Wagnificent: The Adventures of Thunder and Sage

Wagnificent #1

by Bethanie Deeney Murguia

Discover a new young graphic novel series full of humor and heart about a lovable dog, her favorite human, and their pawsome pack in this unforgettable friendship story perfect for fans of PAWCASSO and ANIMAL RESCUE FRIENDS.

Thunder the dog likes to take naps by the sunny window, sniff around for hidden treats, play fetch, and get cuddles from her favorite human, Sage.

Though Thunder wants to be good for Sage, she’s having a ruff time stopping herself from doing things she knows are wrong – like barking, digging, and chasing suspicious furballs around the yard. She’s shocked when her inner Wolf appears one day and reveals the truth behind these irresistible impulses. It’s all because dogs are really wolves! (That is, they’re descended from them.) The big question Will Thunder choose to be a loyal pet to Sage, or embrace the wild animal within?

For fans of PAWS and KATIE THE CATSITTER, and anyone who has ever pondered the secret life of their cherished four-legged sidekick, meet Thunder and Sage ―and get ready to feel ALL THE WAGS!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Animals, Dogs, Comics, Fiction, Childrens

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2024

About the author

Bethanie Deeney Murguia earned an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts. Bethanie lives with her human family and three dogs in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has created numerous picture books and the WAGNIFICENT early middle grade graphic novel series. She is curently working on a middle-grade graphic novel for Candlewick Press.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. I think that it’ll be perfect for younger readers who are into non-fiction especially books about dogs. The graphic novel itself is a fictionalized account of a dog named Thunder and her relationship with the her favorite human Sage; however, it heavily centers the origins of dogs and their relationship to wolves. Thunder is trying to balance her connection to wolves while also attempting to maintain a healthy relationship as a dog with Sage. Personally, while I loved the art, the pacing felt off and the story lacked the robustness that I typically expect out of graphic novels. I would also recommend this for the younger end of middle grade readers.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dedication for all canines, past and present - you make the world wagnificent
Wag o meter = all the wags Sage coming home from school to play
Worry wind =fart
Sage wants to attract magical creatures, thunder is dealing with an inner wolf telling her to embrace inner wolfitude
More inFURmation at end with additional reading
Are dogs magical?
Photo of author’s dogs, one named thunder

[Thea Flickema · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wolf in it was pathetic but the love of thunder and sage will never end




I loved it and I loved the wagometer.

When thunder is happy or excited the wagometer goes to
all the wags and when thunder is sad or scared it goes to no wags.😭😻

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming story about a dog. I liked the supplemental info on wolves.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
This was a super cute start to a graphic novel series for early readers about the companionship of having a dog.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond adorable. Thunder is my dog too.

[Rainbow Bookie Monster · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wagnificent" by Bethanie Deeney Murguia is a heartwarming and delightful picture book that captures the essence of friendship, loyalty, and the joy of canine companionship. With whimsical illustrations and a charming narrative, Murguia brings to life a tale that will resonate with both children and adults alike.

The story revolves around an endearing dog named Wags who embarks on a spirited adventure through a bustling city. From the moment Wags sets paw on the pavement, readers are treated to a visual feast of vibrant scenes and playful encounters. Murguia's illustrations are not only visually captivating but also convey a sense of energy and enthusiasm that mirrors the boundless spirit of our furry protagonist.

What makes "Wagnificent" truly special is its ability to convey meaningful messages through a simple and accessible storyline. The importance of kindness, curiosity, and the joy of making new friends is beautifully woven into the fabric of the narrative. Wags becomes a lovable guide, encouraging readers to embrace the world around them and appreciate the little moments that make life wagnificent.

Murguia's writing is both engaging and poetic, making it a joy to read aloud. The rhythmic cadence of the text enhances the storytelling experience, making it an ideal choice for bedtime or classroom reading sessions. The author's choice of language and playful wordplay adds an extra layer of charm, making "Wagnificent" a story that lingers in the hearts of its readers.

As a celebration of the special bond between humans and their furry friends, "Wagnificent" succeeds admirably. It's a book that not only entertains but also imparts valuable lessons about friendship, acceptance, and the beauty of embracing life with an open heart. Bethanie Deeney Murguia has created a truly wagnificent tale that will undoubtedly wag its way into the hearts of readers of all ages.

Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Thunder, an exuberant young dog, knows that Sage is her pack. There's plenty of food, "treasures" (toys), and love in their household, and Thunder is usually obedient, since she loves to hang out with Sage. When Sage puts her in a wizard's robe and then gets distracted by making a phone call to get another "magical" robe which will be useful in hunting magical creatures like unicorns, Thunder is uncomfortable. Her inner wolf, in the guise of a gray wolf who talks to her, convinces her that she should embrace her innate wildness and rip the robe up. Sage is heartbroken, and Thunder feels bad. This "inner wolf" shows Thunder how to do any number of things that humans tend not to like; barking, chasing squirrels, and digging past a fence to run in the wild. While Sage is irritated by Thunder's behavior, when the dog is missing, Sage takes off into a nearby woods to look for her. Real wolves corner Sage, and of course Thunder comes to the rescue. Thunder learns that it's important to quiet her inner wolf to exist with her pack, and Sage realizes "you're my magical creature".
Strengths: There are not that many realistic graphic novels that cover dogs, and Thunder was a great character. I enjoyed the information at the end about how dogs coevolved with humans, and the fact that the work of the great canine scientist Alexandra Horowitz is cited. Young dogs need a lot of training, and this could help children understand why they need to connect with their dogs, take them on walks, and introduce them to the rules of the pack. The use of Thunder's "inner wolf" is clever, and seeing the wolf talking to Thunder is amusing, but also makes the reasons for Thunder's behavior very clear.
Weaknesses: This will be most successful for elementary school readers; Sage's interest in the magical robe and finding magical creatures will not resonate with 6th graders, who no longer believe as much in that sort of magic. This would be great in second or third grade, and for older elementary students who still like to role play Hunter's Warriors storylines.
What I really think: This is a good choice for younger readers who enjoyed Lai's Pawcasso or
Fairbairn and Assarasakorn's Paws books, or Ball's Clifford the Big Red Dog: The Movie (Graphic Novel)

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sage and Thunder are the best of pals. Thunder loves making Sage happy. But then a wolf shows up that only Thunder can see. The wolf tells Thunder he should be more wolf-like, and tempts him to let his wolfish tendencies out to be more true to his ancestry. But being wolf-like doesn't make Sage happy. Can Sage figure out who he wants to be?

I don't think I've ever read a book before in which the dog has an identity crisis between its wild side and domesticated side, but that's totally what this is. It certainly isn't what I expected of it. I really don't know how kids will react to this story. It felt a bit quirky and likely to just a have a small fan base of dedicated dog lovers.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Some objects damaged in Thunder's wildness, but no violence.
Ethnic diversity: Sage appears to have an olive skin tone and could be from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Thunder does things he knows are disobedient to Sage, but then apologizes as a dog would.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my 9-year-old son to receive some true youthful feedback. He loves graphic novels, and this one was right up his alley. He sat down and read it all in one sitting, then talked my ear off about the storyline.

Thunder the dog gets in touch with his “inner wolf”, but then gets in trouble playing inside the house and runs away from home, much to her human Sage’s dismay. Sage sets out on an adventure to find her best doggy friend.

The “wagometer” appears through the book, ranking Thunder’s feelings from No Wags to ALL THE WAGS. It’s easy to read along and feel your wagometer grow stronger as you hope the best for Thunder and Sage.

The author’s illustrations were just as appealing as the storyline, and as an adult, I enjoyed the extra “inFURmation” about the history of wolf and dog evolution. Dog lovers and kids should check out this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC review copy.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love dogs and especially if you’ve ever had one, you gotta read this sweet book! Let me be clear that no dogs are harmed in this book before I go further. It is a cute book about the relationship between Thunder, a wagnificent pup, and his owner, Sage. Told from Thunder’s point of view, we get to hear all about how he feels. He’s living his best life until one day he gets into trouble with Sage. He accidentally “dials” his inner wolf—and Mr. Wolf can be quite persuasive in telling dogs what to do. After all, much of their DNA comes from wolves. Thunder wonders if embracing his inner wolf will cause a rift between him and Sage. He’s not sure he wants to be Mr. Wolf’s “pal.” Will Thunder find the courage to stand up for himself? Will his inner wolf take over? Find out!

Bonus: There are so many amazing facts about dogs and humans in this book. Can’t wait for book 2.

Mia’s Year of Books: Day 211.

Mia liked this one, I think. We played a lot of ball while reading it.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sage loves all things enchanted while her dog Thunder doesn’t. Sage doesn’t like the cape and hat that Sage dressed him up in, in fact he believes it’s all wrong. While Sage is diving into her fantasy obsession, Thunder’s inner self materializes.

Thunder knows he’s a dog but who were his past ancestors? Discovering that wolves were his descendants, Thunder is told by his inner self to embrace this new knowledge and to gain strength and power from it. No longer is Thunder the easy-go-lucky dog, he now has his own thoughts and ideas.

Sage’s energy and spirit fill the pages, as she tries to entertain herself and her dog Thunder while Thunder’s inner wolf spirit is pushing back. Thunder needs to find a balance with the person who loves him the most. With cute illustrations that help retell the story, I think this book is geared more towards the younger elementary readers. 4 stars

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple and interesting story of a dog who hallucinates a wolf guiding him to be the original form that he was, due to the fact that all dogs came from wolves at one point in time. Sage, the dog’s owner, is a young girl probably around 9-10 years old who seeks to find magical creatures outside (in this story, there aren’t actually magical creatures but just part of children play) and what’s interesting about what she said was that through the constant seeking of finding magical creatures, she soon realizes that she already had a magical creature, which is her dog. I find it sweet that Sage would describe the dog as a creature of beauty and wonder. Overall, it was a cute book to read with a little bit of adventure, and other than the hallucination part with the wolf… I would say it’s ok for children to read.

Thank you to NetGallery for providing me a digital copy in advance!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Readers meet Thunder as he narrates his story with his "no tail" Sage. Thunder obviously loves his pack but sometimes needs to be a little wilder than preferred. Sage is obsessed with finding a magical creature and isn't always sensitive to Thunder's needs. This leads to an invisible wolf appearing to lure Thunder to his ancient wild life. The author slips in facts about dogs' history as the story unfolds. When Thunder runs away after being punished with a time out, he and the wolf head for the woods. Sage follows and Thunder has to protect her. Readers learn that dogs have to balance all parts of themselves just as humans do. I appreciate the informative text included at the end of the book. This is listed as book one so looking forward to more adventures with Thunder and Sage.

[Brittani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This clever graphic novel is about the relationship between Sage and her furry best friend, Thunder. The story has so many creative elements including the wag-o-meter, pack manner charts, his worry “wind” and his alter ego of the wolf. This playful story uses this “alter-ego” to teach us that dog’s natural behaviors are derived from wolves.

Sage takes Thunder on her adventures to check the mail, play fetch, and the main goal of making a magical cape to ultimately start unicorn tracking. But after listening to his wolf alter-ego he has other plans and she must change course to be reunited with Thunder.

Thank you NetGalley & McMillian Children’s for this ARC. Be sure to grab your copy releasing on 7.22.24!

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS GRAPHIC NOVEL! (Sorry, not sorry for shouting it at you!). I actually learned something about dogs from this graphic novel and I am here for it! Did you know that the reason dogs circle before laying down is because they are checking their sleeping area for dangers (like snakes) before setting down to sleep? Oh, you did know that? Well, did you know that domesticated dogs have muscles in their foreheads that were an evolutionary adaptation as they were domesticated? Wolves do not have muscles in their foreheads. Super interesting, right? If you want to know more interesting facts about your canine friends, you need this graphic novel!

What I loved most:
The obvious bond between Sage and Thunder
Thunder's efforts to be good despite natural instincts
Natural instincts manifested as an inner wolf
The awesome facts at the end

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this graphic novel and can't wait to share it with kids! It's the charming story of a girl Sage and her pup Thunder. They have an amazing relationship until an imaginary wolf starts trying to convince Thunder to be more wolflike (destroying things, howling, running away). Thunder isn't so sure that he wants to be wolfy because he is happy being a dog in Sage's family. There are great themes in this book, and it was fun to read as an adult, too! I loved the ways in which the author shared more about how dogs have evolved into wolves through an engaging story! I highly recommend this one!

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Wagnificent by Bethanie Deeney Murguia.

This book did not disappoint, I enjoyed the story and the graphics. The author does a great job describing mannerisms of a dog. Thunder, Thunderpants, or Thunderpaws is such a cute and loyal dog. I too have many names for my dog Moose. I love dogs. I really enjoyed the facts at the end of book. Ever wonder why your dog does circles before laying down?? The author will tell you.

I will definitely buy this book for our Juvenile section at the library. Thanks!

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

As an adult, I think it is fun to occasionally review children's books (particularly dog-related ones).

I love when I can give a positive review, and I am happy to add my two cents by saying that Wagnificent is MAGNIFICENT!

Awesome and fun drawings bring this book to life for children, while quality writing makes the text (and the message) Easy to understand.

5 stars for this awesome book, dear readers, as there is nothing about this book I would change.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the author's artwork is topnotch, I found the story to be rather . . . blah.

Poor Thunder, who's honestly content to do regular old dog things, is constantly being tempted to be wilder by an imaginary wolf. This gets her in trouble with her human, Sage. That's the gist of things, and every chapter is nearly the same. I was kind of bored.

The reading level seems closer to middle-grade, though the story itself is slanted to younger readers. Perhaps the kids will find this one to be less predictable than I did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for the read.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not my cup of tea. I'm giving it two stars because the artwork is very nice, but the story is just...odd. The whole magic coat / random wolf / finding your inner wolf dialogue just did not flow well and felt forced and contrived. There was nothing that I felt was inappropriate, per se, but it's not one I'll be adding to our library.

I was allowed to read an ARC through NetGalley of this book, and all opinions are entirely my own.

[Sierra| HooksxBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute book from the perspective of a dog.

I enjoyed the simplicity of Thunder’s inner dialogue, the depictions and the scenarios that created unintentional chaos for sage.

This book kept both my 12 year old & toddler entertained.

we learned a lot from the “pack manners” between each chapter. A beautiful book about friendship.


I volunteered to read this ARC through NetGalley

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group through NetGalley.
What a delightful story! Sage and Thunder are their own pack, and it shows, even when the wolf shows up to teach Thunder a thing or two. It's great to see the range of emotions as they deal with issues - just like any home with a dog in it! The art was adorable and fit the story well. This is a great graphic novel for dog lovers and younger readers.

[Amanda Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a dog LOVER. In spite of all of the trouble they cause, I can't imagine my life without dogs in it. My sweet boy, Hershey, is a big, difficult, messy, noisy chocolate lab. But he loves me. And he will get between me and any kind of perceived danger without a second's hesitation. I love him so much. He is my Thunder. So it will not surprise anybody that I also love this book. So much. I want to shove it in the face of every person I come in contact with.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a dog who looks a little like scooby doo, we are able to finally understand what goes through the K9 mind! Thunder and his human go through different trials and tribulations on the quest to be a good dog that descended from wolves into the wagnificent creature that he is. Follow the two on their journey to get back home and be the good doggo that thunder thinks he is.

[Sophy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story that takes place from the dog's point of view. His master puts him into clothing which makes him feel trapped which makes him start talking to a wolf who teaches him how to be a wolf which gets him into a lot of trouble. In the end the dog finds that he is fine just being a dog and that he would do anything for his little girl who is a part of his pack.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I really liked it)

So I don't really like dogs but I did like this story because I really liked how the author showed the girl and the dog's points of view side by side. The book talks a lot about how dogs are closely related to wolves and the dog even has to deal with his inner wolf trying to make him leave the girl.

[Katie L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book about belong to your own pack. The graphics in this book were fantastic and I loved how Thunder battled with his inner Wolf while deciding what was right and what was wrong. This is on a younger level but could also be a good graphic novel for an upper elementary student who reads on a lower level.

[Corian Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel was such a fast read. I like that it was told from the perspective of the dog and how younger readers could learn about similarities between wolves and dogs. It was strange to me that there were no parents or family members in the book, but it really only focused on Thunder and Sage.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute!!! I loved the message and the adorable lovable characters. The doggy was so cute it made me want a dog of my own and I’m a cat person! I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves animals and needs a cute little pick me up.