A Monster Calls: Patrick Ness

You can find out more about Patrick Ness at his WEBSITE,

where you can also find news about how this book is being turned into a movie.

(I actually just watched the trailer and now I'm excited about seeing the movie this October.)

You can find out more about the illustrator, Jim Kay at his WEBSITE.

He also illustrated the new Harry Potter book.

Down Unders: Lost and Found by Shaun Tan

Book Details:

• Written by Shaun Tan

• Illustrated by Shaun Tan

• Published by Arthur A. Levine Books (an imprint of Scholastic)

Important Things to Know:

• These stories are dark and deal with things like depression, loneliness, and the problems of colonization.

Why Wombly and I Enjoyed This Book:

• Shaun Tan just does beautiful art. There are so many layers. I've read this book three times, Wombly has read it twice, and each time we see something new. I stared at one of the pages for a good long while, tracing my fingers across every detail I could. And then Wombly started poking me because he wanted to continue with the story.
• The stories are so powerful. They deal with difficult issues while maintaining hope, all without being up front and in your face. There's a lot of use of symbolism. The message is fluid and subtle. I really, really enjoy subtlety in a story. Probably because I tend to be rather terrible at being subtle.
• Wombly loved that Shaun Tan trusted him as a young reader. Sometimes we read Down Under books and it feels like the author doesn't trust Wombly (and other Down Under readers). Like truth has to be sugar-coated or glossed over or forgotten. It was good to feel trusted, to know the author took the reader seriously.

Wombly and I Read This Book Because:

• My friend introduced me to Shaun Tan and I have been reading him ever since. He just came out with a new book Rules of Summer, and I wanted to re-introduce Wombly to Shaun Tan since we haven't read him for awhile.
• We hope that you, too, will read this book and be able to experience these three emotive stories that Lost & Found offers.

You Can Find This Book At:

• Barnes & Noble
• Books-a-Million
• Or an Indie Bookstore near you!

Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms

I just realized I took a picture of the sequel and not the first one,
which is the book I actually read *facepalm*

Book Details: 

• Written by Lissa Evans (I couldn't find an author website but if you check out the link HERE you can find out about the book and watch an interview with the author.)

• Illustrated by (I think Lissa Evans? I don't have the book in front of me and I can't quite figure it out, so that's my only guess)
• Published by Sterling Publishers (originally published in Great Britain)

Important Things to Know:

• This book not only has a great cover - I really love black and white artwork of this style - but the story is wonderful as well.

• Really, I just couldn't think of anything to put under this category.

• I just thought there should be some bullet points here.

Why Wombly and I Enjoyed This Book:

• Stuart is adorable. He's short for his age, he moves to a new town, and he is annoyed at life. But then, starting with a mysterious phone booth, he starts on an adventure.

• Stuart's dad writes the clues for crossword puzzles and so uses all sorts of bizarre and arcane and old words that nobody really uses in day to day life. This is not only a great way to expose down unders [and up overs(?)] to a larger vocabulary, but it's a great way to add character to what could otherwise be a flat character. It's nice to see there being a reason and a depth to a parent's actions. Anyway.
• There was a blind lady. Okay, that sounds weird. However. My reason for saying this: Wombly and I have noticed a lack of people with disabilities in children's literature. I think it's an important part of life and an important perspective that is oftentimes overlooked in children's literature. I was excited that, without making a big to do over it, this author had a blind lady and had a very honest and respectful way of handling Stuart's reaction to her. It made Wombly and I very proud.
• April. What she does to buy Stuart extra time is fantastic. (I won't tell you more so you can go read the book and find out what I'm talking about.)

• Magicians. Magicians are always exciting.

• The characters were quirky, the adventure was exciting. You were never quite sure what was going to happen next. And there was a sense of magic intertwined in the mundane in a believable way.

Wombly and I Read This Book Because:

• A customer left it lying about and so it was at customer service as a re-shelve (I'm working at Barnes & Noble now). I brought it home to read with Wombly because I liked the cover art of the book. Wombly and I are very glad I did!

You Can Find This Book At:

• Barnes & Noble

• Books-a-Million

• Or an Indie Bookstore near you!

10 Things I Love About Owly by Andy Runton

Books 2 and 1

1. The illustrations - They are so simple, yet detailed and absolutely adorable. I challenge you not to take one look at Owly's face and fall in love.
2. No words - I am astounded that Runton is able to get across everything he does with virtually no words. The only real words in any of the 5 books I have read are in books that Owly and Wormy read.
3. But speech bubbles - Because there are no words, you might think that the characters just don't talk. But they do! There are simple pictographs representing their speech making it something that a young child can follow and understand, but still developing a complex story that an adult can appreciate.
4. Owly - He is such a gentle and kind soul. He is patient and caring and everything people should strive to be. A great role model for kids and a great lesson for those of us who are slightly older kids.
5. Wormy - Owly's foil. He is so real. If Owly is the role model, then Wormy is most of us. Wanting to do the right thing, but not always quite making it, but always growing and getting better.
6. The secondary cast of characters. The friends that Owly and Wormy make throughout the books are also very real. With everyone from the raccoon who runs the local nursery and is a fountain of information and advice, to the various bird families, the butterfly, the flying squirrel, and all of the other critters Owly meets there is always something fresh and new to enjoy and new friends to add to their lives.
7. His little rain hat - I mean, come on. How adorable is this:
   
8. The scrapbook - At the end of each book there is a glimpse into Owly's scrapbook with 'photos' he's taken. It's such a cute way to show a glimpse into the 'rest of the story' of what happens after the story we're reading ends.
9. Books are good - I love the way Owly and Wormy turn to books whenever they have questions about the animals they meet. Books become a powerful tool in helping the birds, understanding the flying squirrel, and getting to know the Opossum - all without smacking you in the face about it.
10. Runton doesn't avoid the tough issues - For a book that is, admittedly, sort of geared toward a younger audience, Runton tackles a variety of issues with tact and charm so the lesson comes across without feeling preachy. A handful of the topics I noticed were prejudice, friendship, sacrifice, fear, forgiveness, and determination.

So if you get a chance, pick up a couple of Owly books and fall in love like I did!