Frog, Log and Dave A Brush with Evil
By Trent Jamieson & Brent Wilson
Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran
When inimitable duo Trent Jamieson and Brent Wilson come together to create books you get memorable characters, maximum hilarity and a feast for the senses where the story seems to move across the vibrant pages with much expressiveness and epic sound effects as seen in their first graphic novel together: Frog, Log and Dave Almost Save the Day. The friends Frog, Log, Dave, Jeremy, Pollutodude and the suit clad villain are back in the much-anticipated book 2 – Frog, Log and Dave A Brush with Evil – another action packed, edge of your seat adventure filled with jokes and absurdity.
In A Brush with Evil, Count Evil von Evil launches a sinister plan to wreak revenge on Frog, Log and Dave and Jeremy, who are members of a band, run their own delivery service and have thwarted von Evil’s plan to harm their city in book 1 (Be sure to read about it in Frog, Log and Dave Almost Save the Day). Will they be able to outsmart the Count again?
Kids will love the vibrant colours which along with priceless facial expressions give the feel of watching the story unfold in a motion picture like fashion. The colourful endpapers are not only bursting with an assortment of jelly babies, but you can also search and find characters and items from the story hidden among them. Kids are sure to appreciate all the wonderful sound effects which often reverberate across panels and spreads adding to the immersive experience this story provides.
Themes of friendship, teamwork, bravery vs recklessness and the tug between good and evil stand out in this story while the expertly laid out panels highlight action shots and home in on the emotions of the characters leaving the readers with an extremely satisfying experience. Both books Frog, Log and Dave: Almost Save the Day and A Brush With Evil will make perfect gifts for the 6 – 11-year-olds (or any age reader who loves a laugh) in your lives.
Sandhya Parappukkaran is the author of award winning picture books including, The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name (Notable book, winner of the 2022 CBCA Book of the Year New Illustrator Award and a finalist in the QLD Premier’s Literary Awards), Amma’s Sari (2023 CBCA Notable book and a finalist in the 2023 NSW Premier’s Literary Award), Stay for Dinner (winner 2024 NSW Premier’s Multicultural Literary Award) and her latest, Words That Taste Like Home.
