The Wonderful Once: A Christmas Story by John Buchta

While yesterday's read was one for snow dreamers, today's hits the theme of giving and especially in connection with the spirit of Christmas. This book hit the shelves last year and won a few prizes since then. So, my expectations are pretty high. I'm hoping there's a lovely, Christmas feel to this one and am pretty sure I'm not going to be disappointed. 

Settle down with that cup of cocoa, and let's take a look.

THE WONDERFUL ONCE

A Christmas Story

by J.R. Buchta

Illustrations by Erin O'Leary Brown

Warbucks, Inc

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

The Wonderful Once: A Christmas Story is an illustrated children’s book by JR Buchta about the power of giving. 

A special home for children without parents is in a lovely, friendly village. Well looked after, the children are happily waiting for their forever homes. At the annual Christmas Festival, all the children choose a present from a waiting stack. Lucas, the youngest, picked a small gift he would treasure with all his heart. When a young girl is brought to the home, Lucas does an act of kindness that sets him off on a magical adventure. The Spirit of Giving visits him, and together, they start a new tradition that will last a lifetime.

Brought to life by beautiful illustrations, this enchanting tale captures the spirit of Christmas and the magic of a single good deed that changed the world forever. It has all the makings of an annual read for families at Christmastime and a fresh look at some age-old traditions.

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON   /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

This is one of those Christmas reads to snuggle up with and dive deep into the joy of giving with a touch of holiday magic.

Lucas is an orphan and more timid than most. When the residents of the town, where the orphanage is found, gather the yearly, Winter Festival gifts for the children, Lucas is chosen to be the first to select his gift from the large pile. Since he doesn't want to be greedy, he chooses the smallest present. The gift is more wonderful than he could have hoped, but as a new orphan suddenly is brought to the door, he realizes that there isn't a gift for her and gives her his. This launches off an entire adventure of magic and warmth.

Beginning with the gift-giving at an orphanage, this is a tale which immediately draws a touch of sympathy. Yet, it keeps a pleasant atmosphere as the villagers are caring and help out the orphanage as best they can. So, there's a kind feel the entire way through. This slides well with Lucas's generosity, which readers will understand and maybe feel a bit inspired by. The rest of the tale takes a magical turn, which opens up the imagination and heads into a story about the origin of Santa himself.

The text creates a nice read-aloud and works for a Christmas story time. Readers, who are sure of their words, can also pick it up on their own. The font is smaller, however, and the text is longer on some pages. It flows well and holds a nice pacing throughout the read. The illustrations carry a more traditional flair and fit well to the story magic. These hold many details and invite for gazing ono their own.

It's the kind of book, which can be added to the Christmas shelf to be picked up year after year and enjoyed each time.

And here they are...

John Buchta was born and raised in Philadelphia PA. As a youngster, he expressed

an interest in music and spent most of his early life in the performing arts as a singer-songwriter.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he entered the business world

 and made a career in marketing for various entrepreneurial ventures.
His interest in writing took a turn towards children's books when his grandchildren

 were born and he recognized the power of their imaginations and their enjoyment

 of reading. Memories of his childhood and the spirit of his father’s character and

penchant for a good story or poem inspire his writing. Today, he resides in Bucks

County PA with his wife.

Erin O’Leary Brown is an illustrator based in upstate NY, specializing in children’s illustration as well as botanical and nature themes.  She works traditionally in ink and watercolor, and often utilizes digital media to make adjustments and minor changes or additions to the final illustrations.  Her style combines delicate line and rich layers of 

color with careful details and a sense of whimsy with the goal of sharing engaging 

stories as well as beautiful images.

Over the years, Erin has worked in freelance illustration creating art for various books 

and children’s magazines, as well as decorative designs, for clients such as Scholastic, 

Herald Press, Perfection Learning Corp., and Cricket Media. Her most recent project 

is a Christmas-themed tarot deck, The Yuletide Tarot, written by Kristoffer Hughes, 

to be published by Llewellyn Worldwide in 2023. 

She received a BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University, and an MS in Education 

from Elmira College.  In addition to working in the field of illustration, she has also 

spent some time teaching art.  When she was in graduate school, she discovered another wonderful creative outlet in ceramic sculpture.  Still, her strongest passion is drawing 

and painting, and she finds some of her most enjoyable and rewarding time is spent 

within the pages of her sketchbook, where she finds a sense of balance and fuel for 

creative ideas.  More of her work can be seen on her website at eobrownart.com.

 

Snow Day by Margaret McNamara

I'm taking a peek at the latest addition to a popular, early-reader series. I've read a few books in this bunch and always enjoy seeing what the Robin Hill School kids are up to next. This one fits especially well with the season and slides right in with the snow-dreaming which seems to be gaining footing in our household.

So, let's put on those hats and gloves and see if this group has fun out in the snow.

SNOW DAY

Robin Hill School

Ready to Read, Level One

by Margaret McNamara

Illustrated by Mike Gordon

Simon Spotlight

ages 4 to 6

The kids in Mrs. Connor's class love the snow! And they love snow days even more! But when the snow will not stop falling, Nia realizes that staying at home is not so much fun after all.

AMAZON   /    GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

School kids will easily understand Nia's desire to have a few snow days and be rooting for some of their own.

I'd sum this one up, but the blurb already says it all. The plot is simple and direct, and one that will ring familiar with any readers living in areas, where snow days are a possibility. My own daughter has been staring out the window wishing for tons of snow since September and dreams of being stuck in the house. Of course, the sled is close at hand. So, this is one certain readers will definitely connect with. And it's understandable that Nia grows bored of always being at home after a day or two. (That's when us parents pull out all sorts of 'projects' for them to do.) In other words, it's a read which will connect with adults as well.

The writing fits the audience level very well and helps further reading skills without bogging down. The illustrations are as adorable as ever and help as the story flows along. 

I've read more than a few books in this series, but didn't find this one quite as fun on the plot end, since it sticks pretty much to Nia and her mother with only the snow aspect thrown in. But I'm being picky because I do enjoy the series quite a bit. It's a nice addition to the Robin Hill School gang and makes a lovely read for fans and anyone readers, who are practicing their skills. 

The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina M. Cho

Before diving into my Christmas read run tomorrow (so excited about the upcoming cheer!), I'm taking a more serious direction. Today's read is a graphic novel for middle graders and takes a look at two North Korean children, their lives and their escape from the country. I do wonder how harsh this one will get, but also hope it gives readers a good impression about the difficulties these people face. After reading about the author, I'm sure she'll get the reality across nicely.

Settle into a chair and lets see how this novel goes.

THE OTHER SIDE OF TOMORROW

by Tina M. Cho

Illustrated by Deb J.J. Lee

HarperAlley

Middle Grade Contemporary  /   Graphic Novel

224 pages

ages 8 to 12

Perfect for fans of Illegal and When Stars Are Scattered, this poignant and moving graphic novel in verse captures the dangers and hope that comes with fleeing North Korea and reaching for a brighter future through the lives of Yunho and Myunghee.

From never knowing where they’ll find their next meal to avoiding soldiers lurking at every corner, many North Koreans have learned that sticking around can be just as deadly as attempting to flee . . . almost.

Both shy, resourceful Yunho and fierce, vibrant Myunghee know this. So when they each resolve to run away from the bleak futures they face, it’s with the knowledge that they could be facing a fate worse than death.

While Yunho hopes to reunite with his omma, who snuck across the border years ago, Myunghee is reaching for dreams that are bigger than anything the regime would allow her to have. The two are strangers to each other until a chance encounter unwittingly intertwines their fates and Myunghee saves Yunho’s life.

Kept together by their dreams for a brighter future, they face a road plagued by poisonous jungle snakes, corrupt soldiers, and the daily fear of discovery and imprisonment. But with every step toward freedom, there is also hope. Will it be enough for both of them to make it to safety without losing each other along the way?

GOODREADS   /   B&N    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

With raw moments, which pull at the heart strings, these pages raise awareness with a glimpse of the situation North Koreans face, especially when trying to flee, and keep it pretty age appropriate.

This book is told from two points of view, Yunho's and Myunghee's. Yunho's grandmother escaped into China a couple years before, leaving him with his mother and the promise that she'd send for him as soon as possible...and he's waiting for this day. Myunghee, on the other hand, lives with her grandmother and helps however she can to make ends meet until. Both suffer a horrible moments, and both finally attempt to flee—each separately and unaware of the other. When fate finally brings them together, it appears that things might get better, but it's only the beginning of a very long and harsh journey.

Like the legs of the journey, the read is broken down into sections. The first covers their very separate lives in North Korea as both fight to help their small families keep food on the table. The next parts break according to the country they find themselves in, China being the longest by far. This helps to keep the steps clear as the adventure and landscape might get a bit blurred in the tension. The switch between the characters is always clear and handled nicely as the reader gets to see both of their developments and struggles. Even when together, their thoughts aren't always shared and show the different aspects individuals face.

The illustrations are detailed and bring across the scenes and cultures nicely. They also incorporate enough artistic symbolism to strengthen certain emotions and atmosphere at the right time. These, along with the text, are kept on the smaller side, not overly so but a little tighter than I've seen in many graphic novels for this age group. The smaller print, while totally okay, required more concentration and brings down the ease of the read. But this read is anything but 'easy' when the theme is considered.

The author does a good job and laying some of the issues facing North Koreans bare (well, as nicely as my little knowledge is aware of) and draws in plenty of sympathy as the two characters face one very dangerous situation after the next. There is an execution of a loved one, harsh jail situations, child trafficking, and loss of loved ones. While these are kept it in a range appropriate for the age group, it also will be a bit much for more sensitive readers. For this reason, I'd suggest the read first for ages 10 and over.

This is a well-done book which awakens awareness for the struggles North Koreans face and what they might face when they try to flee. I do recommend this not only for individuals wanting to learn more about the topic but also for classroom, group, and homeschoolers. The entire thing ends off with a few pages of text, which deepen the theme and give more explanations.

And here they are...

Tina Cho is the author of Rice from Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans, Korean Celebrations: Festivals, Holidays and Traditions, My Breakfast with Jesus: Worshipping God Around the World, The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story, and God’s Little Astronomer. Her lyrical middle grade graphic novel, The Other Side of Tomorrow, debuts from HarperAlley in 2024. After living in South Korea for ten years and meeting North Koreans, Tina, her husband, and her two kids reside in Iowa, where Tina also teaches kindergarten.

Deb JJ Lee (they/them) is a trans nonbinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. They have appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, NPR, Google, Radiolab, and more. They are known for their award-winning graphic memoir, In Limbo, about mental illness and difficult relationships with trauma. Their cat, Marlie, has three teeth. 

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.