On the Islands of Pawdor monsters haven't been a problem for years, but that could be changing.Kitties Perigold and Woolfrik are just starting out as monster hunters, and things are kind of slow. A little old lady's monster-in-the-cellar problem seems a perfect first quest, however-her house is pretty creepy and full of some questionable objects. They venture into her dark cellar, but, alas, the monster turns out to be a faulty pipe. They fix it, and she insists on paying for the service with a giant pink gem. At the broccito stand (a portmanteau for a broccoli-filled burrito) they not only find out the gem is worthless, but they accidentally step on a broccito belonging to the evil, mustachioed kitty Dagzobad. When Perigold tosses the useless gem away, a tower abruptly sprouts from it, bonking Dagzobad's pet monster in the kisser. Then the ghost of Earl Mortimore rises to tell them the history of Kitquaroo, an ancient kitty monster slayer. It seems their adventures are just beginning; can they revive the Guild of Kitquaroo? (And is it really necessary?) Corbett's graphic-novel debut, a series opener, will entertain fans of Dog Man and Zita the Spacegirl. Bright cartoon panels full of slapstick and sarcasm (with a soupçon of gross) zip across the pages like stills from the best Saturday-morning cartoons.An adventure in giggles for feline fantasy aficionados. (Graphic fantasy. 5-10)

Gr 2-5 Business is slow for Woolfrik and Perigold, anthropomorphic cats who hunt monsters in the mostly monsterless town of Meowminster, part of the Islands of Pawdor. But that changes when a customer pays the pair with a strange jewel, which falls into the town's slime pond. A tower magically sprouts, and a ghost named Earl Mortimore appears and tells them about the Guild of Kitquaroo, a group of wizards and warriors who safeguarded Pawdor many years ago. Because the guild was so successful, its home base, the Tower of Kitquaroo, was sealed into a jewel, along with Earl, to be unleashed if help was ever needed in the future. With the opportunity to fight evil, Woolfrik and Perigold relaunch the Guild of Kitquaroo, now known as Kitty Quest, and requests for help start pouring inthere will surely be future series installments. The book's cover is sure to entice graphic novel fans, and the funny, fast-paced tale within will not disappoint. The humor, bold colors, and easy-to-follow panels will delight readers. Younger readers may be challenged by some of the vocabulary, but the illustrations adeptly add context; likewise, there's plenty that will appeal to those on the older age of the range. VERDICT Fans of Dav Pilkey and Lincoln Peirce's "Max and the Midknights" will clamor for this series starter. Ellen Conlin, Naperville P.L., IL