Clever graphic novel about the relationship between a 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 & McMillians Children for this ARC. Be sure to grab your copy releasing on 7.22.24!

This was lovely! Quicker than I anticipated, but a sweet story about deciding who you will be despite what others say you should be, through the perspective of a dog.

This was super cute and a fun read for any dog lover. Thunder listening to his inner wolf gets him in a bit of trouble. I would love to see a continuation of this and Thunders antics.

Thunder, the lovable dog, enjoys the simple joys in life, like napping by the sunny window and playing fetch with her favorite human, Sage. But Thunder faces a ruff decision when her inner Wolf emerges, revealing the wild side within. Will she stay a loyal pet to Sage, or embrace her ancestral roots? Filled with humor, heart, and delightful illustrations, this graphic novel is perfect for anyone who’s ever wondered about the secret life of their furry friend. Prepare for ALL THE WAGS!

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!

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.

Has your child read Animal Rescue Friends and loved it? then get them this book! They will be equally hooked and will enjoy every page of it!
It is fun, it is nice, it is sweet, there is friendship, there are animals, there is love, there is care, there is – you know, there is everything. The book is absolutely perfect for anyone who loves pets and graphic novels. The drawings are perfect. The story is great.

Wagnificent is the story of Thunder, a wonderfully happy dog who loves her human Sage dearly. One day a Wolf only she can see appears and tries to get her to connect to her more wolf like roots. Thunder goes through many ups and downs through this process and her human Sage goes along with her as she discovers things about herself. This is a lovely story about being yourself and a true love letter to the pets in our lives. I look forward to hopefully seeing more of their adventures!

This was such an adorable read about a dog named Thunder. Thunder encounters his wolf ancestor and starts acting out, which confuses his owner, Sage. Thunder learns a lot about wolves and dogs and his love for Sage grows.

The color palate and story was so fun and easy to read. I loved the facts about wolves and dogs at the end. It was brief but very informative.

This review is by my 10yo son, he read the book. The following are his words.. "Maybe a couple more words on the pages would be more exciting, and interesting. I liked the story. I liked the characters and how the dogs talked. I like the Wagometer. I love the art. I like the way they drew what the dog smells."

This is the cutest book about a dog reckoning with its inner wolf. I just love the connection between Sage and Thunder. Sometimes it is so hard for a human to always remember that dogs are naturally descendants from wild creatures, therefore sometimes their actions are going to be outside those we know we have trained and worked with them on. Thunder is just such a sweet boy and his wagometer is precious. Such a great way to show his emotions in any given instant. Readers of all ages are going to love this book. The artwork is fun, and colorful. And so are the characters.
Thank you so very much to MacMillians Children’s Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

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.

I read this charming book aloud to my children, and they thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was captivating, and the illustrations were cute and well-done. It's an elementary graphic novel that my oldest child, who is six years old, could read and understand. The book elicited a few laughs from my boys. Wagnificent is an excellent fit for the up-and-coming genre of graphic novels for young readers. I found the end-of-chapter informational pages distracting, but enjoyed the end-of-book facts. Overall, this was an entertaining book that my children enjoyed.

This is a cute story of a girl and her dog, as told from the dog’s point of view. He wants to make Sage, his pack leader happy, but his inner voice, that of his ancestor the wolf, keeps telling him to do other things. All Sage wants to do is meet magical creatures in the woods.
It is a cute quick read. Thunder is often confused as to what Sage really wants, but he follows along as best he can.
I did like how realistic this was, well as realistic as you can be when you can hear the dog’s thoughts. Perhaps I should say how realistic the way Thunder thought, and felt.
Cute story. Enjoyable to read. I think kids who have dogs will relate to the relationship between Sage and Thunder.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 23rd of July 2024.

Thank you to @NetGalley for this ARC. This was the sweetest graphic novel. Thunder was so cute trying to understand how to be true to his ancestors but also to the love of his human. This is going to be a hit in my elementary school Library. Loved it.

heartwarming & wholesome graphic novel about the dynamics between a house dog and its owner. really love the eye pleasing illustration.

I am glad this will be a series because we need more adventures with these characters. Great story. This book will be a hit with graphic novel and animal lovers.

This is a really cute graphic novel from the point of view of the dog. And how he has to decide to follow his inner wolf or be there for Sage.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Wagnificent The Adventures of Thunder and Sage is a delightful story about a girl and her devoted canine companion, Thunder. Thunder loves her “pack’s” routines: treats, cuddles, food, sniffing, and scratching. One day, Sage receives a robe that she believes is enchanted and will help her find a magical creature. Sage dresses Thunder in the robe and Thunder absolutely hates it. Thunder’s inner wolf appears and convinces her that she was meant to roam free like the wolf she is. All of Thunder’s attempts at being a wolf backfire resulting in hilarious consequences. Can Thunder embody her inner wolf when Sage needs her most of all?

Wagnificent brilliantly depicts typical dog behaviors in humorous fashion. A page describing common dog habits precedes each chapter. I could see my dog in each frame of this graphic novel. Kids will want to borrow this book again and again. Highly recommended.

Curriculum tie ins:
Use as an intro to a science lesson on adaptation and change.
Would you rather be Thunder the dog or Thunder the wolf? Why or Why not?