Space Cadet Topo: The Day the Sun Turned Off

Topo the mole is the creation of DGPH, a Buenos Aires design firm inspired by anime, science fiction, graffiti, and other threads of alt culture. In Topo's first picture book, the bucktooth cartoon mole is cast as a space cadet—a little bit Captain Kirk, a little bit Buzz Lightyear—and must save the world from a deep freeze by jump-starting the sun with a mystical "Galactic Flame" ("Only a true heart can take this torch," intones the flame's guardian wizard). But the flatly rendered, unfocused spreads look more like screen captures from a video game than narrative-driven illustrations, and the discursive text is far harder to track than most comic books. The few obstacles that arise, such as a "great monster" inside the sun, are immediately conquered, contributing to an overall lack of tension, despite frequent reminders of the urgency of Topo's mission. Children are liable to grow frustrated and bored, while grownups not enamored of kawaii (Japanese cute) may suspect the book is geared more toward driving readers to the Molestown Web site. Ages 4–8. (Nov.)