Tag: adventure

Posted in Uncategorized

Piece Out for International Games Month!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Piece Out, by Alex Willan, (May 2025, Astra Young Readers), $18.99, ISBN: 9781662620935

Ages 4-8

International Games Month is coming in November! The American Library Association’s Games & Gaming Roundtable has some downloadable resources if you’d like to learn more. This year, I’m hoping to hold a Game Storytime for my library kids, and Piece Out looks like a great storytime choice for younger gamers (and gamers-to-be).

It’s a common occurrence: a game piece gets lost. In Willan’s Piece Out, it’s the key to adventure. A family enjoys their game night when the red piece discovers they’ve been left on the floor! Determined to get back to its box, Red escapes a hungry robot (a vacuum cleaner); discovers long-lost friends (other lost game pieces under the couch), and spends some time in the dreaded junk drawer! Always focused on returning to the Kaflooble box, Red narrates his journey with a grim determination that will make readers laugh as they see the world through Red’s eyes. Willan’s details are a feast for game fans who will love the map of the living room endpapers and the under-the-couch denizens who appear resigned to their life outside the box. The ending will leave readers laughing out loud and ready for the next adventure. Read this to your Toy Story fans.

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Survive This Safari – puzzles and adventure for Back to School mode!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Survive This Safari, by Natalie D. Richards, (Apr. 2025, Delacorte Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9780593644164

Ages 8-12

Get ready to shift your brain into Back to School mode with this fun adventure set in an Ohio safari park challenge! Lucy is a 12-year-old who loves animals and wants desperately to be a Wildlife Ambassador at the park. She has the chance to compete in a Wildlands Safari Escape Challenge, where only one person will be the newest Ambassador. Lucy and a team of hopefuls have to solve a series of animal fact-based puzzles in order to unlock animal habitats all over the park in a race with the current Wildlands Ambassadors in order to win, but things go haywire when the team runs into communication problems, malfunctioning electronics, and open animal habitats. Lucy and her group come to the realization that things have been sabotaged and the animals – particularly a baby elephant – are in danger! Lucy will learn to manage her panic attacks and the team will learn to work together in order to save the animals and themselves. Filled with puzzles and adventure, readers will get a kick out of this book; entertaining footnotes add some animal facts and provide further character development throughout. Lucy’s character is immediately likable and her efforts to manage anxiety will resonate with many readers, as will fellow competitor Harrison, who is open about his ADHD (which leads to some amusing conversations). Themes of teamwork and friendship with some medium-stakes situations will appeal to readers. This would make a good book club choice.

Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Tween Reads

Tales from the TBR: On the Island of the Mad Magician

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

On the Island of the Mad Magician: An Interactive Tale from the Realm of Goblin, by Eric Grissom/Illustrations by Ava Grissom, (Oct. 2023, Frankenstein’s Daughter), $8.99, ISBN: 978-0988951679

Ages 8-12

One of my favorite books to come out in 2021 was a graphic novel about a goblin on a quest for vengeance that became a journey of self-discovery. It’s called Goblin, and there’s a sequel, The Wolf and the Well, that came out last summer. I start with that because Eric Grissom was wonderful enough to send me a PDF of his then-upcoming book, On the Island of the Mad Magician, just as I had a few ups and downs that kind of sent me out of control of my inbox, reviews, and life for about a year. But as I get on top of my inbox, past and present, I’m trying to do right by folks, and Mr. Grissom is on the top of that list.

On the Island of the Mad Magician is a choose-your-own-adventure type story, which is just so much fun. I grew up with the Choose Your Own Adventure series which has made a comeback in recent years. I enjoy choose your own adventure-type storytelling because 1) it puts decisions in the readers’ hands, and 2) it’s basically an RPG (role-playing game), which is awesome, because I teach kids RPGs here at my library.

Here’s the story: told in the first person, you are a kid working at your family’s inn, when a strange old man shows up on the same night that there’s a huge storm. Your mom puts him out when he tries to pay for lodging with what looks like a trinket; you follow as you do your clean-up for the evening, and quietly accept the man’s trinket: SURPRISE! It’s not just a trinket, it’s mysterious crystal pendant that transports you to an island. Now, it’s up to you: your choices will either steer you safely around dangerous adventures and return you home, or… not. There are over 40 possible endings, with a heck of a lot more choices on the way through. This is a book that you’re going to enjoy again and again, whether you burn up in a library (sigh… of course I did) or safely find your way off the island. Black-and-white illustrations from Ava Grissom add to the atmosphere and make this an overall fun read. Give this one an add to your fantasy shelves… heck, host a read-aloud and turn it into an RPG. It’s that much fun.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Kids will love The Most Boring Book Ever

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Most Boring Book Ever, by Brandon Sanderson/Illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi, (Sept. 2024, Roaring Brook Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781250843661

Ages 4-8

“A boy sat in a chair”: so begins the boring story of a boy, a chair, and thoughts of laundry and math homework. Or is it? Sanderson pairs with Amulet creator Kibuishi to wink at readers as they take them through an incredible steampunk journey with sky pirates and dragons, soaring through clouds and crashing through clotheslines. Sanderson’s story never veers from the straightforward “boring” storytelling, allowing Kibuishi’s illustrations to run wild. It’s exciting, fun, and will have readers giggling through this not-boring-at-all adventure. The boy, light-skinned and red-haired, dressed in a blue shirt, suspenders, and brown pants, never leaves his chair (mostly) as he careens through the sky dodging airships and explosions. A red, scaly dragon emerges from the clouds and creates further excitement as the boy falls through the sky, quickly doing math to calculate his landing. The Most Boring Book Ever will for sure be a repeat readaloud. Download free activity sheets to share!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

The art of friendship: An Adventure for Lia and Lion

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

An Adventure for Lia and Lion, by Al Rodin, (Oct. 2024, Knopf Books for Young Readers), $18.99, ISBN: 9780593903322

Ages 3-7

Lia is a little girl who wants a pet to go adventuring with. Lion is a lion who also wants a pet that he can lead on an adventure. The two meet and clash: they both want to be in charge! Through listening and talking, each learns what the other hopes to gain on their journey and slowly, the two learn that each one has something exciting to contribute. Maybe they can lead and follow at the same time. Mixed media illustrations feel dreamlike: Lion is yellow-orange with a fuzzy mane; Lia is a small girl with a red hat and a net. The size difference makes for an adorable partnership, set against large forestlike settings. Their disagreements are communicated through body language, as Lion twists his body away from Lia; she leans in aggressively. Lion’s tail thrashes; she stands her ground. When a storm threatens, the two stick closely together, sealing their friendship. A gentle, enjoyable story about the evolution of a friendship, the importance of listening to one another, and working together.

 

“A new friendship, tested and affirmed through adventure.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
AL RODIN is a writer and illustrator from London, England. He studied children’s book illustration at Cambridge School of Art and received the 2019 Sebastian Walker Prize. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries across Europe and Asia, and he was selected for the Illustrators Exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2019. Learn more at alrodin.com and find him on Instagram at @alrodin.
Posted in Graphic Novels, Intermediate

Art Baltazar & Franco bring Flash Gordon to Papercutz!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Flash Gordon Adventures, by Art Baltazar & Franco, (Nov. 2024, Papercutz), $7.99, ISBN: 9781545812181

Ages 7-12

I grew up watching reruns of the old Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon serials with my Dad, and I am a dedicated fan of the 1980 Flash Gordon movie in all its cheezy glory (“Flash! I love you! But we only have 14 hours to save the earth!”). Finding out that Art Baltazar and Franco are doing a Flash Gordon Adventures graphic novel series for Papercutz made my afternoon! If you’re familiar with Baltazar and Franco’s  work, you know you’re going to get funny jokes, snappy dialogue, and colorful, vibrant, cartoony illustration. If you haven’t enjoyed their work yet, you’re in for a treat. A series of vignettes framing an overall story makes it easy for readers to put the book down and pick it up as they please. Parents (ahem… or grandparents) will appreciate familiar character like Flash, Dale Arden, Zarkov, Ming the Merciless, Barin and Vultan; new readers will get a kick out of meeting the new characters. This first volume introduces Ming – historically a big bad – as a silly ruler who has his human prisoner, Dr. Zarkov, creating evil goatees and lizard-making machines for him while Flash and Dale befriend other resdents and play football and swim. InvestiGators creator John Patrick Green has a story at the end of this first volume, in which Flash and company learn about anti-cavity toothpaste in hilarious fashion. Flash Gordon is a fun addition to your graphic novel collections, especially for intermediate readers.

Posted in Graphic Novels, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

Nimona fans will love The Worst Ronin!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Worst Ronin, by Maggie Tokuda-Hall/Illustrated by Faith Schaffer, (May 2024, HarperAlley), $18.99, ISBN: 9780358464938

Ages 14+

Sixteen-year-old Chihiro Ito’s father is a famous samurai; she’s eager for the chance to get into the prestigious samurai school, Keisi Academy, to follow in her father’s footsteps – and meet Tatsuo Nakano, the first woman to be accepted into the school. Chihiro logs a lot of fangirl time on social media following Tatsuo, but what Chihiro doesn’t see is that Tatsuo isn’t as picture-perfect as her socials would indicate. Flashbacks enrich Tatsuo’s story and help readers understand her belligerence, alcohol use, and swearing. Tragedy strikes and Chihiro, bent on revenge, joins forces with Tatsuo. A buddy comedy enveloped in a samurai adventure, Tokuda-Hall and Schaffer’s combined talents give readers a smart, funny story with depth. Schaffer brings Tokuda-Hall’s incredible worldbuilding to colorful life and the action sequences will have readers white-knuckling through the pages. Don’t miss this one. Give this to your Nimona fans (and add Nadia Shamas and Sara Alfageeh’s Squire to the pile, while you’re at it).

The Worst Ronin has starred reviews from The Horn Book and the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Space Pirate Bears to the rescue!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hi, all! I know I said I was back, but then I gave myself a panic attack by seeing the giant TBR I’ve accumulated. I’m just jumping in, so please forgive the delay and get ready to get caught up. Here we go!

Space Pirate Bears, by Alastair Chisholm/Illustrated by Jez Tuya, (Dec. 2023, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684647361

Ages 4-7

The storytelling family from The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears and The Tale of the Valiant Ninja Frog are back! In this latest installment, Dad is working from home on a rainy day and siblings Jamie and Abby are BORED. Luckily, it’s not too difficult to tear Dad away for a quick story! This time, the awful Doktor Drab is using his horrible Boron Beam to make the whole universe as dull as he is. What to do when the usual heroes fall victim to the beam? Call in the Space Pirate Bears! There’s one problem, though: Jamie and Abby can’t agree on whether the Space Pirate Bears are unicorn doctors, secret agents, or ninjas, and the whole universe hangs in the balance! This fun adventure is all about compromise and teamwork, and makes for a fun read-aloud. Colorful illustrations are eye-catching, with fun details for readers: the siblings’ toys are characters in the story, and readers familiar with the previous entries will recognize some familiar faces. Endpapers show the space pirate bears in a variety of action poses. A fun additional purchase for storytime collections.

Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade

Historical Adventure: The Adventures of the Flash Gang

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Adventures of the Flash Gang : Episode One: Exploding Experiment, by S.J. Waugh & M.M. Downing, (March 2023, Fitzroy Books), $9.95, ISBN: 9781646033225

Ages 9-12

It’s 1935 and 11-year-old Lewis Carter is homeless and hungry. His scientist father has disappeared and the landlady put him out on the street; now he just has his wits and his dad’s “recipe” – a little something Lewis pulled together from his father’s research. The Recipe is a mixture that, when activated, causes a flash and leaves behind a lingering stink. When he needs to steal some food, he uses the Recipe, leading the newspapers and wagging tongues to make up stories about the villainous Flash Gang. It’s all good for Lewis: who would suspect the quiet, asthmatic kid? Someone knows something, though, because Lewis is kidnapped and his Recipe is taken from him; rescued by a tutu-wearing girl named Pearl Alice Clavell, who seems to think she’s living in a serial movie, Lewis has to figure out what really happened to his father, and what information Pearl may have that can help him. This first entry into a new series reads like a classic adventure serial, with fast-paced banter between hero and heroine and exaggerated baddies aplenty. The Depression-era Pittsburgh setting gives texture to the overall story, and the science-based subplot makes this a fun suggestion for STEM/STEAM reading lists.

Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Tween Reads

A Kazakhstan bestseller arrives on US shelves: Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup, by Zira Nauryzbai & Lilya Kalaus, Translated by Shelley Fairweather-Vega, (Aug. 2023, Amazon Crossing), $17.99, ISBN: 9781662507021

Ages 8-12

Batu is a regular kid living in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He lives with his parents and his grandmother. He has two close friends, a boy named Sasha and a girl named Dana. He and Sasha are mercilessly bullied by a kid he calls Scorpion, and another boy named Kaira. One day, while sitting on the threshold of his apartment, Batu accidentally summons an ancient teenage warrior named Aspara, who asks for Batu’s help in locating a lost treasure – the Golden Cup – stolen from his people. Using a magical string instrument called a dombyra, Batu and Aspara transport themselves across time to seek audience with the great eagle Samruk, whom they discover is missing. Batu enlists Sasha and Dana to help he and Aspara find Samruk and defend themselves against the dark forces of Shahruh, an evil spirit who takes the form of a giant black bear. The first in a new series, published in Kazakhstan in 2014, is an adventure in the Rick Riordan Presents vein, introducing readers to Kazakh myth and legend while addressing complexities of colonization. It’s a strong debut in an exciting new series. Booktalk this one.

Check out an interview with the authors at The Children’s Book Review.