Gr 3–6— Dr. Baer revels in keeping relics with mystic or monstrous capabilities in the confines of his home. When two bumbling adventurers accidentally release all his artifacts into the wild, it's up to Dr. Baer to save the day, and more importantly, to finally help the creatures that he was unintentionally imprisoning. With this graphic novel, Drozd pulls off a magic trick not seen since Jeff Smith's "Bone" series, as both are filled with rich lore yet remain accessible to young readers. The book is terrifying at times but kid-friendly overall, modern and topical yet timeless, deeply moving and impactful while also lighthearted. The artwork feels just as iconic and enduring. Vivid detail makes the grotesque monsters come to the life, while a watered-down color palette makes the creatures vulnerable, matching the tone of the piece. VERDICT Magical and fresh, this is easily one of the best graphic novels of the year. — Peter Blenski

Ursine occult scholar Doctor Baer lives in gloomy seclusion with his many wards, demonic creatures who are under his stewardshipWhen dastardly sorcerer Gallus Lugubrious attempts to steal Baer's precious Stone Guardian statue and it shatters, he must team up with kindhearted Pickles (a pig) and cynical Taft (a giant tortoise) to retrieve the pieces. The uptight little brown bear, who wears a blue suit and an impassive expression, has never had reason to venture beyond his front door. He faces a steep learning curve that includes encounters with a cavalcade of supernatural horrors, strange adventurers, and a talking magic staff. But the demons have secrets relating to past traumas, and as the group makes their way through unforgiving natural landscapes, Baer begins to learn how a listening ear can heal. The phantasmagorical trip takes readers to a lost city in the jungle, across snowy peaks, and to the bottom of the sea, all rendered in luscious detail. This is a story built on lore and one that's well suited to the graphic format. While the breathless backstory details can be overwhelming, the care taken in portraying the environment and Drozd's magnificent command of layout balance it out. Drozd clearly draws on a tradition of older fantasy adventure comics in a way that's too rarely seen today. The energetic action sequences make good use of the dynamism inherent in scenes of anthropomorphized animals using complicated magic.A creative odyssey. (excerpts from Doctor Baer's files, map)(Graphic fantasy. 8-12)