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) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Grimelda, of the still-untidy room (Grimelda the Very Messy Witch, 2016), is back, this time trying to win the prize at the pet show with her cat, Wizzlewarts. But is he spooktacular enough to win? Grimelda has her doubts, especially after Hildegard rides by on Blaze, her fire-breathing dragon. A spell might do the trick, but as before, her spell book is lost in the mess. What to do? Well, find a better pet, of course. But those turn out to be in short supply at the general store, and the monster eel she finds in the swamp may be a bit too spooktacular. But back at home, Wizzlewarts can't be counted out yet. "He'd found her spell book! And what's more, / he'd flipped to page three hundred four / The Perfect Spell to Make a Cat / Spooktacular in Seconds Flat!" At the pet show, the spell, smudged with eye-scream fudge, doesn't turn out quite as Grimelda had intended, but she and Wizzlewarts pull together for the ultimate winand a new pet of a different sort. Ross' digital illustrations are filled with fascinating details that will have readers poring over the pages, though diversity is in short supply (Grimelda and Hildegard both appear to be white). Murray never addresses Grimelda's original lack of faith in Wizzlewarts, who surely must feel inadequate and unloved. Readers may stage their own pet shows, but here's hoping they are more affirmative of their own pets than Grimelda is. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.