goat magic

Kate Wheeler is a familiar artist – I’ve been following her adventures on Instagram for years. So I was very excited to see her publicize her debut middle grade fantasy graphic novel. One of my favorite genres, from an author I know I like? Bless. I read it right away and loved it. Goat Magic is out today from Oni Press!

Trill, a spirited goat herder with a unique ability to communicate with her flock, yearns for a life beyond mountain pastures. Her “goat magic” feels common compared to the sorcery taught in the city’s prestigious magic schools, which are off-limits to her. Meanwhile, Princess Alya, known as the “Ordinary Princess” and heir to the kingdom of Capeya, doubts her own royal potential.

Their worlds collide when an assassination attempt on the queen leaves Alya cursed to transform into a black goat each sunrise. Seeking refuge in Trill's goat herd, Alya discovers her new friend's hidden talent is her only hope to break the spell. Together, they embark on a perilous journey back to the castle, facing treacherous foes and uncovering a web of betrayal and rebellion.

As Alya battles to reclaim her throne and restore order to Capeya, the girls discover a deep connection, their shared experiences forging an unbreakable bond. When Alya comes face to face with the ones who betrayed her, will she have what it takes to take back the crown and rule an unstable kingdom? Will Trill find confidence in her magic and the growing affection she has for her friend?

With fast-paced action, enchanting magic, and a budding romance, Goat Magic is a captivating graphic novel perfect for fans of fantasy adventure.

 

Goat Magic opens on the humble farm where Trill and her mother keep a herd of goats. They live out in the Faces, a remote, magical part of the country where the rock formations look like ancient gods have been frozen in rest. Trill is off to the market by herself for the first time – a bit (adult!) step. At the same time, there is unrest within the royal family, as the heir to the throne, Alya, doesn’t have any magical abilities, and hence has been dubbed “The Ordinary Princess.” On a diplomatic trip, Alya’s mother, the Queen of Capeya, is attacked, and Alya herself is cursed – she becomes a goat during daylight hours and reverts to human form by the light of the moon. You can probably imagine what happens next: Alya meets Trill, observes her unique goat-herding magic firsthand, and has lots of her beliefs challenged by the experience. In addition, first love is in the air…

Wheeler says in the afterward and on social media that she was inspired by classic fantasy adventures from her childhood reading. It shows – mostly in good ways. The plot is a bit formulaic (think the hero’s journey), but the magic and world building feel refreshingly unique. Wheeler also includes very satisfying details about food, myths, and familial relationships – the things that round out and flesh out any culture or story and make them more believable. And lest I forget to mention them, the adorable goat characters also each have their own personalities and foibles.

The vibe of the book overall is The Witcher-meets-Studio Ghibli, and I know it will be a huge hit with the 9-12-year-old set as well as an older crowd. Wheeler’s art and “style” remind me quite a bit of the excellent Kay O’Neill (The Tea Dragon Society and The Moth Keeper) and Wendy Xu (Tidesong) – with good use of color, lovely landscapes, and expressive character faces.

In all, Goat Magic is a fantasy mystery wrapped in an adventure. It has notes of The Well (journey to remove a mysterious curse, budding sapphic romance) and classic fairy tale The Goose Girl (transformation tale). It's a quick, satisfying adventure into a novel world. I would love to read more adventures set in Capeya, or whatever Wheeler has up next!

Recommended for: fantasy readers ages 9 and up, and anyone interested in fantastic worldbuilding and fun and energetic graphic novel art!

 

Fine print: I received an advanced digital copy of the text from the publisher for review consideration. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

little shrew

I recently went to visit some of my niblings in Iowa (IOWA?!), and one of my favorite parts of preparing for the trip was shopping for picture books to read with them. With a kiddo cuddled up on each side, I read at least a dozen books (several multiple times each!) – and loved absolutely every minute of it, even when my voice went a little hoarse. One of those hit picture books was a picture book/chapter book hybrid, Little Shrew, written and illustrated by Akiko Miyakoshi, and translated by the Kids Can Press staff. It. Is. So. Great. Little Shrew’s slice of life story is understated, beautiful, and delightfully charming. It’s going in every holiday stocking this winter!

 

Little Shrew is diligent in all parts of life. He’s a hard worker and follows a strict schedule from morning to night. But even a life that runs like clockwork can be filled with unexpected pockets of joy, such as solving a puzzle for the very first time, enjoying the scent of freshly baked bread, seeing the vast beauty of a shimmering blue ocean or delighting in a visit with friends.

This collection of three short stories – perfect for emerging readers – is illustrated in Miyakoshi’s signature soft monochrome palette with pops of color. The charming tales celebrate enduring friendships, dreams for the future and the little pleasures that make everyday life more meaningful.

Little Shrew lives a disciplined life in the human world – he lives in a small and neat apartment, he takes the same train every day to his job, and he lunches with a colleague named Tom in the cafeteria. Little Shrew looks forward to simple pleasures, like the smell of warm bread from the bakery he stops by after work, solving his Rubik’s Cube, and visits with a couple of animal friends that live far away and visit once in a long while. The book’s three short chapters offer a slice-of-life look into Little Shrew’s world, and the simple charm of his scheduled and ordinary life will appeal to readers of all ages, but perhaps particularly young children who can’t imagine a life without, well, children in it, or what unpartnered adult life looks like at all. Little Shrew is an animal of course, but he is an anthropomorphized one, and his routine may offer an unexpected window into the lives of others.

Little Shrew is an unusually sized book – chapter book-sized, but with sparse text and lots of illustrations – some which are quite small and go right with the text, and others which take up most, or a whole page, or even a two-page spread. This variety in illustrations, paired with a small font size and some more advanced vocabulary, make it both a good read-aloud for those with stamina, and also mean it will be a hit with emerging readers who have graduated a bit beyond picture book pacing but still want to see pictures. In that way, it reminded me a bit of Arnold Lobel’s (of Frog and Toad fame) books. My niblings, aged three and a half and almost six, sat quietly for the whole book at least three times and loved pointing out the tiny details (and where Little Shrew was) in the illustrations. My adult brother laughed out loud at some of the subtle humor in the text that the kiddos didn’t pick up on – so I can say that it is a people-pleaser across the board.

Speaking of those illustrations! Miyakoshi’s art transitions between charcoal black and white illustrations with lots of texture, shadow, and light, and the full-color brightness of pencil and acrylic gouache paints. Tiny objects are illustrated in loving detail, while larger scenes, such as the morning train ride, have a more blurred appearance for a dreamlike and hazy feel. The mix of art feels… artful, for lack of a better word. There’s plenty of detail and repeated features or items to focus on and appreciate in multiple reads, but there are also unexpected moments and pops of color that appear just once. Overall, the objects in this book are (and this hurts me to say it) historical – the telephones are landlines with long, curling cords, for example – but this lends charm and a bit of timelessness to the story. They also lend a bit of a fantastical and cozy feel to a story where a tiny shrew already works a desk job at an airport!

In all, Little Shrew is an absolutely lovely and cozy sort of book, about an unassuming life that is nevertheless full of small moments of wonder and contentment. 

Recommended for: read alouds for children ages 3+, and for independent readers ages 6+ who haven’t outgrown their love for pictures in books (and who has, at that age! or any age!). Also for fans of picture books in translation, and beautifully designed and illustrated books, period.

we're off to the forest

I have to admit that at my age, I’m a terribly picky picture book consumer. I want to see hand-drawn illustrations, or something that looks like it took time and an excess of skill to create. In other words, I am serious about picture book art being ART. After all, how am I to maintain my title of best book gifting auntie ever without a discerning eye? But seriously though – an artful book for children is a wonder, and I am constantly on the lookout for something that matches an aesthetic I can only articulate as “hard work slash art!” Katarína Macurová's forthcoming picture book We're Off to the Forest, translated by Andrew Oakland, met that vague criteria on the merits of its cover art, which hint at its forest-in-autumn theme, and illustrations full of color, depth, and texture. Here we are!

Autumn is here. The forest is awash with colour. Leaves flutter to the ground, where they rustle underfoot. It’s getting colder. The animals are preparing for winter. A daddy squirrel and his son go to the forest every day – for stores, and for something else. Shh … Do you hear that? A story is coming your way. A story tender and warm, about an ordinary, extraordinary forest, ordinary, extraordinary treasure within it, and how even little things can change the big, wide world.

A young squirrel is the narrator in this picture book, and they are excited to go with their father into the forest on their daily mission to look after their acorn. However, lots of animals in the forest like to eat acorns too – what makes this one special? This acorn was planted, and it is slowly turning into an oak tree! Katarína Macurová’s detailed illustrations, all in full autumnal color, span two pages each for a rich and varied forest landscape. The art alone makes this title worthy of many reads and re-reads.

We’re Off to the Forest is a quaint and beautifully illustrated picture book about a squirrel family at its core, but on a much larger scale it is a lesson on how forests are ecosystems that feed and shelter all of the animals within them. The “lesson” of the book will spark interest in how readers can care for the natural world in sustainable ways – and maybe they too can adopt an “acorn” in their corner of the world. The oak tree that the acorn came from in this story is 500 years old, and feeds many different animal families in the forest. Each of these animals are lovingly illustrated in bright colors, with lots of contrast (purples next to greens! oranges and yellows next to browns!) making for an attractive and engaging visual experience as well. I was particularly charmed by some cute touches, such as the little squirrel’s acorn cap hat, and the different sorts of mushrooms illustrated within the pages.

In all, We’re Off to the Forest is a delightful and short read to share before going on a nature walk, leaf-peeping trip, or acorn-collecting with young ones.

Recommended for: reading aloud to children ages 3-5, fans of Kate Messner’s Over and Under series, and anyone interested in sharing about the lifecycle of the forest in beautiful picture book form.

We're Off to the Forest will be published by Albatros on September 24, 2024.

Fine print: I received an advanced digital copy of the text from the publisher (Albatros) at Picture Book Palooza. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

ursula upside down

When I did a 2021 book gift guide for the holidays, Corey R. Tabor’s Mel Fell featured as a must-buy picture book. It was a huge hit that year with my niblings, and when I saw that Tabor had a new title out at School Library Journal’s Picture Book Palooza, I bought a copy immediately. Ursula Upside Down is another flipped-script picture book with tons of charm. Young fans will request many, many storytimes and rereads of this title in years to come!

Ursula is a happy catfish, swimming through a shimmering river with weeds waving above and a sky full of scrumptious bugs below. 

Then one question turns her world upside down. 

Is left right? Is right wrong? Which way even is up? 

Children will love turning the book upside down and back again as they follow Ursula’s humorous journey to self-discovery.

 

Ursula lives a happy life, swimming through her world. The river reeds wave from above and sunbeams light the world from below. Until one day… another fish asks her if she knows she’s upside down?? This prompts a chaotic awakening – Ursula had no idea that she was living life differently than anyone else! Luckily, Vern the bat swoops in to help before tragedy can strike, and with a little bit of wisdom, Ursula realizes that she’s just fine, and her reality is right side up after all. 

Interactive art makes for a fun reading experience for both kids and adults – and while I’d like to say that art is the absolute standout of this title, the standout element is EVERYTHING. Tabor’s picture books are a perfect marriage of text, gorgeous illustrations, innovation and creativity. Hilarious asides and character choices enrich the text, and make for a fun and funny experience (the bugs and crawfish! lol). The story’s point, aside from pure entertainment? That a different viewpoint isn’t wrong simply because it’s different – in fact, the world is full of those who view things differently, and that’s okay. A valuable and evergreen lesson for kiddos and adults alike!

Tabor’s illustrations are a mixture of watercolor, pencil, crayon, and other media mixed digitally. Ursula’s underwater world is full of a variety of creatures, each lovingly depicted, amid a wash of blue-green watery layers. Animal features, while simple, nonetheless express emotion when something unexpected happens. My favorite detail was how Ursula’s whiskers mirrored her mental state – they added drama as the story progressed.

In all, Ursula Upside Down is an illustration-forward picture book with moments of hilarity, lifesaving, and friend-making, and interactive elements that will invite repeat reads.

 

Recommended for: read alouds, bed times, and storytimes with young ones ages 3+, and as a phenomenal gift for any book-loving household.

only the trees know

I’ve attended School Library Journal’s Picture Book Palooza (held over the summer) twice now, and I am a big fan. I can attend during the day because it’s summer, and I find lots of beautiful picture books to share with friends and family for the holidays, and of course the blog! in the intervening months. I always have my eye out for beautiful illustrations, and that is what drew me to Jane Whittingham and Cinyee Chiu’s picture book Only the Trees Know.

A little rabbit, who doesn’t like waiting, longs for spring.

Little Rabbit is hungry, bored and very tired of winter. “When will it be spring?” he asks his parents. When they aren’t sure, he turns to his wise grandmother. “Only the trees know,” she says. “Ask them, and they will tell you.” So Little Rabbit does. But the trees don’t answer him. He tries shouting, jumping, listening hard. Still nothing. Then, just when he’s about to give up, he notices something different in the forest, something that’s right underneath his nose …

For every bunny who has a hard time waiting, this is the perfect story to show them how.

The pages of Only the Trees Know are full of a Little Rabbit impatient for spring. He longs for soft grasses and friends (a bird flown south for winter and a squirrel in its den) to come back and play. When the Little Rabbit asks his parents when spring will come, they say “be patient.” Well! That is something neither small children nor Little Rabbits like being told! So Little Rabbit goes to his wise grandmother, and she advises him to ask the trees, because only they know. Thus, Little Rabbit begins an asking campaign. The trees don’t answer the first time, so Little Rabbit tries changing his physical presence, altering his listening skills, and being louder and trying different sounds. In the end, the trees provide their own signs and voice, and Little Rabbit learns to hear them.

 

Little Rabbit is of course an anthropomorphized figure – the stand-in for the child being read to, who might think the same way and ask the same sorts of questions about winter. It’s charming here, rather than false, and I think that is down to the author’s way with words. The text is poetic, especially on the opening page, and when describing snow and wind: with alliteration, personification, and repetition. Whittingham does not rhyme, but there are several poetic devices throughout. There’s child appeal not just in the art and cadence of the text, but in Little Rabbit’s jumping about, raising and lowering his voice, and trying different listening techniques.

 

Cinyee Chiu’s art is full of gorgeous brush strokes, and many shades of white and winter. I particularly liked the landscape spreads, with their imprecise snowflakes – they gave the impression of looking through the forest into the scene of the story. Chiu’s medium is gouache and pastel, finished in Photoshop. Chiu makes terrific use of perspective, from treetop height down, and from ground level up to the sky. The only thing about the book design I didn’t love? The title font. And that’s out of sight as soon as you turn a page.

 

In all, Only the Trees Know is a more active than meditative take on seasonal change, and the perfect book to share with a child impatient for sunny days and playgrounds once more.

 

Recommended for: fans of Over and Under the Snow, anyone looking for beautifully-illustrated picture books about the seasons, and for nondenominational winter storytimes.

 

Fine print: I received an advanced digital copy of the text from the publisher at Picture Book Palooza. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

full moon

New, impeccably designed picture books that appeal to a discerning artistic eye AND to kiddos are sometimes hard to find. It’s my favorite sort of picture book to gift – not only to give my friends-who-are-parents a break, but also because as a child, I was fascinated most by the picture books that weren’t endlessly cheery cartoonish escapes, and instead had what felt like grown-up art, excellent use of negative space, and details to pore over read after reread. In case you too are looking for this sort of picture book, Princeton Architectural Press publishes several each year! And while I missed it when it came out in 2021, I’m happy to report that Camilla Pintonato’s Full Moon fits the mold beautifully.

 

As the sun sets, the little gray rabbits are busy in their secret workshop, but what could they be making? Follow along as the rabbits prepare for the big event, inviting all of their forest friends to the celebration. The mice, foxes, porcupines, and other forest creatures gather as the full moon rises, and finally the big surprise is revealed. The little rabbits release beautiful paper lanterns into the sky, where they sparkle like stars in the light of the full moon.

Camilla Pintonato's endearing illustrations invite us into a secret world, where wonders take place while the humans are away and the animals play. Striking, full-spread images of the rising moon and sun illuminate the magical way the natural cycle of the sky unites us in wonder, giving children a connection to nature they can experience from anywhere in the world.

 

I was immediately charmed by cover art featuring small gray rabbits wearing bright orange backpacks. If you were too, let me assure you: Pintonato’s story lives up to that first charming image. Created originally as a wordless picture book, and then published first in French and now in English, Full Moon is a nighttime adventure full of animals, mystery, and important questions – such as, “What are they carrying in their backpacks?” The answer to that includes forest shenanigans and lots of industrious bunnies, and is a fun, fresh flight of imagination.

 

In Full Moon, author-illustrator Pintonato taps into some enduring themes and visuals in children’s books: what happens when the world goes to sleep, the movement of the planets, the wonder of the natural world, and whimsical, personified animal societies. These will be familiar to little ones and adults alike from classic picture books such as Goodnight Moon. However, Pintonato puts her own spin on these themes with humor and illustrations full of vibrant color and detail. The rabbits are preparing for a big event, and they have many things to coordinate to make it happen! I think my favorite page was the one of the bunny with the orange flags, directing the start of the “show.”

 

The story would not have the same impact without Pintonato’s excellent art. When you first open the book, you’ll notice that the endpapers are illustrations of sunrise, and throughout several page spreads break from the busy world of the bunnies on the ground to look at the night sky above. This alternating focus slows the pacing down and makes it a perfect bedtime read. Pintonato’s fuzzy linework and varied colors feel reminiscent of the bleed of water-based markers and watercolors, but her illustrations are created completely in Photoshop. My brain wanted to say that it was all hand drawn, so I looked up that fact to confirm. After taking in the art, you might be similarly amazed!

 

In all, Full Moon is a delightful picture book about what animals might get up to after small children are tucked in bed. Its whimsical art is sure to appeal to both children and the adults reading aloud to them.

 

Recommended for: read alouds and storytimes, children ages 3 and up, and anyone who likes rabbits, parties, tales about the moon, and beautiful books that demand several rereads.

the wondrous wonders

I love graphic novels. They are fun to look at, quick reads, and for my students, they are accessible texts. You don’t have to be the strongest reader in the class to get something out of the story in a graphic novel. I have a poster in my classroom that looks like lines on a chalkboard, with the words “AUDIOBOOKS ARE NOT CHEATING” listed over and over. I wish I had one for graphic novels too! Anyway, all that to say, I pick up graphic novels whenever I can, and my latest read was Camille Jourdy’s The Wondrous Wonders, translated by Montana Kane. It is a whimsical and funny portal fantasy for the middle grade set.

From Camille Jourdy comes a magical graphic novel filled with gentle, offbeat humor and gorgeous watercolor artwork, The Wondrous Wonders.

It’s perfect weather for a family picnic, but Jo is in a bad mood. Hurt by her parents’ recent divorce and struggling to accept her new stepmother and sisters, she decides to run away and make a new life for herself in the forest. She soon finds herself tumbling through a weird and wonderful landscape, in a realm ruled by an evil cat prince and the dream-logic of a child's imagination. She'll need courage, hope, and heart to overcome all the obstacles she encounters on this adventure.

Young Jo is unhappy with her parents’ divorce and her new stepfamily, and so she runs away to the woods one day. What she finds there is unexpected – a whole world peopled with elves, talking animals, a dastardly Emperor Tomcat, and Wondrous Wonders: beautiful wild horses (ponies?) in all colors. Jo almost immediately joins a rescue mission with her new friends. On this adventure, she meets characters (and I do mean characters) who speak bits of wisdom to her, mock her, and make ridiculous asides. It’s a fun and funny – but the lingering question remains – where will the adventure end?

 

When I first heard about this title, my attention was caught by the beautiful watercolor artwork, and the phrase “offbeat humor.” I have complicated feelings about that phrase regarding this title. It’s not strange or weird humor – it’s just adult? And I don’t mean that it’s inappropriate. There are simply all sorts of conversations going on around Jo that don’t involve her. And they’re funny! As a child reading this book, the jokes might or might not make sense, but it’s exactly the sort of language that children figure out by listening to adults talk to each other. I think it’s charming that Jo’s adventure, while fantastical, still has so many elements of “real life” in it. And Jo herself, a bit fractious and feral – but open to friendship – is like a lot of little kids I knew or know now.

 

I also appreciate that there’s no heavy-handed moral at the end of the story. Jo’s adventure is just that: a widening of perspective and trying something new, and if she learns a little bit from the characters she encounters, then good for her. But if she doesn’t, she wandered through a beautiful land, saw lots of weird things, and adapted well. There are themes of course, but they’re not overt, and some things Jourdy leaves the artwork to express best.

 

Speaking of the art! Jourdy’s panels are watercolor delights, rarely enclosed in black lines. The vibe is classic storybook-turned-graphic novel, and the text’s playful feeling manifests in many ways, including the costumes the characters wear: Maurice the fox in a creampuff suit and Pompom the dog in rainbow-striped boots, for instance. Lots of small panels, set in an ever-changing landscape, keep the adventure moving not only pacing-wise, but distance-wise as well.

 

The Wondrous Wonders is a delightful, quirky story that recalls Puss in Boots, The Princess Bride, and Alice in Wonderland all in one go. In other words, it’s got adventure, quips, antics, and a safe landing for its young readers. I enjoyed it!

 

Recommended for: graphic novel readers ages 8 and up, fantasy fans young and old, and anyone who liked Johan Troïanowski’s The Runaway Princess.

 

The Wondrous Wonders will be available from First Second on November 1, 2022. 

 

Fine print: I received an advanced copy of this title from the publisher for review consideration. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

two picture books for the little thinker in your life

If the little reader in your life is less than impressed with tall tales of derring-do and/or anthropomorphic cars and dump trucks, let me recommend two quieter picture books. They're excellent for the little thinkers and serious small ones – and the gorgeous illustrations will please adults and children alike.

It's Sunday, and Camille, having finished her school work, is feeling a little bored. Her parents are busy with their own projects, so she puts on her raincoat and goes outside to play. Suddenly she hears the thunder roar, and shivers with excitement. She sticks out her tongue to catch raindrops. They taste like clouds. She notices a group of red ants zigzagging along a trail and asks "Where are you going?" The ants reply, "We're going to a show." Camille embarks on an adventure to discover what the show is about and the astounding beauty to be found by closely observing her surroundings.

The last time I visited with my best friend and her two little ones, it was on a rainy September afternoon, and I brought several picture books with me. A surprise favorite with the three-year-old boy was Look, It’s Raining by Mathieu Pierloot, illustrated by Maria Dek. I don’t know if it was due to the day’s rainy weather, just like in the book, or Dek’s watercolor illustrations (and their myriad details), but he was enthralled, reading by himself without knowing any of the words. If a high-energy, go-go-GO! boy can slow down and appreciate this title, I know more contemplative personalities will enjoy it too.

 

Look, It’s Raining is about exactly what you’d expect – noticing the natural world on a rainy day, and all of the little joys and wonders in it. The bugs are putting on a show, the thunder roars, and Camille, the protagonist, takes it all in while wearing her yellow rain slicker, and then returns to her warm, snug home a little more enlightened and less bored.

 

Recommended for: rainy day reading for little ones ages two and up, and those who value observing the beauties of the natural world.

Little Cheetah's shadow is missing. When Little Cheetah finds him and learns that Little Shadow is sad because he never gets to go first, Little Cheetah is happy to switch places. As they travel about their neighborhood, Little Cheetah is surprised to learn how hard it can be to follow. Eventually they decide that walking side-by-side is much better, and when they go through a scary tunnel on the way home, they discover they can face the dark together. Little Cheetah's Shadow is a sweet tale of friendship, empathy, and the importance of seeing things from a different perspective, rendered in Marianne Dubuc's warm and inviting illustrations.

In case you’ve never encountered them before, I’ll warn you: Marianne Dubuc’s picture books are sweet, short, and charming, with cozy-beautiful illustrations. Little Cheetah's Shadow is no exception. In it, Little Cheetah has lost his shadow. When he finally finds him, Little Shadow is dejected, and lets Little Cheetah know it’s because he never gets to go first, and Little Cheetah closes the door on his tail when they visit the bakery! Little Cheetah says that doesn’t sound nice, and the two switch places for the day – leading to some revelations and good friendship behavior (caring for others, checking in on them, and helping them when they are scared).

 

Little Cheetah’s Shadow is a satisfying tale with lovable characters and a wholesome message, and beautiful colored pencil-and-watercolor illustrations.

 

Recommended for: little ones ages 3-5, for bedtime story read alouds, and for teaching and modeling empathetic behavior between friends (and siblings!).

Fine print: I received finished copies of these titles from the publisher for review purposes. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

tiger days: a book of feelings

You know that feeling when you read a book at exactly the right time? The sneaking suspicion you then have that it’s speaking directly to you and your problems (or the world’s problems!) and fate must have put it in your path? M.H. Clark and Anna Hurley’s picture book Tiger Days: A Book of Feelings has been that book for me this week. I had originally scheduled it for review on Monday, but the universe knew I needed to read it on Tuesday, and again on Thursday, and again today after hearing about the terrible tragedy in New Zealand. It’s a picture book, but a meaningful book is meaningful no matter the format or audience, and this one is delightful and indispensable.

From tiger fierce to snail slow, there are lots of ways to feel and be. A walk through this colorful, rhyming menagerie helps young readers understand their feelings and the ways those feelings change.

Children will recognize their own emotions on these pages—their enthusiasm, stubbornness, excitement, silliness, sadness, and strength. And they’ll come to see that, no matter how they act or feel each day, they’re always still themselves.

In this vibrant picture book, the first person narrator associates emotions with specific animals in rhyming text. If you’re having a Tiger Day, for example, it means that “…I want to climb. I’M WILD AND I’M FIERCE. I pace around and POUNCE and ROAR…” For me, today is a Fish Day, and I feel watery, just as the text suggests. Feelings are paired with not only animals, but also actions they might take while under the sway of those emotions. With themes of naming and acknowledging emotional states, self-acceptance, and recognizing that shifting feelings are okay (or even positive!), Tiger Days is a simple, accessible guide and/or introduction to complex emotions. It’s also a joy to read.

Illustrator Anna Hurley has created lovely art to go along with M.H. Clark’s delightful text, and it is here that I think the book takes a step up from good to excellent. The animals are rendered in cut paper-like blocks, with ink detailing and some shadowing, against lively colored spreads – one color for each kind of day. And there are a few intervening “day” pages without a signature animal that are turquoise with white crayon-effect illustrations that are a lot of fun for the eye and remind the reader that different types of feelings (and complex feelings!) are okay. Tiger Days’ text and illustrations are seamlessly integrated, entertaining, and poignant, and will be popular read after read.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also take a moment to talk about the book design! This colorful title will pulled off the shelf time and again for its striped, multicolored binding. ALSO the dust jacket has a velvet touch effect for the title shadows and the tiger’s stripes! In other words, it begs to be petted! I can’t stop running my fingers over the texture, even now… so you KNOW it will be a hit with kids! Altogether, Tiger Days is a feast for the senses, and also a way to get in touch with them. A true book of feelings!

All in all, Tiger Days will be a hit with both kids and adults, and I can’t wait to recommend it to all of the parents I know!

Recommended for: anyone who is struggling to find the words to talk about complex emotions, and especially children ages 2-6. Perfect for story time, bedtime reading, and anytime reading if you like bright, fun books that encourage interaction and movement and have extra helpings of heart.

Fine print: I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

groundhug day

I like to send my friends valentines every year (friend love is love!), but I almost missed doing it this year because Valentine’s Day falls right in the middle of Olympics season! I’m a fan of sports, and I especially love to watch the Olympics for women’s sports excellence. Today’s featured picture book doesn’t feature sports, but it does have spring holidays, friends, and overcoming fears with help from those friends. Let’s talk about the adorable Groundhug Day by Anne Marie Pace, illustrated by Christopher Denise.

Moose is having a Valentine’s Day party, and all his friends are so excited! Everyone except Groundhog, that is. If Groundhog sees his shadow outside, he’ll hide in his hole for six more weeks and miss the party! Determined to help their friend join them, Moose, Squirrel, Bunny, and Porcupine put their heads together and come up with a plan. But will it be enough to get Groundhog out to play? This heartwarming picture book by the author of Vampirina Ballerina, with adorable illustrations by Christopher Denise, is sure to be a hit, whether readers are bursting for spring or snuggling up for six more weeks of winter. 

Moose, Squirrel, Bunny, Porcupine, and Groundhog are all fast friends, and Moose is planning a Valentine’s Day party. Moose wants all his friends to come. Squirrel wants to have Valentine balloons. Bunny wants Valentine cards. Porcupine offers Valentine hugs (ouch!). But while the animals are planning, their friend Groundhog comes out of his hole on Groundhog Day and sees his shadow! How will they get him to join the party? Following some helpful demonstrations, Groundhog overcomes his fears, hugs are offered all around, and he reappears six weeks later in time for a St. Patrick’s Day party.

Groundhug Day is a celebration of friendship featuring incredibly cute animals against the backdrop of spring holidays. It’s the sort of picture book that will be a big hit with parents, teachers, and librarians as well as kids – there’s subtle humor, a good message, and it’s seasonally appropriate for several months of the year. Will it appeal to ALL kids? I can see how the cover could prompt some adults to hand it to girls especially, but it’s a picture book about animals for small children – it’s meant to be read aloud, and it’s appropriate for everyone. As for the animals, a couple use male pronouns, and another is coded as male (Moose wears a cozy sweater and reading glasses), so there’s inclusion baked in.

Let’s talk about the art! Christopher Denise has nailed cute and cozy in this book, and it’s charming. Also, fun. Bunny and Squirrel are especially delightful with their big, liquid eyes and general fluff. But the book is not just animals – the pages are populated with home interiors meticulously decorated and filled, and landscapes depicting mountains, meadows, and trees. No detail is left untended (including the endpapers!), so the overall feel of the book is lived-in, and loving. It’s a treat.

In all, Groundhug Day is an appealing, enjoyable picture book with potential staying power due to its themes and exceptional art.

Recommended for: kids ages 4-8 and their adult readers (if the kids are on the younger side), and anyone looking for a spring holiday-themed read.

Fine print: I received a copy of this title from the publisher for review consideration. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

fantastic mr. fox and charred applesauce with yogurt (+ giveaway!)

Roald Dahl’s 100^th birthday celebration blog tour stops here today at Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia for a Fantastic Mr. Fox-themed food celebration. Newly-redesigned paperback editions of Fantastic Mr. Fox and other Roald Dahl favorites are available from Puffin (Penguin Young Readers). Stay tuned until the end of the post for a giveaway of all 15 re-released editions and a special tote bag!

One of the first times I have a really vivid memory of someone other than my mother reading aloud to me is when my first grade teacher read Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach to my class.  That book is quite an adventure, but it also features a lot of eating.  My first thought (to this day!) when I remember the story is that I don’t know if I’d ever get sick of eating peaches. I might have been a perennially hungry child, can you tell?

Fantastic Mr. Fox didn’t reach quite as mainstream a status as that until Wes Anderson turned it into a stop-motion film (which I loved).  When I was considering what to do to celebrate Roald Dahl’s birthday week, I couldn’t pass the book itself up. It is the PERFECT. FALL. EATING. BOOK. I mean the whole thing revolves around Mr. Fox stealing chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, cider, and so on to feed his family. There’s even a huge community feast at the end! And if you open any recent cookbook about seasonal eating, apples, ducks and chicken will figure prominently in the autumn sections. It was meant to be.

While Fantastic Mr. Fox doesn’t specifically mention applesauce, one of the farmers (Bean, the cleverest one) is an apple farmer, and he subsists solely on gallons of strong apple cider. My applesauce recipe has non-alcoholic cider in it, so we’re going to call it good and say I stayed on theme, okay? Okay. The upside of all of this is that the recipe is ridiculously easy to make, so you too can have a delicious fall- and Dahl-inspired meal (if you want).

Charred Applesauce with Yogurt (adapted from a recipe in XX Dinners)

INGREDIENTS

4 apples, any kind, but maybe stick to sweeter varieties – I used Pink Lady

1/4 cup sparkling apple cider

1 cinnamon stick

pinch of salt

pumpkin seeds, toasted  (optional)

yogurt, your favorite kind – I like plain, low-fat

DIRECTIONS

Applesauce

Set the oven to broil and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. 

Wash the apples (and make sure to remove any produce stickers!) and place them on the sheet on a top rack right under the broiler.  Watch and turn the apples every 2-3 minutes, but let charred bits bubble up on the skin.

After you’ve turned the apples 4-5 times and have a few charred spots, lower oven temperature to 400 degrees F and bake for another 10 minutes. Before removing from oven, check with a skewer to see if apples are soft. Skewer should slide through apple easily. If it doesn’t, bake another 5 minutes and test again. Once the apples are done, remove from oven until cool enough to handle.

Use your fingers to separate the skins from the flesh and set aside (the skin separated from the flesh while I was baking the apples, so this step was really easy), and remove the core, stem, and seeds with a spoon or your fingers again. Place the apple flesh in a medium-sized bowl, mash to your liking (if at all), and add cider. Stir just to combine.

Chop up some of the charred skin and add to the bowl. Grate in cinnamon to taste – for me that’s about 2/3 of the cinnamon stick, and also add the pinch of salt. Mix, and you’re done!

If you won’t eat it all in one go (it’s also good on pork, chicken & duck!), refrigerate the remainder in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

To make the yogurt dish, simply layer the yogurt and applesauce in a bowl to your liking, and sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds.  I made toasted the pumpkin seeds by layering half a handful on a baking sheet with one spritz of baking spray and placing under the broiler for one minute (okay 2, I like them very crispy!) after I finished baking the apples. Add honey or other toppings to taste!

Recommended for: a taste of fall in your morning routine, and a good way to use up extra apples from that apple picking trip you have coming up.

Someone's been stealing from the three meanest farmers around, and they know the identity of the thief—it's Fantastic Mr. Fox! Working alone they could never catch him; but now fat Boggis, squat Bunce, and skinny Bean have joined forces, and they have Mr. Fox and his family surrounded. What they don't know is that they're not dealing with just any fox—Mr. Fox would rather die than surrender. Only the most fantastic plan can save him now.

Enter to Win the Roald Dahl 100 Celebratory Prize Pack! (Ends Sep. 19)

Interested in other food-related posts? Check out Beth Fish Reads' Weekend Cooking!

Fine print: I received a copy of Fantastic Mr. Fox from the publisher for review consideration. I did not receive any compensation for this post. Giveaway and giveaway prize under the direction of the publisher.

brilliant

One of my favorite things in books as I’ve grown older is when a city (or urban landscape) is so deeply a part of the story and atmosphere that it becomes a character in its own right.  When I was a kid, not so much.  Then I mostly cared about fantasy landscapes, about going through the wardrobe into somewhere different, with a MAP! (and dragons, if at all possible).  Roddy Doyle’s depiction of Dublin in Brilliant, is the happy medium between those two. Readers can hear the life of the city, feel it, see it in the eyes of his characters.  At the same time, it’s not overpowering.  Character voices (including that of a meerkat named Kevin) steal the spotlight in this charming, modern middle grade fantasy.

The Black Dog of Depression has descended over the adults of Dublin. Uncles are losing their businesses, dads won’t get out of bed, mothers no longer smile at their children. Siblings Raymond and Gloria have had enough and set out one night with one goal in mind: to stop the Black Dog, whatever it takes. In a chase through the streets and parks and beaches of Dublin, the children run after the Black Dog, and soon dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of kids join in their fight. They discover they have one weapon against the Black Dog. The weapon is a word: “brilliant.”

Illustrated throughout by a bright new talent and told through the masterful dialogue for which the acclaimed Roddy Doyle is known, Brilliant is a very special book with a storybook feel.

Gloria and her older brother Raymond (Rayzer for short) are mostly happy, even when they’re squabbling.  They know life in Dublin has changed, but they don’t know what caused it.  When their Uncle Ben comes to live with the family, they are determined to learn why, even as they enjoy his presence.  On one eventful night, they and the other children of Dublin run the town, from the zoo to the water – meeting talking animals, learning the power of language, and chasing the specter of an enormous black dog.  

When I finished this book, I couldn't help but grin at the joy it brought me and the laughter and tears it provoked. In that moment I didn't care who it was written for, I just knew that it had been a good read. Not five minutes later, I was deep in conversation with two wonderful fellow bloggers, and they lamented a new rash of middle grade fiction that seems to be written "for adults" rather than children.

I let that digest a bit, and by the end of the night I was afraid that my glorious experience with Brilliant meant that it was indeed "one of those" books. I've been thinking about it ever since, actually. And here's what I've decided: 1) Yes, the story has a "moral" and at times reads a bit like a fable about how children can cure the ills of the world (and that's not a message I endorse 110% but we'll leave it for now). 2) It will appeal equally to adults AND children. For *very* different reasons.

What adults will like: The book's accessible treatment of depression, the fantastic writing (especially the dialogue - which Doyle is really a master of), the positive and hopeful themes, and the romp through Dublin (an expert tour if there ever was one). What kids will like: The sibling hijinks, the talking animals, forbidden nighttime adventures, the quest to do the right thing, jokes, and victory at the end. The book might not work for every reader, but there's something in it for readers of all ages.

Listen, if you haven't read Roddy Doyle yet, do. He writes hilarious, beautiful, tragic, wonderful stuff. You can feel Ireland in every page, and his books for young readers have hints of the fantastic throughout. Also: Emily Hughes’ illustrations are an A+ addition to the book.

Recommended for: all ages fans of stories about family and doing the right thing, for anyone looking for a great read aloud pick for the 7-10 year old set, and fans of Lauren Oliver's Liesl & Po.

Brilliant will be released in the U.S. by Amulet (Abrams) on September 8, 2015.

Fine print: I picked up an ARC of this book for review at BEA 2015. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

the true blue scouts of sugar man swamp

Eight years old was one of the best years of my life.  I was the oldest of my siblings (authority!) and I had just begun homeschooling.  That meant I could read anything I wanted (within the checkout limits at our local library) while my mother taught my little brother the basics.  All the same, I loved it when she read aloud to all of us in the mornings, and I couldn't get enough of animal stories.  I adored Jim Kjelgaard's Big Red, Wilson Rawls' Where the Red Fern Grows and anything Marguerite Henry. I'd beg and beg for just one more chapter, and it wasn't uncommon for my mother to accede and read until her voice grew hoarse.  I know my eight-year-old self would have loved Kathi Appelt's The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp.

Raccoon brothers Bingo and J’miah are the newest recruits of the Official Sugar Man Swamp Scouts. The opportunity to serve the Sugar Man—the massive creature who delights in delicious sugar cane and magnanimously rules over the swamp—is an honor, and also a big responsibility, since the rest of the swamp critters rely heavily on the intel of these hardworking Scouts.

Twelve-year-old Chap Brayburn is not a member of any such organization. But he loves the swamp something fierce, and he’ll do anything to help protect it.

And help is surely needed, because world-class alligator wrestler Jaeger Stitch wants to turn Sugar Man swamp into an Alligator World Wrestling Arena and Theme Park, and the troubles don’t end there. There is also a gang of wild feral hogs on the march, headed straight toward them all.

The Scouts are ready. All they have to do is wake up the Sugar Man. Problem is, no one’s been able to wake that fellow up in a decade or four…

Newbery Honoree and National Book Award finalist Kathi Appelt’s story of care and conservation has received five starred reviews, was selected as a National Book Award finalist, and is funny as all get out and ripe for reading aloud.

Raccoon brothers J’miah and Bingo are official Sugar Man Swamp Scouts, and they know their duty: to be alert for trouble and to wake the legendary Sugar Man in case of emergencies.  Never mind that no one has seen him for nearly 60 years!  Nearby, 12 year-old (human) Chap Brayburn is mourning the death of his beloved grandfather Audie, and trying to figure out how to be the man of the house.  When trouble comes to the swamp, J’miah, Bingo and Chap must each use all of their ingenuity and courage to save it, and themselves.

J'miah and Bingo are raccoons, and raccoons are known for mischief.  However, these brothers have just been inducted as Official Scouts of the Sugar Man Swamp, and with that appointment comes responsibility.  They've got to listen to the Voice of Information, watch out for trouble, and most of all, be true to each other.  Their antics are by turns hilarious and heartwarming, and in the end the number of crawdads, dewberries and sugar pies they have eaten amount to an adventure all its own.

Appelt writes human emotion with just as much laughter and verve as the animal action, but with an extra dose of poignancy.  Chap's attempts to step into his grandfather's shoes are a little bit funny, a little bit doomed, and all the way sincere.  Chap's story could stumble into maudlin or contrived territory, but it doesn't - the author keeps just the right balance.  The fantastical element is included in a natural, organic way, so that the book rides somewhere between tall tale and a 'book about talking animals,' and makes you want to (for just a little while) visit the magical place that is the Sugar Man Swamp.

My favorite passages were those that talked about the flavors of the swamp and Paradise Pies, the tiny bakery that Chap's mother runs.  This excerpt from pages 68 and 69 of the hardcover version gives you a little taste of the book:

The huge coffee urn was full of dark, rich Community Coffee, roasted in Baton Rouge.  And even though there wasn’t a drop of coffee in the pies, Grandpa Audie always said, “The chicory in the coffee makes the pies taste better.”  He followed that with, “Besides, it puts hair on your chest.”

Right then Chap pulled the neck of his T-shirt out and looked down at his chest.  Not a single hair.  Didn’t he need a few chest hairs to be a man?  With that, he filled Audie’s mug, right up to the brim.

“You might want to put some cream and sugar in that,” his mom said.

Grandpa Audie had never used cream and sugar, had he?  “Blacker ’n dirt.”  That’s the way he had always drunk it.  That was the way Chap would drink it too.  He raised his grandpa’s mug to his lips and took a tiny sip.  It was hot hot hot.  It was bitter bitter bitter.  All at once, he understood how coffee would make the pies taste better.

The sweet of the pies would offset the hot and bitter.

The True Blue Scouts is a funny, beautifully written and environmentally friendly tale of familial love and the ways in which a specific spot in nature can become ‘home’ to the heart. J’miah, Bingo and Chap explore the swamp and discover some of its dangerous and wondrous secrets, and each tries to protect it in his own way.  I would imagine that it's especially charming when read aloud, so that the animal and human voices really come alive.

Recommended for: fans of Kate DiCamillo, those who enjoy animal stories on the order of Charlotte's Web or The Adventures of a South Pole Pig, and readers ages 8 and up who enjoy their stories with a light fantasy element.

Interested in other food-related posts?  Check out Beth Fish Reads' Weekend Cooking.

Fine print: I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher (Simon & Schuster) for honest review.