The Storyteller's Almanac by Elise Hurst

The first weeks of the year usually mean more time to read, since that's when our colder weather normally hits. Notice the words 'usually' and 'normally', since this year seems to be playing to its own beat with big temperature swings and no sign of the subzero temps, yet. Although I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to have to start more work outside on the farm again (I'm innerly screaming 'not yet!'), that reading pile stands waiting for me to pick today's read up.

Today's read is one I'm not sure will be good or not. I enjoy the illustrated cover but am a little lost as to the direction it will take. I'm getting short story vibes, but the blurb doesn't really hint at that direction. Instead, it should be a wordless journey, so my interest is piqued. 

Let's just jump in and see what's inside.

(Note after reading: Elise Hurst might now be one of my favorite illustrators.)

THE STORYTELLER'S ALMANAC

by Elise Hurst

Compendium

Children's Fantasy

128 pages

ages 4 and up

COMING JANUARY 20th!!!

This is an invitation to latch on to your imagination, and let it take you on an exciting ride to the extraordinary. The Storyteller's Almanac is your creative companion in unlocking new doors to your imagination and seeing where they might lead.

Created by award-winning illustrator Elise Hurst, this captivating wordless picture book features 50 richly detailed illustrations to explore. There are imaginative places to visit, mythological creatures to meet, and amazing adventures waiting for you. But the story of these illustrations is yours to create.

Open the pages at bedtime, on a road trip, or as a creative writing exercise. And when you need a little extra inspiration, there's a scavenger hunt included to help spot hidden details to fuel your storytelling journey.

Where will your stories take you? That's up to you!

It's a resource you'll reach for again and again--whether you're:
- A child discovering new ways to play and imagine
- A parent looking to connect and create with your child
- A teacher seeking thoughtful story starters for the classroom
- Someone creative searching for a fresh spark of inspiration

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Get ready to enter a world of imagination and let those dreams fly because these pages will take you on a  journey not easily left behind.

These pages hold sheer delight for fantasy fans' eyes. The scenes take different directions with each turn of the page, inviting to new stories and possibilities each time. All hold a touch of fantasy. Some twist familiar moments with a tinge of wonder, while others open up with places that only exist in tales. There are short poems sprinkled in between, only a few here and there, which seem to unlock a new door of thought, each time. These are short, pointed, and only appear every now and then to let the illustrations remain the main theme throughout.

The artist uses lighter colors, many careful strokes, and whimsical details to let the eyes sink into each moment. The creativity blossoms and blooms as every flip of the page opens up to a new world. It's hard not to stop and gaze at each one as individual tales come to life. Many hold animal figures with human-like attributes but not in the cutesy way. Instead, there's hints of rich adventure with each one. 

This book works well with almost all age groups, since it invites in with scenes which are sure to grab children and imagination-minded adults alike. Not only are the illustrations calming, but also inspiring. I could even see this used in classrooms or group settings...and by homeschoolers...to inspire writing sessions as well. I will be placing this one on my own bookshelf and have no doubt it will be pulled out again and again over the years by all sorts of hands.

And here she is...

Elise Hurst is a Melbourne-based illustrator, fine artist and author, specialising in children's books. She works in a vintage alternate reality, creating characters we feel we know and worlds we would like to inhabit.

The Monster and Puppet Show! by Kate Micucci

 There's so many books hitting the shelves this year...well, isn't there always? But I still get excited every year, wondering what each day will hold. Today's read releases end of next month but has already been on my reading pile for awhile. I've been restraining myself, eager to see what's inside since I didn't want to hit it too early, either.

Anyway, this one is for beginner readers, and it should be the truly beginning side of this group. I'm expecting this one to hold some humor, too. But we'll have to, finally, open it up to see what's inside.

So, let's do it!

THE MONSTER AND PUPPET SHOW!

by Kate Micucci

and Mo Willems

Union Square Kids

Picture Book

64 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING FEBRUARY 24th!!!

Award-winning actor, comedian, musician, and artist Kate Micucci teams up with #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems as part of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award–winning early reader series Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!

When Monster meets Puppet, they decide to put on a show. Puppet knows what Monster should do! Monster should tell a joke! Monster should dance! Monster should sing! But the more Monster does, the more Puppet wants MORE. What should Monster do whenThe Monster and Puppet Show! is not fun any ... MORE!?!

Kate Micucci’s vibrant pop art and humorous storytelling cleverly explore themes of friendship, peer pressure, boundaries, and self-preservation. This funny beginning reader, for kids ages 4 to 8, supports early reading skill-building and is an ideal read-aloud book.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

This duo...or single character? It's hard to say which as Monster finds a puppet, and both seem to hold their own ideas about everything.

Monster discovers a puppet and decides that it'd be great to have a puppet show, but he isn't sure what to do. Luckily, Puppet has some ideas, and soon the two are going back and forth, having so much fun. It goes on and on and on...until it isn't so fun anymore. But Monster isn't sure what he should do then.

This is a bit of a quirky tale and just right for beginning readers. Monster is simple and easy to connect with. Puppet, which should just be a puppet, seems to gain its own personality (or does it really?) While there's a bit of situation humor and some silly circumstances, there are also jokes worked in to offer an extra treat that readers can take with them. And the ending holds a tiny message about friendship, but this is really just a dab to round off the tale nicely. 

The main purpose of this book is to practice reading skills in an entertaining way, and it fulfills this task well. The illustrations are simple and colorful, but offer a visual assistance to support what is happening. The text is in speech bubbles and sticks to only a few words, and many are repeated to help recognition skills. The vocabulary stays in a beginning range, while adding a few, slightly more difficult ones along the way. But thanks to the humor, everything stays light and fun.

It's a cute and entertaining way to build those word skills while bringing some smiles, too.

And here they are...

Kate Micucci is an Emmy-nominated songwriter, comedian, and actor. She has voiced characters in numerous animated series and movies including Scooby-Doo, Steven Universe, DuckTales, and Dog Man. Kate has been in critically acclaimed hit TV series, including The Big Bang Theory and Raising Hope as well as in feature films. She released her debut children’s album, My Hat, in 2023. Kate has also performed live with her puppet, Camille, at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. She lives in New York City.

Mo Willems is a number one New York Times bestselling author and illustrator. He has been awarded three Caldecott Honors and an Eisner Award for his picture books, and two Theodor Seuss Geisel Medals and five Geisel Honors for his celebrated ELEPHANT & PIGGIE early readers. His debut picture book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was inducted into the Picture Book Hall of Fame. Mo began his career as a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards. Mo is the cofounder of Hidden Pigeon Company, established in 2023 to extend the reach of Mo Willems characters and stories across multiple platforms.

Formula Fast: Your Ultimate Guide to Formula One Racing! by Matt Ralphs

I bet there are, at least, a few Formula One fans out there. When we lived in Germany, it seemed everyone was always watching the races and talking about it...but some of that had to do with the success of Michael Schumacher, I'm assuming. Today's read covers exactly this racing topic, and since I haven't seen many books about the Formula One for middle grade readers, I had to pick this one up. I'm hoping it holds tons of excitement just like the sport and offers interesting facts along the way.

Let's see how tense and speedy this read is!

FORMULA FAST

Your Ultimate Guide to Formula One Racing!

by Matt Ralphs

Illustrated by Dragan Kordic

Phaidon Press

Middle Grade Nonfiction  /  Sports

64 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING FEBRUARY 4th!!!

The ultimate illustrated guide to Formula One racing, the world’s fastest sport: from superhuman drivers to legendary tracks to cutting-edge cars.

Packed with facts, stats, and impactful illustrations, this ultimate guide to Formula One answers all the questions car-obsessed kids want to know: How do you become a superstar driver? Which is the most challenging race track? What is the record for the quickest pit stop? (Hint: it’s less than two seconds.)

Young speed-seekers will discover fascinating details about incredible cars, iconic tracks, superhuman drivers, and behind-the-scenes action. Learn about the latest developments in car technology, what drivers wear and how they train, and, of course, the biggest names in racing history – from Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to legendary greats like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, plus unsung heroes such as Desiré Wilson.

Featuring a stunning silver-foiled cover, a historical timeline of Formula One cars, and a helpful glossary of key terms, Formula Fast is the ultimate gift for any aspiring gearhead.

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Speed fanatics and race car junkies are going to get their thrills as these pages expose all sorts of technical, historic, and excitement goodness.

This book centers around the Formula One race and takes readers on a deep dive into the sport. From the history of the race to facts about the cars, each page delivers details to enlighten and raise awareness of everything this sport encompasses. The illustrations are bright, bold, and clear to not only support the information with visual assistance but also deliver energy and excitement, too. The information hits quick and precise with direct facts, which are easy to understand and interesting as well.

While there is a bit of general information in these pages surrounding the history of the race, most time is spent on making it clear how much technology, security, work, and more goes into each event and takes place behind the scenes. From the pit crew with each member and their job to layouts of the tracks at highlighted races to the workout that drivers need to do to keep neck, back, and shoulder muscles strong, these pages divulge how much is involved in this sport. Then, there's the technical end...and I especially appreciated this aspect...which explains the various tires involved, controls the drivers have, how specialized even the seats are, and so much more. In other words, readers will quickly realize that the driver is only a small part of the entire process. Plus, it exposes the large amount of professions involved in forming one race...in other words, future career ideas, too.

The text is easy to read, and although there is quite a bit of information packed into these pages, it comes across smoothly and doesn't overwhelm. Much of this is thanks to the short paragraph style and how carefully the themes are laid out with the illustrations. It makes the information easy to consume and revisit as desired. At the end of the book, there's a satisfying glossary for many of the terms to round things off.

These pages not only raise excitement and awareness for the sport, they also deepen the respect for everything involved.

And here they are...

Matt Ralphs is an author and editor. His children’s non-fiction credits include Spooky Celebrations Around the World, Beasts from the Deep, Transported, Automotive and Around the World in 80 Inventions. He has lots of interests, especially Formula One and fast cars and counts himself lucky that he gets to write books about them.

Dragan Kordic is a Croatian illustrator and designer. His work ranges from illustrations for publishing and public spaces to visuals for startups, corporate clients, and advertising. He is inspired by nature, travel, and books. He lives in Rijeka, Croatia, with his wife and daughter.