THE STARTUP SQUAD: ONE FOR THE DOGS: A GRAPHIC NOVEL, by Brian Weisfeld, Bonnie Bader, Nadia Hsieh, Philomel Books, Feb. 3, 2026, Paperback, $12.99 (ages 8-12)
When summer plans go awry, a girl brainstorms a new strategy in The Startup Squad: One for the Dogs, a graphic novel by Brian Weisfeld, Bonnie Bader, Nadia Hsieh.
Resa and her friends are heading to Brooklyn to spend a couple of weeks with her grandmother! They’re so excited to hang out, explore the big city, and have all sorts of adventures. But when Abuela sprains her ankle and can’t make it to the shop she runs, Resa knows she can help out–and put her business skills to use along the way!
So when two other girls come in to the store looking for doggy bandanas, an item Abuela doesn’t have in stock, Resa sees an opportunity to fill a hole in the market. She starts to brainstorm a business plan–only to find out that her new friends don’t seem all that interested in putting Resa’s good advice to use. And meanwhile, Resa’s original Startup Squad crew seem to be having a blast with her abuela–and without Resa. Will the summer of Resa’s dreams turn out to be a complete disappointment? — Synopsis provided by Philomel Books
The Startup Squad is a series from by Brian Weisfeld and Bonnie Bader. The middle-grade series features four friends who are also entrepreneurs. One for the Dogs is the first graphic novel in the series.
The story centers on Resa, whose excitement for the Brooklyn trip gets dampened when it appears her abuela seems to spend more time with her friends than with her own granddaughter.
There’s a lot to like about One for the Dogs: the adventurous trip to Brooklyn and to New York City; friends working through problems; and working through how to start a business and the obstacles that can get in the way. The business aspect is especially sound.
Nadia Hsieh’s cute illustrations move the action forward, and their colorful nature will appeal to readers.
Though One for the Dogs is technically the fourth book about the squad, there’s nothing that readers will miss if they start with it.
One for the Dogs is being marketed to kids ages 8-12, but it feels a bit younger. I suggest ages 7-11.
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