Mellybean and the Wicked Wizard (Mellybean #2)

If Mr. Rogers wrote sword-and-sorcery adventures, they might look like this.

Gr 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

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

PRAISE FOR MELLYBEAN AND THE WICKED WIZARD

This sequel makes an effective case that 'adorable' might be a genre. If Mr. Rogers wrote sword-and-sorcery adventures, they might look like this. —Kirkus Reviews

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. A great choice for reluctant readers.Recommended for kids who enjoy Narwhal and Jelly or Phoebe and Her Unicorn." —School Library Journal

PRAISE FOR MELLYBEAN AND THE GIANT MONSTER

"Mike White hits a heartwarming hat trick with this cute, funny, and action-packed adventure. Mellybean will bounce off the page and into your heart. This treasure of a tale is pure furry-friendship gold." —Mo O'Hara, New York Times bestselling author of the My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series

All hail Mellybean! A fun, action-packed adventure from start to finish. —James Burks, author of the Bird & Squirrel series

I loved every page of this fantastically paw-some story! With characters you'll adore, a fun-packed adventure, and loads of laughs on the way, Mellybean proves that anything is possible with a bit of help from your friends." —Sam Hay, author of the Spy Penguins and the Undead Pets series

Mellybean is an absolute delight. A fun frolic on every page. —Jim Zub, author of the Samurai Jack comic book series

Subversive and hilarious. This story is funny enough to get away with being utterly adorable. —Kirkus Reviews

White's debut is charming and sweet, with a plot that benefits from its predictability, allowing the reader to focus instead on lovable characters and White's gifted composition and linework. Readers not yet ready for Jeff Smith's Bone series are bound to fall for Melly and the gang. —BCCB

[A] charming comics series starter. The graphic novel may skew slightly younger... but Melly's infectious enthusiasm, portrayed through straightforward art, makes her a very good dog, indeed. —Publishers Weekly