Tech: Solar paint + energy dashboardsJob: Solar-paint installer apprenticeAuthors: E. H. Ackerman & J. D. AckermanARQS Press
Reading band: Ages 6–11Headline tech: Solar paint + home energy dashboardsThe job: Solar-paint installer apprenticeLocation: The blazing summer community garden and its sunny tool shed
The Hook
The garden tool shed needs a power glow up, so Mizz Zee hires solar-paint apprentices. The paint turns sunshine into electricity—if Jay can stop making the wall look like a snack.
Cast in this issue
Tray (10): Mustard-hoodie planner with blue smart glasses.
Jay (8): Freckled lime-shirted, snack-loving idea machine.
Rae (12): Purple-jumpsuit engineer with gold-beaded braids and tool belt.
Ms. Reyes: Community energy coach and installation lead.
Mizz Zee: Neighbourhood job-broker.
Bolt: Tiny scruffy dog who loves sprinklers.
Comic Pages
PAGE 1
PANEL 1Sunflowers ring a tool shed; its battery display has one sleepy bar. MS. REYES: “We need daytime power for lights and water timer.” JAY: “Bet. Sunshine freeloads here.”
PANEL 2Rae adds a Sunlight Meter to wrench, Propeller Gauge, Dough Scraper, Fold-Out Safety Whistle, and Pocket Tripod Clamp. RAE: “New tool: finds strongest sun.” JAY: “Your belt needs its own belt.”
PANEL 3Ms. Reyes holds a painted sample. MS. REYES: “Solar paint catches sun to help make electricity. Wires take it to a battery; a dashboard shows power.” TRAY: “Sun catcher, power path, scoreboard.” JAY: “Sun’s about to flex.”
PAGE 2
PANEL 4Taped rectangles mark the sunny wall. MS. REYES: “Goggles, gloves, marked areas, dry wires, grown-up checks ladder.” RAE: “Safety, then moving.”
PANEL 5Tray’s meter jumps high on the south wall, low by a vine. TRAY: “South wins. I put it in the app.” JAY: “Vine is low-key ray theft.” MS. REYES: “Bolt is water inspector.”
PANEL 6BIG COMIC GAG: Jay paints a blank test board as a giant solar-blue bitten cookie.JAY: “Snack-shaped energy diagram.” RAE: “Committed circle.”
PAGE 3
PANEL 7MS. REYES: “Creative, but working paint needs an even layer.” JAY: “No cap, cookie learned.” TRAY hands him a roller: “Plan first, paint snacks never.”
PANEL 8Dashboard stays zero. BIG COMIC GAG: Jay spreads his arms before the wall, making a giant shadow; dashboard shows sad tiny sun.JAY: “Why judge me?” RAE: “You blocked sunshine.”
PANEL 9Jay steps aside; Tray spots a loose connector. RAE clicks it in; dashboard jumps to three bars. MS. REYES: “Power reaches battery.” JAY: “Big brain. Sun clocked in.”
PAGE 4
PANEL 10Shed lights glow; timer ticks. BIG COMIC GAG: Bolt chases a sprinkler puff and sits in a watering can like a throne.JAY: “King Bolt accepts crunchy treats.” RAE: “No procurement department.”
PANEL 11Ms. Reyes gives Rae twenty-five coins. MS. REYES: “Measured, planned, fixed, cleaned: apprentice work done right.” RAE: “Pay us properly: done right too.”
PANEL 12At the Crew Bank, Tray writes: “05, Solar-paint apprentice: +25. Total: 92.” JAY: “Major jar glow up.” MIZZ ZEE calls: “Vertical farm!” RAE: “No vegetable murals.” JAY: “Only peas.”
Tech Talk with Rae
RAE’S TOOLBOX BOX: Solar paint uses sunshine to help make electricity.
Wires carry it to a battery; a dashboard shows power made and used.
We measured the sunny spot and checked every connection.
Funny caveat: it makes power, not cookies.
TRY IT: Watch a sunny wall. Which spot stays bright longest?
The Job Board
Job title: Solar-paint installer apprentice
Who hired us: Ms. Reyes, community energy coach
Rules of the job: Goggles, gloves, marked paint, dry wires, measured sun, grown-up ladder check.
What went wrong: Jay made a snack mural; a labelled connector was loose.
How we fixed it: Jay repainted; Tray found the connector; Rae clicked and tested it.
What we got paid: 25 coins in apprentice wages; Crew Bank ledger total: 92 coins.
Slang Decoder
Glow up:** A bright, happy improvement.Flex:** To show off something you are proud of.Low-key:** A little bit, or quietly.No cap:** Honestly true.Big brain:** A clever idea.
Sunshine is free, but shed power takes a real job, careful plans, and no snack-shaped murals. When the garden hires Tray, Jay, and Rae to install solar paint, a loose connector leaves the dashboard at zero. Can the crew get the sun back on the clock—and keep Bolt off the sprinkler throne?
Full-colour graphic-novel cartoon, thick ink, warm summer light, saturated colour: sunflower garden and sunny tool shed. Tray, warm brown skin, is 10 with short curly black hair, lightning-bolt shaved part on the LEFT, blue camera-dot smart glasses, mustard gear-patch hoodie, teal cargo shorts, orange sneakers, and slim drone-zipper backpack. Jay, lighter brown and freckled, is 8 with wild black hair, missing front tooth, lime rocket shirt, red gadget-pocket shorts, striped and polka-dot socks, purple glowing-lace sneakers, and roller by a solar-blue cookie mural. Rae, dark brown, is 12 with two long black braids with gold cuffs, purple rolled-sleeve jumpsuit, forehead goggles, right-wrist smartwatch, silver-pink high-tops, and belt with wrench, Propeller Gauge, Dough Scraper, Fold-Out Safety Whistle, Pocket Tripod Clamp, and Sunlight Meter. Bolt sits in a watering-can throne beside glowing dashboard bars.
Issue 05 appears in the collection Tray & Jay: World Explorers with its full-colour comic
illustration, Tech Talk page, Job Board card and Slang Decoder.
