this bird, a dodo named Ralph, takes Laila on a journey she never expected and shows her things about her own world she had never noticed before.
80 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2015
136 people want to read
About the author
Felipe Nunes
24 books6 followersFelipe Nunes is a comic book artist and illustrator
Started working with illustration at 2010`s, colaborating to some brazilian magazines like Recreio and Mundo Estranho.
As a cartoonist, published his first graphic novel back in 2014, Klaus, who was claimed and nominated for three-HQMIX, winning Best New Cartoonist. After this, did his second one, DODÔ, who will be republished by Panini on Spring of 2017. This year, illustrated the first issue of `O Segredo da Floresta`, a teenager comicbook written by Thedy Correa and published by Stout Club / Panini.
Had some short stories for anthologies and three oneshots just in 2018 (ASFIXIOFILIA, FLÆSH and ARREBATAMENTO)
In 2019, released CLEAN BREAK, a sci-fi graphic novel, Jabuti Prize finalist and published in Poland.
Currently, he does corporative comics and draws an upcoming comic book series.
Started working with illustration at 2010`s, colaborating to some brazilian magazines like Recreio and Mundo Estranho.
As a cartoonist, published his first graphic novel back in 2014, Klaus, who was claimed and nominated for three-HQMIX, winning Best New Cartoonist. After this, did his second one, DODÔ, who will be republished by Panini on Spring of 2017. This year, illustrated the first issue of `O Segredo da Floresta`, a teenager comicbook written by Thedy Correa and published by Stout Club / Panini.
Had some short stories for anthologies and three oneshots just in 2018 (ASFIXIOFILIA, FLÆSH and ARREBATAMENTO)
In 2019, released CLEAN BREAK, a sci-fi graphic novel, Jabuti Prize finalist and published in Poland.
Currently, he does corporative comics and draws an upcoming comic book series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 27, 2018
Eu gosto muito dos desenhos e da narrativa do Felipe Nunes e, agora neste últimos trabalhos, com os desenhos dele coloridos, ficaram ainda mais sensacionais. Uma coisa que se pode notar com os poucos trabalhos do Felipe que já saíram é que ele gosta muito de trabalhar metáforas com animais. Foi assim com o Klaus, filhote de tigres e com o Dodô, que é a confusão mental na cabeça de uma menina que tem os pais em processo de separação. (Será que foi daí que surgiu a ideia para Mônica: Força?). O Dodô deixa a casa da menina uma zona destruída, que é a mesma forma que a separação dos pais deixa a cabeça de uma criança devastada. Eu sei, porque senti isso na pele. A separação dos meus pais prejudicou muito minhas habilidades sociais que já eram precárias. Mas, voltando à Dodô, eu não acho que essa metáfora fique tão evidente na HQ como no trabalho realizado em Klaus. Fiquei esperando por uma revelação, uma pista do subtexto no final da HQ, mas que, pelo menos para mim não veio. Nesse sentido, a interpretação de Klaus é bem mais tranquila que de Dodô, que, para mim, falta algum elemento para unir as partes no final, mesmo que a protagonista não deixe o Dodõ entrar e não o alimente e acalente, como ela faz com sua dor pela separação dos pais. A verdade é que o Dodô é um pássaro sem asas, que não sabe voar e que foi extinto por não ter conseguido se adaptar aos predadores ausentes nas Ilhas Maurício, seu habitat. Então o Dodô, não é tanto quanto a confusão da menina, mas o amor que existia naquela família: não sabia voar nem escapar de predadores e, por isso, foi extinguido.
June 3, 2018
This is a Portuguese translation of a graphic novel. I state this at the start because I’ve noticed some translations just make things confusing. And this is a confusing story to begin with.
Laila is six years old, and her parents have separated, and for some reason, she has been pulled out of school. She has to make fun on her own. One day she sees a large purple bird that she called Ralph is is supposed to be a dodo.
And yeah, that is the story. Ralph the dodo is very destructive, and Laila tries to control him, but she can’t, no more than her mother can reconcile with her father.
And that is it. That is really the whole story.
Laila is six years old, and her parents have separated, and for some reason, she has been pulled out of school. She has to make fun on her own. One day she sees a large purple bird that she called Ralph is is supposed to be a dodo.
And yeah, that is the story. Ralph the dodo is very destructive, and Laila tries to control him, but she can’t, no more than her mother can reconcile with her father.
And that is it. That is really the whole story.
March 22, 2020
To check out all my reviews: Reading In the Dark
This book is one of the rare occasions where I discover it through BookTube and was enchanted immediately by the colorful illustrations. I tend to avoid BookTube recommendations cause most of them are sponsored and too many times the books were overhyped. Luckily my public library had a copy and I devoured it within the hour. It’s relatively short and simple yet it’s mixed with a ton of magical realism. Supposedly this book is geared towards children but I highly doubt that cause the magical realism took me a while to comprehend and digest, I can’t begin to imagine a child who doesn’t know much about magical realism. Even though there’s a scene that still left me confused so I am hoping for someone to read it so I can have a valid discussion about it!
I have to say I wish I could have read this graphic novel in the original language because there’s a bit of dialogue that got lost in the translation which furthered my confusion. For the most part, it deals with Laila, a six-year-old girl, who does not comprehend what is happening to her world. Her parents are getting a divorce and she fails to deal with her emotions and her sense of reality until one day a Dodo bird appears out of her local park and barges into her house.
Laila hides the bird in her room and at first everything seems fine but then the bird causes havoc destroying her room and everything it touches in her house (kind of like the Cat of Hat but scarier). Putting two and two together, the Dodo bird represents Laila and her wreaking havoc as her bottled emotions have reached its pinnacle.
I enjoyed the graphic novel for what it was but I felt that the translation to English was a bit rushed and could have taken its time for such a simple story. My main confusion was did the parents divorced cause the father had another child with someone else? A past life before meeting Laila’s mom? That whole scene was confusing and for a second I actually that Laila was originally a boy cause the illustration of the photograph of the child looks almost identical to Laila so then the discussion becomes, did Laila parents transition her without her permission and that’s what lead to the divorce? CONFUSION UPON CONFUSION UPON CONFUSION.
Overall I enjoyed it and if weren’t for these issues it would have gotten all the stars! Even though I rated it a 4 it’s technically a 3.75 on my end. I definitely want to check out more Felipe Nunes graphic novels cause he has major potential to create masterpieces for the graphic novel medium!
This book is one of the rare occasions where I discover it through BookTube and was enchanted immediately by the colorful illustrations. I tend to avoid BookTube recommendations cause most of them are sponsored and too many times the books were overhyped. Luckily my public library had a copy and I devoured it within the hour. It’s relatively short and simple yet it’s mixed with a ton of magical realism. Supposedly this book is geared towards children but I highly doubt that cause the magical realism took me a while to comprehend and digest, I can’t begin to imagine a child who doesn’t know much about magical realism. Even though there’s a scene that still left me confused so I am hoping for someone to read it so I can have a valid discussion about it!
I have to say I wish I could have read this graphic novel in the original language because there’s a bit of dialogue that got lost in the translation which furthered my confusion. For the most part, it deals with Laila, a six-year-old girl, who does not comprehend what is happening to her world. Her parents are getting a divorce and she fails to deal with her emotions and her sense of reality until one day a Dodo bird appears out of her local park and barges into her house.
Laila hides the bird in her room and at first everything seems fine but then the bird causes havoc destroying her room and everything it touches in her house (kind of like the Cat of Hat but scarier). Putting two and two together, the Dodo bird represents Laila and her wreaking havoc as her bottled emotions have reached its pinnacle.
I enjoyed the graphic novel for what it was but I felt that the translation to English was a bit rushed and could have taken its time for such a simple story. My main confusion was did the parents divorced cause the father had another child with someone else? A past life before meeting Laila’s mom? That whole scene was confusing and for a second I actually that Laila was originally a boy cause the illustration of the photograph of the child looks almost identical to Laila so then the discussion becomes, did Laila parents transition her without her permission and that’s what lead to the divorce? CONFUSION UPON CONFUSION UPON CONFUSION.
Overall I enjoyed it and if weren’t for these issues it would have gotten all the stars! Even though I rated it a 4 it’s technically a 3.75 on my end. I definitely want to check out more Felipe Nunes graphic novels cause he has major potential to create masterpieces for the graphic novel medium!
December 16, 2021
Niby wszystko z tym komiksem ok, dzieciak ma dosyć ciężki okres z powodu starych, więc pojawia się personifikacja tych wszystkich smutków w postaci ptaka Dodo. Mechanizm znany w psychologii najczęściej w formie wymyślonych przyjaciół. Był nie tak dawno inny komiks zbudowany na podobnym pomyśle, czyli "Pantera" - Brechta Evensa. Tam założenie było wstępem do głębokiej, bardzo niepokojącej historii z drugim dnem, tu niestety wszystko raczej po łebkach i z dosyć banalnym zakończeniem. Dla dzieciaków może w celach terapeutycznych, dla reszty - do zapomnienia zaraz po lekturze
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April 22, 2025gostei das ilustrações, especialmente das interjeições nos dos desenhos berrantes e vivos do dodó. achei a história simultaneamente muito querida e muito triste.
lido na Biblioteca de Belém
lido na Biblioteca de Belém
July 2, 2018
This work has been translated into English and I'd certainly recommend it for the YA set or older. Would have liked to see the story expanded; I was left wanting a bit more.
November 7, 2020
O que acontece quando um grande amontoado de sentimentos come açúcar demais.
September 17, 2018
While there was a little two dads thing that I didn't understand, I liked the play of the dodo entering her house and causing chaos as her mother and father separated.
September 22, 2018
Love the art style and had genuinely laughed at some of the dodo's illustrations. The story might be a bit confusing for younger audiences. I would sum it up as a story about divorce, past mistakes, financial hardship, lost emotional connection and possibly the mental tolls divorce takes.
August 27, 2020
Gostei do livro no início, achei que o ritmo era bom e a percepção dos desenhos era bastante fluida.
No entanto, ao chegar ao fim da história, não consegui perceber o que pretendia simbolizar o dodó do título... Algumas interpretações de leitores aqui do goodreads deram algumas ideias que me parecem bastante válidas. Mas é pena que a mensagem não seja mais inteligível à primeira leitura...
No entanto, ao chegar ao fim da história, não consegui perceber o que pretendia simbolizar o dodó do título... Algumas interpretações de leitores aqui do goodreads deram algumas ideias que me parecem bastante válidas. Mas é pena que a mensagem não seja mais inteligível à primeira leitura...
September 14, 2025
I dug the art —very energetic. Good color work and design. Otherwise, the description for this story is far more sophisticated than what happens between the panels. Overall, has a Lilo & Stitch vibe.
October 29, 2023
Zbyt wiele niedopowiedzeń. Pozostawia niedosyt na końcu. Ale podobała mi się atmosfera tego komiksu.
April 2, 2019
Not really a bad book, and decent art, but it didn't click with me and also doesn't match expectations. Rather than the implied wondrous story of befriending a member of a supposedly extinct species, the titular dodo is mainly a disruptive and uncharacteristically destructive presence, and in a way isn't even really real: it is more like a manifestation of Laila lashing out in response to a family situation that is confusing and stressful beyond her ability to process. It doesn't seem like it should be a children's book either; I'm not sure if it is marketed as such, but my library system thinks it is.
I don't really like the ending either. From what can be pieced together in the story, it appears that Laila's father cheated on her mother (for quite some time I would guess, since the picture of his son shows a boy seemingly about Laila's age), and then left his original family, presumably in favor of his mistress. Yet at the end he gets to fix things a bit, by promising to take Laila back to school where she can see her friends again. Though that raises the question of why she was even taken out of school, which I assume points to a difference in education patterns in Brazil, where the book was first published.
I don't really like the ending either. From what can be pieced together in the story, it appears that Laila's father cheated on her mother (for quite some time I would guess, since the picture of his son shows a boy seemingly about Laila's age), and then left his original family, presumably in favor of his mistress. Yet at the end he gets to fix things a bit, by promising to take Laila back to school where she can see her friends again. Though that raises the question of why she was even taken out of school, which I assume points to a difference in education patterns in Brazil, where the book was first published.
September 8, 2024
Wbrew pozorom to dość przygnębiająca historia. Kolory jakie zostały użyte w tym komiksie stoją w zupełnym przeciwieństwie do klimatu jaki tworzy autor. Za to duży plus, bo zazwyczaj smutna/trudna historia = stonowane lub czarno/białe ilustracje.
Niewątpliwie to komiks, który pozostawia dużo miejsca na interpretacje czytelnika. Historia małej bohaterki opowiedziana jest miedzy wierszami przez co razem z nią zastanawiamy się co się dzieje. Jak dla mnie ma to swoje plusy i minusy, z przewagą tego drugiego, bo komiks jest zbyt krótki by się w niego zatopić. Wielka szkoda, bo ma do tego potencjał, a jego bohaterka wzbudza sympatię od pierwszej strony.
Niewątpliwie to komiks, który pozostawia dużo miejsca na interpretacje czytelnika. Historia małej bohaterki opowiedziana jest miedzy wierszami przez co razem z nią zastanawiamy się co się dzieje. Jak dla mnie ma to swoje plusy i minusy, z przewagą tego drugiego, bo komiks jest zbyt krótki by się w niego zatopić. Wielka szkoda, bo ma do tego potencjał, a jego bohaterka wzbudza sympatię od pierwszej strony.
November 27, 2018
A lonely and awkward six-year-old trying to cope with her parents' contentious separation befriends a wide-eyed dodo from the park adjacent to her home. A surreal, amusing, and mysterious tale about childhood imagination in the face of domestic turmoil. Worth the trip if you enjoy a visual style with echoes of Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá (who mentored Nunes) and Jeff Smith's Bone series, and you are prepared to roll with a magic realism that doesn't provide straight answers.
September 4, 2020
Set in the tradition of comic books, Dodo by Felipe Nunes presents an account of a child experiences challenges in life. Nunes tells the story of Laila and how the world around her seems to be crumbling. At age six, she is expected to understand why her mother is busy with work and not have the time to spend with her. As the Booklist review poignantly stated, Laila is in the state of desperation – needing attention from parents who undoubtedly have issues with each other and seeking friendship. This is the unfortunate reality of most young children in our world. Picking up “bits and pieces of heated arguments between her separated parents.” Nunes effectively through the use of the graphic novel tells the story of this young girl who has not yet attended school. His use of panels depicts the scene of each ‘chapter’ in the book. He captures the moments that Laila experiences in her daily life. The illustrations are sketchy are that come alive in the illustrated panels. One might say that the dark reds and purples used represents the harrowing experiences that Laila has. The book brings back the famed comic book era that told the stories of the superheroes (Batman, Superman, etc.). There is use of interjections that served as memorabilia for the comic book lovers.
This book can be used as a social emotional learning piece for children of all ages in bridging the unfortunate circumstances of life to a more positive, optimistic way of solving issues of friendship, childhood, and progression in life. Because within the story, Laila learns to become independent, a huge step in life that all individuals need to come to.
This book can be used as a social emotional learning piece for children of all ages in bridging the unfortunate circumstances of life to a more positive, optimistic way of solving issues of friendship, childhood, and progression in life. Because within the story, Laila learns to become independent, a huge step in life that all individuals need to come to.
September 15, 2025
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBe_wVeBL...
Główną bohaterką "Dodo" jest sześcioletnia Laila, która jest bardzo samotna, bo jej mama ciągle pracuje i nie ma dla niej czasu. Dziewczynka nie chodzi do szkoły, całe dnie spędza w domu. Pewnego dnia, kiedy przez lornetkę obserwuje okolicę, dostrzega tajemniczego ptaka... Komiks jest specyficzny, bo treści zawartej w tekście ma mało, więcej można wyczytać pomiędzy wierszami. Dużo trzeba się domyślać. Wraz z postępem akcji, rodzi się w głowie sporo pytań, ale nie na wszystkie uzyskamy odpowiedź. Na uwagę zasługują kreska oraz kolorystyka, które są dopasowane do wydarzeń i emocji pojawiących się na kartach komiksu.
Główną bohaterką "Dodo" jest sześcioletnia Laila, która jest bardzo samotna, bo jej mama ciągle pracuje i nie ma dla niej czasu. Dziewczynka nie chodzi do szkoły, całe dnie spędza w domu. Pewnego dnia, kiedy przez lornetkę obserwuje okolicę, dostrzega tajemniczego ptaka... Komiks jest specyficzny, bo treści zawartej w tekście ma mało, więcej można wyczytać pomiędzy wierszami. Dużo trzeba się domyślać. Wraz z postępem akcji, rodzi się w głowie sporo pytań, ale nie na wszystkie uzyskamy odpowiedź. Na uwagę zasługują kreska oraz kolorystyka, które są dopasowane do wydarzeń i emocji pojawiących się na kartach komiksu.
January 8, 2020
Wow! I wasn’t expecting the emotional wallop this book contains but this was a wonderful read about a 6 year old girl coping/not coping with the destruction of the life she once knew. Her friendship with Ralph the Dodo symbolizes her inner turmoil and how she is not dealing with it. Ralph becomes her guide in going through the hard stuff especially the anger she has bottled up. I’m not too sure why people are having issues with the book, I thought it was pretty simple. There is an open ending which may bug some but I felt that made for a poignant moment. I loved this and hope you do too!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2024
Pas spécialement convaincu par cette BD qui finit avec une fin plutôt confuse.
Même si le public est plus à destination des tout-petits et qu'il faut dévoiler subtilement, on ne connait pas trop l'histoire qui se dessine à la toute fin du livre. On comprends assez vite qu'il y a une séparation entre les parents sans en voir les raisons précises. Même à la toute fin le mystère reste confus.
Les dessins sont super en revanche ! colorés, fougueux, et la personnification du dodo comme rage de la petite fille est bien amenée. Il y a une matière mais qui aurait dû être un peu plus creusée.
Même si le public est plus à destination des tout-petits et qu'il faut dévoiler subtilement, on ne connait pas trop l'histoire qui se dessine à la toute fin du livre. On comprends assez vite qu'il y a une séparation entre les parents sans en voir les raisons précises. Même à la toute fin le mystère reste confus.
Les dessins sont super en revanche ! colorés, fougueux, et la personnification du dodo comme rage de la petite fille est bien amenée. Il y a une matière mais qui aurait dû être un peu plus creusée.
November 29, 2018
Perhaps there was something lost in translation, because I found the plot fragmented and confusing. By the end of the story, I was left with more questions than answers. I think the book would have benefitted being a little longer. The pacing of the story was a little too fast and I think that was a major contribution to the confusion. Also, the art style was not my favorite to look at. I applaud the artist for trying to tackle a difficult subject, but I dont think he succeeded.
February 3, 2020
This is a story about a loving something, but being betrayed and hurt by that love. A young girl whose parents have separated finds a strange bird in the park and keeps him in her house as her pet. However, he eventually destroys everything and leaves. A lot is left up to the reader interpretation about what happened and why. My 10 year old read this and said it didn't make any sense to him.
February 18, 2021
3.9
Ładne kolorki kontra storytellingowy choas. Z jednej strony ekspresyjny i cieszący oko, z drugiej zaś zdecydowanie nie dla dzieci - zbyt abstrakcyjny, do samego końca każący dopowiadać sobie sens historii. Ładna opowiastka o dziecięcej wyobraźni, która nie wykracza poza utarty schemat. Nie trafiło, wynudziło. Już zapomniałem, nie sięgnę ponownie.
Ładne kolorki kontra storytellingowy choas. Z jednej strony ekspresyjny i cieszący oko, z drugiej zaś zdecydowanie nie dla dzieci - zbyt abstrakcyjny, do samego końca każący dopowiadać sobie sens historii. Ładna opowiastka o dziecięcej wyobraźni, która nie wykracza poza utarty schemat. Nie trafiło, wynudziło. Już zapomniałem, nie sięgnę ponownie.
October 30, 2018
A story about infidelity, depression, and divorce with the Dodo as a metaphor for... Mom's anger? A child's acting out? Divorce's effect on a family? I don't know. What I do know is that all this is going to fly right over the heads of the kids this book has perplexingly been published for.
August 26, 2025
CW: infidelity
I don't know if Dodo was a case of lost in translation or the result of how Nunes structured the book, but I didn't really get what was happening plot-wise other than the MC's encounter with Ralph the Dodo and there are some magical realism elements in the book.
I don't know if Dodo was a case of lost in translation or the result of how Nunes structured the book, but I didn't really get what was happening plot-wise other than the MC's encounter with Ralph the Dodo and there are some magical realism elements in the book.
November 30, 2017
Adorei a arte e amei o uso do dodô como recuso da fúria da menina , uma obra redonda !!!
June 21, 2018
divorce. the chaos. it's not supposed to make sense and feelings are supposed to be chaotic and hurt.
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June 27, 2018Simple story with gorgeous art.
July 26, 2018
Finished with more questions than answers, which is never great from a kid's book.
Cute art though.
Cute art though.
July 27, 2018
It was perhaps a bit too abstract for me.
August 13, 2018
The storyline was a little confusing for a kids' graphic novel. Lots of energy and action on each page, however.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews