- Illustrated Chapter Books
- Ages 7–10
- Comedy
Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable
Book 1 of 3 in Squirrel and DuckView the full series
A very funny, highly illustrated odd-couple adventure for children who like Dog Man, Grimwood and joke-heavy illustrated fiction. Best for readers who want comic chaos, bickering friends and a fast-moving story without too much prose density.
- Best for7–10
- FormatIllustrated
- Length240 pp
- Read aloud~3 hr25 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
- Onomatopoeic
Tone
- Funny
- Silly
- Absurdist
- Exciting
- Irreverent
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Squirrel and Duck are the only two talking animals in the world, so even though they argue constantly, they have decided to stick together. They live in a fibreglass tree in an abandoned theme park, keeping a low profile with Duck's beloved pet cactus, Mr Spikes, until bulldozers arrive and force them out into the wider world. When they overhear two hopeless art thieves discussing hidden riches, Squirrel sees a chance for treasure while Duck imagines a noble mission to help the nation. What follows is a daft, highly illustrated caper full of bickering, heists, chaotic woodland encounters and unlikely heroics. It is not a panel-led graphic novel, but the strong visual support, comic pacing and short scenes make it feel very accessible for readers moving between graphic novels and illustrated chapter books.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 7–10
- Read aloud · 6–9
- Independent · 7–10
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
High
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- 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
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Funny
- Odd couple
- Talking animals
- Highly illustrated
- Reluctant readers
Avoid if
- Prefers realistic stories
- Dislikes silly chaos
- Wants true graphic novel panels
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Struggling with reading
- Making friends
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A funny early chapter-adventure series — a great pick for newly independent and reluctant readers.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific delight is the fibreglass tree and the pet cactus — Squirrel and Duck the only two talking animals in the world, sharing an abandoned theme park, bulldozers arriving, two hopeless art thieves making the mistake of being overheard. The Tom Percival illustrated-chapter buddy-caper for the Dog Man / Grimwood reader.
- Friendship and belonging
- Adventure and freedom
- Trickery and cleverness
Why parents love it
The Tom Percival Squirrel and Duck opener — heavily illustrated illustrated-chapter-book, bickering buddy comedy, comic pacing and short scenes pulling readers across the bridge from graphic novels into prose. Useful slot for the reader who doesn't want SEL right now.
- Shared humour
- Quick to read
- Conversation starter
In the series
Squirrel and Duck.
3 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Tom Percival.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
Where you’ll find it
On these reading lists.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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