Happy Book Birthday, Socks and Secret Quests by Triona Murphy!

It's been a while since I hit pure fantasy...as in trolls, magical realms, dragons...or I believe there will be dragons? Honestly, I'm take a tiny peek but not much of one. I did notice that this is compared to Howl's Moving Castle (one of my personal favorite fantasies) and Dungeons & Dragons. I'm not sure how these two cross and am excited to see if this read compares with both or either one. 

So, grab those adventuring whatnots because we're off to accompany these characters on a journey.

SOCKS & SECRET QUESTS

The Wandering Shop Book 1

by Triona Murphy

Illustrated by James Firnhaber

Atheneum Books

Middle Grade Fantasy

272 pages

ages 8 to 12

Howl’s Moving Castle meets Dungeons & Dragons in this debut cozy illustrated middle grade fantasy adventure that follows an unlikely heroine who rallies a ragtag team to face a dark wizard, uncovering her own magic along the way.

Peri has been waiting for her magic to show up, but there’s been no sign of it since she was chosen as an Apprentice Shopkeeper a year ago. Now she travels with a magical shop that equips adventurers for their quests, unsure if she’ll ever do more than stock shelves, mend mittens, and knit non-magical hats that don’t do anything but keep heads warm.

Then a dark wizard kidnaps the Master Shopkeeper, intent on using her power to create an unstoppable army.

To save her master, Peri must leave the cozy shop and seek help from the closest adventuring party, who is really good at arguing and really bad at working together. As Peri’s magic unexpectedly begins to show itself in the items she’s knitting, it’s up to her and her team to stop the dark wizard before war breaks out—or it won’t be just her shop at stake but the entire kingdom.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With a shop, which reminds a little of Howl's Moving Castle, this is a quick-paced fantasy with characters to cheer for the entire way through.

Peri supposedly holds amazing magic inside of her. At least, that's what the trials claimed before she received her apprenticeship, but whatever super-amazing powers are there...well, she hasn't noticed them yet. Only if speed knitting counts as magic. Her apprenticeship at the magical, traveling shop is, actually, not bad. Her master is extremely kind and there is a wonderful blacksmith, who works there. The shop holds many surprises and makes unexpected jumps to new locations. Still, Peri had hoped to have a more adventurous life. When a dark wizard visits the shop and takes her master away, Peri is determined to do what she can to rescue the woman. She chases after a group of young heroes, hoping they can help, but instead of the chance to return to the shop, she's pulled into the adventure, too. Unfortunately, she's not sure how she can be of help to the small group as they go after the powerful, evil wizard, but she'll do about anything to get her master back.

Peri is a character to befriend. She's kind, thoughtful, adventurous, and brave. Plus, she knits very well, which is more of a bonus than many might think. The first chapters let the reader get to know her and the shop...and what a shop it is! It's hard not to want to visit it and travel along as it pops up here and there. This creates a warm beginning to an exciting and actio-packed adventure as Peri and her friends face one danger after the next. Each of the people in the group carry their own personalities and struggles, adding depth and several layers of subplots. Of course, their forming friendship is golden and inspires.

The tale moves along smoothly and never bores. Something is always happening whether magical, action orientated, or handling other issues. There's messages about friendship, teamwork, believing in yourself, and stepping beyond comfort zones. Then, there's the knitting, which adds a nice twist. The author also includes some basic knitting vocabulary and a project for a hat at the end. I was a little surprised that there isn't a book in the series before this one, which describes Peri's time at the apprentice trials. But on the other hand, it's also nice to skip over this more cliche trope and dig into the 'after the trials' right away.

Fantasy fans are going to want to give this one a go and want to get to know this group of adventurers. I'm not sure if another book is planned to make this into a series, but I do hope one is on its way because this group seems like they're just getting started.

And here they are...

Triona Murphy designs (unfortunately nonmagical) knitting patterns, which provided the inspiration for Peri’s unique magic in The Wandering Shop series. She lives near Portland, Oregon, with her husband and three kids in a house overflowing with board games and books. Visit her online at TrionaMurphy.com.

James Firnhaber is an illustrator based in Philadelphia. His work draws on his love of mythology, magical realism, graphic novels, and traditional animation. When they’re not illustrating, James designs board games and helps run the Game Makers Guild of Philadelphia. Besides drawing and designing games, James loves discovering new music, baking bread, and spending time with their partner cooking, watching monster of the week shows, and exploring the city. Visit him online at JamesFirnhaber.com.

Seven Million Steps by Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory

Today's read head into the nonfiction realm and takes a look at a little-known achievement during the 1970s. A gentleman named Dick Gregory decided to run about 50 miles a day and cross the entire United States from Los Angeles to New York (I believe). His arrival was scheduled to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the US. The entire reason for this venture was to raise awareness for hunger, which it did.

So, let's see how this book presents this amazing moment.

SEVEN MILLION STEPS

The True Story of Dick Gregory's 

Run for the Hungry

by Derrick Barnes

Christian Gregory

Illustrated by Frank Morrison

Amistad Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

From award-winning creators, Derrick Barnes, Frank Morrison, and Dr. Christian Gregory comes the true story of comedian and activist Dick Gregory’s remarkable Food Run of 1976.

1 man. 1,011 hours. 3,200 miles. 7 million steps.

What would you do?

In April of 1976, Dick Gregory sets off on a Herculean and grueling two-and-a-half month run. His goal: to raise awareness about the epidemic of poverty and hunger in America.

Sleeping in motels and consuming nothing but fruit juices, vitamins and water, he runs from Los Angeles to New York City. And in each city, he stops to speak the truth about injustice. About the plight of the penniless. About the hopeless.

Lyrical text, stunning art, and compelling backmatter come together to ask you—yes you—what would you do if you had a wild idea to stand up for something you believe in? Find out how far Dick Gregory’s belief in feeding the hungry took him in this unforgettable story of an incredible journey that still reverberates today.

GOODREADS     /      AMAZON     /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Instead of presenting a historical rundown of Dick Gregory's amazing run, these pages draw the reader personally in and emotionally bring across the journey.

This is a brightly and artistically illustrated book, which makes it enjoyable simply to pick up and gaze at each scene. The illustrative style not only brings across the individuals well but also lets the artist deliver various scenes and landscapes that Dick passed to hit with beauty and heart. So, this aspect alone was already enjoyable. 

The book speaks directly to the reader, often asking questions to personally tie them to Dick's experience. At the same time, the reason behind Dick's undertaking as well as a couple highlights are sprinkled in along the way to give it historical meaning and not let the events pass by unnoticed. But this read is all about the emotional connection, which not only does a nice job at making the hunger issue clear in the beginning but also illustrates the difficulty of the journey as well as the lovely sense of community Dick met along the way. 

Especially classrooms, homeschoolers, or anyone interested in themes surrounding hunger, Dick Gregory, or changing the world in different ways will find this book especially useful. I see this as a better fit for the upper end of the age group, since it does open up nicely to discussions. The end of the read offers more facts concerning Dick Gregory's run as well as more information about hunger and the like, which adds a nice touch and some more threads for discussions and research. I, personally, would have enjoyed a little more backstory on Dick Gregory (who he was before undertaking the run) and what affects the run had after he was done. But this is a nice, general flow of the run and inspires listeners/readers letting them know that there are things almost everyone can do to make a difference.

And here they are...

Derrick Barnes is the creator of the New York Times bestselling companion picture books The King of Kindergarten and The Queen of Kindergarten. His graphic novel Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice was a National Book Award finalist and won many other awards. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, which received a Newbery Honor, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers. Derrick currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his enchanting wife, Dr. Tinka Barnes, and their four sons, the Mighty Barnes Brothers. You can visit him online at derrickdbarnes.com.

Growing up in New Jersey, Frank Morrison began developing his own style through "R.I.P" art scenes that brought him considerable street recognition and local acclaim. But it wasn’t until he visited the Louvre Museum in Paris with his dancing group that he realized painting was his true creative path. His talent and hard work paid off with over twenty illustrated children’s books, including the Coretta Scott King—John Steptoe Award winner Jazzy Miz Mozetta and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book Little Melba and Her Big Trombone. Frank lives in Georgia with his family.

The Secret of the Night Parade by Jem Yoshioka

I saw this one and immediately thought that it'd be a good fit for October. This is the 2nd in a graphic novel series for middle graders, and I believe it slides into the Asian myths surrounding yokai and the like. I'm really curious to see how a night parade goes because this could be very gripping and fun. It doesn't hit the shelves until November, so there's plenty of time to get excited about the release, too.

Let's pick it up and see what it's about!

THE SECRET OF THE NIGHT PARADE

Folk Remedy, Book 2

by Jem Yoshioka

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Middle Grade Fantasy  /   Graphic Novel

256 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING NOVEMBER 10th!!!

Maple and her friends journey deeper into the mysterious world of yÅ kai, where one person's secrets could change everything. A magical middle-grade graphic novel for fans of Spirited Away and Inuyasha .

In Folk The Secret of the Night Parade (Book 2), Maple finds herself in the Hidden City of yokai, the supernatural creatures of Japan. Surrounded by danger, she and her friends Ember, Sky, and Peach must navigate the city's colorful characters, seeking allies and avoiding enemies.

Maple must grapple with how the hidden world is changing her and whether she even wants to return to her old life. The secrets behind her mysterious dreams and Ember's true identity will test who she can trust.

Book 2 of a magical middle-grade graphic novel series

Steeped in Japanese folklore and yokai lore

Art evoking traditional woodblock prints

Perfect for anime and manga fans
Full of friendship, folklore, and fast-paced adventure, return to the world of the yokai!

GOODREADS      /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Starting where book one left off, this adventure circles around growing friendships while visiting the dangers of a yokai realm.

Maple doesn't have much time left to find a way to leave the yokai realm and head back home to the human world. She already has horns on her head and knows that the next mutation is only a few weeks, at most, away. With the help of her odd collection of friends, who also each harbor their own secrets, she's headed to one of the major yokai cities and hopes to find a priestess there who can help. But yokai hate humans, and she's sure to be discovered when thrown into the crowds. Plus, Ember, her best friend, is acting strange and it's becoming more and more clear that he's hiding something huge.

I didn't read the first book in this duology (?) but didn't have too much trouble sinking right in. Of course, a lot of backstory was missing, so I would suggest reading this one in order.

This is a steady paced read, which keeps the pages turning the entire way through. While there are some more dangerous scenes, this read focuses more on the relationships between the group of friends and their very vibrant personalities. A couple of them are harboring huge secrets, and while Maple trusts each of them, sometimes it's questionable if she really should as they disappear without wanting to give a reason as to why. This creates an interesting tension and keeps the reader wondering about the reasons until the end. There's also some possible romances and maybe romances woven in, but the main thrust of the tale still remains on the friendship end. The back-and-forths between each of them adds a smile to the face and keeps the atmosphere light.

The graphics are nicely done and make the world come to life while keeping this lighter feel. It's easy to sink into each character and enjoy their tales thanks to the imagery. 

The plot, in general, is fairly straightforward but still carries enough side-notes to keep it interesting. There was a section toward the end where I grew a little confused as to what was happening but another glance and everything was clear. 

It's an enjoyable world with fun characters to root for.

And here she is...

Jem Yoshioka is an award winning comic artist from the very real and not-at-all-fictional location of Wellington, New Zealand. She fell in love with comics because she can blend together her two loves of drawing and writing. It's been years now and unfortunately no one has been able to get her to stop, so they've given up trying (the lesson here is that stubbornness is a virtue). She lives a cozy life in a central city apartment with her black cat. Folk Remedy is her debut graphic novel.

Hardy Boys Clue Book: Fall Mysteries by Franklin W Dixon

Mysteries are an automatic must-read when Halloween comes around, and Hardy Boys are known to keep those mysteries coming. So, I was excited to get my hands on a a 3-in-1 mystery novel with, at least, one of the tales circling around Halloween. I have the sneaking suspicion that there might be another one about ghosts, too. So, let's open this book up and take a look!

FALL MYSTERIES

Hardy Boys Clue Book 3-in-1

by Franklin W Dixon

Illustrated by Santy Gutierrez

Aladdin

Children's Mystery

288 pages

ages 6 to 9

Brothers Frank and Joe Hardy tackle three spooky investigations in this fall-themed Hardy Boys Clue Book three-books-in-one paperback bind-up!

In The Bad Luck Skate, Frank and Joe are excited to be supporting their friends on the Bayport Checkers hockey team. But when someone dumps paint all over the team’s lucky skate, their star player worries their luck has run out. Then his stick breaks before he takes the ice! Has the team really lost their luck or is someone trying to psych them out so they lose the game? Without a clear suspect, Frank and Joe are on thin ice.

After Frank and Joe’s friend Jason wins a treasure map at Bayport’s Pirate Palooza, a message in a bottle warns him not to hunt for the treasure! Could it be the legendary ghost of Captain Scurvydog? In The Pirate Ghost, the Hardy Boys are on the case to prove that spirits definitely do not exist…or do they?

In The Great Pumpkin Smash, Frank and Joe can’t wait to celebrate Halloween at Bayport’s annual party, Boo at the Zoo. But when the brothers go to check out the painted pumpkin display, they’re all completely squashed! The two detectives must find out who pummeled the pumpkins or else this will be the last Boo at the Zoo.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON    /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Mystery fans get to dive into three, exciting tales with two sleuths, who are known to find the culprit every time.

This is a collection of three tales, which feature Frank and Joe Hardy in their younger years. This is a book for those readers, who are sure of their words and are edging toward middle grade novels but not quite there yet. It includes three tales, which each take place during the Fall season. One centers around a hockey team's good luck being ruined, another takes on a Fall festival surrounding pirates, and the last jumps into the Boo celebration at the local zoo. Each one heads in an original direction, and the culprit of each mystery is good at covering their tracks. But Frank and Joe know how to concentrate on the five 'W' questions (Who, What, When, Where, and Why) and are very good at collecting clues. 

Each read is around 70-80 pages long. They are broken down into almost a dozen chapters to let readers take breaks as necessary...but it's not easy to set these tales down, since each one keeps the pacing high. There are lovely illustrations sprinkled in, and there is a page of questions to encourage readers to see if they can figure out the mystery themselves. 

Each story involves friends, neighbors, and other characters from Joe and Frank's town. This gives it a nice, community atmosphere . Although crimes are committed, these stay aligned to the intended age group, and the solutions offer wholesome goodness, too. The mysteries aren't easy to guess, so readers won't necessarily be able to predict the ending. Each scene carries familiarity, too, to let readers sink right in.

It's an enjoyable collection of stories for young, mystery fans.

And here they are...

Franklin W. Dixon is the author of the ever-popular Hardy Boys books.

Santy Gutierrez resides in the seaside city of La Coruña, Spain. He has won acclaim as the Best Spanish Young Editorial Cartoonist and Best Galician Caricaturist, among others. 

An Octopus Named Houdini by Zana Fraillon

I've been waiting to pick up today's read for a few months now. First, I find the cover grabbing...what is the girl's relationship with the octopus? Is it a fantasy or contemporary? I'm really curious. Second, it's written in verse. While I'm not a huge poetry fan, I do enjoy a well done one. I'm hoping this read falls into that category because a well done book in verse is a treat.

So, let's open it up and find out what these pages hold.

AN OCTOPUS NAMED HOUDINI

by Zana Fraillon

Illustrated by Corinna Luyken

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade  /  Novel in Verse

160 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING NOVEMBER 24th!!!

Odder meets Growing Home in this “tender and insightful” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) illustrated middle grade novel in verse about an octopus named Houdini, her unexpected friendship with the aquarium owner’s daughter, and her deep yearning to return to the sea.

All day long we can hear
that Sea howl prowling wild
inside our brains and every part of us is straining
to feel it taste it twirl it whirl it swirl it
inside our body
again.

Houdini the octopus lives in an aquarium, but she misses her home in the wild Sea. She doesn’t like the visitors who bang on her tank. Or the way she can’t feel the sun on her skin or the wind rippling the water. It’s a dull existence for a creature with nine brains.

Then one day she meets someone who is different than the others. Juno’s busy brain buzzes with so many questions and thoughts that Houdini’s skin tingles with wonder.

But the singing of the Sea is growing stronger and harder to resist. Can Houdini make Juno understand what she needs before it’s too late?

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

By diving into the head of an octopus, readers see aquariums and humans from a different view and are left wishing they could become friends with this sea creature, too.

Houdini has lived in the aquarium for a long time but still dreams of escaping to the sea. While the caretaker does his best to keep her entertained, he doesn't realize that she's waiting for a chance to escape. She already takes occasional journeys through the halls and has been caught once or twice. Still, she knows that the humans have no clue how intelligent she is...or what she's planning. While she patiently waits for the big day to come, a small human joins the caretaker, a young girl who is so different from the normal groups of kids which pound on the glass all day. Houdini immediately feels a connection to the girl, and it appears that this is reciprocated. But true understanding is difficult between Houdini and the human girl...and Houdini's time is running out.

This is a carefully laid tale with tons of heart. The poetic writing matches the flow wonderfully. Each page holds  a scene, which gains its setting, meaning, and the point of view its coming from with a short title at the top of the page. The text flows very smoothly, carries exactly what is needed, and hits just right. It's never overly wordy or flowery but lets the personality and concerns of Houdini come across naturally. It's easy to sympathize with Houdini and her plight..and also that of the girl. The forming friendship touches the heart, while enough hope that Houdini can escape adds tension. There's also a gentle humor woven in as Houdini outsmarts the humans in little ways. 

Readers will come out of this with a new respect for octopi and aquariums, in general. The message fits the age group well, and even works great for school and homeschooling situations. It's a relatively quick read and the poetic form makes sure the plot stays on point, without wandering in unnecessary directions. It's an enjoyable read with heart.

And here they are...

Zana Fraillon (she/they) is an internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning author of books for children and young adults. Her work has been published in over fifteen countries and is in development for both stage and screen. She has a doctorate in creative writing and degrees in history and teaching. Zana’s passion for empowering young people to find their voice is a feature of both her books and her work with writers of all ages.

Corinna Luyken is the author-illustrator of numerous picture books, including the New York Times bestselling My Heart, the “sublime” (The Wall Street Journal) The Book of Mistakes, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library selection ABC and You and Me, and NCTE Notable Poetry Book The Tree in Me. She also illustrated Patchwork by Matt de la Peña, a New York Times and Kirkus Reviews Best of the Year. Corinna lives in Washington near the Salish Sea, where she likes to dig in the dirt, surf, and read with a cat (or two) on her lap. You can see more of her work at CorinnaLuyken.com.