Monday, March 18, 2024

Happy Book Birthday... The Great Puptective by Alina Tysoe!

I might be screaming this book birthday out a day early, but let's get the party started, anyway! This is a graphic novel for beginning readers and should pack tons of humor. The cover already has me expecting cute moments and high energy...at least, from that puppy. I'm super curious to see what cases arise and if this one is as fun as I hope it is.

 


THE GREAT PUPTECTIVE
by Alina Tysoe
Simon & Schuster
Chapter Book Mystery  /  Graphic Novel
128 pages
ages 6 to 9


COMING TOMORROW,
MARCH 19th!!!



Truffles the cat is the only pet in the house and reigns in peace and quiet, only exerting himself to find the best place to take a nice, long nap—preferably in a spot of warm sunshine. Then Poppy the puppy bursts onto the scene.


Poppy is loud, enthusiastic, excitable, and—worst of all—a puptective! She’s got an eye for crime and a nose to solve all mysteries that come her way…even though she’s not completely sure what a mystery is.

Truffles cannot let this intrusion stand. Poppy won’t be able to continue disrupting his precious me-time if she’s shipped to the North Pole! But could this irrepressible new companion be just what this grumpy cat needs?


GOODREADS     /     AMAZON    /   B&N



MY TIDBITS


Cuteness, mystery, forming friendships, and lots of silliness are sure to delight beginning readers, while strengthening those word skills.


Truffles enjoys life as the only pet in the house, but when a box arrives, things change. Inside is Poppy, a puppy with a nose for mystery and clues. And Poppy might be a bit too energetic for Truffles' taste. Poppy has one goal in life: solve the case. The first case composes of finding a case. The second, actually, might be a somewhat real one...but the games are about to change. Poppy leaves, and Truffles needs to discovers the talent for sleuthing if the grumpy cat ever wants to see the irritating puppy again.


Graphics drive this tale forward. Each one holds cartoon-ish goodness and brings the moments to life with the needed humor, zing, or fitting emotions. These are easy on the eyes (not too small or crowded) and very age appropriate from the style side, too. The text is kept concise and won't scare more reluctant readers away. This appears in the image or adds tidbits on the side as needed to move the story along. The words are for beginning readers but also stretch the vocabulary enough to raise the skills. It's a great balance, since readers who are a bit confused can find enough hints in the images to keep them from feeling lost or left behind.


The mix of mystery and fun is simply adorable, especially with two characters, who are as opposite as can be. Truffles' grumpiness can't easily coexist with Poppy's determined detective skills...a relationship, which guarantees funny moments. Poppy also has a lot to learn on the clue-finding end, and there are more than a couple scenes, which readers will realize mistakes and giggle. But what wins over is the forming friendship and heart, especially when Truffles realizes the impossible has happened and goes way beyond a cat's comfort zone. It's a cute lesson for life.


This is a lovely beginning to what I hope is a new series because this duo seems to be ready for many more adventures to come.





And here she is...

 


From the moment she was able to hold a pencil, Alina Tysoe was scribbling away and filling notebooks with doodles of dogs and comics about her family. Today, Alina is an illustrator, 2D animator, and author of What’s Up Beanie: Acutely Relatable Comics, a collection based on her popular webcomic by the same name, the picture book Emi Isn’t Scared of Monsters, and the graphic novel chapter book The Great Puptective. She lives in New Zealand with her husband, Mike, who makes regular appearances in her webcomic, and, infuriatingly, no dogs.


Sunday, March 17, 2024

Today's read... Shed Girl by Milana Marsenich

 

SHED GIRL
by Milana Marsenich
YA Crime  /   Mystery
220 pages

·                Trigger warnings: young people in peril; abusive family and stranger relationships

Shed Girl is a contemporary crime novel set in the small fictional town of Annie’s Court on Washington’s northern coast.

Annie’s Court has a runaway problem. Runaways arrive and then they disappear. Juliet French, an old runaway herself, does tarot readings for petty cash at the Farmers Market. Across the market Tony LeCrosse sells toys. Juliet notices the runaways flock to LeCrosse. Just before they go missing.

After witnessing the abduction of a young boy, Detective Benson Picard solicits Juliet’s help. Already determined to find the boy, she agrees to Benson’s terms. Juliet, a strong female lead, feels the danger in the cards when Tony LeCrosse invites her to a party. He wants her to entertain his guests with tarot readings. Juliet balks at the word “entertain” but agrees anyway. When Kyle shows up at LeCrosse’s party, Juliet’s spine “turns to stardust and fairies rush in.” The two team-up to find the missing kids. But Kyle has secrets of his own.

 Amazon link: https://mybook.to/ShedGirl

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200215811-shed-girl


MY TIDBITS


Serious problems surrounding run-away children mix with crime, mystery, and a touch of magic to form a potent read.

Juliet has just turned eighteen and lives in a shed on the edge of a small town after escaping abuse from her mother's boyfriend. She's not living the high-life but gets by, which is more than most of the runaways, who flee to the town. But then, many who show up, soon disappear. Juliet has her own problems as she tries to survive with only her tarot cards to earn money from tourists. When she gains the notice of a policeman, he offers to hire her to assist him with the disappearance cases. After all, she has a special connection to the runaways that he could never have. But even with her special skills and a dusting of real magic, searching for clues becomes a dangerous game.

This read dives deep into the serious problem surrounding runaways and the situations they try to escape from. It doesn't go into details, which keeps it appropriate for the young adult level, but still tugs at the heartstrings and makes the terrible circumstances clear. Juliet's background clicks her solidly into the group, gaining not only sympathy but also a bit of respect. Her life is far from perfect, but she's dealing with everything the best she can and doesn't play the victim. Even her attitude toward her mother is level-headed. She takes risks but isn't stupid and is easy to root for the entire way through. 

The mystery is very well laid. Each step brings the solution closer, and while some aspects fall obviously into place, enough pieces remain in the shadows to make it a grabbing read until the end. Juliet finds herself weaving between the police, a tent-town haven for runaways, and several locals, while still maintaining relationships with other runaways and trying her best to string through the suspected villains. This creates a web of subplots, which are as intriguing as the main plot itself. 

It's a read, which hits upon several difficult themes and eases in tons of heart. Add the dusting of magic, and it's a rich tale with so much to enjoy and dig into until the last page.



And here she is...

Milana Marsenich lives in Northwest Montana near Flathead Lake at the base of the beautiful Mission Mountains. She enjoys quick access to the mountains and has spent many hours hiking the wilderness trails with friends and dogs.

As a natural listener and a therapist, she has witnessed amazing generosity and courage in others. She first witnessed this in her hometown of Butte, Montana, a mining town with a rich history and the setting for Copper Sky, her first novel. Copper Sky was chosen as a 2018 Spur Award finalist for Best Western Historical Novel.

She has an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. She has previously published in Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, The Polishing Stone, The Moronic Ox, BookGlow, and Feminist Studies. She has a short story included in The Montana Quarterly book: Montana, Warts and All. She has three published novels, Copper Sky, The Swan Keeper, and Beautiful Ghost, and one popular history book, Idaho Madams. Her soon-to-be-released novel, Shed Girl: A Juliet French Mystery, will be available January 18, 2024.

In addition to Copper Sky being a Spur Award finalist in 2018, The Swan Keeper was a Willa Award finalist in 2019, and her short story, Wild Dogs, won the Laura Award for short fiction in 2020. She is a member of Western Writers of America and of Women Writing the West.

Website: https://milanamarsenich.com/

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/milanamarsenich

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MilanaMarsenichAuthor/




Saturday, March 16, 2024

Today's read... Orris and Timble: The Beginning by Kate DiCamillo

I picked up today's read the moment I saw the cover. While the owl and the mouse offer a nice contrast, it was the owl's tilt of the head, which had me smiling...and those big, yellow eyes. I'm expecting this to be an interesting tale of friendship with, maybe, a bit of fun. It's the first in a new chapter book series, so I am curious to see how it's going to play out.
 


THE BEGINNING
Orris and Timble #1
by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Carmen Mok
Candlewick Press
Chapter Book
80 pages
ages 5 to 8

COMING...
APRIL 30th!!!


From beloved storyteller Kate DiCamillo comes the first book in a warm and funny early-reader trilogy about a misanthropic rat and a naive owl—and the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Orris the rat lives alone in an old barn surrounded by his treasures, until the day his solitude is disrupted by a sudden flutter of wings and a loud screech. A small owl has gotten caught in a trap in the barn. Can Orris “make the good and noble choice” (as the king on his prized sardine can might recommend) and rescue the owl, despite the fact that owls and rats are natural enemies? And if he does, will he be ready for the consequences? With humor and tenderness, two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo brings us this first of three tales celebrating unlikely friendship and the power of sharing stories and doing the right thing—a soon-to-be classic brought to expressive life by the full-color illustrations of Carmen Mok.



MY TIDBITS

This owl and rat's rocky start to a friendship has the potential to become a beloved series for many years to come.

Orris lives alone in an old barn...well, he does have a sort of friend, but since that's a picture on a sardine can, it might not really count. When an owl gets caught in a trap in the barn, Orris is very hesitant to help out. After all, he doesn't want to become a meal, but the sardine can king holds the saying 'make the good and noble choice', so he can't ignore the owl's pain. Orris hopes the owl won't kill him right away, but what truly happens is more than he could have ever expected.

This is a well-done chapter book. The font is large for easy reading purposes and carries a very age appropriate level, which fits well for those who read smoothly but still need to practice before heading on to bigger books. The chapters are kept short to avoid reading frustration, and there are many illustrations to help with the story and offer needed breaks along the way. It's a gentle tale with just enough tension to keep it exciting and holds several surprises. 

The illustrations are well done and bring the personalities of the characters across well. There's a touch of humor (I had to smile at the owl's huge eye peering through the hole), and it's fun to flip through these on their own.

Orris is a mouse to sympathize with as he shoves his fear aside to do what's right—very noble. And as the owl, Timble, returns, the uncertainty radiates from the page. The author weaves in the tale of The Lion and the Mouse, which adds a nice touch, while still allowing Orris and Timble's adventure to take on a direction of its own.

The ending wraps this first installment up well while still leaving room for plenty more to come. It will be fun to see what this duo experiences next.



And here they are...

Kate DiCamillo is one of America’s most beloved storytellers. She is a former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and a two-time Newbery Medalist. Born in Philadelphia, she grew up in Florida and now lives in Minneapolis.

Carmen Mok is an award-winning illustrator of several acclaimed picture books with experience in product design, hand-lettering, and graphic design. She studied studio art at the University of Waterloo and craft design at Sheridan College, both in Ontario. Carmen Mok lives in Toronto, Canada.




Orris & Timble clip feat. Kate DiCamillo and Carmen Mok from Candlewick Press on Vimeo.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Today's read... Hey, Little Night Owl by Jeffrey Burton


HEY, LITTLE NIGHT OWL
by Jeffrey Burton
Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz
Little Simon
Board Book
26 pages
ages 3 to 5


In this sweet bedtime board book, parents stay awake in the quiet night with their little night owls.

From rocking in chairs, to singing lullabies, to driving nowhere underneath the moonlight, this is a story to remind parents of the precious magic made in the late hours of the night with their little night owls.

With heartfelt illustrations from New York Times bestselling illustrator, Joy Hwang Ruiz, this board book is the perfect start to a good night’s sleep.

Hey little night owl,
up with the stars.
These hours are perfect.
All quiet and ours.


GOODREADS    /     AMAZON   /    BOOK SHOP


MY TIDBITS

Each page invites to sweet dreams, while flipping to the owls' favorite waking hours of day.

The stars are out, which means it's time for the little owl to rise out of its nest. Mother owls spends every moment with her little one as they go from one calm and sweet activity to the next. But at one point, the sun shows its first rays, and the little owl needs to return to the nest.

This is a bedtime read, which manages to flip the nocturnal clock of an owl while still remaining calming enough to ease into the last, sleepy moments. The little owl is full of life and enjoys every moment of its waking hours. The mother owl spends her time singing, playing and discovering the night world around them. This gives a lovely sense of family and security, which melds wonderfully with each calming scene.

Tones of brown and dark blues create a night world which also invites to a calmer mood. The text offers short phrases and follows a rhyming, lullaby-like pace, which generally flows well. It offers just enough to push the read along, while the illustrations take over the rest. 


And here they are...

Jeffrey Burton has written several books for children. He lives in New York City with his family.

Joy Hwang Ruiz has worn many creative hats over the year including New York Times bestselling illustrator, contemporary studio artist, on-air creative for MTV, and work-from-home mom with two young kids. Her illustrations celebrate family love and embrace inclusivity. She lives in southern California with her multilingual family. Visit her online at MomIsDrawing.com.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Today's read. Easter Bunny, Where Are You? by Jeffrey Burton

 Easter isn't far away, and there's no way I can skip picking up a read or two to celebrate. This one is a board book for the youngest readers out there, and best of all, it has flaps! From the title, I'm assuming this one will involve a little hunting and searching, too.




EASTER BUNNY, WHERE ARE YOU?
by Jeffrey Burton
Illustrated by Juliana Motzko
Little Simon
14 pages
ages 0 to 3

Find where the Easter Bunny is hiding in this sweet lift-the-flap board book!

Easter Bunny, where are you?
Do you want to play?
I know you’re hiding somewhere.
It’s almost Easter day.

Its almost Easter, but the Easter Bunny is nowhere to be found! Maybe the Easter Bunny is hiding behind that bush or that gate or maybe that tree. Look under the sturdy flaps to see whose fluffy tail or furry foot that really is—and find an Easter surprise on the last page!

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON     /    B&N


MY TIDBITS

Searching for the Easter Bunny holds many surprises and fun with every opening of a flap.

It's time for Easter, but the Easter Bunny isn't anywhere to be found. A little bear begins his search to find this important friend, but it's not that simple. Luckily, he receives help along the way.

This is a sturdy board book, which has thick and sturdy pages, thanks to the extra layer of cardboard needed to create the thick and sturdy flaps. So this book will take some abuse. The characters and scenes hold quite a few details while still having a gentler art style. The colors are bright and fit well to the Spring atmosphere. Each page holds joyful scenes and invites to play. 

The text flows in an enjoyable rhyme, which urges listeners to join in the search for the bunny. This is age appropriate and does have enough repetition to make it a fun read-aloud. Each verse hints at a large object in the illustrations (which holds a flap). These are easy to open and uncover a new friend as well as a quick text, which adds a hint of surprise (and giggles with the right reading atmosphere). It's fun to watch the friends gather more and more as they assist in the bunny search. It's a cute book for the holidays and is sure to bring more than a few smiles.


And here they are...      

Jeffrey Burton has written several books for children. He lives in New York City with his family.

Juliana Motzko is a Brazilian illustrator that has loved drawing and painting ever since she was a little girl. She’s fascinated by pets and children’s worlds and loves to create cute artwork that touches people’s hearts. After studying art and pedagogy, she worked as an art teacher.