• Doodle Adventures: The Search for the Slimy Space Slugs!
• written and illustrated by Mike Lowery
• published by Workman Publishing (2016)
• Roar Score: 5/5

Now might be a good time to admit that I adore books meant to be scribbled in. Growing up, I completed My Book About Me several times, crossing through previous notes if they had changed. I loved that book.

A few months ago, my daughter was gifted a copy of Wreck This Journal and had a similar love affair. It was a mindblowing experience to be expected to actually write on the pages and “destroy” the book.

So when we saw this new Doodle Adventures book from Workman, we knew it was love at first sight. And we weren’t disappointed.

I don’t usually quote a book’s back cover when doing a review, but this one sums up the book’s purpose so well (and it’s just a lot of fun):

I pledge to doodle in this book! That’s right! You ave permission to do what every kid is told not to do: write and draw on the pages of a book.

By consenting to own this book, you’ve just joined the super-top-secret Doodle Adventures Society and signed up for the mission to help Carl the Duck travel into space in search of a priceless missing jar!

I mean, come on, how can you say no to that?

Carl the Duck acts as your guide, introducing you to your top-secret mission, and helping you along with suggestions. The story and art are packed with jokes, and even if kids do nothing but read the story, they’ll be entertained.

But if they did that, they’d be missing the whole point. Nearly every page has an opportunity for interaction through doodling. On some pages, kids are told what to draw (e.g., draw one of Queen Elizabeth’s socks in a glass jar), and on others they’re given a prompt and allowed to use their imaginations (e.g., draw something to hide behind, draw something super sticky).

Through it all, they help Carl on his mission. And the journey is 100% fun. My daughter tore through The Search for the Slimy Space Slugs! and finished it in about an hour (giggling almost non-stop the entire time), and she immediately asked for Book 2.

That’s not a criticism. Any book that can immediately engage my kids and leave them wanting more is A-OK by me.

Book 2, The Pursuit of the Pesky Pizza Pirate!, is available now and includes a lot more of the same. Translation: We love it just as much as the first book. And since Workman and Lowery know a good thing when they have it, Book 3 (The Rise of the Rusty Robot-Cat!) is scheduled for release this summer.

Pins and needles, people. We can’t wait.

(Disclosure: Workman provided me with a review copy of this book. All opinions remain my own.)