Mellybean and the Giant Monster

Melly loves to play games. All her feline friends want to do, though, is take a nap. So when she doesn't leave them alone, the cats trick her into burying a shoe in the backyard. But the small prank turns into a big problem when Melly falls down the hole . . . and is magically transports her to another world!

Melly lands smack-dab in the middle of a scuffle between a group of knights and a huge monster. But Melly soon befriends the grumpy giant, learning he isn't as scary as he seems. He's being hunted by a greedy king. One who has also been stealing from his people and locking them up in the dungeons. So although Melly is desperate to find a way back home to Mama and Papa (her human owners), she makes it her mission to help her new friend and the kingdom. But how could someone so tiny defeat such a powerful king? It may just take a game that only Melly can win. (From Razorbill)

Mellybean and the Giant Monsteris a finalist forthe 2022Silver Birch ExpressAward, which celebrates fiction books for readers in Grades 3-4.

Mike White is a Canadian Americanauthor,illustrator and animator living in San Francisco.Mellybean and the Giant Monsteris part of the Mellybean graphic novel series, whichalso includesMellybean and the Wicked Wizard.

• Here are the 2022 Silver Birch Express Award finalists