The don't panic gang! by Mark Sperring. Illus. by Sarah Warburton

With Sumo Cat, Ninja Bird and Kung-Fu Worm on the case, what could go possibly wrong. These three intrepid heroes make up The Don’t Panic Gang, their promise, We Are Right Here to Help emblazoned across the rooftop near their house on top of a small apartment building, atop a pizza shop. Next door is Sumo Cat's favourite restaurant, Joe's Doughy Donuts, Sumo Cat's favourite food.

One day the trio is quietly resting when across the rooftops comes a cry for help. Without a second’s hesitation, they dress themselves in their superhero costumes: Cat pulls on his Sumo wrestler's loin cloth (mawashi), Bird grabs his disguise which covers his head and eyes, while Worm ties a red scarf around his head. They leap over the apartment buildings around them, crossing from one to another, each time coming closer to the cry for help. As the cry gets louder, their anticipation peaks, until they look over the window sill in the bathroom to assess the problem.

Children will laugh out loud at the twist in the tale, as the one calling for help is not the one children will expect at all, and a fourth member is inducted into The Don't Panic Gang

The illustrations will keep children laughing as they spy detail on each page furthering the story of our superheroes. The detail of the high street with its array of businesses, the apartment buildings of all different shapes and sizes, the detail of the superheroes' living room, all conspire to give readers a richly humorous understanding of what lies behind this outlandish team's aim to help.

Readers will love talking about what scares them and how they deal with it, what things may lurk in their house or garden which need to be avoided, and just who is the superhero they could call on in need.

Themes: Bravery, Superheroes, Spiders, Humour.

Fran Knight