Join a hot dog named Dog and a chicken nugget named Nugget in this Level 2 Ready-to-Read Graphics book about kindness, the first in a new series by Jason Tharp! Nugget is a chicken nugget. Dog is a hot dog. They are friends, and they like ketchup. Their town of Gastropolis is a peaceful place...until a spicy mustard packet named Dijon Mustard tries to make everyone grumpy. Nugget and Dog want to help, so they start a K.E.T.C.H.U.P. club, standing for Kind, Empathetic, Thoughtful, Courageous, Helpful, Unique, and Powerful. Can Nugget and Dog save the day with ketchup and kindness? Find out in this book that’s full of silly jokes, funny scenes, a misunderstood monster, and sweetness, too. Ready-to-Read Graphics books give readers the perfect introduction to the graphic novel format with easy-to-follow panels, speech bubbles with accessible vocabulary, and sequential storytelling that is spot-on for beginning readers. There’s even a how-to guide for reading graphic novels at the beginning of each book. K-Gr 3—A graphic novel for the youngest of readers, this high-energy, playful friendship story stars an anthropomorphic hot dog and chicken nugget, along with a cast of other comical culinary characters. Nugget and Dog, best friends since preschool, discover a box of memorabilia from the days that Great Grandpa Frank Furter was a member of the K.E.T.C.H.U.P. Crusaders, a group that anyone could join to help create a more positive world (K stands for kindness, E for empathy, etc.). Nugget and Dog decide to continue the tradition and begin promoting the Crusader way of life. Meanwhile, Dijon Mustard (who turned evil after he didn't get the kids meal prize he wanted) plans to stop the Crusaders with G.R.U.M.P.S—Giant Real Ugly Monsters with Perfect Scowls. When his first monster, Stomps, begins destroying Gastropolis, it is time for Nugget and Dog to put K.E.T.C.H.U.P. to the test and save the day. The book gently introduces young readers to the comic format, with each page containing four or fewer colorful panels featuring expressive characters. An opening section explains basic comic elements such as the difference between text boxes, speech bubbles, and thought clouds. VERDICT A great introduction to comics for beginning readers.—Amanda Melilli, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas A punny good-versus-evil story populated by fast foods kicks off a graphic-novel series for chapter-book readers. . . . A dastardly villain, a dash of humor, and a dollop of K.E.T.C.H.U.P. combine to model positive social skills. -- Kirkus Reviews ― May 2021 This high-energy, playful friendship story . . . gently introduces young readers to the comic format, with each page containing four or fewer colorful panels featuring expressive characters. . . . A great introduction to comics for beginning readers. -- School Library Journal ― July 2021 Jason Tharp has dreamed of being an author and inventing crazy creatures since he was a kid. Being an obsessive daydreamer and doodler has led him to create many licensed properties, write books, and design clothing and various other products. Jason’s story proves that with hard work, determination, and a sprinkle of magic, anything is possible. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his super-awesome wife and kids, plus one extremely fat kitty.