It’s not easy to create a great character for kids.
That’s why it’s so amazing that British cartoonist Luke Pearson has created, in blue-haired, intrepid Hilda, a character who feels instantly iconic.
Introduced in 2010’s “Hildafolk,” she continued her adventures in the Scandinavian wilderness in 2012’s “Hilda and the Midnight Giant,” a nominee for Slate’s Cartoonist Studio Prize.
Now she returns in “Hilda and the Bird Parade,” out this April.
Hilda and her mother have left the countryside for the big, dangerous city of Trolberg, and while Hilda wants to explore, her nervous mom wants her to stay put.
Once Hilda finally does get out into the city, she realizes the friends she’s made aren’t quite as nice as she thought they were.
An encounter with an injured raven turns into a quest to discover Trolberg’s history — and for Hilda and her mom to find each other in the chaos of the town’s annual Bird Parade.
Hilda is kind and courteous, but also spirited and brave; she’s a heroine young readers immediately relate to as she explores her new and intimidating environment.
It’s easy to imagine kids devouring the three Hildafolk books and waiting eagerly for more. For adults, though, Pearson’s measured storytelling (much slower paced than many American comics for kids) and imaginative artwork make “Hilda and the Bird Parade” an absolute treat.
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