- Graphic Novels
- Ages 5–8
- Comedy
Pluto Rocket: Joe Pidge Flips a Lid
Book 2 in Pluto RocketView the full series
When Joe Pidge loses his trademark hat, he's sure he's lost what makes him special, until Pluto proves every pigeon is one of a kind. A warm, funny second outing about identity, dressed up as slapstick.
- Best for5–8
- FormatGraphic
- Length88 pp
- Read aloud~41 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Conversational
Tone
- Funny
- Silly
- Warm
- Adventurous
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Joe Pidge and Pluto Rocket are firm friends now, with Joe acting as guide on Pluto's secret mission to understand life on Earth. But there's a catch: Joe has never actually left his own tiny slice of the neighbourhood, and when Pluto nudges him to explore further, he stalls by inventing a wildly over-the-top list of supplies they'll supposedly need first. Then disaster strikes: Joe's beloved hat, the thing that makes him stand out from every other pigeon, goes missing, and without it he's convinced he has lost his uniqueness altogether. It takes his patient alien friend to show him that all the pigeons are unique, hat or no hat, before the two finally set off to see the wider world. Paul Gilligan's second Pluto Rocket book keeps the speech-bubble comedy and taco-fuelled banter fizzing while sneaking in a genuinely reassuring message about identity and self-worth. Short chapters, expressive cartooning and non-stop gags make it a confidence-building read for children stepping up into longer graphic novels.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A funny early graphic novel for 5-6s with support and 6-9s reading independently, easy to enjoy as a read-aloud thanks to its visual gags. Completely gentle in content, with a reassuring thread about identity that gives it warmth and repeat-read appeal.
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 5–8
- Read aloud · 4–7
- Independent · 6–9
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Funny graphic novels
- Reluctant readers
- New to graphic novels
- Animal lovers
Avoid if
- Wants calm bedtime
- Wants realistic stories
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Joe getting into a total flap over his missing hat is both hilarious and secretly relatable, and his ridiculous list of things they 'need' before exploring is comedy gold. Pluto being the sensible one for once makes their friendship even funnier.
- Friendship and belonging
- Adventure and freedom
- Being understood finally
Why parents love it
Underneath the taco jokes and pigeon panic sits a lovely, low-key lesson about what really makes someone special. It's a short, gag-driven graphic novel that builds reading stamina, and the gentle friendship is a pleasure to read aloud together.
- Shared humour
- Quick to read
In the series
Pluto Rocket.
4 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Paul Gilligan.
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