Fotinoula and the Christmas Goblin by R.G. Fraser-Green

Today's read starts to ring in the up-coming holiday season, but should still take on a very original twist. From what I can tell, it centers around a girl who needs to save her younger sister from goblins, who only come to the surface during the twelve days following Christmas and steal children. I'm hoping for a hint of darkness without overpowering the pleasant atmosphere surrounding the holidays. If it maintains the balance, it could be a lovely read.

Let's see how it does!

FOTINOULA AND THE CHRISTMAS GOBLIN

by R.G. Fraser-Green

Fota Press

Middle Grade Fantasy

182 pages

 ages 9 to 12

A thrilling battle of wits between girl and goblin in snow covered Athens...

‘Never forget how devious a Kallikantzaros can be. It will try to snatch Mirtoula. It will keep trying until it has her. And if it succeeds you’ll never see your sister again.’

11-year old Fotinoula doesn’t believe her grandfather when he warns her about the Christmas goblins. After all, the Kallikantzaroi were just an old Greek myth. Creatures with blood-red eyes didn’t really climb up from the underworld during the Twelve Days of Christmas to steal little children, and certainly not in a busy city like Athens.

But Fotinoula soon discovers that some folktales have more truth to them than others. With her father away at sea and only an old book for guidance, she must summon up all her courage and problem-solving skills to save her little sister from one of these hideous creatures. In the process she comes to realise just how much her sister means to her.

This touching story weaves together Greek customs, music, food and history to bring alive a fascinating culture and a rather creepy festive folktale.

A great story for 9-12 year olds or any lover of a scary story with heart.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON    /     BOOKS-A-MILLION

MY TIDBITS

This read takes a different twist on the Twelve Days of Christmas, wrapping a bit of darkness and magic into an unique, holiday read.

Fotinoula isn't sure whether to believe her grandfather's tales about the Kallikantzaroi or not. Her mother doesn't believe in the old Greek myth about the goblins, but her grandfather insists they are true and wants to make sure she keeps her promise to her father, who is out at sea. But Fotinoula's not sure the promise is really that important. After all, it means keeping an eye on her four-year-old sister and making sure she doesn't fall into the goblins' hands during the Twelve Days of Christmas. But when her sister falls prey to the horrible creatures, she has no choice but to believe and try her best to save her.

This isn't like the usual Christmas story found during the holidays but heads toward Greece and a myth I had not heard of before. It centers around creatures called the Kallikantzaroi, which live in the underworld and only come to the surface during the Twelve Days of Christmas to cause mischief and steal children. The basics of the myth are laid out in the first chapters through the grandfather's explanations, which hit in heavier dialogue. It lays a solid foundation and also allows the reader to get a sense for Fotinoula and her family, especially since it keeps a calm pacing, at first. There's a warming relationship between these characters, although these aren't always perfect, either. This is especially clear in Fotinoula's relationship with her younger sister as she finds her frustrating, at times. But then, this also sets the stage for the sibling goodness in these pages.

Greek myth and culture come to light as the tale unfolds. These aspects slide in naturally around the rest of the story. It's a nice way to broaden readers' horizons while learning more about the world, in general. While incorporating light and enjoyable traditions, the tale does hold a darker tone as Fotinoula has to save her sister from the very evil goblins, but it stays very age appropriate the entire way through. 

It makes a lovely read-aloud for those nightly reading sessions, especially since some of the traditions and parts of the myth might lead to a little discussion. It also would work nicely for anyone wanting to take a look at some lesser known Greek myths and learn a little more about the culture in an enjoyable way. 

Volcanoes for Kids by Samuel John

 Today's read is one from an entire series of nonfiction reads for young readers. I haven't read any of the other books, but they cover a range of topics: dinosaurs, water cycle, solar system, and many more. It's a light book, short and sweet. So, I'm curious to see how it handles the information.

Let's take a look!

VOLCANOES FOR KIDS

Educational Science Book for Learning About Volcanoes

by Samuel John

Picture Book

ages 2 to 6

Is your son/daughter always curious about volcanoes and other related earth movements and you wish to help him/her learn more in a fun and exciting child-friendly way that will make them grasp all the important stuff about volcanoes?

And are you looking for a guide that will make the whole learning experience memorable and exciting – in a way that ensures they want to keep learning?

If you’ve answered YES,

Let this book help your son/daughter understand volcanoes seamlessly, like the back of their hand! Volcanoes can be a bit boring to understand when you read about them from boring text. That’s why most people struggle to remember the different terms used to describe different components of volcanic activity.

This book seeks to ensure your child doesn’t struggle to understand volcanoes, with page after page of perfect illustrations depicting everything you need to know about volcanoes.

I know you might be wondering…

Is this book made for a specific age group?

Not really! If your child loves volcanoes or wants to learn about them at any age, this book is for them.

Stuff to do with magma and molten rocks can be hard to understand. Just how kid-friendly is the book?

Don’t worry; there’s no complex stuff here. We keep it light and the book only includes the essential, basic facts about volcanoes. You can also learn a thing or two from the book!

Indeed, this is a perfect child/beginner friendly book about volcanoes that will leave them feeling confident about their knowledge of volcanoes without having to understand complex concepts!

More precisely, this book Basic facts about volcanoes and accompanying illustrationsThe whole book is written in an easy to understand and engaging toneThe book is colorful and each page has a unique illustration that further explains volcanoesThe book starts from the basics and works its way to the more complicated stuff (not too complicated, I promise)And so much more!🔊Includes Downloadable Audio🎧
Enhance your reading experience! This book comes with downloadable audio. Perfect for engaging young readers and sparking their imagination.

🎁And also INCLUDES 4 BONUS🎁 (By download link)

Bonus #1 - Free ebook "The The Steadfast Tin Soldier"

Bonus #2 - 19 Printable Halloween Coloring Pages

Bonus #3 - 50 Printable Mazes With Solutions

Bonus #4 - Free ebook With Sample Pages

So even if your child really struggles to understand volcanoes or they actually don’t even know they exist, by the end of this book, they will be able to tell you what volcanoes are and how exactly they work!

No, really, make sure you ask them after they are done and watch the magic unfold!

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

The science behind volcanoes hits without complexity, while making it interesting and fun.

This is one of many books in a series, each one covering a different topic in the science realm. The cover already lures in with bright colors and tons of energy. It's hard not to want to join the little adventures on the front right away and go on exploration with them. 

This book starts at the beginning explaining the origin behind the word volcano, and then dives right into what one is, how it forms, and more. The illustrations hold a sense of simplicity, same style as found on the cover, which gives the entire thing a lighter atmosphere. The text follows this trend with a large, decorative font and only a couple lines or so on each page. This creates, again, a very simple atmosphere. The information and vocabulary, however, aren't quite as basic as the images and text might, at first glance, suggest.

The author dives into the workings of a volcano, sticking to this basic flow while working in the foundational concepts and vocabulary. The reader will not only know the workings of magna, lava, and basic volcanic inner workings but also learns a couple extra details. It's never overly in-depth, since this is all tucked into the short one or two sentences, and still, young readers get a good base knowledge on the subject. 

To add a little more fun, there is a downloadable audio link included as well as a link to several freebie activities. It's a nice addition for classrooms with younger students as well as useful for homeschoolers.

Drawn Onward by Daniel Nayeri

Today's read caught my attention thanks to the cover. Anyone else ready to grab a sword and shield, and head into adventure? This one is a picture book, which I was glad to see, since this high-fantasy usually starts first with slightly older readers. Now, there is a purpose to this read, and that kept my excitement a little more at bay. This book handles the loss of a parent and grief. I'm always very skeptical about these sorts of 'help' books and really, really, really hope it doesn't damper the tale.

So, pack those bags because we're going on a journey!

(Note: This was so well done that I'm adding it to my possible favorites of the year list)

DRAWN ONWARD

by Daniel Nayeri

Illustrated by Matt Rockefeller

HarperAlley

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

In this enthralling and emotional palindrome picture book by Daniel Nayeri and Matt Rockefeller, a young boy grieving the loss of his mother embarks on a lushly fantastical adventure that illuminates what remains when our loved ones are gone.

All alone

He was not so brave…

His heart needed to know

The answer.

This lyrical, heartfelt story a young boy who’s lost all hope braves the dark forest to ask, “Mom, were you glad you were mom?” Gorgeously illustrated, Drawn Onward gently guides readers through the depths of grief and provides comfort and hope to those who seek answers when it feels like all is lost.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON    /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

These illustrations capture the imagination and lead on a fantastical journey to delight the adventurer and encourage the soul.

A boy feels lost after the death of his mother and wanders into the forest, deeper than he should go. From there a grabbing, graphic adventure begins, which draws into a world of wonder.

This book is an illustrative delight. There is some text but just enough to set the stage and add needed highlights here and there to guide the tale through. The rest is a visual quest, which takes the boy on a rich journey of discovery, surprises, tension, and growth. The details are imaginative and awaken fascination. While the main thread of the boy's journey is clear, there's quite a bit of room for each reader to notice different moments and take everything in on a more personal direction. In other words, each reader will have subtle differences in how they see the boy's journey. Even visiting these images time and again will lead to new discoveries and let dreams fly each time. It flows a bit like a graphic novel with smaller panels overlayed on the main one...like a picture book hugging the graphic novel form. This keeps the tension high the entire way through.

While this book does handle grief, it is subtle. The reader needs to read a little between the lines, but it's still clear what the boy's problem is. While the first scene gives a basic impression of the relationship and worries the boy and his father have, the rest bounds into discovery and danger, keeping uncertainty close. This changes more toward the end into amazement with new-found understanding.  The grief theme slides through as a very gentle side to the rich fantasy, drawing more meaning toward the end to wrap off with a final sense of hope.

These graphics are enjoyable for even adults to gaze through, and the meaning behind them carries enough depth to have this oldest age group thinking. I'm not sure the youngest end of the intended age group will catch much more than the basic message, since there is quite a bit of visual symbolism going on, but the older end of the intended reader level will be able to sink into the moment. It's masterfully woven and glides through the theme with wisdom and never a sense of preachy purpose.

And here they are...

Daniel Nayeri likes to read things backward even when it doesn't make sense to do so. He is the author of Everything Sad Is Untrue (A True Story), winner of the Printz Award, the Christopher Medal, and the Middle Eastern Book Award. He loves letter-unit palindromes, like "toot" and "God's dog," and word-unit palindromes, like "Never say never" and "Fall leaves after leaves fall," and if he didn't say how much he likes and loves his wife and son, he wouldn't be Daniel Nayeri. 

Matt Rockefeller is a visual storyteller inspired by adventuring in the mountains, interpretive dancing with friends, and pondering the many wonders of the universe. In addition to drawing and writing comics, he creates artwork for TV and film animation. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his family including a little dog that may or may not be a fox.

Bunnies on the Bus by Philip Ardagh

 Today's read should hold tons of energy, chaos, and silliness. In other words, I'm really looking forward to diving into this one. So, without further babbling, let's join in on this adventure.

BUNNIES ON THE BUX

by Philip Ardagh

Illustrated by Ben Mantle

Candlewick Press

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

A romping, riotous read-aloud from best-selling author Philip Ardagh and award-winning illustrator Ben Mantle.

Bunnies on the bus!
Bunnies on the bus!
No wonder there’s a fuss
about the bunnies on the bus!

There are bunnies on the bus, and they’re causing mayhem in Sunny Town! Watch as they whiz past the bus stop, fly by the swings, and zoom over the crosswalk — these bunnies aren’t stopping for anyone. They finally reach the station, but where are they hopping off to now? Uh-oh . . . Acclaimed author Philip Ardagh’s rhyming, high-energy text and “Bunnies on the bus!” refrain is ideal for library or classroom read-alouds, and Ben Mantle’s colorful illustrations are chock-full of zany details perfect for repeat reads.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON    /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

Chaos and silliness hit with adorable bunnies and tons of energy.

The streets of Sunny Town are definitely not safe, not when the bunnies are on the bus. Each one is a ball of energy, and there are quite a few of them on the journey to the train. The bus zips down the road, swerving, speeding, and causing all sorts of trouble and near mishaps. When the bus finally stops and the bunnies get off, the town can release a sigh of relief. But that was only the first leg of the journey. Next, comes the train, and no one knows what chaos will ensue now.

This is a book with the sole purpose to bring giggles and create smiles. These bunnies are very excited and can't sit still. But they aren't mean in any way. It's the bus driver, racing through the streets and creating all sorts of near misses, which is causing the biggest issue. It's hard not to gasp and giggle with wide eyes at every turn of the page. 

The rhyme flows almost like a children's song, making it a lovely read-aloud, which with a few readings, will have young listeners joining in themselves. The illustrations are what creates the silliness, though. These hold many details, which invites readers to flip through them and search every scene again and again.

And here they are...

Philip Ardagh is a prolific writer who has been published in forty languages. His titles include the best-selling Eddie Dickens trilogy; High in the Clouds, cowritten with Paul McCartney and Geoff Dunbar; and Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky, winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. He lives in Kent, England.

Ben Mantle worked in animation, including on Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, before turning to children’s illustration. The illustrator of Follow the Track All the Way Back by Timothy Knapman and many other picture books, he is also the author-illustrator of the Dinostars series as well as The Best Birthday Present Ever! and The Best Christmas Present Ever! Ben Mantle lives in Brighton, England.

Happy Book Birthday, Young Grandmaster Choi II by Shequeta Smith!

I'm going to shout this book birthday out a little early (it hits the shelves on the 5th) and am looking forward to diving into Rayven's second adventure. I did read the first one in the series (amazing, right?).
So, I have a pretty good idea where this might be heading and am looking forward to it. 

Let's see if Rayven is able to overcome whatever this book might hold!

YOUNG GRANDMASTER CHOI II

by Shequeta Smith

Shero Comics

Middle Grade Graphic Novel

ages 7 to 12

After earning her yellow belt in Hapkido, Rayven is chosen to do a short stick solo at the upcoming Cultural Festival in Seoul. Rayven is excited about her good fortune until a jealous classmate bullies her for not being Korean. Rayven loses confidence in herself until she attends the Cultural Festival and finds a bit of Korean history that directly connects to her African American heritage.

GOODREADS

 MY TIDBITS

Rayven has earned her yellow belt in Hapkido and has been chosen to do a stick solo at the next event. She's already nervous , but when a girl at school insists that, as an African American, Rayven can never be a true part of the Korean culture, Rayven feels uncertain. This soon affects her practice. Her family and friends insist that the girl is only jealous, but Rayven isn't so sure there isn't some truth to her words.

This is the second book in the series, but it's no problem to dive right into this one. Rayven is trying to find her place in Korean, now that she's moved from the the US. Especially the food is throwing her for a loop, and readers will feel for her as there isn't even pizza available. She has a lovely friend group, which offers support, too. When the bullying comes in, this is only for a few frames twice. It hits with the needed potency but pulls back before overwhelming. Still, it's just enough to leave the needed impression. There's a clever twist to bring everything together, and Rayven grows as a person and character in inspiring ways. She's easy to connect with and root for.

The illustrations offer enough details to make each situation clear and even bring across the Korean culture. They are colorful and work well with the speech bubbles. The text carries the story in the speech bubbles, which are fitting to the age group.

While the main message comes across clearly, and Rayven is obviously a character, who will experience many more small adventures, there is also quite a bit about the Korean culture. Readers learn various aspects about the people, habits, and country, which will have them seeing Korea differently. It will be fun to see what Rayven will deal with next.

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