Happy Book Birthday, The Lake Trip by Katie Risor!

It's been awhile since I've shouted out a book birthday. How horrible! Well, it's time to correct this problem and give a HUGE shout-out to today's new read. This read is the second in a series, and I did read the first one last year (see review HERE). It's a graphic novel meant for beginning readers out there, who are mostly sure of their words but need more practice. I remember the first book as hitting, at first, a little different thanks to the unique characters, but it was very warming and fun. So, I'm hoping for more of that in this read. And lake trips are perfect for this time of year!

Pack that bag, grab some sunscreen, and don't forget snacks because we're heading into a promising adventure!

THE LAKE TRIP

Welcome to the Forest #2

by Katie Risor

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Children's Fantasy

Graphic Novel

80 pages

ages 6 to 9

The quirky, lovable creatures of the Forest return in this heartwarming and beautifully illustrated graphic novel, perfect for beginning readers, English-language learners, and fans of cozy comics. Includes a fun nonfiction fact sheet about lakes.

Mossman, Wallace, Grumpkin, and Shadow are off on a lakeside adventure!

From packing for their day trip to learning how to float and discovering a magical way to cool off, every moment is filled with gentle humor, friendship, and simple discoveries that celebrate the wonder of nature. 

Perfect for emerging readers and fans of Studio Ghibli's whimsical worlds, this early reader graphic novel Fun nonfiction facts about lakes and their natural wonders 

Dyslexia-friendly font for accessible reading 

Simple dialogue and sight words for beginning readers and ESL learners

Gorgeous hand-painted illustrations in a distinctive, cozy style

Adorably quirky characters that will delight fans of Pocket Peaches, Brambly Hedge, Calico Critters, and Labubu collectors

With gentle storytelling and endearing forest friends, Katie Risor's Welcome to the Forest series is a heartfelt invitation to slow down and savor the small wonders of the world.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Summer adventure meets budding friendship in a fun read with tons of heart.

The three friends, Mossman, Wallace, and Grumpkin, are heading on a trip because Wallace has a new friend and wants to visit her. First, they need to cross the river, and then, it's time to find the meeting place and wait. Not everything goes smoothly, and everyone isn't sure what to expect. When the new friend shows up, she's not what the friends expected, and they aren't sure they can warm up to her the way Wallace has.

This adventure is just right for those readers, who know their words but could use a little more practice. The characters are so easy to like and carry quite a bit of uniqueness to make them memorable. Their friendship is golden, and even the grumpiest of them is, actually, very kind. The trio heads out on their first trip, which is entertaining, especially with some slight mistakes. But these friends work together to work everything out. Even the meeting with the new friend adds humor and keeps a tiny tad bit of tension to make the adventure grabbing. It wraps up with tons of wholesome moments and proves that friendship reaches past many boundaries. In other words, its very well balanced and great for the intended age group.

The text is short enough not to grow frustrating but still works those word skills. Thanks to the plot, it runs smoothly and is sure to keep readers' interest. The illustrations are bright, bold, and let the scenes come to life. The right atmosphere hits with each moment to keep everything lively. These are also helpful to readers to make sure they know what is happening in the text.

I can't wait to see what this group of friends is up to next.

And here she is...

Katie Risor is a professional illustrator and author who loves all things weird, interesting, and whimsical. In her personal work, she's all about weird creatures, hidden themes, and childhood adventures. She gets a lot of inspiration from nature, animals, and history. When she's not painting or writing, you can find Katie gardening, cooking, eating fancy cheese, going on walks, making specialized playlists, or looking for cool new restaurants to try. She grew up in San Antonio, Texas but recently moved to Syracuse, New York with her partner and three cats. 

Welcome to the Forest: The Harvest Party by Katie Risor

 Today's read doesn't hit the shelves until August, but it looked so adorable that I decided to take a peek at it already. It's all about forest adventures...and I do love the outdoors. The two characters on the cover have a friendly, original appeal, and I have the suspicion that friendship plays an important role in these pages. Yes, I'm judging this one by its cover because it also is a graphic novel and for those readers, who are mostly sure of their words but might need a bit more practice before diving into tougher reads.

Let's just open this one up and see what it holds.

WELCOME TO THE FOREST:

The Harvest Party

by Katie Risor

Andrews McMeel Publishing

80 pages

ages 6 to 8

COMING...

AUGUST 5th!!!

A group of quirky forest creatures embark on heartwarming adventures in this graphic novel series opener featuring original gouache art. Perfect for beginning readers and graphic novel fans, especially those who love the Studio Ghibli films and Tove Jansson's Moomin. Includes nonfiction information at the back of the book​ about the autumnal season.

Deep in the heart of the Forest lives a handful of monsters. The Forest is home to many creatures, big and small, boisterous Mossman, who is much kinder than he looks; cautious but cheerful Wallace;  carefree, kind Grumpkin; and a sweet, mysterious entity named Shadow.  The creatures prove that every day is an adventure as new discoveries draw them closer together.

In this book, readers will get a glimpse at the woodland creatures' lives and discover three bite-sized stories, perfect for the autumnal harvest season. In Welcome to the The Harvest Party, Mossman and Wallace decorate pumpkins, Grumpkin meets a new friend, and the creatures celebrate fall with a lively Harvest Party.

Cottagecore and Studio Ghibli meet in this graphic novel by debut author and illustrator Katie Risor. Risor's breathtaking gouache mixed-media illustrations shine throughout this graphic novel. It features a Dyslexia-friendly font and is perfect to share with emerging readers, English and Second Language (ESL) learners, and veteran graphic novel enthusiasts alike.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

These forest monsters know how to have fun and are more than happy to invite anyone they can to their parties.

There are monsters in the forest, and although they might first appear to be a bit scary, they are anything but. These monsters are all about friendship and sharing time with others. When they decide to have a harvest part, things don't always go as smoothly as first planned, but that doesn't mean it's time to give up. There are always new friends to make and new ideas to try...even if the situations get a bit out of control at times.

This is an adorable read for those, who have a pretty good grip on their words but need more practice. While set up like a graphic novel, the frames are larger than normal, meaning that there are at most three or four on a page. Usually less. The colors are bright and playful like that characters themselves, and the forest comes across as a very friendly place. Although monsters, the group is friendly and inviting. Readers will wish they could jump right in and join the bunch. 

The book is divided into three stories, making it easy to set this one down for a break before picking it up again to continue. Or they can all be read at once, since they are very enjoyable. The endings are sometimes a bit abrupt, but they plots are very fitting to the age group and reading level. 

It's a great beginning to a new series, and I'm looking forward to seeing what adventures these characters will be facing next.