All ketchup, no mustard!

K-Gr 3--A graphic novel for the youngest of readers, this high-energy, playful friendship story stars an anthropomorphic hot dog and chicken nugget, along with a cast of other comical culinary characters. Nugget and Dog, best friends since preschool, discover a box of memorabilia from the days that Great Grandpa Frank Furter was a member of the K.E.T.C.H.U.P. Crusaders, a group that anyone could join to help create a more positive world (K stands for kindness, E for empathy, etc.). Nugget and Dog decide to continue the tradition and begin promoting the Crusader way of life. Meanwhile, Dijon Mustard (who turned evil after he didn't get the kids meal prize he wanted) plans to stop the Crusaders with G.R.U.M.P.S--Giant Real Ugly Monsters with Perfect Scowls. When his first monster, Stomps, begins destroying Gastropolis, it is time for Nugget and Dog to put K.E.T.C.H.U.P. to the test and save the day. The book gently introduces young readers to the comic format, with each page containing four or fewer colorful panels featuring expressive characters. An opening section explains basic comic elements such as the difference between text boxes, speech bubbles, and thought clouds. VERDICT A great introduction to comics for beginning readers.--Amanda Melilli, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas

A punny good-versus-evil story populated by fast foods kicks off a graphic-novel series for chapter-book readers. One day, (chicken) Nugget and (hot) Dog, best friends since preschool, search for "cool old stuff" in Great-Grandpa Frank Furter's attic and find a picture of Gramps as a K.E.T.C.H.U.P. Crusader. K.E.T.C.H.U.P. stands for "Kind / Empathetic / Thoughtful / Courageous / Helpful / Unique / Powerful," and, many years ago, K.E.T.C.H.U.P. Crusaders saved Gastropolis from Mayo Naze and her evil mold. Nugget and Dog adopt the motto "less mean, more K.E.T.C.H.U.P." and decide to revitalize K.E.T.C.H.U.P. Crusaders. But Dijon, Mayo Naze's great-grandson, has a different idea and launches his "greatest evil plan yet": G.R.U.M.P.S., or "Giant Real Ugly Monsters with Perfect Scowls." Dijon's first monster, Stomp, terrorizes Gastropolis, but no one knows what the monster really wants. Brains? Breans? When the Crusaders ask, they find out Stomp just wants…beans--and friends. They are happy to provide both. But…"K.E.T.C.H.U.P. Crusaders might have won this time… / …but this is just the beginning of what Dijon Mustard can do. Mwahaha!" Nine chapters ranging in length from two to 10 pages keep the action moving, but newly independent readers will need to follow the illustration clues to understand the early-chapter shifts between Nugget and Dog and Dijon as well as the flashback that introduces K.E.T.C.H.U.P. Crusaders. A preface on how to read comics should help. A dastardly villain, a dash of humor, and a dollop of K.E.T.C.H.U.P. combine to model positive social skills. (Graphic fiction. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.