Mellybean and the Giant Monster (Mellybean #1)

In this charming comics series starter told in brief chapters, adopted dog Mellybean wants nothing more than to play with her cat siblings, but when they trick Mellybean into burying their owner’s shoe, she discovers a portal to a medieval fantasy world. Upon arrival, Melly lands atop Narra, a comically oversize unihorned rabbit who possesses abundant magical powers and “has pretty much had it with humans.” From there, Melly runs into a vainglorious, gold- and sports-obsessed king who taxes his people relentlessly. Three orphans implore Melly and Narra to help rescue the orphanage’s head from the dungeons, where the king imprisoned her for spending her tax money on the children’s food and clothing. The graphic novel may skew slightly younger than its intended audience due to simple plotting and diction, but Melly’s infectious enthusiasm (“Oh boy! I’m so good at hiding stuff”), portrayed through straightforward art, makes her a very good dog, indeed. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. [em]Agent: Gemma Cooper, the Bent Agency. (Oct.) [/em]