Mellybean and the Wicked Wizard

"Mellybean will bounce off the page and into your heart." —Mo O'Hara, New York Times bestselling author of the My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series and Agent Moose\nThe second book in this charming graphic novel series finds Melly and her feline friends returning to the magical world hidden in their backyard, only to discover that a wicked wizard has taken over and these pets may be the only ones who can stop her!\nMelly's learned a new trick, and she can't wait to show the cats. But when they all head outside to play, Melly accidentally loses her ball down the magical hole in their backyard. So she decides this is the perfect excuse to visit her friends in the fantastical world on the other side. And this time around, the cats want to come too. (After all, they need to find someone to open their cans of food!)\nBut instead of a warm welcome, the group discovers the whole kingdom has fallen into a mysterious deep sleep. And it is all thanks to Wilma, the wizard who long ago took Narra's powers. She's back to finish what she started by stealing the magic of other mythical creatures so she can become the greatest wizard ever. Now Melly and the cats are all that stand in her way. But how will these four ordinary pets stop an extraordinary villain? Well, they may just have a few tricks up their sleeves!\nFrom School Library Journal\nGr 2–6—In this follow-up to Mellybean and the Giant Monster, Mellybean the dog and her three cat friends travel through a hole in the backyard to the Old-Timey Kingdom. Once there, they find that a magical spell has put King Narra and the rest of the kingdom to sleep. They discover that Wilma the Wizard has been stealing the powers from all of the Ancient Creatures in the kingdom so she can rule the world. Mellybean and her friends must find Wilma and save the kingdom. White brings whimsical illustrations to life using strong lines and rich colors. This fun and fast-paced story has a strong balance of text and illustrations and is broken into short chapters that will keep readers engaged and avoid overwhelming them. White blends a playful story about a magical kingdom with themes of kindness and friendship. Younger readers will be drawn to lively illustrations, while older ones will enjoy the humor and clever antics of the characters. VERDICT A great choice for reluctant readers. Recommended for kids who enjoy "Narwhal and Jelly" or "Phoebe and Her Unicorn."—Kristin Williamson, Metropolitan Lib. Syst., Oklahoma