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SPARKLE MAGIC

From the Mermicorns series , Vol. 1

A safe bet for magic-loving young readers.

From the author of the Purrmaids series comes a new series about mer-unicorns.

It’s the big day when young mermicorns of Seadragon Bay who are ready to learn magic are invited to attend Mermicorn Magic Academy, and Sirena hopes she’ll be included. After meeting Lily, who has just received her letter, Sirena rushes home to find her own acceptance. Soon, Sirena and Lily aren’t just classmates, but also assigned to be partners at their new magic school. While Sirena’s excited to have a new friend, she quickly finds herself growing insecure about her abilities, as magic seems to come easily for Lily. Sirena ends up in a cycle of self-defeat—the more she worries about magic, the more the negativity affects her ability to perform it. After school, Sirena wants to go practice without an audience, but Lily wants to join her, resulting in a confrontation between the two, a revelation that Lily’s not as confident as she has seemed, and a chance for Sirena to shine in both magic and friendship. Though many aspects of the plot are common to the genre, the heavy emphasis on feelings and the open acknowledgment that contradictory feelings can be experienced simultaneously give validation and reassurance to its audience. Though the mermicorns don’t have races per se and all have wildly colored manes and tails, Sirena is depicted with a white hide while Lily is a chestnut. In Book 2, A Friendship Problem, publishing simultaneously, Lily takes center stage.

A safe bet for magic-loving young readers. (Fantasy. 6-9)

Pub Date: May 4, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-593-30873-8

Page Count: 96

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021

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MAGIC CANDIES

An enigmatic, quirky representation of an active imagination in search of understanding and companionship.

A child finds connection to the world all around in this Korean import.

The illustrations in this unusual picture book achieve a 3-D effect reminiscent of claymation. The opening scene shows an aerial view of a playground scattered with maple and gingko leaves; a tethered dog watches a child aiming at marbles. Accustomed to spending time alone and solitary play, Tong Tong’s fertile imagination infuses a bag of assorted spherical hard candies with powers that give voice to unlikely speakers, such as the living room sofa and Marbles the old dog, each speaking with Tong Tong to share a sentient perspective. The hard candies also channel the tough love hidden within Tong Tong’s father and Grandma’s bubbly, reassuring voice emanating from another realm. The candies’ magic reveals yet another dimension when Tong Tong is drawn outdoors to witness nature’s beauty as copious falling leaves bid farewell to the season. Through these uncanny exchanges, Tong Tong not only makes surprising discoveries, but also delves into complex emotions, celebrates a continuing relationship with Grandma, and takes courageous steps toward a tantalizing conclusion. The enhanced artwork establishes depth and perspective, featuring details some may find initially unsettling—along with the cryptic, open-ended narrative. That said, depictions of facial expressions are skillful and endearing, and the interplay between text and illustrations will cause readers to linger and ponder.

An enigmatic, quirky representation of an active imagination in search of understanding and companionship. (Picture book. 6-9)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-5420-2959-9

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids

Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021

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DANGER! TIGER CROSSING

From the Fantastic Frame series , Vol. 1

Eeney meeney miney moe, catch this series before it goes! (Adventure. 7-9)

Two kids get up close and personal with some great works of art in this first in a new series.

Tiger Brooks is used to his little sister’s fantastical stories. So when the top-hatted orange pig she describes turns out to be not only real, but a next-door neighbor, Tiger enlists the help of his kooky new friend, Luna, to investigate. It turns out the pig works for the reclusive painter Viola Dots. Years ago a magical picture frame swallowed up her only son, and she’s searched for him in artworks ever since. When Tiger’s tinkering starts the magic up again, he and Luna are sucked into a reproduction of Henri Rousseau’s Surprised! or Tiger in a Tropical Storm, hungry predator and all. After meeting and failing to rescue Viola’s son in this adventure, the series is set up for the intrepid pair to infiltrate other classic paintings in the future. Backmatter provides information on the real Rousseau and his life. Oliver keeps the plot itself snappy and peppy. While there are few surprises, there’s also an impressive lack of lag time. This is helped in no small part by Kallis’ art, which goes from pen-and-ink drawings to full-blown color images once the kids cross over into the painting. Tiger is a white boy, and Luna is a dark-haired Latina.

Eeney meeney miney moe, catch this series before it goes! (Adventure. 7-9)

Pub Date: April 26, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-448-48087-9

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2016

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