Jellaby

by Kean Soo

In an engaging graphic novel, Portia’s miserable day ends well when she finds... read more

In an engaging graphic novel, Portia’s miserable day ends well when she finds a large purple monster outside her house. Despite its enormous size and sharp teeth, the monster seems friendly enough—infantile even. He’s obviously lost and hungry. Portia invites him in and feeds him a tuna sandwich, though he’s just as happy eating her mother’s vase of flowers. They form an instant bond but Portia understands enough of the world to know that it would be best to keep him hidden, something that’s hard to do because he’s obviously a social creature. Before long, Portia’s friend, Jason, has had an encounter with him, and the two kids conspire to try to help the creature they’ve named Jellaby find his way home. Jellaby, with his wide innocent eyes and charming jagged underbite, is one of the most distinctive and memorable children’s book characters in recent memory. Readers will be clamoring to know what happens next in a story to be continued. (Ages 7–14)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2009

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