About This Book
Mal and Chad: Food Fight! is a laugh-out-loud graphic novel perfect for young readers who enjoy humor and adventure. It follows Mal, a brilliant but often overlooked kid, and his loyal talking dog, Chad. When Chad's nightmares become too much, Mal invents a dream portal, but a mishap brings a 'nightmare beast' into the real world, putting Mal's crush, Megan, and her friends in danger. This story cleverly explores themes of self-confidence, belonging, and friendship, all wrapped in a fast-paced, engaging comic-strip format. It's an excellent choice for kids transitioning to chapter books, offering both entertainment and gentle lessons on overcoming fears and finding your place, reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbes or Big Nate.
When Chad begins having scary dreams, Mal builds a dream portal to defeat Chad's nightmare beast once and for all. Something goes wrong, though, and the beast follows Mal back to reality. Now Megan and her friends are in danger ... but Mal is there to come to the rescue.
Concepts
Discussion Prompts
1
What makes Mal a 'kid genius'? What kind of things would you invent if you were a genius?
2
Chad has scary dreams. Have you ever had a scary dream? What helped you feel better?
3
Mal wants Megan to notice him. Have you ever wanted someone to notice something special about you?
4
What does it mean to be a good friend, like Mal is to Chad?
5
How does Mal show bravery in this story, even when he's scared?
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