There is magic in this world if only you are brave enough to dive into it. Such is the message of the picture book Tove and the Island with No AddressThere is magic in this world if only you are brave enough to dive into it. Such is the message of the picture book Tove and the Island with No Address from Lauren Soloy who dedicates it to those brave enough to be uncomfortable, but also for those who aren’t yet still willing to keep trying. Having long loved the stories and artwork of Tove Jansson I could not wait to read this adorable little book based on the great artists childhood. Set on an island cottage not unlike the one Jansson herself stayed in during the summer. Her beloved novel The Summer Book is based on the cottage and I love how this picture book continues the tradition of whimsical tales of childhood that allow to all grow up alongside child-Tove in the magical realm of memory.
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The cottage in the story
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Jansson’s actual cottage.
This was a real cute read that leans into the whimsical and wondrous. We follow young Tove around the island chasing after the tiny seed-like daughters of her secret troll friend that lives by the water. It’s a lovely story about adventure and finding joy in the natural world, all brought to life with some rather exquisite illustrations. I love the brushworks of the sky and the dark, earthy tones. Sometimes the events feel a bit random or contextless, but it also captures the spirit of adventure where things just suddenly occur and it is sure to spark the imagination of readers: both children and those reading to them.
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There is a rather Moomin sense of wonderment and adventure here and it makes for such a lovely tribute to Tove Jansson. I quite enjoyed the short biography about her at the end as well. Tove and the Island with No Address is quite fun and a great way to share a love for Jansson with young readers but also just a great book in general.
This book will be published on Oct. 22, 2024. Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Received through Edelweiss...more
An adorable adventure awaits in The Baker and the Bard from author and illustrator Fern Haught, a queer and cozy graphic novel about friendship and thAn adorable adventure awaits in The Baker and the Bard from author and illustrator Fern Haught, a queer and cozy graphic novel about friendship and the importance of living sustainably with nature for the benefit of all. When baker Juniper and Hadley the Bard set off to gather mushrooms for a major bakery order, they stumble upon a mystery of monster and mayhem and decide to take up the task. Short and sweet—though perhaps a bit saccharine in the absence of much else to balance it out—The Baker and the Bard is as fun as it is gorgeously illustrated.
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While shelved as a YA graphic novel, The Baker and the Bard would be just as at home in middle-grade, though adults will still find this tiny little fable to be quite lovely as well. The story is cute though the real star here is Fern Haughts cozy and eye-catching artwork that brings the fantasy world to life. The book will likely garner a lot of comparisons to works like The Tea Dragon Society for its warmth, quiet and food-related coziness as well as a fun similarity to K. O'Neill’s lush art style.
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I really enjoyed the focus on nature and the importance of not disturbing animals habitat as well as learning to live sustainably with the land. The inclusion of non-binary representation was lovely, too (shoutout to my fellow Nonbinary friends) with a cute but brief discussion between Hadley and the fae about how the fae do not have a strict sense of gender and how empowering that was for Hadley. Also Hadley has an adorable snake named Fern. This whole this is just cuteness overload.
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All in all, The Baker and the Bard is a quick and cozy good time. Its a bit light on story and perhaps a bit too sweet for some readers tastes, but it is just pure good mood and good reading full of lovely messages and art. 3.5/5
When I was a kid I was certain our basement was a place of horror. I’d never go down there and assume every odd noise I’d hear at night was a sure sigWhen I was a kid I was certain our basement was a place of horror. I’d never go down there and assume every odd noise I’d hear at night was a sure sign my assumptions were accurate. But eventually I faced my fears and fought…I don’t know, some cobwebs and shadows? and by the time I was a teen I had converted the basement into my bedroom. Fortunately I never had to share the space with anything like this…
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Ben Hatke (Julia’s House for Lost Creatures and Zita the Spacegirl) and has mastered the perfect mix of cute and creepy creatures and it certainly shines bright in his newest middle grade graphic novel, The Things in the Basement. Milo is tasked with retrieving his baby sibling’s missing sock from his creepy basement—tia Maria made it so it is important!—and what begins as chasing a rat who has stolen the sock turns into an epic adventure through mysterious hidden room after room and deep into the earth where all the lost socks of the world end up. Along the way Milo must face his fears of eerie spaces and spooky creatures but finds that a little kindness goes a long way and he begins to make friends. Though not everyone in this creepy labyrinth is friendly…some want to devour you whole! Will Milo ever get the sock back or will he, too, become another resident eternally haunting the basement?
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I really love Hatke’s signature artwork and it makes this such an enjoyable experience (a lot of the creature designs will look vaguely familiar and the little musician mushroom buddies have appeared in other picture books). I also loved the whole variety of rooms opening into vastly different rooms like it was a haunted Meow Wolf, with a bootleggers hideout, an artist studio and some super amazing Piranesi-esque caverns:
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And the character designs are great, like this…nun with a bell for a face in a mysterious underground monastery:
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Things in the Basement is super cute and fun and a lovely lesson on facing fears, especially to help and protect your friends. This is just as fun and magical for adults as it surely will be for the younger readers it is aimed at (it may be a bit frightening for real young readers but in more a cute way than a traumatic way). Ben Hatke is a joy and this is a perfect book to kick off Spooky Season which is just around the corner!
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