SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Magnificent
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.aquapup.com/
CITY: Sausalito
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME: SATA 394
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Surname pronounced “mer-GEE-ya”; born in NY; married; children: two daughters.
EDUCATION:University of Rochester, B.A. (summa cum laude); School of Visual Arts, M.F.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author and illustrator of picture books. Hearst Magazines, New York, NY, former art director; freelance art director for design and marketing companies, with clients including National Wildlife Federation.
AVOCATIONS:Nature, bicycling.
AWARDS:Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Book Award, 2011, for Buglette the Messy Sleeper.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Bethanie Deeney Murguia has wanted to write and illustrate children’s stories since she was a child, but it was only after had children of her own that she found her voice and focus. Drawn to quirky characters and wild imaginations, Murguia strives to write books that both parents and children will find humorous and truthful. Her self-illustrated stories for young children include Buglette the Messy Sleeper, Zoe Gets Ready, and Snippet the Early Riser.
Anyone who spends time with a little girl of a certain age will enjoy Bethanie Deeney Murguia’s story in Zoe Gets Ready. In her ink-and-watercolor art, Murguia shares the story of a little girl who approaches every minute of every day as a special event that demands a special costume. From dancing to doing cartwheels to hiking, Zoe’s worries over the correct wardrobe concern her parents until a special routine saves the day. “With layers of meaning, [and] a spunky, fun-loving heroine, … this one is a keeper,” asserted Patricia Austin in her Booklist review of Zoe Gets Ready, and a Publishers Weekly contributor praised the picture-book star as a “spirited, creative heroine.”
In Buglette the Messy Sleeper and Snippet the Early Riser, Murguia pairs her spare yet evocative line-and-watercolor illustrations with whimsical stories that capture the everyday quirks of childhood. Snippet the Early Riser introduces a snail who likes to start the day far earlier than anyone else in his snoozy snail family. In Buglette the Messy Sleeper a young bug is proud of being neat and tidy, so she cannot understand why she wakes up with her sheets and blankets all a-twist and a-tangle. Worried that Buglette’s active dreaming may attract the attention of predatory Mr. Crow, her brothers attempt to calm her sometimes scary dreams in a story that a Kirkus Reviews writer praised as “charmingly depicted.” In Booklist, Hazel Rochman predicted that Buglette the Messy Sleeper captures nighttime issues that “many children will recognize.”
In Zoe’s Room (No Sisters Allowed), Zoe reigns supreme over her bedroom. When Zoe’s parents tell her that her younger sister, Addie, must move in, her rule comes to an abrupt end. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews said that “transitioning into a shared room can be a tricky situation, especially with jealous sibling squabbles. But Zoe’s flair will certainly help.”
With Habille-toi Lea!, Lea must wear the clothes chosen for her during the week. But on the weekend, she gets to choose her ensemble. In a review in Resource Links, Suzanne Dagenais claimed that “this is simply an adorable book.”
In Zoe’s Jungle, Zoe and Addie are given five minutes more before they have to leave the playground. Despite protesting, Zoe decides to make the most of the remaining time. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews observed that “it’s an obvious overture to parental transitioning tactics, but it’s an imaginative adventure just the same.”
With I Feel Five!, Fritz isn’t sure what to think about his fifth birthday. Ultimately, he decides he will eventually grow into his new age over time. A Publishers Weekly contributor opined that Fritz and his dog “make excellent companions on this philosophical journey, leavening big questions with kid-scaled humor.” A contributor to Kirkus Reviews commented that “this simply told, well-illustrated book” is both “empathetic and sweet.”
In The Best Parts of Christmas, Fritz picks out a tree from a farm. He then decorates it by himself at home. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews opined that “this restrained, thoughtful story effectively captures some of the contradictory emotions a child may feel during the Christmas season.” A Publishers Weekly contributor observed that the author points out “that memories of good times linger even when the holidays themselves must pass.”
With Cockatoo, Too, a lonely cockatoo is surprised to find a second cockatoo land in a tree nearby. A Publishers Weekly contributor described it as “a visually pleasing and aurally provocative outing.” A contributor to Kirkus Reviews lauded that “it’s all delightfully hilarious. Sure to become a read-aloud favorite.” Booklist contributor Anne Miller cautioned that while reading the book out loud “might not go too smoothly, part of the fun is tripping over the twisty syllables.”
In Princess! Fairy! Ballerina!, three girls can’t decide what to play, so they each choose to be something different: a princess, a fairy, and a ballerina. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews suggested that “traditionally minded readers will enjoy the story of three girls who expand their play possibilities.” A Publishers Weekly contributor noted that Murguia applies “a light touch to explore the frustrations that can result when compromises are nowhere to be found.”
With Toucans, Too, a pair of toucans misunderstands a few cockatoos. While the cockatoos invited the toucans, too, to join them for lunch, the toucans thought they said toucan stew. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews mentioned that the story is “wonderfully wacky,” adding that “the words twist, and the fun escalates.”
In The Too-Scary Story, Papa tells siblings Grace and Walter a scary bedtime story. Papa shifts the story back and forth between being too scary for Walter and not scary enough for Grace. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews found that the book contains “fun and frisson in just the right balance.”
In the clever Do You Believe in Unicorns?, Murguia’s narrator asks if a horse wearing a tall hat is a horse who wants to keep the sun off his eyes or is really a unicorn hiding his horn. Other horses have obstructions, such as trees or rocks, hiding their foreheads, and they could all be unicorns. At the end, a unicorn shows his horn, or is just a horse with a steeple in the background, or a tall blade of grass. “Murguia is a master of subtlety. The interplay between narration and illustration proves the unreliability of the senses,” according to a writer in Kirkus Reviews. The artwork leaves the truth up to the reader. “Because it’s ambiguous, our own beliefs, experiences, and knowledge become a big part of the story. I wanted readers to be able to make up their own minds about unicorns and magic,” said Murguia, explaining the book’s message in an interview with Julianne Black online at Story Monsters. Murguia added on the Picture Book Review website: “There’s something so fun and compelling about images that deliberately don’t tell the whole story. They require the reader to look for clues and to use their own experiences and beliefs to parse what they’re seeing.”
Using minimal text, The Favorite Book helps readers decide how they choose their favorite things. Do you choose by examining, inspecting, measuring, weighing? Should you choose many favorite things, or only a few, or only one? The book explains decision-making techniques on how to pick a favorite color, animal, clothes, pet, and more. A Kirkus Reviews contributor said the soft watercolor and pen and ink illustrations provide a safe place for a child-centered discussion, adding: “A thoughtful, age-appropriate discussion of decision-making that could well become a favorite.”
Promoting acceptance and friendship, We Disagree pits Mouse and Squirrel against each other as they disagree on everything. Mouse likes figs, Squirrel likes twigs, Mouse likes blue pants, Squirrel likes a red hat. They bicker until they realize that their friendship shouldn’t be based on what they like; they can have different likes and dislikes and still be friends. “In this time of destructive divisiveness, Mouse and Squirrel’s journey toward respecting their differences is an important lesson for us all,” observed a Kirkus Reviews writer. The text is written in verse for two readers, with blue and red speech bubbles for each critter.
When You Take a Step describes how peaceful and mindful going for a walk can be. A walk or journey lets your thoughts roam as you view beautiful nature around you. On a walk in a rural or urban environment, you can greet the world, daydream, and ponder life’s questions. Journeys can also take you to new places, like a museum or a rally. A visual line across the narrative is achieved with a walker wearing pink shoes through grayscale digital illustrations. A Kirkus Reviews writer thought the message of the power of a single step is encouraging. In Publishers Weekly, a reviewer said the simple message “can empower—it uplifts via Deeney Murguia’s polished execution.”
What’s Your Name? focuses on the power and function of names. They can honor people, be ancestral or tribal, provide comfort, or reflect the seasons, birthplaces, or diversity. Aspects of names and naming are presented and spark discussion. You can tell a story with a name, change your name, spell names differently or denote gender, and take pride in a name. According to a Kirkus Reviews contributor, “Perhaps this book’s greatest strengths are its cheery declarations, portrayals of diversity—in race, ethnicity, attire, and physical ability,” noting how a child finger spells their name in sign language.
Murguia has also illustrated stories by other authors. In Alice Kuipers’s Violet and Victor Write the Best-Ever Bookworm Book, twins Violet and Victor come up with a story about Wilbur the earthworm. Violet, however, starts to write herself as the protagonist. A Publishers Weekly contributor remarked that the story is “believable, entertaining, and likely to inspire readers to try putting their own stories together.” A contributor to Kirkus Reviews insisted that the book is “clever fare for aspiring bookworms (especially siblings).”
With Kuipers’s Violet and Victor Write the Most Fabulous Fairy Tale, Violet and Victor spar over the writing of a fairy tale. When Violet places herself in the center of the story again, Victor creates a character who banishes her. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews called the story “a jam-packed view of the creative process of two imaginative siblings.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, April 15, 2011, Hazel Rochman, review of Buglette the Messy Sleeper, p. 58; May 1, 2012, Patricia Austin, review of Zoe Gets Ready, p. 110; December 15, 2015, Anne Miller, review of Cockatoo, Too, p. 58; March 15, 2016, Carolyn Phelan, review of Princess! Fairy! Ballerina!, p. 66; May 1, 2017, Randall Enos, review of The Too-Scary Story, p. 79; July 1, 2017, Becca Worthington, review of Toucans, Too, p. 68.
Children’s Bookwatch, May 1, 2015, review of Cockatoo, Too.
Horn Book, July 1, 2017, Elissa Gershowitz, review of The Too-Scary Story, p. 112.
Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2011, review of Buglette the Messy Sleeper; May 1, 2013, review of Zoe’s Room (No Sisters Allowed); April 15, 2014, review of Zoe’s Jungle; July 1, 2014, review of I Feel Five!; October 15, 2014, review of Violet and Victor Write the Best-Ever Bookworm Book; September 1, 2015, review of The Best Parts of Christmas; October 15, 2015, review of Violet and Victor Write the Most Fabulous Fairy Tale; October 15, 2015, review of Cockatoo, Too; February 1, 2016, review of Princess! Fairy! Ballerina!; March 1, 2017, review of Toucans, Too; April 1, 2017, review of The Too-Scary Story; July 15, 2018, review of Do You Believe in Unicorns?; July 1, 2019, review of The Favorite Book; July 1, 2020, review of We Disagree; June 15, 2022, review of When You Take a Step; October 1, 2022, review of What’s Your Name?
Publishers Weekly, March 12, 2012, review of Zoe Gets Ready, p. 56; June 2, 2014, review of I Feel Five!, p. 59; October 13, 2014, review of Violet and Victor Write the Best-Ever Bookworm Book, p. 58; September 14, 2015, review of The Best Parts of Christmas, p. 67; October 12, 2015, review of Cockatoo, Too, p. 65; February 29, 2016, review of Princess! Fairy! Ballerina!, p. 64; April 17, 2017, review of The Too-Scary Story, p. 66.
Resource Links, December 1, 2013, Suzanne Dagenais, review of Habille-toi Lea!, p. 50.
ONLINE
Bethanie Deeney Murguia website, https://www.aquapup.com (January 19, 2023).
California Readers website, http://www.californiareaders.org/ (February 1, 2011), Bonnie O’Brian, author interview.
Picture Book Review, https://thepicturebookreview.com/ (October 24, 2018), “An Interview with Bethanie Deeney Murguia—On Finding Magic, Following Your Instincts, and Persistence.”
Publishers Weekly, https://www.publishersweekly.com/ (September 2022), review of When You Take a Step.
Story Monsters, https://storymonsters.com/ (October 29, 2018), Julianne Black, Q& A with Bethanie Murguia.”
All about bethanie
By Thunder the dog
She is tall but much slower than I am on hills. I forgive that because she likes to explore almost as much as I do. I’m training her to be on the lookout at all times for quail, squirrels, and suspicious garbage bags. She’s learning. And even though she never sniffs the ground, she always knows where to find the best food.
She smells like tea and paint and paper, and after I tackle her, she also smells like me. She doesn’t like to have her ears licked, but I keep trying.
We both have short hair, love popcorn, and enjoy howling.
Wondering how to pronounce Murguia? It’s mer GEE ya.
3 Questions With… Bethanie Murguia
by jdsmeaton | Jul 17, 2024 | 3 Questions With... | 1 comment
Bethanie Murguia
I met Bethanie a couple years ago at Kid Comics Unite where we were in a writer’s group together. Bethanie was a seasoned children’s book author but was working on her first graphic novel. It was about a little girl and the bond she has with her dog. But it’s told from the perspective of the dog. It was fascinating to have a behind the scenes look at the evolution of the story and Bethanie’s skill as a storyteller.
I’ve also enjoyed following her Instagram where she shares comics about her own dogs in Dogumentary. The real life inspiration for her graphic novel. There were 5 of us in that writing group and Bethanie is the first to cross the finish line. Her book Wagnificent: The Adventures of Thunder and Sage comes out next week.
Why comics? (What compels you to create in this medium?)
I have to confess that I wasn’t a kid who read comics, aside from Calvin and Hobbes and Snoopy and The Far Side (I mean, I’m not a total philistine). I discovered graphic novels as an adult, at a time when I was itching to create longer stories and more in-depth characters than picture books would allow. My gateway graphic novels were the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series (Dana Simpson) and Be Prepared (Vera Brosgol). They opened my eyes to the power of comics and graphic novels.
Even though I came to graphic novels late in life, I’ve always adored books—the way they hold self-contained worlds and the fact that anyone can make them. I was taping pages together, writing stories, and drawing illustrations as soon as I could read. Words + pictures = magic. And I’ve spent a lot of my life putting words and pictures together in various ways, working as an art director for magazines and then writing and illustrating picture books.
What is it that you want people to take away from your work?
Wagnificent is a friendship adventure about the wonder of a human and dog bond. It’s filled with goofy moments and plenty of humor and shenanigans, but at its core, this is a book about care and love, told from the dog’s perspective. My hope is that readers connect with Thunder the dog and are inspired to be more curious and empathetic in their own animal (and human!) friendships. I also hope they’re fascinated by some of the dog and wolf facts in the book—I learned so many incredible things doing research for this series.
What are you currently working on?
I’m working on Books 2 and 3 of the Wagnificent series—more dogs, more wolves, a cat (gasp!), and fascinating facts about various canines—all continuing to explore what it means for a dog to thrive in a human world.
Also, I’m working on a middle-grade graphic novel about puberty and ghosts, which means I’m voluntarily revisiting middle-school feelings and drama. (What was I thinking?!)
You can find Bethanie online at:
Aquapup.com
Interview With Bethanie Murguia (Wagnificent: A New Dog in the Den)
August 7, 2025No Comments
Written by Cherokee Crum, Blog Manager and Staff Reviewer
Posted in Authors, Interviews, News & Updates
Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Bethanie Murguia (Wagnificent: A New Dog in the Den)
Meet the Author: Bethanie Murguia
Bethanie Murguia lives in the Bay Area with three humans, two dogs, and one bearded dragon. Her dogs have trained her to be on the lookout for quail, squirrels, and suspicious cats at all times. Like her dogs, Bethanie has short hair, loves popcorn, and enjoys howling. She received her MFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Website * Instagram * X
About the Book: Wagnificent: A New Dog in the Den
Tag along for more Wagnificent adventures with adorable dog, Thunder, and her favorite human, Sage, in book 2 of the young graphic novel series perfect for fans of PAWCASSO and ANIMAL RESCUE FRIENDS.
Purchase
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this series?
Like every other dog person out there, I have the best dog in the world. (Well, three of them currently!) The WAGNIFICENT series was inspired by the real Thunder. She’s part wild hunter, part lap dog, and total drama queen. Her blend of wildness and humanness made me want to understand her better. Anyone who has adored a dog has probably wondered:
What is my dog thinking?
Why do I have a wild animal living in my house?
This series is my attempt to answer those questions.
The second book, A NEW DOG IN THE DEN, was inspired by Thunder’s behavior when we brought a new dog into our home. Thunder had lived with us for almost three years when Luna arrived.
As I worked at my desk, Lord of the Flies unfolded silently behind me. I started to recognize expressions, postures, and the many forms of communication dogs use to let other dogs know just how important they are (very) and who’s allowed near their toys (no one). This was the first time we saw sweet Thunder bare her teeth. And growl at another dog! It was alarming at first. But the cool thing is that conflict avoidance is very ritualized with wolves and most dogs follow similar steps—first a stare, then a growl, followed by chasing and snapping—all of which de-escalate conflict before a physical altercation happens. The first book in the series featured a wagometer. This book has a growlometer, too!
YABC: What research did you do to write this series?
Even though the series is fictional, I read many, many nonfiction books about canines, their senses, and their social structures. I also visited and hiked with wolves! I had done so much reading about wolves, but I felt like I needed to experience them firsthand. Much of what I learned from my research is woven into the plot. Plus, I included nonfiction back matter for readers who want to understand dogs and wolves better. They’ll find answers to questions like: How do canines organize their societies? (Humans could learn a thing or two.) Why do dogs howl at ambulances? Why do they walk in circles before sleeping? Do dogs actually love us?
YABC: What came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?
The characters! I knew from the beginning this would be a series about a dog and a girl. I wanted to celebrate the dog and human bond—full of humor, love, and plenty of miscommunication. And I knew that I wanted it to be told from the dog’s point of view, so the reader would experience this relationship through the dog’s eyes (or nose, as the case may be!).
The wolf character showed up later and evolved as I did my research. I had initially assumed the wolf would be the vicious bad guy, but as I learned more, it became clear that was the wrong approach. Wolves are not the stuff of nightmares we read about in fairy tales. They’re benevolent, completely pack-oriented, and have larger brains than dogs. So, the wolf character turned into a curmudgeonly grammarian who tries to teach Thunder the ways of the wolf.
YABC: What can readers expect to find in your books?
I love to write and illustrate books that include animals, a touch of humor, and questions that are unanswerable but fun to ponder (again, what is my dog thinking?).
YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?
I am very susceptible to dog-napping—being pulled away from my desk to curl up on the couch or bean bag with my dogs. In the case of this series, though, that’s not procrastination. It’s research. (Right?)
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
I’m rereading The Rise of Wolf 8 in anticipation of a trip to Yellowstone this fall. Rick McIntyre paints such a compelling, intimate portrait of the Yellowstone wolves and their pack dynamics.
YABC: What is your favorite writing space or routine?
I do most of my inking and coloring in my studio, but my favorite routine is taking a midday break to climb up to The Lookout with a cup of tea. It’s a picnic table we (okay, my husband) dragged to the top of our hill early in the pandemic. It’s forty steps up. I go there to write, draw, think, daydream, escape screens, watch my dogs wrestle, and stare at our fig tree, wondering why it refuses to grow.
YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
Guide Dogs for the Blind. I live close to the national headquarters, and I lead campus tours. As is fairly obvious from the rest of this interview, I am in awe of the human and dog bond. Witnessing that special bond in action at Guide Dogs for the Blind has been incredible.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I’m inking and coloring the third book in the WAGNIFICENT series now! Sage, Thunder, Zia, and Byron are all back for more antics. When Sage is anxious about a stage performance at school, Thunder “catches” Sage’s worries (yes, dogs can smell our anxiety and often mirror it) and has to find a way to keep the pack waggy. In this book, Thunder’s “nosiness” wreaks havoc and saves the day. I’m also working on a middle grade graphic novel for older readers.
Title: Wagnificent: A New Dog in the Den
Author: Bethanie Murguia
Illustrator: Bethanie Murguia
Release Date: 7/22/2025
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press
Genre: MG Graphic Novel
Age Range: 6-10 years
The Adventures of Thunder and Sage (Wagnificent #1)
Bethanie Murguia. Roaring Brook, $21.99 (160p) ISBN 978-1-250-83530-7; $13.99 paper ISBN 978-1-2509-0-8735
Thunder the dog loves her human companion Sage, whose affection she's always happy to return. But when Sage's obsession with finding a magical creature so "my life would be complete" reaches an apex, she puts a starry cloak and wizard's hat on Thunder that the pooch absolutely hates. Thunder's internal cries for help are answered by her inner wolf, who appears to tell Thunder that she "must revolt against this indignity." As Thunder learns more about her heritage, she endeavors to follow her wolf's advice by tearing her hat and cape to shreds--an action she immediately regrets. Though Sage is openly disappointed, she forgives Thunder easily, and decides to make Thunder a new cloak--and a human-size one for herself--so they can go creature-tracking together. Despite their mended bond, however, Thunder continues questioning whether she should live with her beloved human or run wild in the woods. Painterly depictions of Thunder's wordless communication with Sage highlight the complexity of their relationship and Thunder's curiosity about the wild in this wholesome graphic novel series opener by Murguia (What's Your Name?). Informational panels and diagrams about dogs appear throughout; back matter concludes. Sage has pale skin. Ages 6--10. (July)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"The Adventures of Thunder and Sage (Wagnificent #1)." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 14, 8 Apr. 2024, p. 72. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A799269979/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=87343dd8. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Murguia, Bethanie Deeney WAGNIFICENT Roaring Brook Press (Children's None) $21.99 7, 22 ISBN: 9781250835314
Having reckoned with wilder impulses in the first series installment, Thunder the dog faces a fresh challenge under the tutelage of her human, Sage.
In Thunder's mind, the pair form a close-knit pack, so when Sage agrees to take in a foster pup named Byron, Thunder's life is thrown into confusion. Although Byron is comically tiny, his inner canine conscience (represented by a wolf at his side) is larger and fiercer than Thunder's. The minuscule Byron encroaches on Thunder's territory: He urinates indoors, sleeps in Thunder's bed, and demands that Thunder give him her bone. Furious, Thunder barks and growls until the smaller dog scurries out through a hole in the fence. Though Thunder's initially elated to have her home to herself, Sage is devastated to discover Byron gone, and the two set out to find the runaway. With a clearer understanding of their household roles (and a happy ending for everyone), the pets and people alike grow in awareness of the finer points of inter-canine interactions. The conflict in this volume adds intrigue and momentum to the previously established episodic chapter structure. Murguia's upbeat cartoon illustrations are occasionally interrupted by "Thunder's Rules" interludes, which highlight what behaviors are more acceptable for dogs to exhibit with one another vs. with humans. Sage is light-skinned and purple-haired; other humans vary in skin tone.
A feel-good tale that invites readers to consider life from the perspective of their four-legged friends. (more information on behaviors displayed by dogs and other canine species)(Graphic fiction. 6-10)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Murguia, Bethanie Deeney: WAGNIFICENT." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A837325606/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=668ee4d1. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Murguia, Bethanie Deeney WAGNIFICENT Roaring Brook Press (Children's None) $13.99 7, 23 ISBN: 9781250908735
A dutiful dog is challenged by her wilder side.
Thunder loves her owner, a light-skinned, purple-haired girl named Sage. Sage gives Thunder a comfortable home, serenades her, and takes her on walks. But Thunder is coming to learn more about the gulf between her canine nature and her human's expectations. Exploring a newfound passion for magic and fantasy, Sage dresses her pet in a wizard's robe. Thunder's inner wolf comes to life in her frustration, urging her to rip up the robe and embrace her lupine leanings. What begins as a bright buddy comic quickly becomes a poignant reflection on canine domestication as Thunder realizes that her responses to stimuli in the human and natural worlds are rooted in wolfish instincts. Growling at other dogs is her way of protecting her pack, while her need to hunt comes out when she chases squirrels. Eventually, Thunder flees to the woods. Will she find a way to balance her love for Sage with her wild instincts? Capturing both goofy and tender moments, Murguia's cartoon illustrations depict the cozy comfort of civilization and the untamed beauty of the woods. Editorial comments in big black arrows and occasional "wagometers" indicating Thunder's state of mind ramp up the humor. Each chapter concludes with "Pack Manners" interludes--brief comics with hilariously spot-on examples of typical canine behaviors--and backmatter further examines the origins, physiology, and habits of the modern dog.
A thoughtful, ambitious adventure for aspiring animal behaviorists. (author's note, additional reading) (Graphic fiction. 6-10)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Murguia, Bethanie Deeney: WAGNIFICENT." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A797463138/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8722c09d. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.