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Narwhal and Jelly #10
A Waffle Lot of Love!
The funny and adorable New York Times bestselling kids graphic novel series starring happy-go-lucky, waffle-loving Narwhal and somewhat cynical sidekick, Jelly.
In this hilarious 10th book, Narwhal's PALentine's Day celebrations for Jelly go a little overboard! Includes bonus fun facts!
Dive into three new stories with best buds Narwhal and Jelly! It's PALentine's Day and Jelly gives Narwhal a whaley nice card — but now Narwhal has no idea what to give him! One card isn't nearly enough, and soon Narwhal is flooding Jelly with gifts galore: waffles, a book about Jelly, more waffles, a song about Jelly . . . MORE waffles!
Jelly is grateful, but would prefer the present of Narwhal's presence more than all of Narwhal's over-the-top displays of friendship. Can Narwhal realize what true friendship means before they go off the deep end trying to please their pal?
In this hilarious 10th book, Narwhal's PALentine's Day celebrations for Jelly go a little overboard! Includes bonus fun facts!
Dive into three new stories with best buds Narwhal and Jelly! It's PALentine's Day and Jelly gives Narwhal a whaley nice card — but now Narwhal has no idea what to give him! One card isn't nearly enough, and soon Narwhal is flooding Jelly with gifts galore: waffles, a book about Jelly, more waffles, a song about Jelly . . . MORE waffles!
Jelly is grateful, but would prefer the present of Narwhal's presence more than all of Narwhal's over-the-top displays of friendship. Can Narwhal realize what true friendship means before they go off the deep end trying to please their pal?
96 pages, Hardcover
First published December 30, 2025
3 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Ben Clanton
53 books461 followersBen Clanton is the author/illustrator of the Narwhal and Jelly series as well as a number of other books as IT CAME IN THE MAIL, MO'S MUSTACHE, and TATER TALES. When Ben isn't doodling up stories (and often when he is) he likes to cook, explore outdoors, and play basketball. Ben lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and kids. Find out more about Ben at www.benclanton.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
April 27, 2025
We are big Narwhal and Jelly fans, so my girls and I were thrilled to get the ARC of their newest adventure from NetGalley.
In this installment, Narwhal and Jelly are celebrating PALentine’s Day. Jelly is ready to go on an adventure with Narwhal, but Narwhal wants to show his appreciation of Jelly through material objects first. As always, the illustrations and antics are amazing and hilarious. My kids couldn’t stop giggling and requested a re-read immediately after finishing the story. As an adult, I appreciate the real-life sea creature information as well as the emphasis that quality time is more important than material gifts. We will be purchasing this once it’s released at the end of the year.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Books for an advanced copy of this book.
In this installment, Narwhal and Jelly are celebrating PALentine’s Day. Jelly is ready to go on an adventure with Narwhal, but Narwhal wants to show his appreciation of Jelly through material objects first. As always, the illustrations and antics are amazing and hilarious. My kids couldn’t stop giggling and requested a re-read immediately after finishing the story. As an adult, I appreciate the real-life sea creature information as well as the emphasis that quality time is more important than material gifts. We will be purchasing this once it’s released at the end of the year.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Books for an advanced copy of this book.
June 12, 2025
We will definitely be adding this book to our primary school library. My students enjoy this series, and I have added all of the previous books to our collection as well. The message of this story is great- giving gifts to a friend is nice, but spending time together is the best gift of all. I love the farewell rhymes like “Gotta go, buffalo!” I feel like kids would pick up on those and start saying them with a friend. My students LOVE telling jokes, so I loved seeing a joke in there that they could share with a friend. The fun facts page is always a nice feature- kids really absorb them when presented along with a fun story. And I feel like parents and teachers who tend to discredit graphic novels would especially appreciate that feature. This story is fun, easily digestible, & appealing to young readers. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing this ARC for review!
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May 2, 2025My son and I have all of these books and adore them. My son was so excited when I told him we had an early ARC, and he got to read this before it was released! Thank you so much, Tundra books!
I assume you have read several other books in the series since this is book 10. It does have a lot of callbacks to their previous adventures. You can expect the same silliness, rhyming, and waffles as the other stories. This one is about their friendship and celebrating Valentine’s Day! It was truly adorable. Oh my goodness, this one is full of so many waffles! Haha. I loved the rhyming and the cute little catchphrases. My son was laughing out loud at all the phrases and silliness that Narwhal got up to. If your kids enjoyed the previous books in this series, they will like this one!
Thank you, Tundra Books, for the e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
I assume you have read several other books in the series since this is book 10. It does have a lot of callbacks to their previous adventures. You can expect the same silliness, rhyming, and waffles as the other stories. This one is about their friendship and celebrating Valentine’s Day! It was truly adorable. Oh my goodness, this one is full of so many waffles! Haha. I loved the rhyming and the cute little catchphrases. My son was laughing out loud at all the phrases and silliness that Narwhal got up to. If your kids enjoyed the previous books in this series, they will like this one!
Thank you, Tundra Books, for the e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
May 19, 2025
4.5/5⭐️
In the words of my 8 year old:
“I really liked this book! I thought it was super funny—especially how Narwhal keeps on talking even when Jelly is like, “What are you saying?” That part made me laugh. I love reading Narwhal and Jelly books because they’re just really funny and they feel like my type of book.
The only thing I didn’t like is that it was too short. I wanted it to be longer because I didn’t want it to end!
I also feel like I can relate to the characters—like, I kind of see myself in them. I think other kids would like this book too, especially if they like silly stories and funny friends.”
In the words of my 8 year old:
“I really liked this book! I thought it was super funny—especially how Narwhal keeps on talking even when Jelly is like, “What are you saying?” That part made me laugh. I love reading Narwhal and Jelly books because they’re just really funny and they feel like my type of book.
The only thing I didn’t like is that it was too short. I wanted it to be longer because I didn’t want it to end!
I also feel like I can relate to the characters—like, I kind of see myself in them. I think other kids would like this book too, especially if they like silly stories and funny friends.”
October 7, 2025
Oh how I love Narwhal and Jelly!! These are just fun books, plain and simple, and offer much needed respite from life.
This time around it is PALentine's Day and all Jelly wants to do is go on a grand adventure with Narwhal, but narwhal [waffles at the ready] has other plans. Many. Other. Plans. Will they get their adventure, or will the day be ruined? You'll have to read it to find out! ;-)
A excellent edition to this fantastic series, and one I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ben Clanton, and Tundra Book Group/Tundra Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This time around it is PALentine's Day and all Jelly wants to do is go on a grand adventure with Narwhal, but narwhal [waffles at the ready] has other plans. Many. Other. Plans. Will they get their adventure, or will the day be ruined? You'll have to read it to find out! ;-)
A excellent edition to this fantastic series, and one I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ben Clanton, and Tundra Book Group/Tundra Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2025
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!
A Waffle Lot’s Love! is another delightful addition to the Narwhal and Jelly series! This story beautifully highlights the importance of friendship and being there for the ones you care about. The illustrations are bright, fun, and full of personality, they kept my third grader completely engaged from start to finish.
We absolutely loved this ARC and can’t wait to purchase a physical copy to add to our collection. Ben Clanton continues to bring joy, humor, and heart to every page. We’re already looking forward to the next Narwhal and Jelly adventure!
#AWaffleLotsLove #NarwhalAndJelly #BenClanton #NetGalley #ARCReview #ChildrensBooks #PictureBooks #GraphicNovelsForKids #EarlyReaders #BookReview #KidLit #BookRecommendations #ParentApproved #ReadWithKids #BookLovers #FamilyReading #NarwhalAndJellySeries
A Waffle Lot’s Love! is another delightful addition to the Narwhal and Jelly series! This story beautifully highlights the importance of friendship and being there for the ones you care about. The illustrations are bright, fun, and full of personality, they kept my third grader completely engaged from start to finish.
We absolutely loved this ARC and can’t wait to purchase a physical copy to add to our collection. Ben Clanton continues to bring joy, humor, and heart to every page. We’re already looking forward to the next Narwhal and Jelly adventure!
#AWaffleLotsLove #NarwhalAndJelly #BenClanton #NetGalley #ARCReview #ChildrensBooks #PictureBooks #GraphicNovelsForKids #EarlyReaders #BookReview #KidLit #BookRecommendations #ParentApproved #ReadWithKids #BookLovers #FamilyReading #NarwhalAndJellySeries
May 15, 2025
Absolutely adorable!
Overall: 5⭐
Plot/Lesson:° 4📍
Smiles: 5 🤣
Illustrations: 5 🖌️
Suggested Ages: 3-8 y/o
"Mom's Review"
We're officially adding some of these flippin' fin-tastic animal puns to our family's lexicon! Mr. Clanton does it again with another adorable, silly, hilarious adventure between these two unlikely friends!
I will always remain impressed with how emotive his drawings are, despite their *relative* simplicity! Another superb addition to the Narwhal and Jelly collection!
A's Review^:
I love reading Narwhal and Jelly! We have a few of their books at home so I was super excited when Mommy told me we'd get to read this one.
I thought the book was really funny! Especially when Jelly said "This Jellyfish has gotta swish!"
I really liked [all the puns and silly plays on ocean terms] throughout the book! And the really big gift Narwhal gives Jelly was just so silly!
C's Review°:
[I requested a re-read same night but fell asleep halfway through the second reading! Oops! But I never stopped giggling the whole time we read this one!]
(Full review to come!)
Thank you to Ben Clanton, Tundra Book Group, & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
All opinions are our own.
° = Our Plot/Lesson rating is how well the kiddos picked up on the morals/lessons learned or well recieved the facts were.
^ = A, "Ready to Read" level 3, voracious reader
* = C, learning her letters, but memorizes stories well!
I paraphrase the kids’ opinions 90% of the time, but will call out their direct quotes.
Overall: 5⭐
Plot/Lesson:° 4📍
Smiles: 5 🤣
Illustrations: 5 🖌️
Suggested Ages: 3-8 y/o
"Mom's Review"
We're officially adding some of these flippin' fin-tastic animal puns to our family's lexicon! Mr. Clanton does it again with another adorable, silly, hilarious adventure between these two unlikely friends!
I will always remain impressed with how emotive his drawings are, despite their *relative* simplicity! Another superb addition to the Narwhal and Jelly collection!
A's Review^:
I love reading Narwhal and Jelly! We have a few of their books at home so I was super excited when Mommy told me we'd get to read this one.
I thought the book was really funny! Especially when Jelly said "This Jellyfish has gotta swish!"
I really liked [all the puns and silly plays on ocean terms] throughout the book! And the really big gift Narwhal gives Jelly was just so silly!
C's Review°:
[I requested a re-read same night but fell asleep halfway through the second reading! Oops! But I never stopped giggling the whole time we read this one!]
(Full review to come!)
Thank you to Ben Clanton, Tundra Book Group, & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
All opinions are our own.
° = Our Plot/Lesson rating is how well the kiddos picked up on the morals/lessons learned or well recieved the facts were.
^ = A, "Ready to Read" level 3, voracious reader
* = C, learning her letters, but memorizes stories well!
I paraphrase the kids’ opinions 90% of the time, but will call out their direct quotes.
May 5, 2025
Way cute! I love the illustrations. I think the way this mixes random-ness with facts and fun makes so much sense for the age group.
July 16, 2025
I want to say thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing my children and me the privilege of being able to read this book. I really appreciate it!
My boys (8 and 10) have actually never read the Narwal and Jelly series before, despite seeing the other books many times before in the store. But after today it was very obvious that they've got a new obsession! I had my boys trade off on reading different pages of this book well we all sat together. They thought this was a laugh riot and give it a thousand thumbs up!
This series is most definitely up the alley of grades 1 to 6 in Canada. Despite the age rating, I know kids of all ages will love the silliness and fun inside this book! There are a handful of larger words in this book that might take younger kids a minute to sound out, but between this and the good clean fun it's also great for older kids who will want a quick, comfy, silly read. Even I really enjoyed it! This was easy for them both to read, some of the jokes (adults you'll get a chuckle too I promise) took them a minute to get but when they got them the laughter was contagious. Honestly the laughter was almost non-stop except for the really sweet moments this books brings around! 'A Waffle Lot of Love' reminds me so much of the goodness and fun in the Pigeon series by Mo Willems and the Weenie Series by Maureen Fergus.
If you're looking for a very sweet short chapter book and/ or series that delivers on a great reading experience that draws your kids in and has clean fun and some silliness this book and this series I know will be it! It will also be fantastic for Valentine's Day as that's the theme it plays off but they call it Palentines day! My kids are now so excited to be able to read Narwal and Jellys previous adventures! Thank you so much for giving them a brand new series to love!
Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for providing us with a snuggle time full of laughs, love and a new series and book were going to love together! I truly appreciate it!
My boys (8 and 10) have actually never read the Narwal and Jelly series before, despite seeing the other books many times before in the store. But after today it was very obvious that they've got a new obsession! I had my boys trade off on reading different pages of this book well we all sat together. They thought this was a laugh riot and give it a thousand thumbs up!
This series is most definitely up the alley of grades 1 to 6 in Canada. Despite the age rating, I know kids of all ages will love the silliness and fun inside this book! There are a handful of larger words in this book that might take younger kids a minute to sound out, but between this and the good clean fun it's also great for older kids who will want a quick, comfy, silly read. Even I really enjoyed it! This was easy for them both to read, some of the jokes (adults you'll get a chuckle too I promise) took them a minute to get but when they got them the laughter was contagious. Honestly the laughter was almost non-stop except for the really sweet moments this books brings around! 'A Waffle Lot of Love' reminds me so much of the goodness and fun in the Pigeon series by Mo Willems and the Weenie Series by Maureen Fergus.
If you're looking for a very sweet short chapter book and/ or series that delivers on a great reading experience that draws your kids in and has clean fun and some silliness this book and this series I know will be it! It will also be fantastic for Valentine's Day as that's the theme it plays off but they call it Palentines day! My kids are now so excited to be able to read Narwal and Jellys previous adventures! Thank you so much for giving them a brand new series to love!
Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for providing us with a snuggle time full of laughs, love and a new series and book were going to love together! I truly appreciate it!
July 3, 2025
A Waffle Lot of Love is the tenth installment in Ben Clanton’s beloved Narwhal and Jelly series and is scheduled for release on December 30, 2025. This Valentine’s—or rather, Pal-entine’s—themed story offers a heartwarming and humorous take on friendship that’s perfect for middle-grade readers.
In this charming tale, Jelly gives Narwhal a thoughtful handmade card to celebrate Pal-entine’s Day. Narwhal, in turn, struggles to come up with the perfect gift, unintentionally forgetting their planned adventure. What follows is a sweet and relatable story about thoughtfulness, appreciation, and what it truly means to show you care.
As with the previous books in the series, the illustrations are whimsical and full of energy, making the graphic novel format especially appealing to younger middle-grade readers—particularly those who may be transitioning from early readers to chapter books. The humor, especially the puns, is clever and engaging, striking a great balance between silliness and sincerity.
One of the standout aspects of this story is its subtle introduction to the idea of love languages. Through Narwhal’s attempts to express his appreciation, readers can begin to explore different ways people show and receive care—whether through acts of service, quality time, words of affirmation, or giving gifts. It’s a thoughtful message wrapped in a fun and accessible package.
I also appreciate how the series continues its tradition of incorporating short educational interludes. These nonfiction breaks not only add depth to the story but may also support readers who benefit from varied pacing or who enjoy fun facts alongside fiction.
I highly recommend this title for fans of the series, educators, and caregivers looking for a playful, heart-centered read that celebrates friendship and learning.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this charming tale, Jelly gives Narwhal a thoughtful handmade card to celebrate Pal-entine’s Day. Narwhal, in turn, struggles to come up with the perfect gift, unintentionally forgetting their planned adventure. What follows is a sweet and relatable story about thoughtfulness, appreciation, and what it truly means to show you care.
As with the previous books in the series, the illustrations are whimsical and full of energy, making the graphic novel format especially appealing to younger middle-grade readers—particularly those who may be transitioning from early readers to chapter books. The humor, especially the puns, is clever and engaging, striking a great balance between silliness and sincerity.
One of the standout aspects of this story is its subtle introduction to the idea of love languages. Through Narwhal’s attempts to express his appreciation, readers can begin to explore different ways people show and receive care—whether through acts of service, quality time, words of affirmation, or giving gifts. It’s a thoughtful message wrapped in a fun and accessible package.
I also appreciate how the series continues its tradition of incorporating short educational interludes. These nonfiction breaks not only add depth to the story but may also support readers who benefit from varied pacing or who enjoy fun facts alongside fiction.
I highly recommend this title for fans of the series, educators, and caregivers looking for a playful, heart-centered read that celebrates friendship and learning.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2025
Narwhal and Jelly are the best of friends, and despite their differences, they care deeply about one another. Palentine’s Day has finally arrived, and Narwhal wants to make the day extra special for Jelly. From kind words to lavish expressions of affection, Narwhal creates ever more detailed gifts to show Jelly how much they care. But as the day wears on and the two companions spend very little time together, Jelly decides that a shift in perspective will make it the best Palentine’s Day ever. This tenth in the Narwhal and Jelly series mirrors the design and delivery of the companion stories. Designed as a graphic novel, the plot unfolds primarily through word bubbles and imagery in thoughtfully crafted scenes. The illustrations alternate between the recognizable imagery from the series and hand-drawn creations by both Narwhal and Jelly, giving the book a dynamic and engaging visual quality. Though Narwhal and Jelly are the primary protagonists of the narrative, several familiar faces from previous installments appear within the book, as well. Brief lines of dialogue form the bulk of the story, making this graphic novel well suited to young children who are becoming increasingly independent readers. Additionally, an aside featuring factual information about real life symbiotic relationships is included, reinforcing the truth behind this fictional tale. Entertaining and accessible, this reflection of friendship is a positive addition to the Narwhal and Jelly series and to library collections for young elementary school-aged readers, as well.
July 29, 2025
Thank you to Ben Clanton and Tundra Book Group (through Netgalley) for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Yay Narwhal and Jelly! Every single one of these novels is an absolute delight, and a great way to introduce younger children to reading and graphic novels. They're short, fun, and waffley sweet.
A Waffle Lot of Love is the tenth installment in the Narwhal and Jelly series. They're best friends, and Palentine’s Day is the PERFECT day to celebrate. So when Jelly gives Narwhal a card to celebrate, things quickly spiral out of control (in Narwhal fashion). Kids will learn the real meaning of friendship, and have a fantastic time.
As always there are some great creature facts included!
My household LOVES Narwhal and Jelly books. The illustrations are adorable, the puns are endless, and Narwhal & Jelly are a great example of how friendships should be. They work through problems together, and while they may not always agree, they always find ways to communicate and compromise.
I highly recommend this book (and the whole series) to families with younger kids. My 5 and 3 year olds were giggling through the entire book! It's one of our go-to series that we've been reading since before they could both walk. And if you're already a fan, you'll be absolutely delighted by A Waffle Lot of Love.
Available December 30, 2025
Yay Narwhal and Jelly! Every single one of these novels is an absolute delight, and a great way to introduce younger children to reading and graphic novels. They're short, fun, and waffley sweet.
A Waffle Lot of Love is the tenth installment in the Narwhal and Jelly series. They're best friends, and Palentine’s Day is the PERFECT day to celebrate. So when Jelly gives Narwhal a card to celebrate, things quickly spiral out of control (in Narwhal fashion). Kids will learn the real meaning of friendship, and have a fantastic time.
As always there are some great creature facts included!
My household LOVES Narwhal and Jelly books. The illustrations are adorable, the puns are endless, and Narwhal & Jelly are a great example of how friendships should be. They work through problems together, and while they may not always agree, they always find ways to communicate and compromise.
I highly recommend this book (and the whole series) to families with younger kids. My 5 and 3 year olds were giggling through the entire book! It's one of our go-to series that we've been reading since before they could both walk. And if you're already a fan, you'll be absolutely delighted by A Waffle Lot of Love.
Available December 30, 2025
August 1, 2025
Our household loves the "Narwal and Jelly" series! These stories are suitable for all ages; adult readers can enjoy them just as much as younger readers/listeners because there is always a positive lesson to be learned. In "A Waffle Lot of Love," it's the tenth adventure for the dynamic duo, but each story reads like the first. Narwal learns from Jelly that it's "Palentine's Day, and he spends the rest of the day coming up with ways to show Jelly how much he means to him. Narwal thinks up humorous phrases for Jelly (sure to get a giggle and repeat from younger readers), and together they teach each other what it means to be a good "pal," on this day and every day.
"A Waffle Lot of Love" follows the same format as the previous books, which is great because it includes a little bit of everything: story, animal facts, comic book superheroes, colorful illustrations, and lots of waffles! This book would make the perfect addition to a Valentine's basket/any holiday gift, a gift for your favorite pal, or purchased any time for your home library because you can't get enough of Narwal and Jelly!
Thanks to NetGalley, Tundra Books, and Ben Clanton for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
"A Waffle Lot of Love" follows the same format as the previous books, which is great because it includes a little bit of everything: story, animal facts, comic book superheroes, colorful illustrations, and lots of waffles! This book would make the perfect addition to a Valentine's basket/any holiday gift, a gift for your favorite pal, or purchased any time for your home library because you can't get enough of Narwal and Jelly!
Thanks to NetGalley, Tundra Books, and Ben Clanton for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Reading the latest installment from Narwhal and Jelly is a heartwarming way to close out 2025.
Narwhal and Jelly are celebrating Palentine's Day together. While Narwhal is showering Jelly with waffles and homemade books, the lopsided efforts for the day are confusing our favorite jellyfish.
After all, it takes more than one person to build a friendship (a literal ship, BTW).
Some delightful things you will find inside this new release:
😎Oodles of great quips to use when saying good-bye to your buddy:
Toodle-oo, Kangaroo🦘
Won't be long, King Kong 🦧
Ciao for now, dairy cow 🐄
And more. . .
🧇Lots and lots of waffles (round and heart-shaped). Narwhal does not mess around when it comes to his favorite treat.
🐚A humorous interlude with a shell phone. Shello?
🐠Some fascinating facts about sea creatures -- always one of my favorite features.
🧇🍓A new episode of Super Waffle and Strawberry Sidekick. Can they fend off a Wicked Watermelon, a Nefarious Nectarine, and a Monstrous Mango?
Watch for more adventures from Narwhal and Jelly when they try out their new ship -- The Blue Boated Boogie. Stay tuned.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Tundra Books for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Narwhal and Jelly are celebrating Palentine's Day together. While Narwhal is showering Jelly with waffles and homemade books, the lopsided efforts for the day are confusing our favorite jellyfish.
After all, it takes more than one person to build a friendship (a literal ship, BTW).
Some delightful things you will find inside this new release:
😎Oodles of great quips to use when saying good-bye to your buddy:
Toodle-oo, Kangaroo🦘
Won't be long, King Kong 🦧
Ciao for now, dairy cow 🐄
And more. . .
🧇Lots and lots of waffles (round and heart-shaped). Narwhal does not mess around when it comes to his favorite treat.
🐚A humorous interlude with a shell phone. Shello?
🐠Some fascinating facts about sea creatures -- always one of my favorite features.
🧇🍓A new episode of Super Waffle and Strawberry Sidekick. Can they fend off a Wicked Watermelon, a Nefarious Nectarine, and a Monstrous Mango?
Watch for more adventures from Narwhal and Jelly when they try out their new ship -- The Blue Boated Boogie. Stay tuned.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Tundra Books for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2025
Narwhal and Jelly are fan favorites for my kids. In this story, they focus on Palentine’s Day (aka-best buddy day). While jelly wants to have a great adventure with Narwhal, Narwhal keeps getting distracted with tasks to show how much he appreciates Jelly.
Mom review: I’m sold because there was a nudibranch in the story! More students should be aware nudibranch. In all seriousness, we love the randomness and silliness of narwhal. This story had plenty of ways to say goodbye or see you later that were enjoyable.
Kids review: my kids (9 and 7) loved all the ridiculous amounts of waffles. They also love the illustrations as they find them easy to draw and inspires them to make their own stories. Their favorite part was the shell-phone. Kids love a good pun.
Educator review: I love the humor and lightheartedness of Narwhal and Jelly. The word play and silliness is hard for some students that are multi-linguistic or struggle with nuance, but will still laugh and giggle.
I loved the small section on symbiotic relationships! Great science connection.
Thanks @NetGalley and @TundraBookGroup for the advanced digital copy.
Mom review: I’m sold because there was a nudibranch in the story! More students should be aware nudibranch. In all seriousness, we love the randomness and silliness of narwhal. This story had plenty of ways to say goodbye or see you later that were enjoyable.
Kids review: my kids (9 and 7) loved all the ridiculous amounts of waffles. They also love the illustrations as they find them easy to draw and inspires them to make their own stories. Their favorite part was the shell-phone. Kids love a good pun.
Educator review: I love the humor and lightheartedness of Narwhal and Jelly. The word play and silliness is hard for some students that are multi-linguistic or struggle with nuance, but will still laugh and giggle.
I loved the small section on symbiotic relationships! Great science connection.
Thanks @NetGalley and @TundraBookGroup for the advanced digital copy.
June 19, 2025
A holiday about Friendship was not in Narwhal's head until he received a sweet card from Jelly. Narwhal has funny ways to say see you later as he continues to give gifts including waffles to Jelly. The corniness is top notch, but there is also a rock and roll band, details about ocean friends that need and help each other, a very funny comic book with super waffle and strawberry, and jokes along the way. I cannot put into words how much I LOVED this book! It feels longer (possibly due to digital reviewing) than the other books in the series, but I have it on my order already for next year in both of my elementary school libraries. I am sure it will be a big hit. Recommended for all libraries (and classrooms) serving young readers.
I was hooked into Graphic novels for my younger students by reading the first Narwhal and Jelly. Ben Clanton remains consistent throughout this series and keeps adding bits that make it even more enjoyable for those adults bringing this book into our classroom and library collections. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing the chance to review this digitally!
I was hooked into Graphic novels for my younger students by reading the first Narwhal and Jelly. Ben Clanton remains consistent throughout this series and keeps adding bits that make it even more enjoyable for those adults bringing this book into our classroom and library collections. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing the chance to review this digitally!
May 17, 2025
My kids and I have enjoyed previous installments of the Narwhal and Jelly series and they were so excited that I received an e-ARC of the newest adventure of these adorable best friends!
This graphic novel for early readers is absolutely adorable, with cute illustrations, witty puns, and fun "see you later" rhymes. The story is focused on PAL-entines day where Jelly wants to spend the day with his best buddy Narwhal, but Narwhal keeps getting distracted with all the ways he wants to show his appreciation for Jelly. The back and forth is really fun and cute!
My 9 year old thought it was really funny and cute. She says she loved that it was all about friendship and kindness and how to treat others with respect and that it is a good message for kids to read about.
Overall another winner in the Narwhal and Jelly series! Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are our own.
This graphic novel for early readers is absolutely adorable, with cute illustrations, witty puns, and fun "see you later" rhymes. The story is focused on PAL-entines day where Jelly wants to spend the day with his best buddy Narwhal, but Narwhal keeps getting distracted with all the ways he wants to show his appreciation for Jelly. The back and forth is really fun and cute!
My 9 year old thought it was really funny and cute. She says she loved that it was all about friendship and kindness and how to treat others with respect and that it is a good message for kids to read about.
Overall another winner in the Narwhal and Jelly series! Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are our own.
June 13, 2025
A Waffle Lot of Love! (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #10) is a “waffle lot of fun!” (Couldn’t resist). I was introduced to Narwhal and Jelly books by my granddaughter. When she was learning to read, she couldn’t get enough of them and read them over and over. Then she lent some of them to me to use for my reading tutoring, and all my learners loved them too. So we were so excited to see a new one! Palatine’s Day is genius! I hadn’t heard that term before, and wish I had - especially when I was still teaching in the classroom. We totally would have used it for Valentine’s day. It was fun to see that poor Jelly is still trying to keep up with Narwhal’s crazy ideas jumping from one thing to another. My granddaughter is 12 now and still a voracious reader. It’s fun to know that another generation of little readers gets to learn to read with Narwhal and Jelly too! Thank you to Penguin Random House for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
April 10, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC! Some how I always seem to miss the latest Narwhal and Jelly so it was nice to read one WAY in advance.
It's time to celebrate best friends! Jelly gives Narwhal a card expressing all things loved being Narwhal's bestie. And looking forward to the exciting adventures for the day that they will share. But Narwhal gets distracted trying to tell Jelly how wonderful they are ---- and finally Jelly just has to put a stop to it all. While Narwhal is trying to build an actual friend ship.
Clanton includes a nice discussion of symbiotic relationships. And there are lots and lots and lots of waffles. Plus a running gag based on "See you later, alligator." It will be fun to see what kind of farewell kids can create.
It's time to celebrate best friends! Jelly gives Narwhal a card expressing all things loved being Narwhal's bestie. And looking forward to the exciting adventures for the day that they will share. But Narwhal gets distracted trying to tell Jelly how wonderful they are ---- and finally Jelly just has to put a stop to it all. While Narwhal is trying to build an actual friend ship.
Clanton includes a nice discussion of symbiotic relationships. And there are lots and lots and lots of waffles. Plus a running gag based on "See you later, alligator." It will be fun to see what kind of farewell kids can create.
April 14, 2025
I love this a waffle lot!
Ben did such a great job showing how amazing friendship can be and showing us how wonderful it is to be present in the moment, all while making us laugh. The illustrations never miss a beat, so detailed but simple at the same time. The word play is hilarious and easy enough for begginer to emerging readers to follow along with. I also enjoyed the fun facts that teach us a bit of symbiotic relationships. What a wonderful, clever story about friendship, even my teenager loved it!
Side note: the good-bye sayings had me cracking up, I can't wait to use them.
*Thank you to Ben Clanton, Netgalley and Tundra Book Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Ben did such a great job showing how amazing friendship can be and showing us how wonderful it is to be present in the moment, all while making us laugh. The illustrations never miss a beat, so detailed but simple at the same time. The word play is hilarious and easy enough for begginer to emerging readers to follow along with. I also enjoyed the fun facts that teach us a bit of symbiotic relationships. What a wonderful, clever story about friendship, even my teenager loved it!
Side note: the good-bye sayings had me cracking up, I can't wait to use them.
*Thank you to Ben Clanton, Netgalley and Tundra Book Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 12, 2025
My students and I love love love this series and cannot get enough of Narwhal. Jelly and the rest of Ben Clanton's characters and titles. His draw along videos make him approachable and more loved by my students. So... needless to say I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of this one!
Love the puns and awesome phrasing in its humor! Love the knowledge about symbiotic relationships it shares. Love the illustrations! Love that it shows characters making their own books and gifts. I also love that it shows the difference between sharing your love and care for someone and for going overboard to the point where it can become "lovebombing". I also like that it emphasizes a friendship takes two and shouldn't be one-sided. Super cute addition to the series!
Love the puns and awesome phrasing in its humor! Love the knowledge about symbiotic relationships it shares. Love the illustrations! Love that it shows characters making their own books and gifts. I also love that it shows the difference between sharing your love and care for someone and for going overboard to the point where it can become "lovebombing". I also like that it emphasizes a friendship takes two and shouldn't be one-sided. Super cute addition to the series!
June 12, 2025
Narwhal and Jelly are a house favorite for us. My youngest child throughly enjoys graphic novels and she gravitated towards Narwhal and Jelly early on, but this particular addition to the series seems a bit stale and repetitive. It has very similar themes to the previous works in the series. There was no specific hook that made this one memorable, like a holiday or a specific theme that tied this one up in a nice bow. I did love the idea of spending time together being more special than the content of the gift, but it only came through on the last page. I am sure my little one will enjoy it, but as an adult reading to my children, it doesn’t give much entertainment except the occasional silly pun (I do enjoy those so much).
September 6, 2025
Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Tundra Book Group through NetGalley.
Narwhal and Jelly are back for their tenth book to celebrate friendship. It' Palentines Day in the ocean and Jelly is prepared with a special card. Narwhal didn't know about the holiday so overcompensates with all sorts of special things for Jelly - everything but what Jelly wants. Finally, Jelly shares that what he wants is to spend the day with Narwhal (his best friend). Narwhal realizes that's all he wants too. Readers see how much they care for each other. This can lead to dialogue about friendships and how they support and care for their own friends. The illustrations add important details to the story to pull readers in.
I received an electronic ARC from Tundra Book Group through NetGalley.
Narwhal and Jelly are back for their tenth book to celebrate friendship. It' Palentines Day in the ocean and Jelly is prepared with a special card. Narwhal didn't know about the holiday so overcompensates with all sorts of special things for Jelly - everything but what Jelly wants. Finally, Jelly shares that what he wants is to spend the day with Narwhal (his best friend). Narwhal realizes that's all he wants too. Readers see how much they care for each other. This can lead to dialogue about friendships and how they support and care for their own friends. The illustrations add important details to the story to pull readers in.
October 4, 2025
Waffle lot of love? More like a waffle lot of fun!
Everyone's favourite narwhal and jellyfish are back again, this time for a February friendship adventure. Jelly just want to spend time with Narwhal on Pal-entine's Day, but he keeps disappearing after giving Jelly gifts. What is that silly Narwhal up to now?
A great addition to the series, the book will take kids on an undersea adventure while also learning about the science of some of the creatures they live alongside.
A great addition to any home or primary class bookshelf, this book is a great way to introduce children to the idea of graphic novels and also have them laughing at the duo's hijinks.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
Everyone's favourite narwhal and jellyfish are back again, this time for a February friendship adventure. Jelly just want to spend time with Narwhal on Pal-entine's Day, but he keeps disappearing after giving Jelly gifts. What is that silly Narwhal up to now?
A great addition to the series, the book will take kids on an undersea adventure while also learning about the science of some of the creatures they live alongside.
A great addition to any home or primary class bookshelf, this book is a great way to introduce children to the idea of graphic novels and also have them laughing at the duo's hijinks.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
April 23, 2025
Consulted my 2nd grader for this one!! 5 stars from both of us! In this delightful 10th book of the series, Narwhal’s Palentine’s Day takes readers on a hilarious journey with best buds Narwhal and Jelly. Narwhal’s over-the-top attempts to celebrate PALentine’s Day with extravagant gifts for Jelly go a little too far—waffles, songs, and more waffles! Jelly, while grateful, just wants Narwhal’s time and presence instead of all the grand gestures.
This heartwarming story captures the true spirit of friendship in the most charming, funny way. With bonus fun facts and the perfect balance of humor and heart, this book is a must-read for fans of Narwhal and Jelly.
This heartwarming story captures the true spirit of friendship in the most charming, funny way. With bonus fun facts and the perfect balance of humor and heart, this book is a must-read for fans of Narwhal and Jelly.
May 20, 2025
Narwhal and Jelly celebrate PALentine’s Day, diving into the different ways one can show love and appreciation and the potential for misunderstanding.
I read this book with my five year old and we both loved it. He thought it was funny, laughing out loud throughout, and really enjoyed the silly puns and drawings. I appreciated that we could talk about how each of the characters were feeling and the different ways one could respond. The fun animal facts were a fun bonus. We’ll definitely be reading more from this collection!
Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra Book Group and Ben Clanton for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book with my five year old and we both loved it. He thought it was funny, laughing out loud throughout, and really enjoyed the silly puns and drawings. I appreciated that we could talk about how each of the characters were feeling and the different ways one could respond. The fun animal facts were a fun bonus. We’ll definitely be reading more from this collection!
Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra Book Group and Ben Clanton for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2025
My children absolutely love this series and, to be honest, so do I! Once again it is full of engaging and laughter inducing puns and silliness. The theme of friend-ship and what it takes (2) to build is done in a way that is sweet, funny and subtle reminder for my 6 and 8 year old in their journey to grow socially and emotionally.
We read it out loud together and couldn’t help but smile throughout. I will say, it ends on almost a cliff-hanger (as much as this series can) and I can’t wait for the next book and hope it will be a Big Adventure!
Thank you to NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
We read it out loud together and couldn’t help but smile throughout. I will say, it ends on almost a cliff-hanger (as much as this series can) and I can’t wait for the next book and hope it will be a Big Adventure!
Thank you to NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2025
- I received this book from NetGalley -
A Waffle Lot of Love! (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #10) is as intense as it is lovable. The strong use of colour and different font size to show inflection made this a wonderful book to enjoy with my five year old.
She enjoyed all the puns and bye byes, and also would say "WHAT!!" when Narwhal would leave *again* but she really liked it, and I could see it being a fun book to enjoy over and over.
My eight year old also enjoyed reading it himself, and would often laugh out loud while showing his sister the part. All around a good book for families that need some giggles.
A Waffle Lot of Love! (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #10) is as intense as it is lovable. The strong use of colour and different font size to show inflection made this a wonderful book to enjoy with my five year old.
She enjoyed all the puns and bye byes, and also would say "WHAT!!" when Narwhal would leave *again* but she really liked it, and I could see it being a fun book to enjoy over and over.
My eight year old also enjoyed reading it himself, and would often laugh out loud while showing his sister the part. All around a good book for families that need some giggles.
June 21, 2025
My kids love the Narwhal and Jelly series so we were super excited to get this as an ARC from Netgalley.
Things my kids love: they’re such sweet friends, cameos by so many cute animals, and the most adorable illustrations.
Things I love (in addition to what my kids already mentioned): great lessons about friendship, educational without feeling like homework, and the fact that both my kids (ages 8 and 5) enjoyed it. It was a fun read for us to do together but also easy enough that my 8 year old could reread it independently.
We will definitely be adding a hard copy of this to our library when it comes out! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
Things my kids love: they’re such sweet friends, cameos by so many cute animals, and the most adorable illustrations.
Things I love (in addition to what my kids already mentioned): great lessons about friendship, educational without feeling like homework, and the fact that both my kids (ages 8 and 5) enjoyed it. It was a fun read for us to do together but also easy enough that my 8 year old could reread it independently.
We will definitely be adding a hard copy of this to our library when it comes out! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
July 7, 2025
Jelly and Narwhal have been friends for a long time. Their silly antics have thrilled kids of all ages. This next installment in their journey is just as fun. Jelly and Narwhal are celebrating Pal-entines day. Narwhal realizes that Jelly has created a card and panics. Hilarious love bombing ensues as Jelly just wants to spend time with his friend. While I love these two silly characters, my favorite part of these books is the nonfiction elements.
Grateful for Tundra books and Netgalley for sharing a digital ARC with me. My kids were thrilled to see a sneak peak. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
Grateful for Tundra books and Netgalley for sharing a digital ARC with me. My kids were thrilled to see a sneak peak. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
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