Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe

I thought today's read looks super adorable! A little kid with a ghost tag-a-long demands a second glance...if nothing else, it wakes the curiosity. I don't think this one really will qualify as a Halloween read, although ghosts work then, too (obviously). 

Let's just open it up and see what is inside.

AGGIE AND THE GHOST

by Matthew Forsythe

Paula Wiseman Books

Picture Book

64 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING...

AUGUST 19th!!!

From Matthew Forsythe, the creator of the acclaimed and beloved Pokko and the Drum, comes a surprising and pleasing picture book about rules. And sharing. And an epic game of tic-tac-toe.

Aggie is very excited to live on her own—until she finds out her new house is haunted. But no fear, the situation is nothing that can’t be fixed with a carefully considered list of No haunting after dark. No stealing socks. No eating all the food.

But the ghost doesn’t like playing by the rules and challenges Aggie to an epic game of tic-tac-toe—winner gets the house.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Ghosts, tic-tac-toe, rules, and cheese mix together to form an intriguing tale with an ending, which leaves with the last, odd twist.

Aggie is super excited to finally live on her own and even has her house prepared. But she didn't know about the ghost, who haunts it, and he's making things complicated. When enough is enough, she creates a list of rules for him to follow: no eating the cheese, no stealing socks, no haunting at night, and more. The ghost, however, is following any of the rules. Fed up, she heads outdoors to clear her head, but just when she thinks she's enough the peace and quite, the ghost hangs right next to her. Determined to put an end to the problem, she challenges him to a game of tic-tac-toe...and this leads to unexpected happenings.

This isn't a sweet book completely but takes on a hint of melancholy while weaving in a slight hint of humor. Aggie's excitement is palpable as she heads into her home by herself, and curiosity rises as the ghost cause little issues around her. Aggie's situation and frustration is very understandable...and yet, the reader can't help but sympathize a little with the ghost, too. And be frustrated with it. It creates an odd balance that works and draws in. The tic-tac-toe is a clever way to build tension with a nod of playfulness as the 'huge' contest unfolds...and it carries consequences. All of it stays very age appropriate and holds some important messaging, but not in the way a reader might expect.

The images bring over each scene with care and stick to the dimmer side...for the haunting, I guess. But these allow listeners to flip through the story on their own and enjoy the plot themselves. There are also enough little details to discover something new each time. The text is kept short and concise, and weaves nicely with the illustrations. It creates an engaging read-aloud for even more impatient listeners.

And the ending...well, it doesn't slide into the usual picture book style, which leaves a little food for thought.

And here he is...

Matthew Forsythe is the author-illustrator of Pokko and the Drum, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, a recipient of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Honor, and a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book. He is also an illustrator for animated films and television. His credits include Adventure Time, The Midnight Gospel, and Robin Robin, a stop-motion animated musical from Aardman Animations and Netflix. He lives in Los Angeles. Visit him at ComingUpforAir.net.

IWSG and Review of Mina by Matthew Forsythe

 

Wow! It's June 1st and the 1st Wednesday of the month, which means...

IT'S IWSG TIME!!!

Today, writers get together to express fears, concerns, and offer hope as well as encouragement or whatever else their hearts desire. This group was birthed by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh and has grown into a thriving, broad community with tons of possibilities. Check it out here!

Special thanks goes to this month's co-hosts:  SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

I'm going to skip this month's question and simply say...

I'm writing again!!! 

After my debut middle grade novel, Music Boxes, released, all sorts of things happened, which cut down on my writing time, reducing it to zero. None of it was bad, just things with the family and around the farm and...well, life. 

But now, things have flipped around again. While I still don't have time to twiddle my thumbs and stare at the moon, I can shove my day around more, again. And all those tales which spun in my head are finally getting their first glimpse at true black and white words. Will they make the finish line and lead to an exciting wave of never-ending stories? Who knows, and it doesn't really matter. I'm just happy the first steps are made and will see how far they go.

 

What about you? Writing like a waterfall or waiting for words to come?

***********

REVIEW TIME!!!

I just announced my planned schedule for June yesterday, and I'm already shoving things around. Yep, call me chaotic because that'd be a good fit. The planned read for today, Mysteries of the Rubber People, is being shoved down the row for a week or two, since I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Instead, I'm working in a book, which nods at the upcoming Father's Day. It centers around a mouse and his daughter, and takes a quirky spin. This one is already out on the shelves, so if it catches your eye, you don't even have to wait.

MINA

by Matthew Forsythe

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

68 pages

ages 4 to 8

From the creator of the acclaimed and beloved Pokko and the Drum comes an emotionally resonant, “richly imagined” (The Horn Book, starred review)​ picture book about trust, worry, and loyalty between a father and daughter.

Mina and her father live in a hollowed-out tree stump on the edge of a pond on the edge of a forest. Nothing ever bothers Mina, until one day, her father brings home a suspicious surprise from the woods.

Should Mina trust her father—or listen to her own instincts?

GOODREADS  /    B&N    /     AMAZON    /    INDIE BOUND

MY TIDBITS

Mina is a quiet little mouse, who loves to read, but her father is always out and about. He has a few strange hobbies, but the one that irritates her the most is his tendency to bring surprises home. Some of these surprises are fine, but when her father brings home a new 'friend', things get very interesting.

This is one of those tales, which flips a few things in a slightly new direction and will make listeners tilt their heads once or twice with a 'huh?'  Mina loves her father but finds him, sometimes, bothersome...something young listeners will connect with and relate to. In the tale, there are moments where she comes across as the responsible one, and yet, it still wanders back to a loving trust at the end.

The illustrations carry a geometric charm and create a calming colored, yet, vibrant world, while the text stays very age appropriate. The tale takes unexpected twists. Readers/listeners will wonder if everything will be okay for Mina and her father as an obvious danger mounts. The ending grabs attention in a very unexpected way and wraps off the entire adventure with a sense of love and care. With 68 pages it's a bit of a longer picture book read, but there's always something happening and a pinch of tension to make it grabbing from beginning to end.

It's an original read with a warming ending, and shows that even if parents come across a little strange, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

And here he is...

Matthew Forsythe is the author-illustrator of Pokko and the Drum, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, a recipient of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Honor, and a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book. He is also an illustrator for animated films and television. His credits include Adventure Time, The Midnight Gospel, and Robin Robin, a stop-motion animated musical from Aardman Animations and Netflix. Visit him at ComingUpforAir.net.

Review: Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe

POKKO AND THE DRUM

by Matthew Forsythe

Paula Wiseman Books

Picture Book

64 pages

ages 4 to 8

The biggest mistake Pokko’s parents ever made was giving her the drum. When Pokko takes the drum deep into the forest it is so quiet, so very quiet that Pokko decides to play. And before she knows it she is joined by a band of animals —first the raccoon, then the rabbit, then the wolf—and soon the entire forest is following her. Will Pokko hear her father’s voice when he calls her home? Pokko and the Drum is a story about art, persistence, and a family of frogs living in a mushroom. 

MY TIDBITS

An irritating hobby unveils itself as a huge success and draws like minded together to raise fun for everyone.

Pokko is a little frog, whose parents have given him many presents, which proved to be mistakes. But the present they regretted giving him the most was a drum. When conversation became impossible to due to the noise, the send him outside, but warn him not to draw too much attention to their humble home. Off Pokko goes and, at first, tries to enjoy the quiet, but soon he misses some noise. So he plays his drum. When a new noise joins in, he notices that a raccoon is now tagging along, playing its instrument. And the adventure begins.

Firstly, I love the illustrations in this book. They are vibrant and as full of life as the music Pokko seems to play. It's a delight to flip through these and watch as he heads into the forest and meets more and more friends.

Although the story centers around Pokko, it's not actually his personality that shines. Rather, the story starts off with a bit of humor, which will guarantee more than a giggle or two. When Pokko is sent outside to play (something many listeners will probably sympathize with), it's fun to watch as he's joined by other creatures and their instruments. There are a couple surprises packed in, which give the story an unexpected twist or two. The excitement and passion of the other animals radiates from the pages, and the ending wraps things up in a wonderful way. It's a fun read.


And here he is...

Matthew Forsythe is the former lead designer for Adventure Time and an award-winning author-illustrator of children's books and comics. His illustrations have appeared in many publications including The Wall street Journal and New York Times. He lives in Canada.