Mad About Meatloaf

Mad about Meatloaf is a junior chapter book graphic novel filled with humour and bright, animated illustrations.

Weenie the wiener dog lives with a cat named Frank and a guinea pig named Beans. They are cared for by their owner, Bob. In Mad about Meatloaf, Weenie yearns to eat a meatloaf that Bob left on the counter. Frank and Beans provide advice like a devil and angel on Weenie’s shoulders. When Weenie caves in and eats the meatloaf, Bob is less than impressed. The trio of animals take personification to a whole new level as they venture to the grocery store in hopes of replacing Bob’s meatloaf while disguised as their human owner.

Readers will enjoy discovering the hilarious dynamics between Weenie, Frank, and Beans’ friendship. The silliness of author Maureen Fergus’ cleverly written text is amplified by Alexandra Bye’s zestful illustrations. Fergus, who was inspired to write this book by her own dog who climbed onto a table and ate an entire meatloaf, has published several other books. Bye has previously worked with Cartoon Network, PBS and Cloudkid.

Overall, this appealing graphic novel is one that children will likely enjoy enough to read again and pass along or recommend to friends. Mad about Meatloaf is an excellent transition book for readers moving on from independently reading picture books to chapter books. Children may finish reading this 56-page junior chapter book in one sitting due to the comic-style ratio of illustrations to text. It is a highly recommended addition to any children’s library.