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Arlo & Pips #2

Join the Crow Crowd!

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Everyone's crowing about Arlo & Pips, with Kirkus praising book 1 as "a perfect match for newly independent readers"!  Arlo is lonely and is looking for more friends in the city. This second book in the quirky graphic chapter book series from acclaimed author Elise Gravel is perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly and Castronauts. Crows are very social birds, and even with Pips as company, Arlo misses hanging out with other crows. One day, he and his pal Pips meet a very special crow who knows how to do all kinds of cool stuff. Despite being super-smart himself, Arlo realizes that he might still have things to learn! Has Arlo finally met his match? Elise Gravel presents a sequel full of her signature witty humor and more fascinating crow facts.  An Eisner nominee for Best Publication for Early Readers More praise for  Arlo & Pips #1: King of the   A New York Public Library Best Book * A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best * A Junior Library Guild Selection * "An unexpected friendship story! In three short graphic chapters marked by [Gravel’s] signature sly humor, facts about crows are sprinkled throughout, making the reader believe that maybe crows are truly as amazing as Arlo says.” — The Horn Book  (starred review)

64 pages, Hardcover

Published August 17, 2021

8 people are currently reading
78 people want to read

About the author

Elise Gravel

124 books535 followers

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5 stars
120 (45%)
4 stars
105 (39%)
3 stars
37 (13%)
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3 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Rosh ~catching up slowly~.
2,359 reviews4,820 followers
November 28, 2024
In a Nutshell: The second book of the Arlo & Pips early-reader chapter book series. Continues the fun from the first book with the same adorable characters.

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Arlo has now settled in the city, but he is lonely. When he confesses to Pips that he doesn’t have any other crow friends, Pips takes him to a park where a ‘murder’ resides. Arlo learns that there are others crows cleverer than him, and even meets the love of his life. (🤭😄)

Like the first book: 'King of the Birds', this beginner graphic novel also contains three short chapters. The theme of each chapter might be different but they are all interlinked, with each taking the story ahead.

Arlo isn't as boastful as in the first book… well, for most of the book anyway. Pips and he still share the same equation. Arlo brags about his talents; Pips, yet again the voice of reason, listens patiently until he finally loses his cool and tells Arlo to rein it in.

As the is a new group of crows introduced in this book, we get to see crow facts that Arlo didn’t earlier have access too. But the best part was when Arlo swoons over Marla. It was funny to see him finally in love with someone other than himself. 😄 The final page was also hilarious. I can't tell you the ending, but I burst out laughing at that scene. I could actually picture my kids making the same face as Pips had they seen Arlo and Marla in action. (Nothing crude, don’t worry.)

Just like the first book, there are plenty of footnotes, most of them containing facts about crows, though a couple break the norm. I loved all of these.

The art style and font typeface is the same as in the first book, and I liked it just as much. The only thing is, one word was deliberately misspelt to show that a crow could have another accent but as this is a very common word, it might be confusing to little readers. Perhaps the misspelt word could have been italicised to set it apart.

All in all, I enjoyed this just as much as Book One. The content makes this an apt read for kiddos aged 4-9 years. It would also be a great option for readers who are transitioning from picture books to chapter books.

Definitely recommended! The book can work as a standalone, but the relationship between Arlo and Pips comes out much better if you begin with the first book and proceed in series order.

4.25 stars.

This book was borrowed from my library.


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Profile Image for Skye Elder.
148 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2025
This book is adorable and is making me want to read the third book!!
Definitely 5 stars!!!
Profile Image for Lisa D.
3,167 reviews45 followers
August 18, 2021
Loved it! Fascinating book about crows!
Profile Image for Livres et cafés lattés.
155 reviews44 followers
October 6, 2022
𝗥𝗲́𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲́
Ces 2 livres mettent en vedette Arlo, un corbeau, et Pips, un petit oiseau jaune. Nous les accompagnons dans leurs aventures à travers la ville et dans leurs nouvelles rencontres.
Des albums empreints d’humour et qui sauront plaire aux petits et aux grands. Nous attendons le 3e tome de cette série avec impatience!

@elise_gravel n’a plus besoin de présentation. Sa plume et ses illustrations plaisent aux petits et aux grands. Bien que ces albums se veulent humoristiques, ils sont parsemés d’informations pertinentes sur les corbeaux et sur l’environnement.

Mes enfants adorent ces livres et ne se tannent pas de les lire. Ils sont parfaits pour le 1er et le 2e cycle.
Profile Image for Kay S..
468 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2022
I can't explain how much I enjoyed this book. I know folks have said it's odd and they don't get it but I thought it was absolutely hilarious. I loved how silly the characters were as well as the little asides that included both informative titbits about crows or little jokes. I think it's a great early reader/graphic novel for the Elephant and Piggy crowd. And maybe also me because I was laughing far too much.
I can't wait fro the sequel to find out about the crows' love story!
Profile Image for Gemma.
164 reviews15 followers
April 11, 2022
Perfect for kids (readers of all ages!). I love how the author has made the format really kid-friendly: large and evenly-spaced frames and text, simple text, accessible explanations for more complex words, balance of funny humor with facts about crows.

Highly recommend to all graphic novel fans and those who want to learn about crows!
Profile Image for Jessica.
1,634 reviews29 followers
August 10, 2022
I like this graphic novel because you learn more about crows every time you pick it up. We have crows and in Alaska we had ravens. It is funny too. Arlo the crow is bored and the picture is hysterical. The words Karla teaches him are funny too--bloviate, ululate, obfuscate, etc. Not your regular crow words.

The graphics are perfect for this level of graphic novel!
Profile Image for Ellon.
4,585 reviews
December 24, 2022
4 stars ( I really liked it)

I like how this is a story but is woven with true facts about crows. As another reviewer mentioned, it's just the right balance of story and facts without getting overwhelming. The story brings in the idea of making new friends, which is always a great storyline in a book for kids!
Profile Image for Katey Flowers.
399 reviews107 followers
January 8, 2022
I love Pips & Arlo! So fun and playful! This little book manages to pack so much character and charm, while also teaching the reader all about how wonderful and clever crows are! Made me smile and laugh the whole way through. Perfect for 4-6 years.
Profile Image for Leah.
7 reviews2 followers
January 11, 2022
What an adorable little book! I love the whole concept of this book- a graphic novel that's a step above a picture book but a few steps below a traditional graphic novel, that's hilarious and filled with fun facts about crows! I learned some new things about crows and birds in general!
Profile Image for Christie.
56 reviews5 followers
December 27, 2022
Had this been my first Gravel book, I may have given it a higher rating. I love her quirkiness, and I enjoyed the facts about crows interspersed throughout the story. I know my students will love Arlo & Pip!
Profile Image for Villain E.
3,953 reviews19 followers
August 2, 2023
Arlo the Crow wants to join a new murder of crows, but he's nervous. Pips encourages him. Filled with lots of facts about crows.

(Where are the facts about ... whatever bird Pips is supposed to be?)
Profile Image for Katie.
13 reviews
August 29, 2021
[This book confirms Elise Gravel as our favorite author at present. And we read a lot, so this is a significant distinction. —KMK]
Profile Image for Steph.
5,372 reviews82 followers
January 25, 2022
Such an adorable sequel to the first Arlo & Pips junior graphic novel! The crow facts are super interesting, and I love the snark. :-)
Profile Image for Adzriel.
102 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2022
Pas nécessairement mon préféré d'Élise Gravel, mais bien drôle et mignon avec quand même beaucoup d'informations sur les corbeaux qui vont assurément fasciner plusieurs enfants.
Profile Image for Susan.
603 reviews1 follower
October 30, 2023
I understood the vast majority of it! A fun read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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