DnDoggos

Starred review from February 1, 2024

Gr 4-8-Underhill brings four canine friends together to play their favorite tabletop role-playing game in this delightful middle grade graphic novel. Magnus, the Dungeon Master, is excited about leading his friends on their new adventure; Pickles is a fighter with a taste for reward; Tonka is a sweet and sensitive bard; and Zoey is the empathetic and thoughtful cleric. The group is tasked with retrieving a magical dog collar from a nearby swamp, but a far greater quest awaits the group: someone is stealing all the squeaky toys in the village! Is the nefarious Dog Bone Fang Gang behind the thievery? The story shifts between gameplay and the fantasy setting, and the character interactions throughout the game give readers hilarious context to each player's personality: Pickles is brash and prone to speaking out of turn; Tonka sweetly asks for help with interpreting dice rolls and is the cheerleader of the group; and Zoey mediates, smooths Pickles's rough edges, and considers situations before reacting. Fans of role-playing games will enjoy the inside jokes, including the dreaded "1" dice roll and the joy of rolling a "natural 20." The cartoon-style artwork marries the fun of an animal tale with epic fantasy. A brief explanation on gameplay helps give newcomers a glimpse into tabletop role-playing games. VERDICT Readers will devour this entertaining story and may find themselves reaching for dice and pencils while they wait for another adventure. A recommended first purchase.-Rosemary Kiladitis

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 1, 2023
A team of dynamic dogs embark on a quest requiring wit, creativity, and bravery. Readers are invited to follow the DnDoggos, a group of canine friends, as they learn an exciting role-playing game together. Magnus, the Game Master, coaches Tonka, Pickles, and Zoey as they learn the rules. When local pup Squish goes missing from the in-game village of Tail's Bend, the DnDoggos set out to find the mischievous non-player character. Twists and turns in the in-game campaign will intrigue readers just as Tonka, Pickles, and Zoey are carried along on the adventure. Underhill's debut makes a seamless transition from webcomic to traditional graphic novel. The vibrant, full-page illustrations combined with thoughtfully placed panels allow for clear sequencing throughout. Readers are able to easily differentiate between the dogs as players versus their game characters thanks to clever distinctions in how their facial features are illustrated (these differences are also shown side by side in an introductory guide to the cast). When compared to the simpler lines and color palette of the game players' table scenes, the detailed, vividly colored scenes portraying the in-game adventure draw readers into the campaign in the same way human players use their imaginations to immerse themselves in RPGs. The irresistibly charming dogs guide young readers through the rules of tabletop RPGs while seamlessly demonstrating meaningful lessons about teamwork. A smart, endearing tale packed with adorable dogs and useful tips for role-playing game newcomers. (gaming tips) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

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