A Pirates' Pact by Sarah Branson

We're heading into the science fiction realm today with a lean toward pirates and adventure. But not with futuristic flair. I think. I'm not sure how all of this works, but I'm curious to find out. Plus, the duo on the cover appear to be excited to head out into adventure...and I do enjoy adventure.

Let's open it up and see what it holds!

A PIRATES' PACT

A Kik & Mac Adventure

by Sarah Branson

Sooner Started Press

Middle Grade Adventure

166 pages

ages 8 to 12

Two brothers, a hidden secret, and an adventure of a lifetime.

On the pirate island of Bosch, almost eleven-year-old twins Kik and Mac are facing a storm of changes. With a father from Edo and a Bosch mother, the brothers navigate the challenges of identity, friendship, and family in their own unique ways.

Mac, daring and mischievous, finds himself in a whirlwind of trouble as he strives to impress new friends. Meanwhile, Kik, quiet and observant, grapples with his heritage and a heartfelt secret he's not ready to share.

When a ball thrown in anger fractures a family heirloom, a hidden piece of a pirate treasure map emerges, setting them on a quest that will shake up their relationship and reshape their understanding of family.

A Pirates' Pact is a tale of friendship, self-discovery, and the enduring strength of family ties. Will Kik's and Mac's pact withstand the challenges ahead? Embark on this middle grade adventure where bonds are forged, secrets are unveiled, and treasures go beyond gold and jewels.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Brothers, who are twins but as different as can be, discover a call to adventure and find themselves in all sorts of situations.

Mac is in trouble again. Although he was just trying to retrieve a ball for a friend, his climb up the school building to get it didn't gain bonus points with the teacher. Instead, Mac heads home with a note, which his mom has to sign. His twin brother, definitely, doesn't have his back. When the two end up in a back-and-forth, which leaves a damaged family heirloom, they discover a map. And that's the beginning of more than a treasure hunting adventure.

This is a fun story, which packs heart, a bit of food for thought, and adventure. The first chapters let the reader sink into the family dynamics and the twin's personalities. There's a touch of action as Mac dare-devil's on the school walls, but it's the family relationships which take the stage during these pages. The action gets going a few chapters in. While there are all sorts of challenges the two face as they search for the treasure, this read also pays attention to the personal growth of the characters and their relationships to those around them. So, there's depth and not just action. The two brothers are easy to connect with and come across with natural flair as they butt heads, at times, and yet, stick together and support each other when needed.

The read works well for the younger and mid-range of the middle grade audience, and the length suits this direction nicely as well. The future setting confused me a little, though. The year is about 2300 and technology has been set to the side thanks to natural disasters, wars, and more. This is totally fine, but the scenes, dialogue, concerns, surroundings, world, and more fit perfectly to the 1960's to 1980's. I just expected a few differences (clothes, buildings, and such). But it did make for a nice map, which was a treat as much as the several sketches sprinkled throughout. 

It's an enjoyable tale for those who like wholesome adventures with quite a bit of family dynamic, and it appears that there will be more adventures to come.

Happy Chinese New Year, Little Red Panda by Amanda Wood

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

LITTLE RED PANDA

by Amanda Wood

Illustrated by Bec Winnel and

Vikki Chu

Harry N. Abrams

Board Book

16 pages

ages 1 to 5

Happy Lunar New Year, Little Red Panda shares the excitement of Lunar New Year and its traditions, featuring a delightful blend of watercolor illustrations and adorable photos of real red pandas

Join Little Red Panda as he learns about all the fun to be had on Lunar New Year with Nai Nai.

What could top hanging up a glowing lantern, receiving a special red packet, and enjoying a bowl of long noodles?

Listen! It’s dancing dragons stamping the ground. And look! There are fireworks lighting up the sky. It’s a Lunar New Year Little Red Panda and his grandmother will never forget.

Watercolor illustrations paired with sweet photos of a real red panda bring the story to life on each page.

Baby Animal Tales
Happy Easter, Little Bunny
Happy Halloween, Little Black Cat
Merry Christmas, Little Reindeer
Mommy Loves You, Little Sea Otter

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

With an adorable red panda, this little book gives young listeners a glimpse into the celebrations surrounding the Chinese New Year.

This is the latest in a series of books, which highlights cute animals as they celebrate a holiday in animal style. This one centers around a little red panda as it prepares and celebrates the Chinese New Year with the other animals around it. The setting stays outdoors in the nature, bringing a hint of that realistic side into play. At the same time, The animals partake in human traditions: for example, the red panda shares noodles with another animal. It's a gentle way to mix animal habitats with cultural goodness.

The illustrations are unique and add a warming touch. The little red panda is presented in a photo form, allowing readers to know exactly what the red panda looks like and how it moves. The other animals, however, are artistically created in watercolor with less details. The background, then, stays light and carries impressions of the habitat without heading into busy exactness. The combination is interesting, educational, and eye-catching. 

A flowing text accompanies each scene to make clear what is happening. This is kept short to fit nicely to the mid and upper end of the age group. It adds to the sense of warmth surrounding the fun of celebrating with others; presents the traditions in a simple, understandable way; and holds a sense of calm to make it a read for quieter moments as well.

And here she is...

Amanda Wood was the founding editor and publisher of Templar for more than 30 years. In her time there, she published and nurtured numerous Kate Greenaway Medal winners, and edited and wrote groundbreaking series such as the Ologies, which have sold more than 19 million copies worldwide. Today she writes and runs her own small press from her home in Surrey, England.

The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff

I was very excited to get my hands on today's read, and it's been on my pile for months just waiting to be read...I promised to wait until closer to release day. The reason I was so excited about this one...don't expect depth here...is due to it's amazing side printing! This book is being released with a snake skin printing along the all sides. I'm not sure if this is a limited thing or will be on all hard cover books, but either way, it caught my attention right away. As said, I'm not about intellectual depth when it comes to first appearances.

As to the tale (which is actually the most important part), I'm hoping I like it but have my hesitations. It twirls around Greek gods and myths, and this is a direction I've been avoiding the last years. I was a bit burned out a few years ago when tons of reads trying to catch the flow of Percy Jackson and Co hit the shelves. But that was also several years ago, and I'm hoping I'm ready to dive back in, now, without that fatigue. 

Anyway, let's see where this tale leads because I'm hoping it holds tons of adventure.

THE AFTERMYTH

The Aftermyth #1

by Tracy Wolff

Aladdin

Middle Grade Fantasy

448 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING FEBRUARY 3rd!!!

In a world ruled by the tenets of Greek mythology, one girl’s fate is more than it appears in the first book in a new dark academia fantasy middle grade series from #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Crave series Tracy Wolff.

What’s your myth?

Penelope Weaver has spent her whole life preparing to attend Anaximander’s Academy, where students learn how to bring to life the stories of Greek mythology as well as discover the Greek god whose principles they most embody. Penelope knows she’s an Athena—all smart, practical, and rule-following girls who take part in stories that matter are Athenas.

But when Penelope and her twin brother Paris arrive at Anaximander’s, it appears fate has other plans. Penelope isn’t placed with Athena but with students who are anything but practical and who prefer parties to rules. And that’s just the beginning. She’s given the world’s worst muse, her assigned tasks feel impossible, and the magic of Anaximander’s is overwhelming. Not to mention, there are two very different boys making her new life even more confusing.

But as things go from bad to dangerously worse, one thing becomes in a world where everything is fated to happen a certain way, some stories need to be rewritten. As the world around her shifts and cracks, Penelope is asked to forget everything she thought she knew to help create a better story…even if that changes every plan and breaks every rule.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Rich world building, whimsical touches, action, and middle grade awkwardness all pack together with dabs of Greek mythology to create an engaging read.

Penelope is an Athena woman just like the rest of her family and knows exactly what she has to do to stay in this lane, which is what she needs to have as the first day at Anaximander's, a bordering school to help students learn to fulfill the Greek mythology selves, arrives. But from the very first moments, nothing runs smoothly. After several exciting, strange, and dangerous incidences, she makes it to the first assembly just as it's coming to a close and is almost passed over, but with a very fought for coin in her hand, she shoves it into the school's gumball machine to be officially sorted into her group. While she has no doubt she's Athena, the gumball places her in the Aphrodite group. She's immediately greeted with open arms and finds an instant friend in Fifi, but Penelope can't accept being placed in the wrong group. She's an Athena girl, after all. But she has little time to only worry about this as she discovers a key to a huge puzzle known as the Pandora's Box and opens the door for the Aphrodite group to enter the school's biggest contest. While Penelope is driven to prove that she's a true Athena girl, she needs to convince the very hesitant Aphrodites to take on the challenge. But then, this is only the beginning of the adventure she's about to face.

The world building in these pages draws in, not only due to the school and Greek nods, but the author adds all sorts of fun details and situations to speak to middle graders while still leaning into a darkish direction with intrigue, secrets, and more. There are video game sessions, parties with tons of wonderful foods, constantly moving buildings, and all sorts of whimsical touches. On the other hand, the danger haunts the shadows and pokes its head with the promise of ever growing threats. While all of this hangs in the fantasy area, there are also moments of familiarity as Penelope deals with the usual social struggles of middle school (bullying, peer pressure, and such) and awkward situations such as facing the first day in a new outfit only to suddenly have super muddy shoes. Add the danger and constantly exciting twists, and it's a read and world to get lost in.

While this takes nods at Greek mythology and includes the gods with their characteristics, it also takes some unique twists to keep a fresh atmosphere. It circles more around the expected attributes and how Penelope (and the other characters) are expected to shape their lives, personalities, and paths after each one. As an academia tale, the school structure gives Harry Potter vibes but also holds aspects which remind of The School for Good and Evil and even Keeper of Lost Cities. The writing, characters, and situations fit nicely to the middle grade audience and fans of these above reads. At the same time, the flow and pacing reminds more of a young adult read. I even stopped to check the suggested age group about 50 or so pages in because of this. After all, it took 25% of the book just for Penelope to get through the first assembly. But even during the first chapters, it is, by no means, a boring read. Quite a bit happens to Penelope as she runs from one ridiculous, awkward, and unexpected adventure into the next. Let's just say she has quite the adventure even before the main adventure hits.

This is the first in what promises to be a very grabbing series, which I have no doubt it will be enjoyed.

And here she is...

Tracy Wolff is the #1 New York Times, #1 internationally, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of the Crave series as well as many other novels. A lover of mythology, vampires, and getting lost in a great book, she’s spent her whole life asking “what if” and “what happens next”—questions being a writer has helped her answer again and again. At six, she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow, a unicorn, and a shapeshifting prince—and at seven, she forayed into the wonderful world of middle grade literature with her first Judy Blume novel. A one-time English professor, she now devotes all her time to writing fun, action-packed, romantic stories with fantastical worlds and characters who leap off the page. She has written all her seventy-plus novels from her home in Austin, Texas, which she shares with her partner, her sons, and their three adorable dogs.

 

You're My Little Bunny by B.D. Cottleston

Happy Sunday! Today, I have a super snuggly book. At least, those are the vibes I'm getting from this one. Don't you want to reach out and feel those bunnies to see if their fur is as cushy-soft as it looks? I'm hoping for a lot of warmth and adorable moments. 

Let's open this one up and see if it heads in this direction or something completely different!

YOU'RE MY LITTLE BUNNY

by B.D. Cottleston

Ink Out Loud

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 3 and up

COMING FEBRUARY 10th!!!

A Giftable Book of Love for the Littlest Someone

Snuggle up and share the sweetest moments with You're My Little Bunny--a tender, beautifully illustrated keepsake book that says everything a little one needs to hear. Whether it's for a baby shower, first birthday, or just because, this story is a hug wrapped in pages, perfect for bedtime, lap time, or anytime.

With playful rhymes, soft art, and gentle affirmations, this book celebrates the cozy bond between grown-ups and their favorite "little bunny." It's the perfect gift to show your love--because somebunny means the world to you.

Ink it. Gift it. Mean it.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Snuggles are all but guaranteed when sharing this read with little loved ones.

The first scene begins with a rabbit mom and her little bunny as they snuggle up together with a book (the same as the cover), and this loving tone continues from there. With each turn of the page, a short phrase introduces a new situation with different animals either showing love and hugging or another sweet activity such as blowing bubbles. Each scene showcases only the character(s) without background, allowing listeners/readers to focus right away on each adorable moment. The mood remains warm, kind, friendly, and caring throughout to create a feel-good read.

The wording is kept concise and clear with only a few words each time to clarify the moment and add the right touch of atmosphere. These are even fitting to younger listeners to create a lovely naptime or bedtime read. The illustrations are done with much care and make each character come to life. It's hard not to want to reach in and snuggle each one. To round off everything with a personal touch, there's an area on the first pages, where the name of the child(ren) receiving this book can be placed, and there's even enough room for a small message. So, it's a book full of warm and love.

Sonic the Hedgehog: On the Go, Vol. 2 by Ian Flynn

We're heading toward a familiar character today and taking a look at the second book in a comic series for middle graders. Sonic the Hedgehog was popular when I was younger and my own kids definitely know him. I didn't read the first book in this series but doubt diving into the second will be too difficult...although there probably are some story arcs which stretch between the two.

Let's just open this one up and see what Sonic and his gang are up to this time.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG:

On the Go, Volume Two

by Ian Flynn

Illustrated by Evan Stanley, Tracy Yardley,

Adam Bryce Thomas, Jack Lawrence

IDW Publishing

328 pages

ages 9 to 12

COMING FEBRUARY 10th!!!

Sonic may be ready for a break, but the excitement never stops in these collections of the comic series in recommended reading order!

The thuggish duo Rough and Tumble are back, and they’re looking for vengeance against Sonic and his friends. And they’re not the only ones… Some of Sonic’s greatest foes have returned and, with the help of some new evil allies, have created a threat that’s guaranteed to take over the world.

Then, join two of the most popular new characters from Sonic’s world, Tangle and Whisper, in this classic odd-couple team-up adventure! Can Tangle and Whisper help solve each other’s problems, or will they just make things worse? Plus, join Sonic and some of his coolest friends in adventures that show just how wonderful Sonic’s world really is.

Collects issues #13–20 from volumes 4 and 5 (Infection and Crisis City) of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the 2019 Annual, and the Tangle and Whisper four-issue miniseries.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Action hits nonstop with a tiny touch of humor and fantasy to create more than a couple exciting adventures.

This book starts with the main tale arc of volume 4, Infection, and thanks to the peaceful beginning of this volume, wasn't difficult to dive right into the scenes and figure out what was happening. Then, it dives into the various stories from the 2019 Annual, heads into the Tangle and Whisper miniseries, and rounds everything off with the main arc of volume 5, Crisis City. So, there's a ton packed into these pages and the pacing makes this obvious when heading through. There is a Table of Contents at the beginning to help readers find their desired story right away. Each change-over during the read is accompanied by a single, full-page illustration as a quick break. 

Sonic the Hedgehog fans are, obviously, going to enjoy this collection and get quite a bit adventure during the read. The action is non-stop with scenes that bring each moment to life and pack tension as well as energy. The dialogue drives each moment forward, while the well-done illustrations carry the rest. While Sonic drives much of these pages, the others from the group have their own chances to shine due to the various stories in these pages. It creates a lovely playground of personalities, adventures, and worlds for fans to sink into and enjoy. It fits nicely to the middle grade audience as well as slightly older readers.