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Moose & Slushie Solve a Thing

Early Reader Graphic Novel Synopsis

Grades K-3, Ages 5-8, Approx 80 pages

GN Comic Style:

Simple dialog like Ben Clanton’s Narwhal & Jelly, over-arching narratives like Mika Song’s Norma & Belly, meta-narrative like Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggy, mini-stories like Greg Rizzoli’s Baloney & Friends. Also… I love story add-ins like: maps, info sheets, how-to’s, epistolary pages, “list of characteristics” portraits,  easter egg clues….

Current status of this project:

I had finished the synopsis, divided into page numbers per chapter, and assigned preliminary page numbers to story points. I completed four final art spreads depicting the day when Moose & Slushie first met and I scripted Chapter Two (included.)  If I already had a publisher, I think next steps would be using the synopsis to script & thumbnail page by page for each chapter, under the guidance of the graphics novel editor.

However, the included synopsis now reads as formulaic to me, and instead, I want to revise it and take risks that reflect my deep sense of the characters. I want to keep the reader’s experience free from unnecessary complexity, while giving myself permission to experiment with form and play.

Once I have revised my synopsis, I will creat eight full spreads beginning in chapter one, with some additional penciled pages. I want to get this graphic novel ready to submit to my shortlist of preferred agents.

Series Summary:

Campo is a world where animals and bugs are people… and human people Do Not Exist. It’s a peaceable place: there are no predators or prey, so they pretty much live in harmony. And yet… some of them still need a little help figuring out how to get along in life. We begin by following the adventures of Slushie the banana slug and his friend Moose (a mouse.) Slushie seems to be the only one who senses a reality outside of their own, one where humans did exist in the past and where creatures used to eat each other (scary!! and… ewww…) Each of the animals explores how to be themselves while expanding their worlds to appreciate others.

Other stories:

- an owl in a hurry to grow up

- a turtle who’s training for a marathon

Character Intros

Slushie- a banana slug who doesn’t like bananas and he doesn’t like mysteries either. But he sees them everywhere he goes!

Moose- a mouse who loves fast cars even though she’s never been in one.

Prologue

Establishing shot: View of neighborhood on an active weekend morning. A bunny family is filling a van as they head to sports, a butterfly tends his garden, and a dog is in her robe and slippers sipping coffee on the porch. Within the view are two houses where, upon close inspection, Slushie the banana slug is asleep in bed, and next door, a mouse (named Moose) is checking her wall calendar.  Readers see flyers hung up on Moose’s refrigerator.

ACT I

Chapter One: Little Mysteries

Slushie at home

It’s early morning, and Slushie is awakened by a loud bang. He’s up and makes his way to the kitchen, where he slurps up some warm soup. The reader see that books had fallen on the floor (the loud bang), but Slushie looks outside and we see his imagination picturing a crowd of birds pushing over a garden statue then returning it to where it was. He sees his garden and one section has flowers that just won’t bloom. Slushie wants to know why! Just like that, he’s moved on to a new curiosity, a new “mystery.” Reader’s view: scene is inside house, but looking out of window to see Slushie in the backyard at his garden. He’s poking at the dirt. Another panel (window to where Slushie is seen is still viewable in background), in foreground reader sees that Slushie has a Cabinet of Curiosities: a bunch of shelves cluttered with things Slushie collects like: a piece of yarn, a candy wrapper from candy he’s never heard of, etc.

Moose at home

We see Moose beginning her morning also. She has a flyer advertising a car show downtown! She’s excited, packs her backpack, has breakfast (toast and tea) and is about ready to go.

Chapter Two: Help!

Moose’s House

Slushie goes next door to get help from Moose. He needs a shovel and Moose’s strength to dig down and retrieve whatever is keeping the flowers from growing.

Moose agrees to help, and they go to Slushie’s backyard.

Slushie’s Backyard

As Moose works, something is revealed. It is a metal and glass object! Slushie gets freaked out, certain it’s an artifact from Hooman Times. Moose tries to reassure, but doesn’t know what the object is either. (To reader, looks like a cell phone.) Moose decides that although it’s weird, it’s no big deal.

“I know what to do!” Says Slushie. Reader senses that Slushie has a plan.

Inside Slushie’s House

They bring the object inside, and Slushie adds it to his wall of curiosities. Wants to stare at his collection for… a couple hours. Moose says… we could do that… OR… we could go to the car show I was planning on!

Chapter Three

Walk Back to Moose’s House

They go back to Moose’s place so Moose returns shovel & gets backpack. Are you sure, Slushie asks/wonders? You want me to go with you? You know it takes me a while to get places.

Slushie knows he’s slow and is insecure about being a burden.

But Moose enjoys Slushie’s company.

It’ll be more fun with you!

Moose is a good friend.

Walking to Downtown from their Neighborhood

Offers Slushie to use his scooter. Offers a helmet, but Slushie has one in his pocket.

They begin walk to downtown to the car show. Slushie says he will look for more clues on the way.

During the walk, Moose talks about why she loves fast cars.

We see Slushie’s imagination, a fast car vs. his slow self. Worried.

Moose is happy talking about her favorite subject: Cards

Have you ever been in a super fast car? she asks Slushie.

Slushie sees a shiny object on the sidewalk, ignores Moose’s question, starts to spiral into worry. What is THAT?!

It is a compact (a circular makeup bag item.) Slushie opens it, and the mirror is cracked. He sees himself.

Slushie expresses worry about what this item really is.

Moose tries to explain what it is, says she has one at home. Slushie gets carried away.

ACT II

Chapter Four

Still on Walk

After thinking he had answers, Slushie gets worried again when realizing the weird object from garden is still unknown. Wants to solve before the car show.

Moose worries about missing the car show, concerned that Slushie is forgetting their plans.

They see others who are on way to car show.

Slushie ignore Moose’s distress at others passing them by, sees a small plastic cap that looks like a cone shape, decides that Hoomans were tiny and this was is an ancient hat!

Moose urges Slushie to stay on task, but he won’t listen.

Chapter Six: Friction between friends

Arriving at Car Show

Slushie is frustrated that Moose isn’t caught up in the mystery like he is. (Stakes raised.)

Moose tries to reassure, but has hurt feelings too. Wants Slushie to enjoy the moment.

Slushie is still carried away: what if bad things happen if they don’t figure out what happened to Hoomans?

Moose is in background, at a loss to follow Slushie’s concerns.

Moose & Slushie are almost at Car show, but they have to cross a big boulevard to get there.

Slushie has been in his head, but must shake it off to give attention to being careful as they cross street.

Chapter Seven

At Car Show

After crossing large boulevard with Moose and having to be present & pay attention, Slushie is noticing more around him.

Slushie sees Moose enjoying aspects of the car show, and realizes that he’s been missing out.

Moose reassures that they can talk more about Slushie’s mysteries later.

Slushie tries to enjoy the car show (awkward moments included.)

Big spread: together they survey a wide look at all the styles of cars. It is Golden Hour.

ACT III

Chapter Eight

Still at Car Show

Slushie begins to enjoy himself, relaxing and starting to notice small things, like the sound of engines and shiny car parts.

Moose is glad to see Slushie being happy.

They come across one more artifact (a huge human sock? ).. Slushie begins to get worked up…

Then… decides not to overthink it.

They see someone walking past wearing a strange hat: turns out, the “huge human sock” was a homemade knit hat!

At least ONE mystery was solved!

Chapter Nine

Park

They stop to rest at a park, and Moose grows curious about something random—maybe how traffic lights work.

Slushie isn’t that interested in the question, but decides to join Moose’s curiosity anyway.

They joke that maybe Hoomans invented it, but they  don’t dwell on the idea.

After spending the day together with Moose, Slushie feels a bit more at peace.

• They realize they’re hungry and decide to get something to east

Chapter Ten

Still at Park

They pack up the objects they found. Moose carries Slushie who is very tired.

(Note: must resolve where the scooter went.)

Walk to Diner

Along the way, Slushie reflects that it’s okay if some mysteries stay unsolved.

Moose teases that there will always be more things to figure out.

Diner

A bird waitress comes to take their order.

Slushie withdraws under the table, freaked out because… Birds eat Slugs… and Moose looks confused. (Slushie, from under table, has his eyes directed at reader, breaking 4th wall.)

I picture the ending as a nod to Slushie having this awareness of our human world from there in his animal/alternate universe/book world. I see it as a validation to the real anxieties that some people experience that don’t make sense to other people, that sometimes only make sense later.