When a submarine becomes a spaceship, chaos is guaranteed.

Kiama-grown author Clayton Comber and illustrator Conor McCammon are heading into outer space with their latest children’s book, Gimme Some Space, launching at The Pavilion 2 March.

Cover of the duo's new book Gimme Some Space

Published by HarperCollins, the illustrated chapter book is the sequel to The Marvellous Submarine, sending twins Poppy and Billy – along with their animal crew – beyond the sea and into space. 

When mysterious moon rocks start crash-landing on Monkey Island, the pair suspect old foes The Fugitives are back at it, prompting one bold solution: modifying Mum’s greatest invention, the Marvellous Submarine, to fly as a rocket ship.

What follows is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud adventure that sees the crew tangled in an intergalactic heist, caught in a wild space storm, climbing the biggest volcano in the universe and encountering a space cowboy armed with a ‘Super-Duper Lasso Blaster’.

Described as a junior fiction duology that blends the anarchic humour of The Bad Guys with the imagination of The Treehouse series, Gimme Some Space is designed to be ridiculous in the best possible way.

While it’s a sequel, Comber says the story works as a standalone adventure.

“Kids don’t need to have read the first one – it’s its own story,” he said. “It’s silly, zany and all about letting your imagination run wild.”

Aimed at – but not limited to – primary school readers aged around seven to 12, the book combines short chapters with illustrations, comic strips and visual jokes, making it accessible for a wide range of reading levels.

“It’s the kind of thing where parents can read it with their kids,” McCammon said. “We always try to sneak in jokes for the adults too – a bit like a Pixar film or a Simpsons episode.”

The collaboration began many moons ago while the pair were working together at the Bookstore Café in Kiama – their early ideas were scribbled down between coffee shifts. McCammon’s illustrations, first drawn on receipt paper, soon brought the heroes and villains to life.

“I think people pick up on the fact that we’re mates first and creators second,” Comber said. “It never really felt like work.”

The duo launched their first book at The Pavilion last year and will return to the venue for the South Coast launch on March 2.

“Kiama is still very much home base for us,” Comber said. “It’s always special launching a book here.”

The free, family-friendly event will include book signings, storytelling and plenty of cheeky banter between the longtime collaborators.

While Gimme Some Space includes light environmental themes, Comber says the focus remains firmly on fun and creativity.

“We want kids to feel like there are no limits,” he said. “You can do whatever you want in a story.”

The Gimme Some Space launch will be held at The Pavilion on Monday, 2 March, from 6pm. Entry is free.