Grimelda and the Spooktacular Pet Show

Filled with magical mishaps, this sequel to 2016's Grimelda: The Very Messy Witch finds Murray's untidy heroine hoping to compete in an upcoming pet show. But is her cat, Wizzlewarts, "spooktacular" enough to face up against "pets with spikes and pets with scales... frogs and hogs and haunted snails"? Grimelda doesn't think so, so she sets off to find a properly frightening pet, only to tangle with a monster eel and realize that Wizzlewarts is pretty formidable (especially since he has claws to rival those of the X-Men's Wolverine). Grimelda's pet-finding mission drags on a bit too long, but Murray's sturdy rhymes offer lots of readaloud entertainment. Readers will be tickled by the topsy-turvy details Ross brings to Grimelda's ramshackle hometown, where witches, gnomes, dragons, and unidentifiable beings live in harmony--except for the occasional monster eel attack, of course. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (July)