Ava the Monster Slayer: Sleepover Superheroes

// 1st Place Winner of the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards in the Graphic Novel category! \\
// Winner of the 2024 Family Choice Award! \\
// Recipient of the 5-Star Review from Readers' Favorite! \\

Ava, Piggy, and their friends are back for their final adventure!

If you know Ava, you know she's a brave warrior who wears glasses—and a good friend. So when Piggy is taken from her at a school-sponsored sleepover, of course she's going to rescue him.

Piggy isn't the only best friend who has been taken, though. Ashley and Emma's stuffed animals, Uni and Raffe, have also been hidden by a group of older girls.

Having heard that the school's hallways are haunted by the ghosts of teachers and mythical creatures, the courageous trio comes up with a plan to safely sneak to the library, where their stuffies are being held.

The dress-up box—and a bit of imagination—provides them with exactly what they need to protect them and defeat any monsters they may encounter on their journey from the gym to the library.

But when they get to their destination, they're met with a challenge they weren't expecting. Will they be able to channel their inner super heroes (with their makeshift hammer, claws, and web spray) to face their fears and to rescue Piggy, Raffe, and Uni?

As usual, the Maggiore and Felten team have produced a fun, imaginative graphic novel–style picture book that that brings Ava the Monster Slayer's story to life and proves that just because she's small, wears glasses, and sleeps with a stuffed animal doesn't mean she's not brave, smart, kind, and a true warrior.

Complete the trilogy with: Ava the Monster Slayer: A Warrior Who Wears Glasses and Ava the Monster Slayer: Cousin Power.

This action/adventure story teaches children:

• Friends can do hard things together
• Self-esteem and self-confidence 
• Emotional resiliency

Lisa Maggiore writes for children and adults. She loves dancing, playing cards, and being silly with her family, which now includes two grandsons. Lisa resides in Chicago and you can learn more about her at lisamaggiore.com.

Ross Felten is a graphic designer and illustrator. He loves painting, coaching club soccer, and spending time with his family. You can view Ross's work at rossfelten.com.

Praise for Ava the Monster Slayer: Sleepover Superheroes

// Winner of the 2024 Family Choice Award! \\
// Recipient of the 5-Star Review from Readers' Favorite! \\

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading Lisa Maggiore's Ava the Monster Slayer: Sleepover Superheroes. Felten's beautiful illustrations capture the entire well-paced story in such a way that it felt like I was watching a fun and exciting cartoon with subtitles. Moreover, employing varied font styles and sizes added to the excitement. I appreciated Ava's character arc. Initially, she tries to seem cool in front of the older girls, but by the end, she faces her fears and remains unfazed by their opinions. Along the way, she and her friends overcome their fears and fight monsters. I love how the theme of friendship is highlighted throughout this work. There are more books in the Ava the Monster Slayer series, and I am looking forward to reading all of them." —Readers' Favorite, 5-star review

Praise for Ava the Monster Slayer: Cousin Power

"The tale is just a little scary, and the illustrations perfectly heighten the fear, fierceness, and love with atmospheric darkness, scary monsters, and the right amount of color to lighten things up. Ava and Sophia marshal their resources, manage their fear, and save their stuffies. Works fine as a stand-alone story." —School Library Journal

"The combination of tenderness for stuffed companions and the fierce bravery required to rescue them is fun and refreshing. . .  Light entertainment for kids who like drama." —Kirkus Reviews

"Ava is a role model for children in that she knows her worth, and allows her experience, best instincts, and available resources to guide her through challenges, and follows through on her actions. Ava the Monster Slayer: Cousin Power succeeds on many levels and would be an engaging addition to any child’s book collection." —Susan Gaspar, Windy City Reviews

Praise for Ava the Monster Slayer: A Warrior Who Wears Glasses
 

“Maggiore and Felten's treatment of this familiar story theme not only overcomes a fear of the dark but also kicks it in the head. Nicely done.”—School Library Journal
 

“A triumphant sally in the long-running war against closet and other domestic monsters, with these mildly scary monsters not slain but thoroughly routed.” —Kirkus Reviews