Doom and Gloom: The Worst Is Yet To Come by Jane Walker and Darin Henry

It's the title that caught my attention on today's read...so dark and dreary sound, and I bet it's anything but! Why do I say that? Hmmm...there isn't a particular reason. But my gut is telling me to think of Pinky and the Brain and wondering if two cats can really be super evil in a book for ages 8 to 10. Do any of you remember Pinky and the Brain? Anyway, I also thought this is a nice way to start dreaming of October and the upcoming Halloween season because that is just around the corner, and I truly need a boost to get my brain into that mood, this year. Today's read is also the first in a brand, new graphic novel series, and I'm hoping it's fun, humor-packed, and, maybe, will even carry so friendship goodness.

There's only one way to find out what these pages hold—so let's take a look!

THE WORST IS YET TO COME

Doom & Gloom, Book 1

by Jane Walker

and Darin Henry

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Children's Animal Fiction   /   Graphic Novel

144 pages

ages 8 to 10

COMING OCTOBER 6th!!!

Two cunning cats set out to run their own evil empire—until an animal-whispering niece ruins everything! A spooky, silly, laugh-out-loud full-color graphic novel for fans of Cat Ninja and Bunnicula.

Despicable Me + cats + comics = Doom & Gloom! Doom and Gloom were the purr-fect partners in crime . . . until Doom maybe-possibly-definitely caused their evil boss's unfortunate mid-heist demise. Now the cats need a new home, ideally with someone wicked who can also open the wet food.

But their plans hit a snag when their old boss's relentlessly cheerful niece, Petunia, decides to adopt them no matter how many times they hiss, scratch, or flee.

• The first book in a laugh-out-loud full-color series
• A fast-paced, villains-with-heart adventure
• Themes of found family, teamwork, and doing the right thing
• From Emmy-nominated writer Darin Henry and animator Jane Walker

Will these wicked cats save the day—or their street cred? Find out in this irresistibly mischievous romp!

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

With a slight tip-toe into the darker side, these villains try to find their place in the very odd realm of wacky evil-doers.

Doom and Gloom have mostly enjoyed being the sidekicks of their evil boss. Mostly because both believe they have hidden talents that are somewhat being ignored. When they try to help their boss with his latest heist (although they were forbidden to do so), things go wrong and the boss gets squished. Doom and Gloom are, now, faced with the horrid task of finding a new owner, who understands them and can really take care of their needs. The niece of their deceased boss, Petunia, is more than ready to fill this role, but she's the opposite of her uncle and anything but evil. Doom and Gloom are determined to continue their careers in the realm of evil and go on the hunt for a fitting boss to take them in. But things aren't quite that easy.

The blurb says that this is a bit like Despicable Me, and there is a lean in that direction as the two cats do their best to remain evil sidekicks and pull off dastardly deeds. Whatever those may be. This does dance on the darker line as there is violence-ish but this slides into humor, too, for that 'almost villain-y' atmosphere. The boss' death hits right away, and this might bother sensitive readers, but it comes with Tom and Jerry style. This type of danger pops up a few times, keeping tension high...after all, we're talking about true villains here...but it never pushes the boundaries of the age group too much, either. Instead, it keeps everything wrapped in humor and will have readers wondering if this pair of cats really understands what they're doing...and whether they'll make it through.

While the humor and plot play with the evil shadows, there are quite a few warming messages surrounding family, friendship, teamwork, and acting to do the right thing even if you are 'evil'. The entire thing stays dark even in the illustrations...well, mostly. Petunia offers the sunshine, but even this carries an odd twist as she isn't exactly normal. Still, golden goodness and hope shine through, especially when truly evil souls need to create a playdate with their parents before they can attack again. So, there's a lot of goodness snuggled into the appearance of a bleak cover.

It's a fun read, which keeps the reader in the pages since it's never clear what this pair of cats will be facing next. There are also a few secrets, which characters are keeping close to their chests, which promise fun to come. 

And here they are...

Darin Henry is an Emmy-nominated writer and producer whose credits span some of television’s most beloved comedies, including Seinfeld, Futurama, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Oddballs. He has written for series such as The Muppets, Shake It Up, The War at Home, and the BBC’s My Family and Not Going Out, as well as the Doctor Who audio adventure The Game. A veteran storyteller with a knack for sharp wit and memorable characters, Henry brings his comedic flair and decades of writing experience to the misadventures of Doom & Gloom.

Jane Walker is a Los Angeles-based character designer and illustrator whose stylistic sweet spot lands between quirky-cute and deliciously icky. She’s contributed character design and illustration to Helluva Boss, Holidaze, and the Hazbin Hotel pilot, and created background art for YouTube hits TheOdd1sOut and SomethingElseYT. In 2021, she served as Prop and Character Design Lead on Helluva Boss, guiding assets and design for the indie animation team; in 2022 she moved into layout work on SpongeBob SquarePants. Doom & Gloom marks her latest foray into spooky, silly storytelling for young readers.

 

Lou Lou's Pet Dragon Goes to School by Brenden Bott

I want a pet dragon! Or...maybe not. I guess if it was a nice dragon, it could stay in our barn but the price of food would be crazy. Although hunting works very well in our area, too. 

Today's read glides along with this fantasy and should take a look at a girl's desire to have a pet dragon. Or rather, she claims she has a pet dragon. I'm super curious to see if she truly does and how this all works. Or if it's a lovely play on imagination and fantasy? Let's open it up and find out!

LOU LOU'S PET DRAGON GOES TO SCHOOL

by Brenden Bott

Illustrated by Dong Hoon Kim

Arete Books

Picture Book

36 pages

ages 3 to 9

Meet Lou Lou—an unusual girl with a most unusual pet. On her first day at a new school, Lou Lou tries to convince her classmates and teacher that her favourite pet is a real dragon—a difficult task indeed. Filled with humour and surprises, it’s a story children will want to read again and again.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Not only dragon fans will find themselves curious and smiling at this little girl's claims that she owns a pet dragon.

Lou Lou enjoys school, especially since her teacher has something fun that day. The teacher introduces the class to her pet cat and everyone finds it adorable and playful. When the teacher asks the kids which pets they have, everyone is more than happy to answer as they adore their dogs, pet pigs, and more. Only Lou Lou remains quiet as she sits there and comtemplates how to answer the question. After all, she has tons of pets and isn't sure which one she should mention. As she says 'dragon', no one believes her.

If you're looking for a light-hearted, smile-worthy, and quick read, this is it. The plot is rather simple on the surface as Lou Lou announces that she has a dragon, no one believes her, and she's determined not to let them think she's lying. But that's just the surface story as there's a lovely, rich underplay. The author and illustrator keep Lou Lou's pet claims on a delicate fence between reality and fantasy, making the lister wonder until closer to the end which side her claims really sit on. Even when it appears the answer is clear, this unsureness hangs on just a bit longer until there's, finally, no doubt. It ends on a warm, huge smile of endless possibilities and will have the listener hoping they can see Lou Lou and her 'pets' again.

The illustrations do a marvelous job at playing right along the plot's edge. First, the unsure emotions as Lou Lou considers how to answer the teacher's question about pets comes across clearly enough for listeners to wonder how she'll handle the situation too. Then, the illustrations keep the possibility of reality or fantasy alive with shadows and not the true objects. Even when the dragon first appears on the page, it's not clear which direction it goes. The text flows right along to create a grabbing read the entire way through. Even reluctant listeners will enjoy this one and wonder what happens next. 

It's a fun read with imagination and simple enjoyment, and is sure to get the word 'again'.

Wake Up! and Eat Up! by Gramma Jujoo

It's time for a little farm fun! Living on a farm means a new adventure every day, especially thanks to the animals. So, I'm excited to see what these two books are all about.

Let's take a peek!

WAKE UP! Roosters Have Rough Mornings, Too

and

EAT UP! Goats Can Be Picky Eaters, Too

by Gramma Jujoo

Illustrated by Spartac Cebanu

Silver Linings Press

Picture Book

ages 4 to 8

Real-life frustrations. Ridiculous farm animals. Giggles guaranteed.
That's the UP Series in a nutshell.
These laugh-out-loud picture books for ages 4–8 are packed with goofy farm animals, upside-down surprises, and everyday chaos kids instantly recognize.
Each funny story turns everyday struggles into everyday giggles, helping families discover that even tough moments can end with a grin.
UP Stories lift kids UP!

The series can be purchased on Amazon HERE!

MY TIDBITS

Humor ranks high as these farm animals try some unexpected things to make everyday life a huge, chaotic surprise.

The first book, Wake Up!, centers around a rooster, who is more than a little irritated by the horrible noise his alarm clock makes every morning. Soon, he realizes that the animals he awakens with his very early crow are just as irritated by his noise. So, he decides to change things up and make their mornings more enjoyable. From a morning greeting of a glass or orange juice to a gentle, soothing tune, he does his best to find a way to get them going each and every day with a smile. But each attempt only leads to them staying asleep, and he's not sure what to do.

The second book, Eat Up!, rotates around a goat, who happens to be a very picky eater. (Anyone who owns goats knows how silly this idea is!) Anyway, the mother decides to follow this young goat's desires and prepare more exciting food than just vegetable stew. Of course, the mother does this with an interesting twist and the dishes soon take on extremely odd directions.

When I first saw these books, I wasn't sure if they would be heavy messaging or what to expect. To say I'm pleasantly surprised is an understatement. These reads are silly, packed with humor, and simply well done. One ridiculous situation after the next guarantees more than just a smile or two, while the entire thing still carries heart. Everything remains very wholesome, and there is a message of sorts underneath. But these are all about lovely fun, and they pull that off nicely. 

The illustrations are done with love and let the personalities of the animals shine. The colors pop and very well-balanced at the same time. It's enjoyable to flip through the book and watch every moment as they bring across the silliness nicely. The text flows very well and creates a lovely read-aloud. The humor carries a clever note, making the characters sympathetic and enjoyable to follow...while giving listeners plenty of reasons to giggle. It's an adorable series that listeners are sure to enjoy.

And here she is...

Hi! I'm Jude—better known to young readers as Gramma Jujoo!I believe laughter is oxygen, and I hope everyone breathes in enough chuckles, snorts, and belly laughs to make life delightful. 
Through quirky farm animals, upside-down surprises, and playful adventures, my UP Series is designed to Turn Struggles into Giggles.
I write with one hope:
To create stories that help kids and the grown-ups who love them find less stress, more joy, and more fun.
The inspiration for my books comes from the happy chaos of raising four daughters—and now my grandkids are keeping the ideas (and the giggles!) coming.

amazon.com/author/grammajujoo

 

Timecode: Anemoia by Sinclair Wright

Ready to shoot through time...or back into history? This is the first in a new series, which was released this summer. I was intrigued by the blurb, since it appears to be a rich mix of genres and offer something unique. Doesn't that sound fun?

Let's open it up and see what's really inside?

TIMECODE: ANEMOIA

Timecode Book 1

by Sinclair Wright

Zeitmark Press

YA Science Fiction

228 pages

It's the year 2000, and sixteen-year-old Indi Brooks is seeing things that aren't there... at least not there right now.

Indi has always had anemoia: nostalgia for a time period before she was born. But when visions of the past begin invading her waking life, she starts to realize something unexplainable is happening. She’s actually seeing history. At first it's just a flicker she can explain away, a sudden brief flash of a room that isn't hers.

Then the visions start dragging her under completely, dropping her into moments she couldn't have witnessed and shouldn't be able to see. Moments that once shaped the world: events whispered about in rumors or buried completely.

She doesn't know how to control the ability, why it's happening, or why it's her. And she definitely doesn't know why what she sees keeps contradicting everything she's been taught. But once some doors open, they can't be closed. No matter how desperately she might want them to.

Question everything you know about the past.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

While dancing along a line leaning toward dystopian fiction, this read also swirls in time travel and historical moments to create a rich and unique read.

Indi's favorite class is history. By far. As she's steering the usual high school issues of boys, friends, and helping her mother to keep her younger twin siblings in check after Dad left for another woman, odd things start happening. Indi begins to have visions of the past, and these aren't only very detailed but reveal facts which are never mentioned in a history class. The visions are random and seem to pop up after someone mentions an historical figure. But not always. With each vision, she's left sitting in a nonreactive state, and while her best friend catches on quick, her mother wonders if Indi's using some form of drugs. But the truth behind everything is much darker than anyone could imagine, and the deep rooted intrigue rotates around the future of the entire planet.

These pages manage to embrace several genres at once and tidy them up into an exciting and thought-provoking package. The reader gets to know Indi and her situation first, which garners sympathy as she steers the difficulties of helping her mother balance their family life...one which doesn't include financial issues thanks to her mother's job with the government. But there are twin siblings involved which keep Indi on her toes. Then, there's school and a teacher who seems to target Indi, but this balances fine with the other teachers, especially that of her history class. The friends' front also has a little tension, but it is nothing out of the norm. Then, there's her best friend, who is giving off possible boyfriend vibes for future books in the series. But we'll just have to wait and see on that end, too. For now, it's a balanced cast of characters to give it a realistic atmosphere and a solid foundation with possibilities. And that's all that is needed because the time travel takes over the rest of this read.

The author has Indi slipping back into visions of historical personalities. These are detailed, longer visits, and deliver even more story plot than that of Indi's life. The author does a great job with these, has done the research and lets each visit prove that there's much more behind the facts than what is standardly known. These historical journeys are interestingly done, hold tension, and bring plenty of food for thought. They range from Michael Jackson to Martin Luther King Jr. to little known queens and so much more. They also make up a big chunk of the story and can get heavy, at times. History buffs and intrigue fans are sure to appreciate this, but those who aren't might be a little weighed down. Outside of being interesting, they serve the larger purpose of leading Indi to question the motives behind history books. 

The prologue and epilogue make it very clear that Indi's visions are part of a much larger, deeper, and sinister game. I thought we'd get a bit more on this front, since there are quite a few breadcrumbs hinting at the horribleness behind this web. But it isn't until the last chapters that this aspect really takes on a little more grip. Almost with the feel of an afterthought, Indi's mother exposes a huge secret, and Indi goes on a hunt to learn more about her 'power'...which ends very open ended and, at least for me, could have held more urgency. But I'm expecting all of this will come in the next books.

Honestly, this is a hard book for me to review (and that's probably why the review is so long). On one hand, I truly appreciated the historical dives. So interesting! On the other, Indi's sudden abilities and the very dangerous truth behind them border on being a side-note. The main plot in this first book carries a looser string, and I was left wondering what was the point since nothing is wrapped up by the end. But it is a series, and that means there's much more to come. Plus, the writing flows extremely well, and the characters are interesting. So, we'll just have to see what happens next.

Stella and Marigold: Past and Presents by Annie Barrows

Today's read is the third in a chapter book series for those readers, who are sure of their words but need a little more practice before heading on into lower middle grade novels. I haven't read the first two in the series, and I'm doubting that will be an issue, but we'll see. This comes from the same author/illustrator as the much loved Ivy & Bean series, and this new series is garnering great reviews and attention as well. It circles around a pair of sisters and their daily adventures...which I'm betting aren't exactly boring or ordinary. But let's find out!

PAST AND PRESENTS

Stella & Marigold, Book 3

by Annie Barrows

Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Chronicle Books

Chapter Book

124 pages

ages 6 to 9

COMING OCTOBER 6th!!!

The next adventure in the fun and funny early chapter book series about two small sisters with very big imaginations―from the beloved creators of the New York Times bestselling Ivy + Bean, Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall.

There is the whole world, and in it, there’s a city, and in that city, there’s a house, and in that house lives a pair of sisters named Stella and Marigold. But the house is very old, so they are not the only children who have ever lived in it. One surprising day, they discover that there was another girl, maybe named Ziamara, who not only lived in their house, but wrote on the wall and left secret presents for Stella and Marigold. Inspired by this hero from the past, Stella and Marigold make great plans for the future.

With lots of adventure, a dynamic relationship, and colorful pictures, this series is perfect for emerging readers. This unlikely duo will have readers LOL-ing!

And more buzz...

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED: Stella & Marigold, a USA Today and National Indie bestseller, shined with critics, receiving four starred reviews! Kirkus Reviews raved, “All the heart. None of the pablum. Sisterhood at its finest and freshest.”

STRONG RELATIONSHIP: This series positively depicts the ups and downs of sisterhood and will also resonate with any fan of general friendship duos.
WONDERFUL GIFT: Sophie Blackall's full-color illustrations are both gorgeous and hilarious, making this book a gift joyfully given and very happily received.

Perfect for:
Independent readers age 6-9
Parents, teachers, and librarians seeking entertaining elementary school chapter books
Gift-givers looking for an early readers series for kids who enjoy stories full of humor and heart
Readers who love such bestselling book series as Ivy + Bean, Junie B. Jones, Beezus and Ramona, Dory Fantasmagory, and Princess in Black

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Sibling goodness mixes with spunky personalities to create one enjoyable adventure after the other.

Stella and Marigold discover a sketch and writing on the wall behind the couch. Since they didn't do that...that isn't allowed..., they begin to fantasize about the creator. With a little imagination, they decide it's a girl from Colorado who can fly. And that sets off all sorts of ideas for the rest of the book.

This is the third book in the series but can easily be picked up as a stand alone. It consists of ten chapters, or rather, ten short adventures, which are around ten pages or so each. Stella and Marigold are up to all sorts of things as their fantasy leads them from one idea to the next. Everything stays founded in a realistic setting and appropriate for their ages. But these two are always up to something. From bears to portals in time, they let their imaginations take flight. The result is always wholesome, and the pair's energy and joy for life is addicting.

There's tons of sibling goodness in these pages as the two always work together and offer support. Even the relationships with other students and people around them carry a positive atmosphere. The adventures feed from the sisters' imaginations and are ones that are similar to things many readers have done themselves. For example, building a tent in the living room or burying things for people to discover in the future. It's a familiar, warming fun the entire way through. 

Each story has just the right length for a story-time read or as a bedtime read. These also work especially well for beginning readers, who are sure of their words, to pick up on their own. The font and spacing make for easy reading. The illustrations add to the personality and fun, but also work nicely to help beginning readers follow the scenes. 

It's a lovely set of adventures and I'm looking forward to seeing what these sisters will be up to next.

And here they are...

Annie Barrows is the New York Times bestselling author of many books for both children and adults, including the beloved Ivy + Bean series, which can also be seen on Netflix; The Best of Iggy series; the young adult novel Nothing; and the adult bestselling novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. She lives in Northern California.

Sophie Blackall is an award-winning illustrator whose books are beloved around the world. Her previous books include If You Come to Earth, Ruby's Wish, and the Ivy + Bean series, as well as Hello Lighthouse and Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear, both of which were awarded the Caldecott Medal. She lives in New York.