Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Mulrox and the Malcognitos by Kerelyn Smith is a fun read for all ages that's funny, charming, and an all-around delight. Mulrox is an ogre with a big dream. He would do anything to become a poet, but so far, all of his ideas have lacked one thing to make this dream come true. They aren't good. His day takes a drastic turn and gives an ominous warning that things will be getting weird. The next thing he knows, his bad ideas literally show up in a hoard of beings called Malcognitos, ready to assist him in his attempt to stop a dangerous beast threatening their existence. Mulrox, his neighbor, and his pet toad follow the Malcognitos into their world where he confronts a dangerous beast and may even find the inspiration for a good idea.

Kerelyn Smith shines with this children's adventure that takes a young ogre in total despair with a really big problem: his poetry isn't good. This is the root of all his problems while also delivering delightful humor through his striving to write better and to create something good. Smith twists the perspective of ogres, which are typically seen as loud and aggressive creatures, into a quirky community and a young ogre with a poet's soul. The story brings to life a love of language and words which Smith weaves throughout using a creative and specific selection of words while introducing several made-up words that work together to create a fun vocabulary that children will enjoy. Mulrox strives to create the perfect poem and enjoys words like flabbergasted, omnibus, and blubbering. Various characters are important within his journey with his two greatest allies being Geraldine, his pet toad, and his neighbor Yahgurkin. Smith delivers a unique and delightful read that highlights the joys of words, the importance of never throwing away ideas, and twists the concept of ogres to make for a humorous and highly entertaining read in Mulrox and the Malcognitos.