Ghost-Spider's Unbreakable Mission by MacKenzie Cadenhead

GHOST-SPIDER'S UNBREAKABLE MISSION

After-School Heroes

by MacKenzie Cadenhead

Illustrated by Dave Bardin

Simon Spotlight

Chapter Book

64 pages

ages 5 to 9

Gwen Stacy tries to balance her homework with her responsibility as Ghost-Spider in this original Marvel chapter book with black-and-white illustrations throughout!

Gwen Stacy has homework over the she has to carry a chicken egg everywhere she goes without breaking it. It should be easy enough for the average student, but Gwen is Ghost-Spider, with a duty to swing in and save the day whenever she sees a need. So when a winged villain comes onto the scene, can Ghost-Spider stop him mid-flight without sabotaging Gwen’s chance for an egg-cellent grade? 

Find out in this chapter book that’s perfect for Marvel fans beginning to read on their own or for reading aloud! © 2024 MARVEL.™

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON    /    B&N

  

MY TIDBITS

Eggs, birds, and adventure mix with superhero amazement for a tale, which is sure to grab beginner readers' attentions.

This tale features Gwen Stacy, otherwise known as Ghost-Spider. The first scenes have her at school is an interesting project for the weekend—each student is given an egg and told to keep it safe and in one piece until Monday. As a superhero, Gwen is convinced that she's by far the best one in the class for such a task, but when she runs into Vulture, things get difficult. Soon, she's chasing birds and keeping more than one egg away from danger.

This is a great book for young, superhero fans. It packs adventure and dangerous villains, which promise action and tension pure. Yet, everything is kept at a level appropriate for the age group. The characters are already known to readers, making it easy to slide right into the adventure. This also adds support when hitting the read, since a little is already known. 

The chapters are short, the font larger than usual, and the spacing wide enough to create reading ease. The vocabulary is great for those who are mostly sure of their words and adds a few tougher terms here and there to help increase reading strength. 

The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie

Today's read slides into the fairytale retelling range, a genre I haven't visited for awhile. A few years ago, these types of reads were popular, remember? And I'll admit that while I enjoyed several, it got to be a bit much in the end. But I do enjoy fairytale retellings and find it fun to take a glimpse of one every now and then. This one is the second in a duology, so it will be rounding off the tale. It also should take a dark turn, but I expect nothing else when it comes to the Grimm stories. I did not read the first one in this duology (back to old habits), but I'm hoping that doesn't matter too much. 

It doesn't release until March, which gives plenty of time to grab it up and enjoy as a Spring read? Maybe? First, let's see if it's worth a peek or not.

THE DEATHLY GRIMM

The Forest Grimm Duology, #2

by Kathryn Purdie

Wednesday Books

YA Fantasy (Dark)

400 pages

COMING...

MARCH 25th!!!

The spellbinding sequel to Kathryn Purdie's bestselling dark fairytale, where our main characters must return to the forest—and its monsters.

The story hasn't ended yet.

After surviving the Forest Grimm and defeating the Wolf, Clara and Axel have made it back to their village, the one place they can be safe behind the forest's borders. But when the forest itself begins luring in more villagers, it's clear that Clara and Axel have only treated the symptoms of the forest's curse, not the cause—and it's getting worse.

Burdened with visions of the past and learning to navigate her fragile new relationship with Axel, Clara finds herself entering the forest with Axel yet again to discover the truth once and for all: the identity of the murderer who caused the curse. As they fight murderous woodsmen with incomprehensible riddles, ladies who will drag you into an eternal dance, and ghosts with the power to wield the forest against them, Clara and Axel realize the stakes are higher than ever. If they don't survive the dark, deadly twists of the forest once more, not only will they never escape, they may also no longer have a home to escape to.

Romantic, eerie, and beautiful, The Deathly Grimm is the triumphant conclusion to Kathryn Purdie's bestselling Forest Grimm duology.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

These pages take off after a little time has passed from the end of the first read...or so I'm getting that vibe. Since I didn't read the first one in the duology, I can't say for sure. While I am missing out on a few background occurrences, which would no doubt help know the characters and such a bit better, it wasn't too hard to sink into this one right away and get caught up into the story.

We meet Clara as the villagers are falling into panic since individuals have begun to go missing in the forest. Supposedly, the problem was somewhat taken care of with the book and the wish, but it seems to have only worked halfway, which isn't enough. Determined to correct the situation, Clara heads back into the forest with Axel to find a way to end the curse once and for all, but the forest is deadlier than ever. They face deadly situations, one after the other, as the ability to save the village fades with the realization that they may not survive that long.

This is a rich, dark world with high-stakes, tense moments, sweet romance, and a line-up of splintered fairytales. Fairytale knowers will enjoy that different, dangerous takes on the familiar characters Clara and Axel come up against. It's very imaginative, magically enticing, and holds more than a few surprises. While the romance is sweet and doesn't take over the tale (and stays age appropriate), the dark tones hit with the stakes and dangerous scenes. It's not for sensitive readers but will thrill those who dab their fingers into gothic fiction. 

It's a grabbing read most of the way through, and it's hard no to root for Clara and Axel as they struggle their way through in hopes of finally finding an end to the problem. This wasn't quite as fast-paced, though, as it might have been and does slow down at times. While this gives readers moments to sink into the characters, relationships, and emotions, it had the action girl in me skimming here and there. Still, it's a rich read with tons to enjoy.

The Little Puppy by Nicola Killen

The cover on today's read had me smiling the second I saw it. So much love and so cute! But I didn't expect anything else from this author/illustrator. This is the 7th book in the series, and I can't wait to see what new adventure is in store.

So, let's take a look!

THE LITTLE PUPPY 

My Little Animal Friend

by Nicola Killen

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING DECEMBER 17th!!!

From beloved author-illustrator Nicola Killen comes an adorable story about Valentine’s Day and puppy love, tenderly told and illustrated in limited color with lovely red foil and interactive die cut pages.

When Grandma comes for a special Valentine’s visit with her puppy, Milo, Ollie spends a special day playing with her new friend.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Expectations smack against reality in an adorable read about dealing with disappointment and discovering new fun.

Ollie is so excited! Grandma has brought her puppy with her for the day, which means Ollie gets to play with it and have the most fun ever. At first, everything works out great, but when Ollie leaves the room for a few minutes, disaster hits. Ollie can't believe her perfect day with the puppy is ruined. Needing to get away, she heads outdoors and sulks. But then, something unexpected happens.

This series features Ollie, a young girl who loves to wear various animal-like outfits (something some kids really seem to enjoy doing). The tale is gentle, yet holds a twist of fitting adventure to showcase Ollie's imaginative and lively nature. Her actions are understandable, and it's easy to connect with her as she faces disappointment, grows upset, and isn't sure what to do with it. The situation is one readers can identify with and will recognize similar situations from their own lives. 

There's a playful, almost fantastical tone to the story, which keeps the messages light and lets the magic of the character and scenes shine through. Much of this is due to the illustrative style, which stays in the white/gray tones with only little details here and there presented in a very clashing, bright color. It creates a dreamlike landscape, which is calming and invites the reader in. The text flows very well, fits to the age group, and makes a lovely read-aloud. 

And here she is...

Nicola Killen has always loved drawing and still likes nothing better than taking her sketchbook to the zoo to draw her favorite animals: rhinos and penguins. She designed cards before starting an MA in children’s book illustration at Cambridge School of Art, and since then she has been working on her own books, including The Little Kitten, The Little Bear, The Little Tiger, The Little Puppy, The Little Rabbit, and The Little Reindeer, which was called “an original and entertaining Christmas story with its own understated charm” in a starred review by Kirkus Reviews and “magical” by Publishers Weekly. Nicola Killen lives and works in Cambridge, England.

Sweet 'n' Sour by Kara Eng

Happy 2nd of Advent! So far this season, I've been so swamped with two home renovations (the one 1 1/2 hour drive away), my side job, dentist runs (my kids, not me), and homeschooling that the usual Christmas activities are barely staying squished in. I even forgot about Nikolaustag!!! (And IWSG, if anyone noticed)

In Germany, Saint Nikolaus visits the children on December 5th-6th to fill the boots they've left standing at the front door. Good kids get treats. Bad ones receive a piece of coal from Knecht Ruprecht, Nikolaus's small, broom-wielding partner. In some areas, a live Nikolaus and Knecht Ruprecht visit the houses personally and Nikolaus opens his golden book to tell the children what he's noticed about their behaviors that past year. (My husband and oldest son stepped into these roles for a couple of years and loved it). 

Maybe, you can imagine how terrible I felt that my youngest (the only one still at home and in her last year or so here), didn't say a peep, and the entire day swept by without me remembering!!! 

So, I'm shoving priorities around heavily and will be concentrating on home this week to get all the Christmasy stuff underway as it should be. 

What does that have to do with today's read? Well, as a Christian (and today's read takes a Christian perspective), I've realized I need to turn my thoughts back to where they should be and not running around like a chicken with my head cut-off (and now, as a farmer with chickens, I know what that truly means).  Today's read helps with that in some ways. Or so I hope.

So, let's take a look and maybe nibble on some sweet treats along the way!

SWEET 'N' SOUR

by Kara Eng

Illustrated by Maryna Nesterchuk

Mascot Kids

38 pages

ages 4 to 8

Soy sauce on candy?!

In the magical land of Kingdom Kandy, Almond Cookie is faced with a sour dilemma when she discovers that someone has sabotaged her shop. How will she get herself out of this sticky situation?

Join Almond Cookie and her friends as they embark on this sweet ’n’ sour adventure!

GOODREADS     /    AMAZON    /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

Candy already has these pages coming over with sweetness. Add the message and it's the sweetest treat.

Almond Cookie loves running her candy shop and her joy, which bursts from every aspects, keeps the customers more than satisfied. While this is great for Almond, another shop circling around treats nearby isn't keeping up, and the owner gets more than a little jealous. Deciding it's time to take matters into his own hands, he sabotages her store. Almond is distressed as everything is ruined, and she seeks out help through faith and prayer.

This is a lovely tale with tons of popping colors, playful illustrations, and sweet messages from beginning to end. The story set me back into Sunday School, but with the added twist of the goodness reminding of Strawberry Shortcake. It's hard not to want to jump right into Almond's candy shop and nibble on some treats, and she has the shiny personality to fit. The 'evil' shop owner comes across as fairly normal without overly dark vibes...although his actions do carry the little edge of violence to make it clear he's not kind. All of this creates a rounded tale, which works nicely for a story time or, for those readers who are good with words, to pick up on their own.

This is a Christian read, and I enjoy how it slides into a rounded tale while working in aspects like prayer and trusting God. While it holds wholesome goodness, it doesn't go overboard. It creates a lovely mix and is worth taking a peek at. 

Ticket To Ride by Adrienne Kress

When I first picked this one up, I thought it'd take a little more historical twist. Silly me. I knew the title sound familiar, but was in a reading flurry and didn't think further, right away. Most of you have probably already guessed that this one is written with thoughts on the popular, same-named, boardgame. Which I realized, I haven't played! That is amazing because our family is into board games. I have probably over 50 in my game boxes (which explains why the wooden boxes have long been overfilled and my collection is in a several feet pile next to this more organized stash, too). And I hear whispers that we're going to be adding to this collection come the end of the month. Time to find a new storage option!

Anyway, we've managed to somehow not get our hands on this one yet. Which makes me even more excited to dive into this read.

So, grab those tickets because it's time to board this reading train!

TICKET TO RIDE

An Unexpected Journey

by Adrienne Kress

Illustrated by David Miles

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Middle Grade Mystery

208 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

MARCH 11th!!!

To say twelve-year-old Teddy loves trains is an understatement. He is obsessed. He knows everything there is to know about them, has the most amazing model train setup in the basement, and he carries around a classic caboose, a small model of a caboose of a 19th century steam engine that he received as a birthday gift. It’s his good luck charm! So when Teddy wins a Ticket To Ride the Excelsior Express in a writing contest, he can't wait. The Excelsior Express is a train that's modeled to look like it's from the 1920's but is outfitted with a high-tech locomotive system. This will be the train's flagship journey, and it's a dream come true for Teddy. Plus, he'll get to see his grandparents in Los Angeles, and travel all across North America from his hometown of Toronto, Canada. 

Wait . . . dream come true?

Or maybe a nightmare.

When the train gets rerouted from Omaha to Pittsburgh, at first, Teddy doesn't think anything of it. Trains get rerouted all of the time. But then the train gets rerouted again. What's more, his lucky caboose is missing.

As it turns out, this ticket to ride takes Teddy, his new friend Olivia, a woman always dressed in yellow named Mina, two traveling musicians named Allie and Dex, and their fellow passengers on an unexpected journey and through some pretty hefty corporate corruption.

Based on the hit board game, Ticket to Ride, author Adrienne Kress weaves fascinating story with adventure in this book that's full of mystery, adventure, and friendship, in a style reminiscent of Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl. Illustrator David Miles's spot art leaps off the page . . . and onto a train track. Fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and Adrienne's own Bendy and the Ink Machine novels will love this series.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With a mix somewhat reminding of Murder on the Orient Express meets A Series of Unfortunate Events, this fast-paced read engages and has readers wondering until the end.

Teddy loves nothing more than trains. His obsession is really extreme, so when he has the chance to enter an essay contest to win a ticket for a trip on the Excelsior Express, he's more than onboard. Upon winning, he can barely contain his excitement, and every minute on the train is like a dream. Since he was the only one to win the ticket, he's taking the journey alone, which soon has him eager to find a friend in one of the other passengers. The amazing trip is ever more riddle with slightly odd occurrences, but none of these throw him off-balance...until his favorite toy caboose goes missing. What at first seems to be a little mishap soon evolves into a huge mystery with very powerful players and high stakes.

This read, obviously, was inspired by the game, Ticket to Ride, which already puts a high bar on the expectations. Starting with a heavy narrative style (reminding of Lemony Snicket's works), the reader is first introduced to Teddy with the beginning moments kept at an arm's length away from a more personal connection to the tale. The narration tone holds humor and snark with a touch of wandering thoughts to create a lighter atmosphere. This style holds on for the first couple chapters or so. Just as it borders on lasting too long (I did yawn once or twice), the style switches gears and slowly slides over to Teddy and lets the adventure take flight. Bouts of narration still pop in here and there, but the story speeds ahead with one grabbing moment after the next.

Once the story gets going, it doesn't stop. Something is always happening as Teddy meets various passengers, runs into curious situations, and the clues start mounting up. The author makes sure to express certain tiny details with emphasis, even before the mystery really gets going. This was a lovely way to spark readers' attentions without giving but a whisper of a hint at what the importance of these details might be. It's a fun way to ease mystery fans into the 'pay attention' mode.

There are detailed and well-done illustrations sprinkled through-out the read, which help readers visual the setting and scenes. These work hand in hand with the story and bring the amazement of the train and characters to life.

The writing works well for the younger end of the middle grade age range. Even slightly younger readers, who are very sure of their words, will feel at home in these pages. The writing feels a lean toward chapter books, but the length and slightly heavier amount of text root it to the 7-9 age range. It does take a bit for the tale to grab, but even then, the playful tone is enjoyable. Especially mystery fans are sure to enjoy the webbed plot and find most aspects very hard to guess until the last pages. 

And here they are...

Adrienne Kress is a Toronto-born actor and writer. Her books include the award-winning and internationally published novels Alex and the Ironic Gentleman, Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate, and Hatter Madigan: Ghost in the H.A.T.B.O.X. (with bestselling author Frank Beddor), as well as the steampunk novel The Friday Society and the gothic novel Outcast. She is also the author of the quirky three-book series The Explorers. Adrienne's first foray into writing licensed work came with her work on the Bendy and the Ink Machine novels. Find her at AdrienneKress.com and on Twitter/Instagram @AdrienneKress.

David Miles spent his youth perfecting the art of the Cherry Meringue pie. After repeat failures as a baker (although he still tries) he has since retreated to a subterranean lair somewhere in Kalamazoo, MI. There, he works to the droning sound of a dehumidifier as he creates artwork with the most amazing people he's never met. It's a wonderful life.