Get the Party Started (DnDoggos #1)

by Scout Underhill (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Dndoggos

Four adorable dogs are tail-waggingly excited to play their favorite role-playing game in DnDoggos: Get the Party Started, the middle grade graphic novel debut from online comic creator Scout Underhill.

They've picked their characters and favorite dice, and are ready to set off on the adventure their game master Magnus has created for them.

Pickles, a rough and tumble fighter; Tonka, a playful and fun-loving bard; and Zoey, a wise and caring cleric, are given a quest to fetch a magical dog collar from a nearby swamp. But when they triumphantly return, they soon find that the collar isn't the only thing that has gone missing from Tail's Bend. All the squeaky toys in town have disappeared and Squish, the mayor's young son, has set off on his own to find them.

It's up to the Doggos to rescue Squish, track down the missing toys, and save the day!

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School Library Journal

Starred Review

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.

Kirkus

Starred Review

A smart, endearing tale packed with adorable dogs and useful tips for role-playing game newcomers.


Review quotes

"A charming journey full of fun and wit, which will no doubt encourage kids to start a DnD adventure of their own. I absolutely adore this sweet doggo cast! You can tell Scout put so much love into these characters. Can't wait to see more DnDoggos campaigns in the future!" —Kay Davault, author of Star Knights

"Perfect for fans of The Adventure Zone, this rollicking canine adventure isn't just for middle-grade readers, but anyone who loves DnD campaigns filled with shenanigans, humor and heart! With wonderfully illustrated panels, beautifully colored pages, and a paw-some cast of pups, you'll have a barking good time reading DnDoggos!" —Aiden Thomas, New York Times-bestselling author of Cemetery Boys 

"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." —Kirkus, starred review

Scout Underhill

Scout Underhill started DnDoggos as a webcomic in 2017 when they caught their dogs playing tabletop roleplaying games. Using their newly found internet celebrity status, Magnus and Pickles "encouraged" (demanded) Scout to make this book. Scout lives in the woods of Nashville, Tennessee with their dogs and found family. DnDoggos: Get The Party Started is their debut graphic novel.

Liana Sposto is an illustrator and cartoonist from Los Angeles, CA, where she lives on a sailboat with her husband and a bunch of sea lions. She really loves coloring. You can see more of her work online.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781250834348
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Feiwel & Friends
Publication date
February 27, 2024
Series
Dndoggos
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002070 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dogs
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV008080 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Fantasy
Library of Congress categories
Lost and found possessions
Lost articles
Dogs
Graphic novels
Quests (Expeditions)
Cartoons and comics
Role playing
Relics
Squeak toys
Animal comics
Dice games

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