Same Time, Next Week? by Marlene Droop

Today's read greets from Germany and is being released in English next month. As a German/American household, this book, obviously, catches my attention. As a translator, I'm also very critical on these translations...which probably isn't fair, so I try not to get too harsh on that end. I do love the cover, too. These animals look like they are up to something, and I'm betting it will hold a bit of humor and imagination. 

Best way to find out is to open up the book and take a look!

SAME TIME, NEXT WEEK?

by Marlene Droop

Translated by Alisha Niehaus Berger

NorthSouth Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING SEPTEMBER 15th!!!

This sweet and funny road trip story celebrates finding support in friendship, even when things don’t go as expected.

Giraffe, Sheep, Turtle, and Crocodile have a common goal: to see the stars. They head out of the bright city on a road trip into the dark countryside. But plans can change when rain showers, snack breaks, and naps get in the way. Before they know it, the sun is rising! No big deal, say the friends, they can reach for the stars again. Same time, next week?

A gently humorous tale about friendship, expectations, and enjoying the journey by debut author-illustrator Marlene Droop.

PUBLISHER    /     GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

This tale is woven with a gentle tone, which invites to calmness, security, and dreams.

Giraffe and Turtle are underway in the van to pick up their friends Crocodile and Sheep. Together, they want to see the stars. Since the city lights make it impossible to view the gorgeous night sky, they head out into the country. But then, the entire sky is covered in dark clouds. The friends aren't sure what they'll do.

This read soothes while offering a little imagination and sense of friendship. The animals slide in with a sense of playful fantasy. The illustrations strengthen this atmosphere as they stick to a child-like style and let each scene unfold without even a dash of urgency. Instead, the car ride comes across with familiarity while each animal sneaks in a tiny twist of humor here and there to keep everything light and give them personality. When things don't go as the friends intended, they take it in stride without the slightest hint of negativity to create a wholesome read with goodness pure. So, this is a lovely read to ease into quiet hours.

The text stays at a few lines on each page, making it a quick read and ideal for groups or single settings. The vocabulary and tale fit even the younger end of the age group nicely. While there is a message surrounding expectations and what happens when they aren't met, this is very light and steers very clear of any preachiness. Instead, the tale feels a bit directionless. The friends are expectant but never seem to be overly excited to see the stars; they have very little reaction when the storm comes; and they don't really say or do too much when the sun rises. So, it stays fairly mundane on that end. But that's also what makes it a more soothing read to enjoy. The fantasy invites in, the animals will have readers wishing they could accompany them, and there is a gentle adventure to enjoy before drifting off to sleep. 

And here she is...

Marlene Droop studied graphic design in her hometown of Münster, Germany. She then moved to Hamburg to pursue a master’s degree in illustration. Her first young adult novel, Echt das Leben und Ich (Real Life and Me), was published in 2024 and nominated for the Stiftung Buchkunst award for the most beautiful German book.

Marty Moose: The Great Stampede by Claire Powell

Today's read is the 2nd in a chapter book series, and of course, I didn't read the first one, yet. But that shouldn't matter...I'm hoping. So, why did I pick this one up? Because of the post mouse on the cover! I can see this little guy having all sorts of adventures. After all, postmice are sure to experience all sorts of things.

I'm hoping for smiles and adventure, so let's see if this mouse can accomplish both of these!

MARTY MOOSE

The Great Stamp-ede

by Claire Powell

Walker Books

Children's Animal Adventure

163 pages

ages 7 to 9

COMING SEPTEMBER 1st!!!

The second adventure in a brilliantly funny and charming two-colour series from a bestselling illustrator.

It's the day of the annual Fastest Feathers race in Little Ditch, but Marty Moose can’t stop to join in the fun – he’s got a very important parcel to deliver. The prize is a beautiful shining golden egg, and it's got to reach the finish line before the contestants do!

But that’s not the only twist in the Marty and Nibbles have to contend with ferret bandits who want the prize for themselves, and a pair of cheating ducks in a terrible case of fowl play.

GOODREADS   /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Delivering the post can lead to all sorts of unexpected adventures, and this tale proves it.

Marty Moose is a postmouse and good at his job, but he doesn't work all the time, especially not on holidays such as Feather Race Day. On this day, birds compete to see who can reach the finish line first. Only birds, which is completely okay for Marty, since the prize has been underwhelming every year. This year, however, there is the golden egg...and it's missing! The others at the postal service can't figure out where the important delivery went, which means Marty has to jump in. He's determined to find it and get it delivered. But he's on a huge time crunch, since the race has already began...and there might be a reason that the package went missing in the first place.

This is a fun read with mystery, action, and all sorts of feathered ridiculousness going on. If you're looking for a slow, calm read, this isn't it. Instead, Marty is kept on his toes as he does his best to fulfill the delivery. There are massive mouse lines to get to the bathroom, friends who do the unexpected, very determined contestants, and even a villain or two. Every moment seems to bring in a new form of chaos and surprises, which makes it grabbing from beginning to end.

Readers, who are very sure of their words but not quite ready for longer reads, are going to feel comfortable in this book. The vocabulary does exercise those word skills a bit and the tempo works comprehension skills. The illustrations add to the humor and help along with the plot, while being very entertaining.

It's a packed read with tons to enjoy and unexpected situations the entire way through to guarantee that boredom stays very far away.

And here she is...

Claire Powell is a best-selling children’s book maker, character designer, and illustrator. She is the author-illustrator of Marty Moose: First Class Mischief, the first book in a series for young readers and her authorial debut. Her collaborations with Beth Lincoln, Kes Gray, and Simon Farnaby all topped the charts. She has also illustrated books for Dermot O’Leary, Jeanne Willis, Peter Bently, and Michelle Robinson. Claire Powell lives in Derbyshire, England.

Witch Hat Atelier 1 by Kamome Shirahama

I've packed in more graphic novels/mangas than usual this month, simply because they are always happily seen by young readers. Plus, I enjoy them, too. Today's read hits a series which has existed for several years already, but it's one I haven't had a chance to pick up yet. I'm betting, at least, some of you have already read or heard about this one. And if so, feel free to leave your thoughts below! I love hearing what others think of the reads I present but don't get much exchange on that front.

Anyway, let's settle into our chairs and take a look at this one!

WITCH HAT ATELIER 1

by Kamome Shirahama

Kodansha Comics

YA Fantasy    /   Manga

208 pages

A TOUCH OF MAGIC

In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch…until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With a dash of Howl's Moving Castle, this adventure opens up to magic, friendship, and learning to chase possibilities.

Coco would love to be a witch ever since she saw magic for the first time. Unfortunately, witches are born to be witches, and she wasn't. Still, she loves her mother and doesn't mind working in the shop. When a magical carriage appears, she can't believe that such magic has arrived in their village, but that is nothing compared to the strange man, who wants to buy cloth from their store. He seems to watch Coco closely, especially when his identity as a witch is made known, and she tells him about her own, silly dream. However, when she mentions that a man once gave her a picture book and a pen in the form of a wand, his interest increases tenfold. By accident, she learns that witches draw spells; they don't cast them. And the book she received is full of all sorts of spells. So, she tries them on her own and, unknowingly, releases a forbidden spell which traps her mother. Unfortunately, the book disappears in the chaos, so the witch can't help. But he has another proposal... to save her mother, she needs to become one of his apprentices, and then, she'll gain access to a place which might hold the key to saving her mother.

This is a delightful tale, and it's no surprise that it's as popular as it is. Coco is a simple girl with big wishes and a heart of gold. She's humble and kind, and carries just the right amount of naiveness to step into all sorts of adventures and learn along the way. The world is well laid out and the magical rules are nicely set and explained. Add that her mother and her have a wonderful relationship, and there's tons of heart and goodness. This, then, clashes nicely as Coco steps into the witch's world and joins his handful of apprentices. Each of the three girls carries a very different personality and there's friction right away. Danger and tension slide right in to keep the pages turning while the wonder and mystery and enjoyable suspense and expectations. All along, Coco's beaming personality and heart keep everything wholesome and even add a dash of humor.

The artwork is so easy to get lost in and enjoy each scene. This is a manga and needs to be read as such, but this aspect flows seamlessly. It's an inviting tale and I can't wait to jump into the next volume and see what Coco is up to next because she has quite the journey ahead of her.

Aiko and the Planet of Dogs by Ainhoa Cayuso and Christoffer Ellegaard

Today's read greets from France and was translated into English, hitting the market about two years ago. I'm a little late with taking a look at it, but couldn't pass by. First, I have a soft spot for works from other countries. Second, the cover is eye-catching with the wide-eyed girl in the middle of brightly colored dogs...all watching her. Lastly, it's a scifi picture book! I'm ready to fly to the stars to see what a planet of dogs looks like. I do expect interesting illustrations, since this does come from a more known illustrator...and what else? Honestly, that's why I picked it up...to find out.

So, let's do just that!

AIKO AND THE PLANET OF DOGS

by Ainhoa Cayuso

Translated by Irene Vazquez

Illustrated by Christoffer Ellegaard

Levine Querdo

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

Talking space dogs + courageous girl astronaut + giant hungry catfish = one fun picture book

Aiko is a courageous astronaut, specially trained to brave the extremes of space. The whole of humanity is counting on her success. But on a planet that shows signs of life, something goes awry, and when she wakes up, she finds . . . a pack of dogs? And . . . they can talk?

Descended from the valiant astro-dogs who first traveled in space, these canines have cut off all contact with Earth. They’ve found a new planet where they can live, far from humanity and their former masters. (Yes, that doesn’t explain how they can talk, but that’s a little complicated, so let’s move on.)

Aiko is delighted. This discovery will make her the most famous astronaut on Earth! The dogs are . . . less delighted. “Finish your lunch,” they say. “We need to walk you before your bedtime.” They're going to keep her prisoner on their planet rather than let humanity find them again.

Can Aiko find her way home? Can the dogs protect THEIR home? Dear reader, we think you’ll enjoy finding out!

GOODREADS    /   PUBLISHER    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

It's off to space as these pages follow a young girl's exploration of the great beyond and her visit to a planet full of dogs.

Aiko travels through space on a mission to discover what the vast universe holds. When she sees a planet which looks promising for life, she decides to take a closer look, but things don't go quite as planned and her ship is ruined. But Aiko is not one to easily give up...after all, she's highly trained. But she's finding nothing and soon falls asleep on the barren planet's terrain. When she wakes up, she's in a big bed and surrounded by dogs. Weirder yet, they speak. When they explain that they are the descendents of the dogs, which humans sent into space many years earlier for exploration purposes, things make sense. She can't wait to tell Earth about her huge discovery, but this is exactly what the dogs don't want to have happen.

This is an imagination packed read, which sends readers on a delightful journey into space. Aiko's level-head decisions and kind heart make her easy to root for and allow readers/listeners to sink into her journey. The dogs are fun to meet, and the addition of these animals evolving from earlier sent spacecraft from Earth adds a clever twist. That said, this isn't a read for the youngest listeners out there, since the plot is engaging and leans to a bit more weaving. Tension mounts as Aiko is taken prisoner, and the hostile atmosphere is palpable even if staying completely age appropriate. It delivers food for thought. I'd recommend this one to readers five and up...if not a little older even than that. But as said, the material is completely age appropriate, and even the tension stays within the age group's range. The ending rounds everything off nicely, letting dreams expand and adding some material to think about...just a bit.

The illustrations are bright and bold and make each scene pop without shame. Pinks and blues blast from every page to form a very colorful world. It melds right into the fantasy end and lets the tale pull away from the familiar, while the details pull back in with things from everyday life with the dogs, bedroom, and more. Add a teeny dash of humor, here and there, and it's a well-rounded tale. It creates an original read with depth and excitement to sink into, while working nicely for story time.

Dangerous Influence by Sally Nicholls

Today's read caught my attention due to the subject matter. It heads into the world of influencers and takes a look at what happens when their children get older. This should be told from the viewpoint of a teen girl, and I'm curious how it goes. I also appreciate the shorter length of this one and am curious to see how the tale slides into a book, which is less than 130 pages. This doesn't hit the shelves until January, so there's a longer wait, but I couldn't help but take an early peek.

Let's open it up and see what it holds, shall we?

DANGEROUS INFLUENCE

by Sally Nicholls

Barrington Stoke

YA Contemporary

128 pages

COMING JANUARY 26th, 2027!!!

Acclaimed author Sally Nicholls delivers a gripping yet sensitive portrayal of the complex dynamics of influencer culture and the dangers of oversharing online.

Ever since she was little, Anna and her sister Josie have been the main feature of her mum’s vlogs and social media posts, which have documented every moment of their lives, from family dinners to temper tantrums. While Josie seems to enjoy the attention, Anna has always felt uncomfortable with her entire life being laid bare online.

But then it becomes clear that Josie is being stalked by one of her followers, and both girls decide that enough is enough. They refuse to allow their mum to film them any more, but will she finally take them seriously when her entire livelihood depends on Anna and Josie being content for her followers?

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With a bit of tension and a lot of thought, these pages dive into the problem of influencers' children as they are now growing up.

Anna is now a teen, and for as long as she can remember, her mother has incorporated her and her sister's lives into social media posts. While her mother became famous as a mother-vlogger, Anna doesn't want to be involved anymore, since it's seriously hampering her social life in the most awkward of ways. But then, she's never been happy about the constant video life. Her sister, however, has always shined and has even started her own social media presence. When Anna meets a new friend at school who explains that Anna should be getting paid for her participation in her mother's success, Anna finally sees a possible out. But then, a more unpleasant side-effect of the constant social media presence seeps in. Her sister is being stalked.

The theme of this read hits a modern day issue spot-on...and one that isn't often mentioned. This book takes a look at the problems influencers' children, who have been featured in their videos while younger, can face when hitting their teenage years. Videos don't always age well, especially when placed against normal teen problems of insecurity, peer scrutiny, and the like. The author works this aspect in nicely as Anna faces videos of her toilet training years and such. Then, there's the problem of these teens simply trying to find their own place in the world, and Anna and her sister need to battle against the social media presence which has defined their complete lives until that point. Also, the author hits upon the problem of predators, and how this can infiltrate in horrible ways...although the author does keep this aspect on the tamer end to keep this friendly for upper middle graders and lower teen readers, too.

Anna's perspective defines this read. It's easy to sympathize with Anna and understand her issues. It's also clear that things need to change. Still, some of Anna's actions aren't well thought out or the best plan of action. This fits her age group wonderfully and makes her realistic. At the same time, the consequences aren't really there, either. I was glad to see that the mother's reasons for her actions aren't forgotten, although Anna never seems to truly understand it even at the end. There's also a side-plot with their 'never seen' grandmother and a relationship gone bad between her and the mother, which works to define some of the reasons behind the mother's behavior. The stalker side adds tension but is kept light. Everything works, but I think that's where the short length of the book exposes weaknesses over a slightly longer read, which can bring in more richness.

That said, I do appreciate the shortness of the read, especially since the author, obviously, wrote this with weaker readers in mind. The sentence structure, sentence length, and vocabulary head toward a slightly lower reading level than usual young adult books. So, this one is good for those readers, who aren't avid word masters. It also works nicely for slightly younger readers, since the material is never inappropriate. 

And here she is...

Sally Nicholls is a highly acclaimed writer for children, best known for her sensitive portrayal of difficult subjects for a younger age group. Her debut novel,Ways to Live Forever, won the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize and was made into a film. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages and her YA novel about the suffrage movement,Things a Bright Girl Can Dowas shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.