Mimi's day begins like any other, only today she has woken up with a case of the blahs. Things she normally enjoys have become overshadowed by a feeling of grumpiness that is preventing her from finding joy in her day. Young Mimi, along with her magical dog, Penelope, seeks the help of some of her closest friends in order to ignite the spark of happiness within herself. Along the way, she finds that happiness is brought about by different things for different people and ultimately learns that the best way to deal with her emotions is to face them. This second installment in Grant's early reader comics series starring Mimi offers helpful guidance on how to navigate big emotions in a little body. The playful, bubbly artwork in pastel colors works in perfect unison with the kid-friendly story, which features lots of imaginative play and adorable creatures. Hand this gentle and fun SEL-focused comic to kids who like Mai K. Nguyen's Pilu of the Woods (2019).

Gr 1--3--In this sequel to Mimi and the Cutie Catastrophe, Mimi wakes up one morning to discover she has a growing case of the Blahs. With her magical toy dog Penelope by her side, Mimi explores different ways that people improve their mood, with thanks to her friends Mateo, Nina, Katie, and Sadie. As her case of Blahs gets bigger and bigger, Mimi learns a valuable lesson about facing her feelings. Overall, this adorable graphic chapter book is an easy-to-follow tale that tackles relatable emotions. The pastel, manga-influenced artwork, especially the imagination sequences and the lumpy blue Blah blob, keeps the narrative tone light even when Mimi feels incredibly blah. Characters are depicted with brown and black skin as well as different hairstyles; one character wears glasses. VERDICT The opposite of blah! New series readers as well as fans of the first Mimi volume will definitely be happy with this adorable graphic novel.