BEETLE & THE CHIMERA CARNIVAL: Hang Out with Beetle in this EXCLUSIVE Minicomic

Beetle and Kat are BACK for another adventure (and yes, Penny is there too, of course!) and they’re headed to a legendary carnival that only appears every ten years.

In Beetle & the Chimera Carnival by Aliza Layne, Beetle, Kat, and Penny are looking forward to carnival night, a big festival filled with music, parades, costumes, that celebrates the arrival of the Great Dragons who live beyond the clouds, guarding powerful magic. But when the dragons never show up, Beetle and Kat know something isn’t right, and are determined to find out why. They explore the carnival grounds and discover an injured dragon in need of help, and the girls ask physician Evelyn Drake and her vampire companion, Dr. Delia Darlingtonia, for help. But the more they learn about the Chimera Carnival, the more sinister everything seems.

🌟GET TO KNOW BEETLE: Aliza Layne shares fun facts & inspo behind the Beetle series HERE!

Between Kat’s overbearing, meddling parents causing her to question herself, Beetle’s magic going haywire, and something beneath the ‘Allowstown Mall hungry for dragon magic, everything is unraveling quickly, and the girls are more entwined in everything than they ever imagined. (Oh, and did we mention there’s maybe a little something more bubbling between Beetle and Kat? 🤭)

Book cover for Beetle & the Chimera Carnival by Aliza Layne

Beetle and her friends attend a carnival full of dragons and magic, only to discover something sinister at play behind the scenes, in this delightful sequel to the Stonewall Honor–winning Beetle & the Hollowbones middle grade graphic novel.

Hidden behind the clouds, giant dragons guard the most powerful magic in the world from prying eyes. On one magical night, once every ten years, these leviathans reveal themselves to a fanfare of costumes, music, and parades in the Chimera Carnival.

But this time, something’s wrong.

When Beetle, Penny, and Kat decide to check out the empty carnival site one night, they discover an injured dragon screaming for help. And the more Beetle uncovers about the Chimera Carnival, the more sinister it gets. Dragons who arrive for the early festivities disappear without a trace. Beetle’s magic begins to go haywire. And Kat’s parents come back to town, worrying both girls about whether they have a future together.

In the catacombs beneath the demolished ’Allowstown mall, something hungers for dragon magic. And Beetle and her friends are already more entwined with it than they could possibly imagine.

Beetle & the Chimera Carnival
AUTHOR: Aliza Layne
PUBLISHER: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
DATE: April 29, 2025

There’s a helpful recap at the beginning of this story in case you’re new to Beetle’s world, but we suggest picking up Beetle & the Hollowbones because you’re going to love this unique, vibrant world filled with fascinating characters. Like the first, this story is filled with heartwarming lessons, hilarious humor, gorgeously magical illustrations that bring this dreamy fantasy world to life in the best way, and a closer look at the magic and lore of ‘Allows.

Before you dive in and explore the Chimera Carnival festivities with Beetle, Penny, and Kat, author and illustrator Aliza Layne shared an EXCLUSIVE side story starring Beetle and her Gran’Ma. Find out about foraging in the minicomic below!

Foraging Tips: Pick Berries with Beetle, Penny, & Gran’ma:

TITLE: Beetle & her Gran'Ma Do REAL Witch Stuff: Picking Berries
Exclusive minicomic featuring Beetle from Beetle & the Chimera Carnival by Aliza Layne
PANEL 1: Beetle's gran'ma wears a pointy witch hat, has green skin, fluffy gray hair. She is holding up a basket. Beetle is turned towards her, long hair flowing. Penny, a red ghost who is Beetle's best friend, floats next to her. Beetle's gran'ma's speech bubble reads "Beetle, Penny, do you kids want to go berry picking?" Beetle replies "Are these the INVASIVE berries?"
Text below the panel reads: "An INVASIVE plant is a plant from somewhere else that does damange to the ecosystem because it's not already part of the balance of plants and animals around you."
PANEL 2: From off-screen, Beetle's gran'ma says "Yup, they're wineberries, you can have as many as you want AND destroy the bushes too. Beetle is rubbing her hands together, making a mischievous face, happy at this answer. Penny floats next to her, smiling. Beetle says "HEE HEE HEE"
PANEL 3: Set in a field, there are wineberry bushes all around. Beetle's gran'ma harvests wineberries to the left, calm and smiling. Beetle is peeking out of a bush on the right with her hands thrown in the air, frowning. Penny floats next to the bush, holding a basket. Text reads: "Most people can eat berries that have drupelets: the kind of berries that look like raspberries. Berry bushes can scratch you with thorns, so be careful! Always take an adult with you if you're going to eat anything you found outside. you or your friends could be allergic and not know it."
PANEL 4: Close up of Beetle and Penny, wide-eyed and in awe. Text reads: "But foraging can be really cool as long as you know what you're doing, and it's a great way to learn about the plants and animals around you. You could be waling by something delicious all summer!"
PANEL 5: Beetles hands holding a pile of wineberries.
PANEL 6: Beetle's gran'ma shouting from off to the left side. Beetle is peeking out of a bush again, guilty, with big cheeks. Penny floats above, transparent belly filled with wineberries. Gran'ma says "You'd better not be eating those without washing them first!!" — *(Minicomic written and illustrated by Aliza Layne for YAYOMG! For a full-sized version of the comic, CLICK HERE!)*

(NOTE: Foraging is an amazing way to explore nature, but you should never do it alone. Bring an adult along and always, always make sure to have them research and double-check your harvest before you eat anything you find in the wild.)

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