Supa Nova by Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow, 160 pages, grades 2-5). Inspired by her scientist parents, Nova has created a secret lab that she accesses through her bedroom. After learning about islands of plastic trash floating in the ocean, Nova sets out to create a plastic-eating creature. The key to success turns out to be her teenage sister’s discarded wad of gum, and before long Nova has made an adorable pink monster named Chomp. Unfortunately, Chomp has a voracious appetite for plastic and an unfortunate propensity to grow quickly when he eats. Soon he’s threatening to consume the entire town, and Nova has to act quickly–and to reluctantly call on her sister for help. The two of them find an ingenious solution, shrinking Chomp to a more manageable size and convincing the adults to find a home for him on one of those plastic islands. Includes an author’s note on the science behind the story, some drawing tips, and a preview of the next Nova book.

This cute story is a quick read and would be a good point of entry for beginning readers to try out a full-length graphic novel. Nova’s larger-than-life adventures bring to mind TV cartoons, with the science occasionally feeling a bit like a magic trick, but she’s a spunky and resourceful protagonist who serves as a good role model for girls (and boys) who are interested in science.

Sidekicks: Thick as Thieves by Dan Santat (Graphix, 208 pages, grades 3-7). I’m a little confused about this series: a book called Sidekicks by Dan Santat was published in 2011, but it looks like it was reissued as book 1 in a series last year. Book 2 is due to be released in the first week of 2026. When Scholastic offered to send me both books, I readily agreed, read both of them, and feel pretty sure this will be a hit series. The sidekicks are the pets of aging superhero Harry Blake, aka Captain Amazing. Each one has a superpower, but also a flaw or two, and part of the fun is watching both the people and the animals mess up.

In book 2, Harry and his older sister head off for a crochet convention as part of Harry’s attempt at retirement. While they’re away, chameleon Shifty’s older brother Whipley shows up. The two brothers were close at one point, but now the other pets–Manny the cat, Roscoe the dog, and Fluffy the hamster–are suspicious of Whipley’s intentions. Is he really there to reconnect with Shifty, or is he a spy working to bring down Captain Amazing? When Shifty leaves with Whipley, the other sidekicks go after him, and they wind up in an epic showdown right in the middle of the crochet convention. The good guys win for now, but readers are encouraged to stay tuned for two more upcoming installments. The fast-paced plot, constant humor, and Dan Santat’s incredible artwork will definitely appeal to fans of Dog Man and Bad Guys.