JELLABY

Simple, effective illustrations introduce ten-year-old misfit Portia, an intelligent, socially ostracized and lonely girl, living with her single working mother. A strange and oddly frightening dream leads her to the discovery of Jellaby, an altogether charming, dragon-like creature with a pronounced under-bite, a big appetite and an even bigger heart. After seeing a classmate bullied, Portia decides to intervene, and this leads to Portia and Jellaby welcoming a new member to their little group: precocious Jason, a perfect comic foil to Portia’s earnestness. The trio embark on a mission to help the nearly-mute Jellaby return to its home; what starts as a humble quest quickly turns into an epic voyage, as the truth about Portia’s family looms somewhere in the shadows. A simply wonderful tale of friendship and whimsy, masterfully constructed with depth and moxie. Recommend this to fans of Jeff Smith’s Bone series, Andy Runton’s Owly series and Sara Varon’s Robot Dreams(2007). (Graphic novel. 9-12)