Koalas in Capes: The Robot Spiders

By Author / Illustrator

Terrie Chilvers, illus David O'Connell

Genre

Funny Stories

Age range(s)

Publisher

Nosy Crow

ISBN

9781805132219

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

02-07-2026

Synopsis

Hilarious, high-energy series about animals with jobs, clothes and superpowers! Perfect for fans of the movies Sing and Zootropolis!

Put on your super-suit and prepare for comic-book capers in Pawtonia, where the animals wear clothes, hot chocolate flows and evil is just an ostrich feather away. Meet Bob and Archie: two hapless, but enthusiastic, koalas who just want some time off to enjoy Pawtonia's music festival. Superheros need days off too!

But not if Dr Colossus has anything to do with it... The evil ostrich plans to rob all of Pawtonia, hypnotising them with his team of Robot Spiders! Our fluffy duo needs everything it takes to put a stop Dr Colossus and his dastardly plans. Can the Koalas in Capes thwart the feathered supervillain?

This side-splitting, highly-illustrated superhero series is where chapter books meet graphic novels - ideal for newly-independent readers. Look out for: Koalas in Capes: The Zombie Chickens Koalas in Capes: The Ninja Penguins

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Reviews

Jane

Dr Colossus makes his reappearance as villain in this latest escapade for Koalas in Capes: The Robot Spiders. That evil ostrich masterminds a plot to rob the good citizens of Pawtonia, using an army of robot spiders and the power of hypnosis. But, of course, he doesn't succeed thanks to lovable duo, Bob and Archie (who did SO want a day off).

It's all very far-fetched, all very silly, and all very entertaining. I thought the idea of robot spiders being recycled as wind chimes was typical of Terrie Chilvers' comic genius. Young readers will have their own favourite bits.

This is storytelling that will have readers in stitches, presented and illustrated in such a way as to highlight its absurdity and bring it to life. The energy fairly zaps off the page, so be careful or the adventure will be over before you have chance to blink. Actually, do advise children to blink, or they might be so entranced that they demand you (teacher, parent) read all 160 odd pages in one go and then zip out to buy the next. For there must be a next: Dr C cannot be allowed to run riot again, surely?

If this book were to be read aloud in a Year 2 class (ages 6+), say, then I'd definitely suggest the children sit close enough to view the pages. They'll see what imagination can do and where it can take them. It's wild!

160 pages / Reviewed by Jane Rew, school librarian