I shall save all my talk of cozy fall things for next month. Surely it will feel like fall then, right? In the meantime, let’s focus on new books! There are so many exciting things coming out that it was hard to pick. My theme is fixing things, from a broken mug to major timeline issues. Enjoy!
Picture Books
“Broken” written and illustrated by X. Fang
I am quickly becoming a fan of this author, after having read “We Are Definitely Human” last year. Mei Mei is visiting her grandma when she accidentally breaks Ama’s favorite cup. Alarmed, she leaves the cup on the floor and flees the scene, overcome by thoughts of what Ama will do when she finds out. When Ama assumes the cat is responsible, will Mei Mei be able to get away with it? This is so relatable, as Mei Mei wrestles through the panic, anxiety, and guilt of the accident before finally finding freedom and reassurance in the truth. There are a lot of funny moments in this book, especially when she’s imagining Ama kicking her out of the house, or enduring the wronged cat’s silent judgments. Perfect for kids who need a subtle book about honesty.
“Tulip’s Mess” written and illustrated by Anden Wilder
Tulip doesn’t mind that Mess follows her around, gobbling up her dirty socks, cereal spoons and scraps of paper. But one day, she hears a giant SLURP and realizes that not only has Mess become way too big, but he’s also swallowed up her favorite stuffed animal! Tulip dives into Mess to save her stuffie, and resolutely cleans and tidies until Mess is manageable again. These illustrations look so cute! Mess reminds me of a big shaggy dog (maybe one of these?) and never feels scary, even though he becomes quite large. I love that Tulip realizes the problem and solves it on her own, and that she’s content with a little Mess instead of having an entire change of heart. I’m the kind of person who prefers no Mess, but it’s refreshing to see Tulip’s perspective validated.
Chapter Books
“Ivy and Forest Rewrite the World” written by Hannah West and illustrated by Jen Bricking
Forest is a young hero who just can’t seem to get things right. When he fails in his quest to save the kingdom, he sets off to find the mysterious Author who is rumored to be able to rewrite history. After popping through a magic portal, Forest finds the Author, a young girl his age, who is quite surprised to see him. Once Ivy realizes that Forest is real and exists beyond her imagination, they set out together to rewrite wrongs and change the story. They travel through the multiverse of Ivy’s writing, encountering first draft characters and half-developed ideas as they race to foil the plot of an evil wizard before “The End.” This fast-paced adventure will especially appeal to imaginative young writers.
“Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop” by Krystal Sutherland and Martin Seneviratne
Pearl and Patrick are genius twelve-year-old twins with a passion for inventions and archaeology. While Patrick would be happiest holed up in a library translating dead languages, Pearl has a thirst for adventure and drags him along to test out her newest inventions…which are often best used in museum heists. Pearl is thrilled when she finally develops the Chrono-Loop, which can take them anywhere in time. The delighted twins visit Ancient Egypt and meet King Tut, but are immediately arrested upon their return by The Interdimensional Misconduct Enquiry or TIME. TIME is impressed by the twins and offers to train them as agents, but they fail their entrance exams by trying to prevent World War I. When they’re approached by a shady CEO of a tech startup, Pearl hands over the blueprints for the Chrono-Loop in exchange for promises of writing historical wrongs and making a better world. Unfortunately, one person’s utopia is another’s nightmare, and now Pearl and Patrick have to make things right. Heads up that this is a duology starter, so be on the lookout for book two later!
