Animal Rescue Friends: Friends

Bell, Maddie, Noah, and the rest of the gang are back in Book 2 of the Animal Rescue Friends graphic novel series—and they’re about to meet a whole new crew of furry pals in need of a little TLC!

It’s the start of a new school year, and the kids are excited about their new club, Oakville Elementary School’s Club for Animal Appreciation, Education, and Rehabilitation—even if their new club advisor, Mrs. Wen, doesn’t share their enthusiasm. But as they meet a decidedly unusual crew of animals, including a bearded dragon who won’t eat, a therapy pig named Truffles, and a prickly porcupine who needs first aid, the kids and adults alike learn that when people help animals, the animals help them right back.

Filled with charming artwork, lovable animals, and positive messages, Friends Fur-ever is an inspiring, uplifting story that encourages empathy, kindness, and a lifelong appreciation for animal care.

Why young readers love Animal Rescue Friends:

• Positive, uplifting graphic novel stories centered on rescuing and caring for animals
• Relatable kid characters who learn, grow, and solve problems together
• Themes of friendship, compassion, responsibility, and teamwork
• Engaging visual storytelling that helps build reading confidence
• Accessible for independent and reluctant readers in grades 2–5

Give young readers a story that celebrates compassion, friendship, and the joy of helping others… one paw, hoof, or quill at a time.

Jana Tropper, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a writer, presenter, and speech-language pathologist at a public elementary school outside Chicago. When she's not writing, reading, or playing video games, she enjoys visiting schools and has presented as both an educator and author at several events including C2E2, LITapalooza, New York Comic Con, and San Diego Comic Con. She lives with her husband, Josh, and their own three rescue dogs: Ripley, Newt, and Sandy Lambert.

Genevieve Kote is an illustrator from a small town in Quebec who now lives in Montreal. Her work has appeared in parenting and lifestyle magazines, kids’ magazines, newspapers, chapter books, educational manuals, and video games. She is the illustrator of According to Aggie—a comic that appears in every issue of American Girl magazine. She is inspired by vintage children’s books, Manga, animation, and screen-printing. She shares her studio with a sweet but tired-looking cat.

Axelle Lenoir is a French-Canadian comic book artist born in the tiny gap between Gen X and Millennials. She has published a dozen books in Canada and Europe, including Camp Spirit and What If We Were, her first English-language books. She's currently working on a weird autobiography titled Secret Passages. Axelle's writing style is a mix of humor, everyday life situations, fantasy, and comic strips.