Quest Kids and the Dark Prophecy of Doug doesn’t disappoint       

An entertaining first book does not automatically ensure a series. Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold was a great book that sure looked like it had legs. Quest Kids and the Dark Prophecy of Doug is mglit that runs with fun. It’s a book that lives somewhere between the graphic novel and chapter book world that incorporates the illustrated manic fun of the former while building upon the text-based latter that kids need to know.

Quest Kids and the Dark Prophecy of Doug is also effective at bridging the two worlds of elementary and middle school. Those two area have a potentially massive chasm of differences and abilities when it comes to what they like or will engage in. When a book comes along that has the capacity to be understandable to the younger ages, while at the same time being entertaining to older readers it’s worth pointing out. That characteristic is one that makes a great all-age comic book, as well as, something that can be enjoyed equally, but for different reasons, by those of different ages.

The illustrations in Quest Kids and the Prophecy of Doug push the book along for those who are reluctant readers. The art is detailed, comedic, sometimes grand in scale and provides an additional tract for the story or jokes to do their work. There are five members in the Quest Kids and each one has their own subtle quirks that make them funny or otherwise stand out. It’s these illustrations and the very minute mannerisms that can add context and provide genuine laughs for those who pay attention.

On page 163 readers will see Gil, the wizard-in-training within the group, as he’s shrinking Boulder (a rock creature that’s with them) so that they can make a quick escape through a narrow tunnel. As he’s doing this, there’s a trickle of water coming out from the bottom of the partially blocked tunnel, just under Boulder’s legs. It’s actually drool dripping down from Boulder’s mouth because he’s been shrunken down to the size of a baby in order to squeeze through the tunnel. This fact is set up by the text and the funny aspect is driven home in the illustration when Gil is trying to confirm that the water is indeed coming from the cave. Gil’s face looks like he’s asking the question. You don’t even need to read the accompanying text to that illustration in order to laugh at the joke. His face says it all, but when you read the text it makes the quip and the illustration even funnier.

This is just one example of how the totality of Quest Kids and the Prophecy of Doug makes kids want to read more. The story moves at such a brisk, entertaining pace that those who are game to enjoy the words first will have fun. Those readers will have the art to make the book more enjoyable. If you’re looking at Prophecy of Doug as more of a graphic novel, then the art will do the heavy lifting. You’ll want to read the words because they’re presented in different sizes, fonts and the overall speed of the story, and they add to the enjoyment of the plot.

It also helps that this is a thicker-than-average book. It might come off as slightly intimidating at first for younger folk, but once those reluctant readers dig into it and realize that they can read it then their confidence will increase. That confidence can build both ways. Older readers, those in middle school that perhaps should be reading at this level but aren’t yet doing so will be dragged into the book by its enjoyment and the fact that it has a higher reading level than some of its contemporaries.

The 500-pound elephant in this case is Dog Man. A middle school student whose reading level should be higher will be shy to read books that are on their level because they’re embarrassed. While Dog Man is where they’re comfortable, it’s too easy for non-ESL students or those without a 504 in middle school.  Quest Kids and the Dark Prophecy of Doug has more reading, a more sophisticated (but not high brow) sense of humor and allows young readers to feel more intelligent while still offering up enough silliness to keep it fun.

Quest Kids and the Dark Prophecy of Doug is by Mark Leikness and is available on Union Square & Co, a subsidiary of Sterling Publishing Co, Inc.

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