Cheesy Bob Strikes!– at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Comic, humour, drawing, short chapters.
Children’s book title: Happy Hills: Cheesy Bob Strikes!
Children’s author: Sophy Henn.
Genre: Children’s fiction, graphic novel.
Published by: Simon & Schuster Children’s.
ISBN: 9781398546776.
Recommended for children aged: 5+.
First published: Paperback February 2026.
This children’s book is ideal for: younger readers as a stepping stone from monthly comics to graphic novels with short chapters and artistic activities they are familiar with.
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Our review:
Cheesy Bob is a monkey determined to gain revenge over previous audiences of his magic show after they grew bored of card tricks and him. Interspersed with his quest to gain retribution, graphic novel style, are sections about why he is called Cheesy Bob, tales about the inhabitants of Happy Hills and their various interests, including the World of Pants to the star quality of Mimi, a purple rabbit.
At the end of the book, once all the various storylines have been concluded, is a section showing how to draw the main protagonists, as well as the chance to design original characters using the basic outline alongside various ears, eyes, coats and markings.
Our verdict:
Cheesy Bob Strikes! is a fun and funny graphic novel with short chapters. This will definitely suit readers and listeners in the suggested age range. Each subject is visited numerous times, with the Cheesy Bob instalments in chronological order, while the World of Pants and discussions about names and talents are slotted in between these chapters.
The drawing activities and instructions at the end of the book are definitely aimed at infant school readers and are similar to those found in younger children’s magazines. There are other titles available in this series. This is book four, with the promise of a fifth to be released in September.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- A graphic novel is a fun way to begin reading books with chapters. What part was your favourite?
- How can you tell, from the cover illustration, that Cheesy Bob is the baddie in this book?
- All the characters are described, with an illustration, at the start. Did this help you enjoy and feel involved in the book right away?
- Who was your favourite resident of Happy Hills? Why did you like them best?
- Have you drawn any of the main characters by following the instructions from the author? Did you find it easier or harder than you thought?
- Did you make up your own character? What suggestions for different characteristics did you use to make them original and totally yours?
- Did you try to guess why Cheesy Bob was called Cheesy Bob? Were you right?
- Would you wear any of the pants from World of Pants? If so, which?
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Children’s for the review copy.
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Browse our Year 2 reading list.
