A Great Gorilla by Vera Gereke

Today's read is a nod from Germany. After doing well in the German-speaking market, it's being translated to hit the English one in March 2027. I really should read these in German first, but I never seem to get around to it. Maybe that's a good thing to try to attack in the next year? 

Anyway, I've taken a peek at the reviews on this one and see mixed feelings as some readers say it's bittersweet. Or sad. So, I'm curious to find out what this gorilla is up to. 

Let's open it up and find out!

A GREAT GORILLA

by Vera Gereke

NorthSouth Books

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING MARCH 23rd, 2027!!!

Good Night, Gorilla meets The Dot in this humorous and philosophical tale of how art can make anything possible.

There is a big cage in the city park. Inside there is a great gorilla. Soon, people discover the gorilla's talent for painting. But no one expects just how that talent will set the gorilla free.

This is both the simple story of a clever escape artist and a fascinating romp through important ideas about art, freedom, and animals in captivity. With a bold color palette and cool retro-yet-modern style, Vera Gereke’s impressive picture book debut will delight every picture book reader with one of its many layers.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Thoughts of art and freedom take a slightly different twist as they follow the experience of one very, great gorilla.

The gorilla lived in the jungle and was very happy to be there until, one day, humans came and captured him. They hauled him off to a zoo and placed him in a very small cage, where visitors could watch him. When a child asks what he can do, someone claims that he might be able to paint. So he's given a small easel, paint, brush, and canvas. At first, no one is sure what to think of his artwork, but it's about to take him on the first of several huge twists.

The artwork...that's where I'm going to start...carries its own, creative hint of style, sticking to darker tones of orange, yellow, pink, purple, blue, and green...which probably sounds colorful, but these remain in very dark, earthier directions to keep vibrance at bay. This sets the serious undertone for the read as the gorilla's fate of landing in the zoo will have readers wondering about the ethics behind animals in captivity. His very small cage, obviously, enhances this. The images, however, also draw in and create a rich world for readers to sink into and flip through on their own.

While there are 'ernsthaft' thoughts in this tale, it's also not too heavy, either. The gorilla finds a way out of his cage thanks to his artwork and ends up being more clever than anyone expected. There's a bit of magical fantasy built in...just a teeny-tiny bit to let dreams fly and possibilities remain endless. It adds a playful touch and also keeps the book from growing too weighty. Instead, it's a nice, flowing read-aloud, which will keep even more reluctant readers wondering what's going to happen to the gorilla. And they will hope everything turns out all right.

And here she is...

Vera Gereke grew up in Berlin, Germany. She completed her bachelor’s degree in communication design at the Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel. She then moved to her current home, Hamburg, where she completed her master’s degree in illustration at HAW, the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. In 2026, she won the Serafina Newcomer Prize for Illustration for her debut book A Great Gorilla. Her work is characterized by wit, charm, and meticulous technique. Vera is inspired by comics, city life, and roller derby.

The Wandering Wildflower by Brooke Fruge

Today's read struck me with the idea that a wildflower would wander...and the sweet looking flower in the middle. I'm hoping it isn't too message driven and weaves that nicely into an enjoyable tale with a character to enjoy. Maybe, we'll learn a little about flowers along the way?

Let's open it up and find out!

THE WANDERING WILDFLOWER

by Brooke Fruge

Illustrated by Eduarda Bittencourt

Sutra House

Picture Book

38 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING NOVEMBER 17th!!!

She thought she was searching for her place. Her roots already knew.

Somewhere in a sunlit field, a small wildflower wonders if she belongs.

She's not as tall as Sunflower. Not as bright as Marigold. Not as far-reaching as Ivy. So she wanders — asking questions, watching closely, quietly wondering what her own purpose could possibly be.

But beneath the meadow, something extraordinary is happening. Roots are reaching. Roots are connecting. And while Wildflower wanders above, she is being held below — by the very community she's searching for.

The Wandering Wildflower is a luminous debut from The Wonder House — a picture book about belonging, purpose, and the quiet courage it takes to ask who am I? Written for the child who feels a little different, a little uncertain, a little small against a very big world. And for every parent who has sat beside that child and wished them the words.

She was never lost. She was just learning to see.

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Thoughtful curiosity blossoms and blooms in these pages while bringing readers a little closer to the world of flowers.

A little wildflower has her roots in the ground and constantly wonders about all sorts of things. Why is the flower next to her so tall? Or why do some flowers around seem to need more water? Finally, she grabs her courage and simply asks. Soon, she finds herself wandering here and there, learning about various flowers. Still, she feels a little lonely...until she realizes something and her roots run deep with those of so many around her.

While there is an obvious message in these pages surrounding differences, individual purposes, and a hing at how communities bring everything together, it whirls smoothly into the story about this little flower. She's extremely innocent and her thoughts aren't wrong. It's enjoyable to see her meeting various flowers with her questions and learning a little more as well as gaining friends. The questions are simple and come across very naturally as do the answers. This isn't about technical facts or sheer biology, but rather gives readers a light dive into flowers...like hummingbirds needing pollen from certain flowers. And there is little to no terminology because that isn't the purpose. Still, it teaches the first steps into the jobs and difference of flowers.

The story is light and cheerful...and curious. It asks questions readers are familiar with and ask themselves when they want to know things. I did have to smile that the wildflower's roots were always pictured in the ground as she wandered...just not very deep. That allows for a very meaningful visual change at the end. Also, there's a clever, subtle word play with wander and wonder going on. Oh, and the illustrations—can't forget those. They are simple, letting the flowers stay front and center in a sunny atmosphere. These are nicely done and bring across the personalities of the flowers softly, drawing readers in.

It's an enjoyable read either as a read-aloud in a group or one for more personal settings. It also works nicely for introductions to themes surrounding flowers in classrooms and for homeschoolers.  

And here she is...

Brooke Frugé has always known that the best stories begin at bedtime.

A South Carolina native, Brooke shares her home with her husband, her son, and two very loyal dogs. The nightly ritual of read-alouds — voices slowing, pages turning, a small head on her shoulder — first moved her to pick up a pen. Her independently published Marlon the Monster Truck series, which follows a lovable, big-hearted truck through the joys and frustrations of growing up, found a devoted readership and established her as a natural storyteller for the picture-book age.

With The Wandering Wildflower, published by The Wonder House, Brooke opens a new chapter in her work. Quieter, deeper, and rooted in belonging, it is the book she wrote for every child who has ever felt a little small against a very big world. And for the grown-ups lucky enough to read it beside them.

Brooke believes children deserve stories that take them seriously. Her books are love letters — to her son first, and then to every brave, bright kid who discovers themselves in the pages.

The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee

It's book birthday time!!! 

I was already itching to read this book the moment I saw the cover. It screams high-sea adventure with whimsical touches...at least, that's what I'm seeing. Maybe, fantasy? Action? Treasure? I'm hoping Lavender is a character to adore. And at 400 pages, this better be an exciting, grabbing book. Yep, fat books like this make me wonder if they are worth the long sit. But I'm positive about this one and can't wait to dive in.

THE WONDROUS TALE OF LAVENDER WOLFE

 by Karen Foxlee

Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

Sarah Barley Books

Middle Grade Fantasy

400 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING NOVEMBER 10th!!!

For the first printing only! This paperback features sprayed stenciled edges while the special edition supply lasts.

Four starred reviews!

An abandoned girl discovers found family, epic adventure, and her own destiny aboard a cursed ship sailing toward an impossible treasure in this “fabulous magical quest, strange and wonderful” (Judith Rossell, author of The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls).

Lavender Wolfe’s world is her mother, the pockets they pick together, and the wharf where they scrape by day to day. But when Lavender is left waiting on the harbor steps, she is swept aboard the Good Marchioness—a magical pirate ship unlike any other.

The ship’s cook, Big Agatha, insists Lavender has been abandoned. Worse, she says Lavender has magic.

Now renamed Hans Whitby and recruited as a kitchen rat, Lavender finds herself among a crew of extraordinary children, a captain with a wing instead of an arm, a ghost-fetcher, a mysterious shell that was once a boy, and a curse that threatens to turn everyone aboard into sand. To break the curse, the crew must recover a stolen treasure before time runs out . . .

But as Lavender is drawn deeper into the ship’s secrets, she begins to wonder whether she has truly been stolen—or whether she has finally found where she belongs.

GOODREADS     /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

A dusting of magic mixed with deadly curses, powerful winds, and tons of hopeful wishes creates a rich world with a character to adore.

Lavender was not abandoned on the steps by the wharf, but after sitting there all day with a grumbling stomach and her mother nowhere to be seen, she didn't have the strength to fight the large woman, who towed her away. The woman claimed Lavender had been left there to die. Aboard a pirate ship, she's also told she holds magic...just like everyone else aboard, and she's now under the same curse as the rest of the crew. They need to find a treasure and return it to the original ship or be turned into sand at the end of the 7th year. And while that sounds horrible, Lavender quickly learns her situation is much worse than that. The crew insists she's now a boy named Hans (girls aren't allowed underdeck), the captain has no problem throwing crew members overboard, she has no clue what her magic is, the ship they need to find is a ghost-ship, and the seven years time is already almost up, which means she'll soon turn into sand. But the true danger lies in her forgetting who she truly is and figuring out what path she really wants to take.

When I picked this book up, I loved the cover and the surmise but wondered about the hefty, 400 page length. But this tale is so grabbing and well-woven that it speeds right along, letting the reader get lost in the pages. The tale is set in the year 1719, where pirate ships were a high-seas threat and princesses, royals, and hidden treasure opened to legends and myths. It creates a rich backdrop for a just as rich character. But then, not only Lavender holds a wealth of personality, the other characters shine, each in their own way. From cat-ish Ginger to agile Sasha to Big Agatha and more, each crew member makes their mark and leaves an impression.

The author weaves in magic and lets the imagination flow, but the spells and abilities remain like a gentle breeze, for the most part, and are barely noticeable. The curse carries a larger impact and lets the fantasy slip in right along with danger, action, threats, and secrets. It's the curse, which drives the story forward and exposes itself in drips throughout the read. It weaves its threads, and as Lavender (aka Hans) slowly discovers the tale behind the entire adventure, understanding clicks into place, little by little, to show that good and bad often seep into gray as the result of mistakes, misunderstand, and, sometimes, ill-intentions. She learns that curses are as double-sided as a coin. Dangerous storms, being chased by the Spanish Armada, and a quickly approaching deadline create a quick-paced plot with tons of adventure and edge-of-the-seat moments. Still, the depth isn't forgotten and makes the tale sink in. 

There is death, but this is handled very age appropriately and respectfully. The messages underlying the plot are plentiful and wholesome. They swirl around staying true to yourself, always being kind, bravery, friendship, letting go, and learning about who you are and want to be. All of these (and more) weave nicely into the adventure and let it shine.

I can recommend this one to anyone who enjoys fast-paced adventure, a bit of magic, danger, characters to root for, and a high-seas journey.

And here they are...

Karen Foxlee is an Australian author who writes for both children and young adults. Her books include The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe, Dragon Skin, and Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. She writes and lives in Queensland with her daughter, cats, and parrots.

Martina Heiduczek grew up in a small fishing village on the Baltic Sea in Germany, where she spent her time galloping through the forests on her Shetland pony, drawing, or reading. She now lives in Australia and works as an illustrator. Her work is inspired by nature, people, places, and the things she sees, both moving and silly. Visit her online at MartinaHeiduczek.com.