Wolfie Monster and the big bad pizza battle

Gr 2--5--Jackson, Roy, and Wolfie Monster run the Magik Cheez Pizza shop, left to them by their uncle Gary. Despite older brother Jackson's best efforts, the business doesn't flourish, thanks to wacky antics and subpar pizza. When the Happy Leaf Corporation comes to Oak Hollow, bringing cheap and tasty pizza and millions of dollars of advertising, the Monster brothers seem doomed to fail. Then their humble shop becomes part of a plot to take over Oak Hollow and the world as customers are turned into Happy Leaf--obsessed consumer zombies. Now the brothers, their neighbors, and Wolfie's new best friend Bea will need to use their cunning to take down Happy Leaf's CEO, Lord Mudpant. Zombies, kidnapping, and robot battles with cartoony, Muppet-like characters; colorful illustrations; and zany humor will appeal to younger readers and lovers of the absurd. VERDICT This ridiculous and fun twist on a well-worn trope will charm the legions of readers who can't get enough "Captain Underpants," "Dog Man," and "Lunch Lady" books.--Ariana Hussain, St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School, Washington, DC

A cheerful monster faces off against a diabolical businessman.With one large eye, bright purple arms, a blue head and body, rosy pink feet and cheeks, and an unrelenting smile, Wolfie Monster runs Magik Cheez Pizza along with his brothers, Jackson and Roy. Wolfie and Roy are both goofy and laid-back, while Type A Jackson struggles to manage the business. When successful mega-corporation Happy Leaf moves into their town, its owner, the take-no-prisoners Lord Mudpant, offers to buy out Magik Cheez. Roy and Jackson are eager to sell, but Wolfie is not interested. The fiendish Mudpant plots to make Happy Leaf the only choice in town and will stop at nothing to achieve pizza domination; can a little monster win against a big businessman? Wolfie is silly and bumbling, but his best friend, Bea, has the good sense needed to take on the nefarious Mudpant. With a good amount of pop and fizz, this fun, fast-paced graphic offering will delight readers with its giggle-inducing antics set against a timely backdrop. Most of the main characters are male; female Bea is a sunny, tangerine-colored monster with cheery purple hair and body and is depicted in a complementary palette and similar body shape as the male characters, with none of the stereotypical feminine signifiers such as eyelashes or hair bows.Like pizza, this David-and-Goliath crowd-pleaser is hot and fresh. (Graphic fantasy. 6-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.