Bethanie Murguia

A mouse in blue and white polka dotted shorts and a prairie dog in a red hat disagree on everything, until...

"We don't agree. We can't be friends. There's nothing more. This is the end."
"YES, I AGREE."

...The mouse and prairie dog find themselves in agreement. Each explains a little about their point of view ("Well, blue is sea. And blue is sky." "But red is leaves...and cherry pie") and agree that there's one thing they both like - friends!

It's likely no accident that their chosen colors show more are red and blue. Adults as well as children need the reminder that, differences aside, we can all be friends. show less

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Roaring Book Press (Macmillan) for this DRC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed below are my own.

A fiercely protective and territorial dog learns the importance of opening up her home, as well as making room for friends, in this graphic novel. Thunder is less than pleased when her human, Sage, takes in Byron, a rescue dog, as a foster pet. She tries everything she can to make life uncomfortable for him, and show more the animosity is mutual. When Byron runs away, Thunder's Inner Wolf shows her the error of her ways. And as she and Sage search for him, Thunder learns about how a true dog makes room to welcome others into their pack.

Murguia structures the book almost completely from Thunder's perspective, both on a physical and mental level, which works very well. I liked the arrows pointing out places and sensory memories that were important to her and the neighborhood dogs, as well as the inclusion of internal doggie assessments such as the "growl meter" and "wagometer." I also love the concept of each dog having their own Jiminy Cricket-esque Inner Wolf catered to their personality, with different physical appearances. The panels that show them connecting with other and running with the dogs in spirit were some of my favorites. Even when Thunder doesn't behave well. the story never shows her as an innately bad dog, but one who needs guidance. The way in which she and Byron truly connect with each other at the end is satisfying and realistic. Witnessing Byron's emotional development as he opens himself up to love and being part of the pack is sweet, too.

The text-to-graphics ratio here is just right for potentially skeptical young readers, as well as those starting to move from smaller to slightly longer and more comprehensive graphic novels. This is also a very good read for children who are animal lovers, have a pet(s) or are thinking about getting one, and those who show a budding interest in rescue and animal adoption work. The illustrations depict the different aspects of tailoring one's home space to accommodate a pet with gates, toys, separate beds and accessible doors. There are some useful fun facts at the end about elements of dog behavior, such as their sense of smell and use of scent marking. I alluded to this in a review of another animal-themed book, but I truly believe that one of the best ways for children to gain true love and respect for animals is by learning as much about them as possible, respecting their differences and learning how to communicate with them. This book does a good job of advancing that
through Sage and her desire for everyone to feel welcome.

I haven't read the first volume of the series; I'm interested in getting it and learning about Thunder's backstory and the beginning of her and Sage's relationship. The deep love and protectiveness that she feels for Sage drives most of her actions and her emotions, and it's the love and patience which Sage has poured into her that helps her realize the importance of welcoming others and that changes her feelings towards Byron. I also would have liked to hear and see more of Byron's backstory and what contributed to his emotional development, particularly as a very small dog who previously lived on the streets. I'm not sure how many volumes are planned for this series, but that would definitely be a perspective worth exploring. At any rate, I think that the book works fine on its own as an introduction to the series for kids. show less

From the first page, I could not stop smiling. This is simply a delightful book that will charm everyone who reads it. From the humorous way the little bug is presented to the vibrant illustrations, there is nothing to detract the reader from enjoyment. Although there are some slightly scary moments, they are dealt with so deftly that the child will not have time to be afraid before he is smiling again at the antics of "the messy little sleeper's nighttime escapades.
Buglette is a charming show more little bug with both a serious and an imaginative side to her personality. During the day she does her chores and keeps everything spic and span. At night, although her bed is prepared for proper sleeping, she tosses and turns as she acts out the marvelous things she dreams about.
One night, Buglette's siblings, Red and Spot, create a shelter within which they hope she can sleep without disturbance. Whoa, that never happens, though, instead...Buglette tosses and turns throwing her acorn shelter off her body and sending it down through the leaves where it bounces off her sibling’s head. His cry wakes the crow and their enemy arrives, about to eat Spot. Buglette saves the day by gathering the courage she exhibits in her dreams and floating down to the crow, with the help of a blanket. She throws the blanket over the crow, temporarily blinding him. He becomes frightened, disoriented and flies away, never to return to scare them again.
Buglette saved the day. Her dreams were not so bad, after all, for they taught her courage and skills she wouldn't have even dreamed of had she slept a bit more peacefully. No one ever complained about the disturbances her dreams caused, ever again. She was now the hero instead of the pain in the neck!
The author has done a masterful job with the illustrations. They are vibrant and enticing, making the reader love the little bug family. The colors are warm and purples are used freely. Purple is the color of dreams so it is apt and children will identify with it. Purple is the color of fantasy and imagination. If there is a little girl that does not love the color purple, I have not come across her! The texture of the paper and the size of the book makes it easy to handle and a pleasure to read. In a short story of simple words and expressions coupled with wonderful drawings, the author has created a magical world for a child to enter and learn about how to face fear, march to the beat of their own drummer and develop courage, as well. I absolutely loved this book and will have great pleasure reading it to my two latest twin granddaughters when they are a bit older! show less

"Hey, look - it's a horse in a hat."
The "horse" trots off on a solo journey, accompanied by the invisible narrator, who keeps denying that the unicorn is a horse in disguise. Clever illustrations make either answer plausible; a final spread shows horses/unicorns moving through a field of tall grass in silhouette, with the blades of grass standing in for horns - or maybe they really are horns. "Maybe you can only see unicorns...if you believe in them." The final illustration shows the same show more scene as the first, with a barn door half-open, a weathervane with a horse in a hat, and a lizard (front page) that's actually a tiny dragon (last page).

See also: Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood show less