All the Stars in the Sky by Art Coulson

With the upcoming, cooler nights...I'd say now, but we're looking at another week of mid-90s, no rain, and anything but average for this time of year....anyway, with the upcoming, cooler nights, there will be more evenings spent on the patio and stargazing. One nice thing about living in the country is that the stars are very visible. The next months also mean a chance for us to enjoy a bit of the Milky Way again, too. So, when I saw this read, I wasn't going to pass it by.

These pages should hit indigenous notes while centering around a sense of community goodness (we really need to learn to embrace care, concern, and true neighborly love again). Let's see how it goes!

ALL THE STARS IN THE SKY

by Art Coulson

Illustrated by Winona Nelson

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING SEPTEMBER 16th!!!

Last Stop on Market Street meets We Are Otsaliheliga in this sweet, bighearted picture book about a young boy who learns the Cherokee lesson of gadugi—how working together and helping each other makes the whole community stronger.

When eager Clay asks his elisi (grandmother) for help to be named star of the week at school, he’s surprised by her No one person is more important than his family and his community. But is Clay still important at all?

This contemplative exploration of community, individualism, and responsibility—accentuated with traditional beadwork in the art—is a moving invitation to consider an indigenous perspective of one’s place in the world and how we all light up our sky, together.

GOODREADS      /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With care and warmth, the importance of every person is embraced.

There's only one more week of school, and Clay has yet to be the Star of the week. So, he asks his grandmother, elisi, for advice. Instead of actions he can take, she questions the entire thought of being the star. While this confuses Clay, at first, his elisi leads him through an explanation, which broadens his horizons in the best ways.

The second I saw the cover, I was intrigued. The watercolor gives off a lovely, gentle atmosphere while the bead work adds unique and beautiful details. This style continues through the entire book. It's worth flipping through the pages and getting lost in this finely placed artwork. Plus, I bet more than a few readers/ listeners wouldn't mind filtering this idea into an art project.

As for the story, it flows well. It's more atmospheric and holds words of wisdom for thought and digestion. It is well-suited to the audience level and works as a nice read-aloud, especially leading into themes such as working together, respecting others, humility, and community. The setting makes it a nice fit to classroom and group settings, since it illustrates how everyone is important, no one more than anyone else. 

This is a lovely read with tons of goodness.

And here they are...

Art Coulson is a writer of Cherokee, English, and Dutch descent and comes from a family of storytellers in all three traditions. A Navy brat, Art traveled the world, attending fourteen schools on three continents before graduating high school. Art served as the first executive director of the Wilma Mankiller Foundation in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma after an award-winning twenty-five-year career in journalism. A 2023 McKnight Fellow in Children’s Literature, Art is the author of twenty books, graphic novels, and plays, including Chasing Bigfoot, Bank Street Best Book of 2020 The Reluctant Storyteller, All the Stars in the Sky, and Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi!, which was named a best STEM children’s book by the National Science Teaching Association. Find out more at ArtCoulson.com.

Winona Nelson is a fine artist and illustrator of comics and children’s books. She’s the illustrator of If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving by Chris Newell, which was a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and All the Stars in the Sky by Art Coulson. Her fine art, which often focuses on the stories and history of her tribe, the Ojibwe of Minnesota, as well as on gender and diversity, has been featured in galleries across the country. She lives in Pennsylvania with her artist beau Anthony and their gentleman cats, Diego and Tod. 

Snow Kid by Jessie Sima

SNOW KID

by Jessie Sima

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

56 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING SEPTEMBER 16th!!!

From the New York Times bestselling creator of Not Quite Narwhal, Jessie Sima, comes a heart-melting wintery picture book about a snow kid finding out what it means to be themself!

Meet Twig, the snow kid! Like all snow kids, Twig was made from many snowflakes, twigs, stones, a crisp orange carrot, and a very fine hat. What a wonderful thing it is to be Twig! Except…could they still be Twig if a strong breeze blows away their hat? As Twig chases after the hat, more things keep changing, and they keep growing and moving and talking. Is there still a way to go back to being Twig?

Maybe not. But maybe there’s more than one way to be a snow person, and it can be fun to walk and talk and grow and change. Twig can find snow people like them even as they’re still learning how to become Twig, and that’s a wonderful thing!

PUBLISHER     /     GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Winter thoughts take life with an adorable snow kid.

This is a read about a group of children, who build a snow kid and name it Twig. Twig like the name, but first when a hat blows away, does Twig realize it can move. The adventure leads through all sorts of scenes, characters, and surprises with tons to discover along the way. 

The snowscapes invite to wintery dreams and those first days in the snow. Snow Kid is a kind character with tons to discover, which adds a bit of innocent fun. As adventure leads Snow Kid through one gentle surprise after the next...and the hat floats away, it's hard not to wonder how everything will turn out. The sense of community, friendship and fun swirls everything together to create a wholesome tale to snuggle up with on colder days.

The illustrations invite in and give off an atmosphere of discovery and joy. The text flows well and fits the age group nicely. While this makes a lovely read-aloud, it is a little on the longer side and allows the scenes to unfold with time for emotions. So, it's a more patient read. 

For those, who are winter dreaming, it's a lovely read with a touch of fairy tale like magic.

And here is the author...

Jessie Sima is the author and illustrator of bestselling picture books, including Not Quite Narwhal; Love, Z; Hardly Haunted; and more. They grew up in a small town in southern New Jersey and now write and draw in a creaky house in New York state. When not making books, Jessie can be found reading graphic novels, watching scary movies, and playing outside with dogs. You can visit them online at JessieSima.com. 

Happy Birthday Book, Two-List Thanksgiving by Christine Whan!

It's time for another book birthday! Today's read already nods toward the upcoming, holiday season and shoots into Thanksgiving. It might seem a bit early, but I'm taking this one as an inspiration for possible feats...because sometimes, planning starts early. I'm not sure how this one will flow, but it does involve two cultural meals for one holiday. Telling by the little girl on the cover, it means a lot of delicious food...and I'm always in for that.

So, let's take a look!

TWO-LIST THANKSGIVING

by Christine Whan

Illustrated Sienna Youngsun Kim

Beaming Books

Picture Book   /   Holiday

40 pages

A Korean American Thanksgiving story.

What does Thanksgiving dinner look like when both sides of the family come together? When it's time to shop for ingredients, a girl makes two lists--one for the local market and one for the Korean market! Carrots for japchae and turkey stuffing. Whipped cream for the pumpkin pie. Shrimp for pajeon, short ribs for galbi, and cinnamon for the yams. And don't forget the kimchi! Thanksgiving is going to be delicious!

Thanksgiving Day is full of food and family, football and conversation, and of course, giving thanks. By the end of the meal, she has a newfound love for her family's two distinct cultures.

Two-List Thanksgiving celebrates the beauty of blending traditions of all family backgrounds to create a truly multicultural holiday celebration.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Thanksgiving takes a bi-cultural twist with an enjoyable family and plenty of yummy foods.

A little girl sits down with her mother to create the Thanksgiving shopping list, but instead, of one list, she needs to write two. Half of her family settled into the United States many generations before, while the other half are fresher and hold close Korean roots. That means two sets of markets or stores, and tons of yummy possibilities. The results create an amazing Thanksgiving together.

My favorite aspect of this read is the illustrative work. Each page radiates love and family togetherness, while bringing across the cultural goodness in a visual way. The details make it enjoyable to gaze through each scene, and the emotions come across wonderfully. 

The tale flows well and begins, right away, with the meal planning. It happens naturally, and this comes across especially well as the various family members cook and prepare the meal together. The vocabulary works nicely for the intended age group and is kept short enough to work for more reluctant listeners. 

The ending wraps everything up with a wholesome atmosphere and demonstrates the warmth that Thanksgiving can bring. After this, there are two recipes, one from each half of the dinner, which listeners/readers can prepare with a bit of help and enjoy, too.

And here they are...

Christine Whan is a children's book author and former English teacher. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Ohio. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three book-loving children. Two-List Thanksgiving is her debut picture book. Her favorite Thanksgiving food is kimchi.

Sienna Youngsun Kim is an illustrator and designer living in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and a small dog. She grew up in South Korea and has fond memories of family gatherings during Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and making Songpyeon (rice cakes that resemble the moon) with her family. 

Brimstone and Blades by Maria Alexander

BRIMSTONE & BLADES

by Maria Alexander

Ghede Press

YA Fantasy

359 pages

It's 1689.

Sixteen-year-old Julie de Maupin is on the run in France with her boyfriend, a young swordmaster named Sérannes. They perform sword fights and songs in taverns to survive.

But when a diabolical creature kills Sérannes, it also injures Julie in the attack. Her devastating wound plunges her into the dangerous world of French magic. She learns the creature is controlled by a necromantic coven called the Shadow Holders. Defeated during the Affair of the Poisons, they've returned with more powerful allies to crush Louis XIV and terrorize France.

With her found family of magical and moggie misfits, Julie must use her sword, wit, and gender-bending wiles to send the threat back to Hell. Will they be enough?

Magic is illegal, and so is dueling. But that won't stop La Maupin.

An exciting new page-turner from multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author, Maria Alexander.

GOODREADS   /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Action and tension pack every page as swords mix with necromancy and magic while a character to root for pushes all norms to succeed.

There's just enough of historical facts in this read to give it a tiny bit of grounding before shooting off into a rapid fire fantasy. Julie de Maupin is a force to be reckoned with and that at only sixteen. Her past highlights struggles women faced during the time period, while this fantastical tale lets her blossom and bloom. The author begins the entire read with a situation, which lays the groundwork for Julie in so many ways as the first sword dual takes place. Her determination, defiance of rules, desire to protect those she loves, and 'don't mess with me' personality make have her driving the plot the entire way through. 

Action fans will appreciate the very quick pacing and web of secrets and danger Julia faces. The sword scenes come to life as does the magic and surroundings. But this never hits long descriptions or thought digestion. The world is rich, and yet, the depth, outside of Julia, doesn't run overly deep. Side characters remain on the surface, and any deeper thought about the time period steps aside for the gripping tale. With everything Julia is up against, this doesn't really bother, either. The evil is obvious, and the plot does take darker turns, at times. But there's also character growth as Julia learns to find her own type of family along the way.

Readers, who want a read that drives forward from beginning to end, will not be disappointed. Those who search soul depth will need to look somewhere else. But this is a delightful read to get lost in and enjoy. 

Take A Shot, Kipp by Lee Y. Miao

I've been excited to dive into today's read. It's the third in a series, Ellie & Co, with each book being a stand-alone. While the first book was about Ellie, the second revolved around a character close to Ellie. I'm assuming this book will concern her brother, Kipp (I know, huge guess considering the title). I'm excited to see that this one might revolve around lacrosse, since sport books are always sought after. Plus, these author's books never disappoint, so it's sure to be an engaging read.

But let's open it up and find out!

TAKE A SHOT, KIPP

Ellie & Co, Book 3

by Lee Y. Miao

MG

Middle Grade Fiction

228 pages

ages 8 to 12

Kipp Wei Pettit, eleven at last, has one dream-make the travel lacrosse league. Except he's small.

And first, he's got some annoying summer classes. But when a hotshot rival tries out for the same attack position, Kipp steps up.

His best buddies, energetic dog, and even his sports-clueless dad pitch in to help him practice. Except right before the final scrimmage, everything collapses.

How will he make the final cut? Maybe his athletic skills will be enough. Maybe something else. Kipp won't know until he tries out.

GOODREADS      /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Like the first two books in the series, this is a tale to enjoy from beginning to end.

Lacrosse means everything to Kipp, and he knows his best chances to keep improving lie in the travel lacrosse league. But he has to not only convince his parents to let him join the league, he has to make the cut. Considering his small size, that's going to be a challenge. The first hurdle, his parents, causes a heavy load as they insist he join a gymnastics group, where there are only girls in pink, and take violin lessons. But lacrosse is worth the sacrifice. Giving his all, he keeps everything balanced and still manages to practice lacrosse. When the second hurdle arrives, making the team cut, disaster strikes and all his hopes might be lost.

Kipp is a kind, determined boy, and he's very easy to like and root for. His frustrations with his parents are understandable, and his determination to do whatever it takes makes him an inspiration. Even though he grows disgruntled at times, it's never with malice. Even the sibling and friend side holds the daily ups and downs, but care and concern never remain far behind.

It's no problem to identify with Kipp as he does his best to overcome each challenge, sometimes with help and not always easily. It's a steady paced story, which hooks the entire way through. The lacrosse goodness adds excitement, and even those who don't know the sport will have no problem relating to the troubles, since these are found in almost every sport. To make sure everything stays light, the moments often hold enough humor to draw some smiles or knowing nods of the head. The ending wraps up everything with enough tension to make it grabbing and satisfying.

And here she is...

Lee Y. Miao grew up in a small Pennsylvania town with a library to die for. After careers in finance and K-12 educational writing, she turned to middle-grade fiction. Her novels feature mystery, sports, humor, and heart. They follow contemporary characters who discover connections to their family cultures.

     Please sign up for Lee’s email newsletter at her website, www.leeymiao.com, for news about books, libraries, and reading-writing tidbits. She’d also appreciate any readers writing a review on Amazon or other that will give her feedback on her writing.

Surviving Summer Camp by Paul Breau

SURVIVING SUMMER CAMP

by Paul Breau

TKI Productions, Inc

Middle Grade Humor

175 pages

ages 8 to 12

Fans of Holes, Hatchet, or Restart will love this heart-pounding survival story about three brothers lost in the forests of the Pacific Northwest.

An intermediate chapter book for preteen boys ages 8-12!

Eddy had big plans for summer.
No brothers. No responsibilities. No worries.
Nothing but comic books, video games, and all the snacks he could eat!

But one “unfortunate” mistake changes everything. Now Eddy’s worst nightmare is coming
He’s being shipped off to summer camp… with his two brothers.

His perfect older brother is a bossy, know-it-all camp counselor.
His annoying younger brother is an overexcited goody-goody.
And Eddy? He just wants to avoid the bugs, the physical activities, and the forest wildlife.

But when an overnight hike goes horribly wrong, the brothers get separated from the other campers and end up lost deep in the wilderness.
No maps. No cell service. No snacks!

Just three brothers, one raging river, and danger lurking behind every shadow.

Eddy will need to dig deep to become something he’s never been a hero.

Will they make it back alive—or kill each other trying?

Surviving Summer Camp is a laugh-out-loud, heart-pounding survival story for fans of Hatchet , Holes , and My Side of the Mountain .

Fans of Gary Paulsen, Jack London, and Louis Sachar will love this exciting action-adventure story!
An intermediate chapter book for preteen boys ages 8-12!

Recommended 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade boys
Recommended reading Intermediate chapter books and middle grade boys
Recommended for eight, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve-year old boys

GOODREADS    /      AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Summer camp will never be the same after experiencing it through Eddy's eyes.

Eddy loves the indoors, not nature or fresh air like his mom claims he should. He might have been able to spend the summer in his comfort zone, if an accident with one of his brothers hadn't ruined everything. Now, he's off to summer camp with no chance of returning home unscathed. Mom thinks he'll be fine, especially with both of his brothers attending camp along with him. The oldest is even a counselor...which is anything but great, but Mom doesn't get that. Eddy tries to steer through camp life as best as he can and avoid the wildlife. When he and his brothers find themselves lost and alone in the woods, everything takes a drastic turn for the worse. Now, Eddy needs to step up and make sure all three of them survive.

These pages hold a fun mix of survival, adventure, and humor to keep the story going the entire way through. Something happens on every page, and this includes everything from surprises to character growth. The first chapters allow the reader to sink into Eddy's life and home situation, which give a nice grasp on his inner-struggles as well as the relationship with his brothers. The summer camp begins a bit later, but once it hits, the story drives forward the rest of the way through. 

Eddy is a character to get behind. He's a bit of a drama-king and the relationship with his brothers definitely carries a sharp edge, but that makes it all the more exciting to follow him into the dreaded camp situation, watch his struggles, laugh or moan with his thoughts, and root for him when things get rough. He has a lot to overcome and none of it is easy...seemingly impossible, at times. It will keep the reader guessing and eager to see what happens next.

While there are obvious messages about going beyond the comfort zone and sibling relationships, the adventure and humor remain the center focus to create a fun read.

And here he is...

Paul Breau is a writer with a passion for crafting fast-paced, funny, and relatable stories that keep young readers turning the page. A graduate of the University of British Columbia with a degree in English Literature, Paul understands the struggles of reluctant readers and writes books designed to hook them early—with cliffhangers, smart characters, and just the right amount of chaos.

When he’s not writing, Paul enjoys movies, comic books, and video games—basically, he’s still a kid at heart. He also keeps active with skating, karate, and sketching in his notebook. Paul lives in Vancouver with his wife, daughter, and a badly behaved Chihuahua named Poppy.

paulbreau.com 

Not Lucille by Mike Steele

I'd already seen today's read floating around the middle grade realm when I was asked to take a peek at it. From everything I've seen, it should be an interesting read. It also so happens to take place during the Great Depression, not exactly a time frame I've seen visited by many books lately. I'm excited to see what this one is all about. I have tried to steer pretty clear of the reviews, since I didn't want to have thoughts before picking this one up. Honestly, I try to do that as much as possible with every read...sometimes, it works out better than others.\

In any case, let's jump in and see what's up with Lucille.

NOT LUCILLE

by Mike Steele

Middle Grade Historical Fiction

228 pages

ages 8 to 12

It’s 1931, and children should be seen and not heard.

Ten-year-old Lucy Contento can’t help but be seen and heard. And she’s always in trouble for it. She talks too much. She’s impulsive. She writes with the wrong hand. Her parents would be mad enough knowing she routinely earns afterschool detentions. They’d be furious if they found out she’s been sneaking onto the campus of the nearby Trenton Academy for the Deaf. But there, Lucy has met Florence, a lonely and profoundly deaf girl her own age. Florence doesn’t mind Lucy’s flaws. Though Florence can’t speak, she has a unique way of communicating. If Lucy can figure out how to learn Florence’s special language, the two could be friends.

Lucy devises a plan, but it’s going to cost a whopping $7.98—more money than she’s got. She can’t tell her parents why she wants the funds without revealing she’s been visiting Florence. Besides, her parents don’t have a penny to spare. Her father has been out of work for months. And nobody else in the Contento family has an income. Or do they …? Lucy soon discovers she’s not the only member of her family hiding something. Can she get the money she needs while keeping everyone’s secrets? Or will her scheming land her in the biggest trouble of her life?

In this story of friendship and belonging, a young girl navigates prejudice, punishment, and identity while establishing her voice in a world that often tries to keep her silent.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

With heart, a little mischief, and quite a bit of family goodness, this tale lets readers sink a bit into the Great Depression. 

Lucy (not Lucille as her awful teacher calls her) can't believe she ended up with the strictest 6th grade teacher...and that when she's only in the 5th. But having a teacher suddenly switch grades isn't the only difficult part of her life. Her father hasn't had a job for a few months, and while her family does have some savings, it's not clear it will hold until he lands another job. Her oldest brother is making things at home even rougher thanks to his disinterest in attending school. When Lucy finds an unexpected friend at the school for deaf children across the street, things take an interesting turn.

Lucille is an easy character to connect with. Despite taking place in 1931, Lucille's life comes across with enough familiarity for readers to understand her situation and problems. Her inability to sit still and struggles with the teacher are things readers from today can even understand. Still, the historical goodness comes through clearly as things such as the forbidden 'writing with the left hand' or 'children don't speak when adults are talking' reveal some attitudes of the time period. This different view of life is also seen in Lucy's friendship with a deaf girl. Lucy comes across as determined and kind, while holding quite a bit of spunk and attitude to let her rebellious nature, especially for that time frame, come through. So, she's a character to root for.

The tale rolls along smoothly with plenty of problems for Lucille to handle. The financial issues of the Great Depression come across clearly as well as the influence they had on life during those years. I was a little surprised to see her oldest brother continuing school at his age (most teens left high school around ages 14-15 at that time), but the family's attitude is inspiring on that front. Even Lucille's connection with her new friend adds goodness and plenty of food for thought on the social side of life. So, there's quite a bit of positive aspects to these pages.

Readers, who want to learn more about the time period, will find this an easy way to dive into life during those years. I especially see this as a nice book for homeschoolers to enjoy.

And here he is...

Mike Steele is an elementary school librarian and children’s playwright with eight plays published and licensed for production. Not Lucille is his debut middle-grade novel. In his spare time, he likes to attend musicals, create mixed-media artwork, and win prizes from claw machines. He lives at the Jersey Shore with his
tabby cats, Karen and Sox. If you spot him in the wild, he usually has a bubble tea in one of his hands.
www.mikesteeleonline.com
@msteelewrites

 

Happy Book Birthday, Tuck and Tina and the Lost Fortune by Jess Brallier!

It's time to shoutout another book birthday!!! Today's read is the second in a graphic novel series for beginning readers. I haven't read the first (my terrible habit). So, I'm diving into this with fresh eyes. I'm pretty sure these work as stand-alones, anyway. 

I'm expecting fun humor and am excited to meet this cat to see what it's up to. Let's open it up and see how this adventure goes!

TUCK AND TINA 

AND THE LOST FORTUNE

by Jess Brallier

Illustrated by Jack Keely

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Children's Humor   /   Graphic Novel

144 pages

ages 6 to 9

COMING...

SEPTEMBER 2nd!!!

Meet Tuck and Tina, two mice pals on a quest to save their elementary school! This is the first book in an all-new, adorable, and colorful series that's perfect for young readers who are ready to make the leap from picture books to chapter books, from bestselling creators Jess Brallier and Jack Keely.

Tina and Tuck are two unlikely class pets who are ready for adventure!
 
Tina lives at Boone School. She loves listening to lessons and seeing all the kids having fun with their friends. She just wishes she had a real friend of her own. So when a new class pet arrives, Tina wonders if her wish might come true.
 
However, Tuck is a ball of energy, causing chaos wherever he goes.
 
But when the school faces closure, Tina and Tuck must put aside their differences and work together to find a secret fortune rumored to be hidden somewhere in the school.
 
Can these two smallest of heroes save the day—and their home?

This beautifully illustrated, full-color chapter book is just right for fans of Jeff Kinney, Lincoln Peirce, and Rachel Renée Russell. Which is saying a lot, considering it's written by a mouse!

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

And here they are...

During his years as a publisher, Jess Brallier became known for breaking rules and launching bestsellers. Under his creative guidance, the Planet Dexter imprint produced a string of hits including the New York Times bestselling Grossology and its sequels. Linking storytelling and gaming literacy, he launched the world’s largest kids’ site, Poptropica, and digitally published Jeff Kinney’s phenomenal Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Jess is the author of over thirty books including Who Was Albert Einstein? (NYT bestseller) and Tess’s Tree (illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds). Jess is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (B.A.) and Boston University (M.S.).

As an illustrator in both New York and Los Angeles, Jack Keely's projects have included over thirty books for kids. The characters he created for the bestselling Grossology series have come to life in an animated film and in a video game, and as robotic performers in the record breaking international Grossology museum exhibitions. Jack is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design (BFA) and Cranbrook Academy of Art (MFA) and has taught illustration and graphic design at several universities.

Whodonut? A Holiday Mystery by Josh Funk

WHODONUT?

A Holiday Mystery

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast

by Josh Funk

Illustrated by Brendan Kearney

Union Square Kids

Picture Book Holiday

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING SEPTEMBER 9th!!!

A thief is among us ...

The newest Agatha Crispy book is here, and Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast have been invited to the very first reading on Holiday Eve!

But when the lights go out and the book goes missing, everyone becomes a suspect. As the party splits up to search the mansion, Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast team up once again.

Will they be able to follow the clues and save the ending to the Miss Maple series, or will the culprit be at large forever?

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

A fun, Christmas excursion turns into a huge mystery with the best characters from the fridge.

Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast have been invited to attend a reading of Agatha Crispy's latest novel. To say they are excited is an understatement. When the arrived, everything is wonderful outside of the fact that Agatha Crispy has announced this novel is her last. When the lights suddenly go out, the book goes missing. There are several suspects, but to find out who the true culprit is, they must first find the book.

This is a delightful addition to the Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast series, and probably, one of my favorites so far. While the Agatha Crispy and Miss Maple name drops will make adults smile, readers will, obviously, not necessarily understand the nods. But the names are still fun, and whether or not readers understand the connection has little to do with the flow of the plot. There's a mystery to be solved, and it's enjoyable to watch the characters pair up as they search the mansion in all sorts of places. The story draws in and will have listeners/readers wondering who the thief is. Of course, there is a surprise at the end, which rounds off everything nicely.

The illustrations are bright and packed with details to make each one worth gazing at. These bring the characters to life as the text lets the story flow. This makes a nice read aloud or can be visited by beginning readers. The holiday aspect does make it one to visit during the holidays, but the story, actually, steers more heavily into the mystery, leaving the Christmas aspect as a nice side dish. In other words, it can be visited and enjoyed year around.

And here they are...

Josh Funk is the co-creator of the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, including Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast, The Case of the Stinky Stench, Mission Defrostable, Short & Sweet, and The Great Caper Caper. His other works include, How to Code a Sandcastle, Lost in the Library, Albie Newton, and more. Josh lives in Massachusetts and invites you to learn more about him by visiting joshfunkbooks.com.
 
Brendan Kearney is the co-creator of the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, including Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast, The Case of the Stinky Stench, Mission Defrostable, Short & Sweet, and The Great Caper Caper. Brendan also is the author-illustrator of Forest, The Night the Moon Went Missing, and Fish. He currently lives in the UK with his family and invites you to learn more about him by visiting brendandraws.com.