sheena dempsey

Time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash must fight gladiators in Ancient Rome in this hilarious full-colour graphic novel, in a British Book Award-shortlisted series. Fans of Bunny vs Monkey or InvestiGATORS will love it.

'You'll laugh your flippers off!' John Patrick Green, creator of InvestiGATORS

'Irresistibly funny' Guardian

When their penguin pal Benji won't believe they've travelled through time, Pablo and Splash have a point to prove. The two travel to Ancient Rome, hoping to bring back a centurion helmet as proof of their adventures. But when Pablo and Splash meet an emperor with a passion for collecting exotic birds, only some quick thinking - and emergency time travel - can save them from the fate that awaits them in the Colosseum!

'Pablo and Splash are hilarious. I love this book!' - Oscar, age 7

'I wish I could time travel with Pablo and Splash. They make me laugh so much' - Noah, age 8

'Gripping and enjoyable ... should be recommended whatever the age of the reader. A really fun, enjoyable read. 10/10' Irish Times on Pablo and Splash

Sheena Dempsey is an illustrator whose books have won several awards including the Sheffield Book Awards for Yoga Babies by Fearne Cotton and Surrey Libraries' Children's Book Award for Dave Pigeon by Swapna Haddow. She has also been shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award. The graphic novel Pablo and Splash is Sheena's first work as author and illustrator and is shortlisted for the British Book Awards Children's Illustrated Book of the Year 2025. It grew out of a web-comic she created during the pandemic lockdowns that featured her and her husband as penguins!

Sheena was born in Cork, Ireland, but now lives in Folkestone, Kent.