Kitty Quest: Tentacle Trouble

May 3, 2021
Wanting to make some cash on the fantastical medieval island of Pawdor, Woolfrik—a blue-eyed orange tabby—and Perigold—a green-eyed purple feline—offer to help an elderly gray cat vanquish the monster residing in her cellar, which turns out to be nothing more than a faulty pipe. As payment, they receive an “exquisite looking jewel” that doesn’t seem to be good for much. When an actual monster attacks, though, and the jewel is accidentally tossed into a slime pit, the legendary Tower of Kitquaroo emerges, knocking out the monster and temporarily defeating its mustachioed cape-wearing feline master. The gem’s ghostly guardian, now freed, persuades the would-be heroes of the tower’s past and their own role in protecting Pawdor. Equipped with new weapons and magical scrolls that contain knowledge of a mysterious guild, the two kitties set out to defeat the monster once and for all. Corbett’s debut features snappy dialogue, bold illustrations, and colorfully imagined feline characters that complement the cheeky humor and swashbuckling
hijinks, resulting in an entertaining series opener for young quest seekers. Ages 8–12.

June 1, 2021

Gr 2-5-Business is slow for Woolfrik and Perigold, anthropomorphic cats who hunt monsters in the mostly monsterless town of Meowminster, part of the Islands of Pawdor. But that changes when a customer pays the pair with a strange jewel, which falls into the town's slime pond. A tower magically sprouts, and a ghost named Earl Mortimore appears and tells them about the Guild of Kitquaroo, a group of wizards and warriors who safeguarded Pawdor many years ago. Because the guild was so successful, its home base, the Tower of Kitquaroo, was sealed into a jewel, along with Earl, to be unleashed if help was ever needed in the future. With the opportunity to fight evil, Woolfrik and Perigold relaunch the Guild of Kitquaroo, now known as Kitty Quest, and requests for help start pouring in-there will surely be future series installments. The book's cover is sure to entice graphic novel fans, and the funny, fast-paced tale within will not disappoint. The humor, bold colors, and easy-to-follow panels will delight readers. Younger readers may be challenged by some of the vocabulary, but the illustrations adeptly add context; likewise, there's plenty that will appeal to those on the older age of the range. VERDICT Fans of Dav Pilkey and Lincoln Peirce's "Max and the Midknights" will clamor for this series starter.-Ellen Conlin, Naperville P.L., IL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2021
On the Islands of Pawdor monsters haven't been a problem for years, but that could be changing. Kitties Perigold and Woolfrik are just starting out as monster hunters, and things are kind of slow. A little old lady's monster-in-the-cellar problem seems a perfect first quest, however--her house is pretty creepy and full of some questionable objects. They venture into her dark cellar, but, alas, the monster turns out to be a faulty pipe. They fix it, and she insists on paying for the service with a giant pink gem. At the broccito stand (a portmanteau for a broccoli-filled burrito) they not only find out the gem is worthless, but they accidentally step on a broccito belonging to the evil, mustachioed kitty Dagzobad. When Perigold tosses the useless gem away, a tower abruptly sprouts from it, bonking Dagzobad's pet monster in the kisser. Then the ghost of Earl Mortimore rises to tell them the history of Kitquaroo, an ancient kitty monster slayer. It seems their adventures are just beginning; can they revive the Guild of Kitquaroo? (And is it really necessary?) Corbett's graphic-novel debut, a series opener, will entertain fans of Dog Man and Zita the Spacegirl. Bright cartoon panels full of slapstick and sarcasm (with a soup�on of gross) zip across the pages like stills from the best Saturday-morning cartoons. An adventure in giggles for feline fantasy aficionados. (Graphic fantasy. 5-10)

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May 15, 2022
Kitty Quest continues with a calamari conflict. Woolfrik and Perigold are gathering mushrooms (some of which are quite aggressive) in the forest when they meet up with two other felines who are being kept from crossing a bridge by a two-headed creature sporting armor. It's a perfect job for the Kitty Quest warriors of Kitquaroo (that would be Woolfrik and Perigold). The two-headed creature is no pushover until some of Perigold's wiggly mushrooms squirm into their armor; turns out the knight is just Bella and Cosette, two cats who found the armor (and a manual on guarding bridges) in the forest; they really are pretty friendly and swear fealty to Woolfrik and Perigold. But back in Meowminster, everyone is panicked over a monster invasion. Our fearless(ish) felines get the skinny from their ghostly mentor, Mortimore. The giant, octopuslike Graspurts are on the march and will soon attack the town. Can Woolfrik and Perigold survive Trial by Tentacle and save Meowminster? Corbett's second volume of pussycat derring-doo is as much fun as the first. The bright panels bring the foolish adventures to life and will keep pages turning, as will the physical gags and humor. Readers should start with the first despite this being a self-contained story. Light feline fantasy with slapstick and sarcasm aplenty. (Graphic novel. 6-12)

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