Poiko: Quests & Stuff

In this sincere and exuberant fantasy adventure, easygoing lion Poiko and his best bat bud Kensie run a delivery service shepherding magical packages to equally magical characters. While schedule-savvy Kensie tries to keep them on task, Poiko’s kind nature and willingness to help everyone they meet diverts deliveries onto long, meandering routes filled with adventures. From visiting glowing space fish among the stars to delivering care packages to lonely creatures to accompanying grieving new friends on their journey to closure, Poiko and Kensie adopt a supportive can-do attitude wherever they go. While moments of conflict do arise, the plot focuses primarily on forging new bonds and reconnecting with the past. Fanciful, visually engrossing backdrops and the sprawling cast of characters bring to mind classic Sunday comic aesthetics. Middleton avoids feeling derivative of his influences through the gentle ways in which the characters interact, openly working through loneliness and loss, parental expectations, and friendship challenges by actively listening to one another. Ages 7–11. (Apr.)