Balloons, Bickering & Best Friends: A Chat with the Creators of Blue, Barry & Pancakes! An exclusive London Mums Magazine interview with Dan Abdo & Jason Patterson.
- Hi there! We’re so excited to dive into the world of Blue, Barry & Pancakes! If you could join them on one of their adventures, where would you go first and why?
Hi! Thanks so much for spotlighting Blue, Barry & Pancakes! We are thrilled to chat with you about these books.
If we could tag along on an adventure, Jason’s heading to Balloonia for a coliseum battle with the giant balloon ape, Balloon Kong (because why not?). Dan’s after the legendary chocolate ice cream from Mount Choco – the greatest in the universe. Honestly, we’ll just take Pancakes’ balloon rocket and do both, because epic ape battles and amazing ice cream are always better with friends.
- We all love Pancakes’ creativity – building a rocket out of balloons is so clever! What’s the wackiest invention you’ve ever come up with in real life?
Honestly, Blue, Barry & Pancakes might be our wackiest invention. We dreamed up these three crazy critters, then sent them on even crazier adventures – and we love every second of it. But after that, it’s probably the Time Hat – a highly advanced time-travel device (okay, it’s a spaghetti strainer with a paper towel tube taped to it). It lets the wearer journey across the eons… preferably while reading Blue, Barry & Pancakes: Big Time Trouble.
- Friendship is such a key theme in the book. What’s the best friendship lesson you hope young readers will take away from Blue, Barry & Pancakes?
No one is born knowing how to be a good friend – it takes work. You’ll mess up, and when you do, you have to own it and try to be better. You also have to forgive and give your friends the benefit of the doubt. We care deeply about telling honest, useful stories – while keeping them super silly, funny, and just a little bonkers.
- If Blue, Barry, & Pancakes were to start a band, what kind of music would they play? Do you think Pancakes would be on the tambourine?
Classical? No, electro dance! No, power pop! Actually… let’s go with JazzWavePopstep. One thing’s for sure—Pancakes would destroy the tambourine… literally. She’d probably go through five a night.
- Which scene in Escape from Balloonia are you most excited for kids to read? And do you have a favourite moment that still makes you laugh?
We both really love the moment when Blue and Barry are totally ticked off at Pancakes for dragging them to Balloonia—only to be completely awestruck by what she’s created. A whole planet made of balloons! It’s absurd, emotional, and kind of beautiful all at once.
- Balloon Kong sounds like a pretty fearsome foe – but do you think he secretly has a soft side? What would be his favourite snack?
Balloon Kong feasts on the thrill of battle, crushing his foes beneath his mighty inflatable fists. Also, banana sundaes. He really loves banana sundaes.
- The idea of building models and reading about shovels is hilarious but also could be quite fun! What was your favourite childhood pastime that could’ve easily made it into one of Blue and Barry’s adventures?
As kids, we loved quiet activities—drawing, reading, setting up action figures—and honestly, we still do. These days, one of our favourite things is building LEGO sets with our kids. We’re still waiting for adulthood to sink in… not sure it’s ever going to happen.
- If you could create a planet of your own, what would it be called, and what kind of creatures or objects would live there? Maybe one made entirely out of pancakes?
Ohhh, you mean pancakes, the edible ones! Not a planet of giant fuzzy yellow bunnies. Gotcha – yum! Rivers of maple syrup, mountains of butter and whipped cream… we’re officially starving now.
- Do you think Blue and Barry argue sometimes, or are they the perfect pair? Can you tell us about a time in the writing process when you saw them ‘bicker’ in the pages?
Absolutely. They can all disagree, misunderstand each other, and get pretty snippy at times. In Balloonia, Blue and Barry want to play very differently than Pancakes does, which leads to some tension. That’s a real issue kids face when making friends—figuring out how to navigate different play styles. And that’s okay. It’s all about learning to take turns and respect each other’s ways of having fun.
- This book also features the three friends practising patience and empathy – how do you think Blue, Barry & Pancakes can help kids practise these important values in their own friendships?
Blue, Barry & Pancakes show that friendships aren’t always easy – sometimes you disagree, get frustrated, or just don’t see eye to eye. But they also show how important it is to listen, be patient, and try to understand each other. Whether it’s taking turns, apologising when you mess up, or supporting a friend even when their idea seems totally insane (looking at you, Pancakes), these little moments help kids see that patience and empathy make friendships stronger – and way more fun.
- We can’t wait to see what Blue, Barry, & Pancakes get up to next! Any hints on what might be next for them after Balloonia?
The next book is Danger on Mount Choco, and it’s one of our absolute favourites. Think snowboarding penguins, giant yetis, dance-off competitions, and—of course—the greatest ice cream in the universe. It’s going to be a peak adventure.
- Finally, if Pancakes were to plan a fun day out for you, what would she choose? A balloon ride? A trip to the moon? Something even more unexpected?
Pancakes’ Perfect Day with Dan & Jason
- 7:30 AM – Start the day with a fruit smoothie breakfast (gotta fuel up for all the chaos ahead).
- 8:00 AM – Kick things off with an epic dance party—because every great day starts with some serious moves.
- 9:00 AM – High-energy pogo stick race—first one to bounce around the block wins bragging rights.
- 10:00 AM – Hop aboard the Balloon Rocket Tour for breathtaking aerial views (and maybe a few unexpected loop-de-loops).
- 12:00 PM – Carrot cake lunch—nutritious and delicious.
- 1:00 PM – Chill time: watch wrestling with best friends Blue and Barry.
- 2:30 PM – Hit the library and grab some graphic novels—because bouncing around needs balance with some solid reading time.
- 3:30 PM – Quick snack stop at the Ice Cream Scoop Shop—extra sprinkles are mandatory.
- 4:00 PM – Get in the game with a pickup match of Roller Duck Ball (half roller derby, half basketball, all chaos).
- 5:30 PM – Trampoline bouncing—because we didn’t get enough airtime earlier.
- 7:00 PM – Feast on spaghetti and meatballs—but…
- 7:30 PM – Food fight. Obviously.
- 8:00 PM – Wind down with a little bedtime reading.
- 8:30 PM – Pass out and sleep like a baby after the best day ever.
We’d wake up and do it all over again.