A remarkable fantasy that features life-affirming themes for both kids and adults.
While missing her father, a girl discovers her own surprising secret in this middle-grade fantasy.
Young Swannie Wynstan lives near the seaside village of Nammig with her mother, Sarika. One year ago to the day, her father, Thomas, vanished on his fishing boat during a storm. Swannie plans to enjoy the day at Chepi’s Grotto, her favorite place. But near Finn’s Cove, she hears someone call, “Help me please.” To her surprise, it’s a dolphin trapped on the beach. Swannie can speak with the dolphin, whose name is Matmaka, because, as he tells her, “there is more to you than you can imagine.” After she helps him back into the water, Swannie agrees to meet Matmaka on the beach in one month. In the meantime, he sets her on a magical quest by instructing her to shout into a certain hole in the earth: “Wake up and show me the Golden Secret.” Swannie meets a series of elemental beings, including the Fay of the Big Mist, who leads her to a special coin with a snake wrapped around it. Later, after waking up on the beach, Swannie wonders if her adventures were real. Back in school, she befriends a girl named Feliciana, who has cancer. When Swannie reunites with Matmaka, she discovers a secret ability that may help heal her own life and the lives of those around her. Eric G. Müller’s middle-grade fantasy gives audiences, regardless of age, a wider view of the world. Swannie’s quest eventually takes her to an intriguing place called Amarvin Island. The elaborate narrative unfolds in hypnotic layers, frequently depicting ways to aid the environment, such as collecting beach trash. Exceptional twists keep the story engaging even after dramatic peaks. Younger readers will adore characters like Skwee and Skew, talking squirrels who later, along with the entire cast, become integral to the plot. The author’s exceptional central theme, that environmental protection is a holistic effort that requires everyone’s participation, arrives in the line “Whatever happens to Amarvin happens to the rest of the world.” Friendship, loyalty, and dedication sweeten the final passages. Black-and-white illustrations by Martina A. Müller are gorgeous and evocative.
A remarkable fantasy that features life-affirming themes for both kids and adults.Pub Date: May 16, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-73668-292-0
Page Count: 282
Publisher: Alkion Press
Review Posted Online: June 17, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The greeting-card art and jokey rhymes work for the baby-shower market but not for the youngest readers.
Animal parents declare their love for their offspring through rhymed puns and sentimental art.
The title sets the scene for what’s to come: The owl asks the owlet as they fly together, “WHOO loves you?”; the kangaroo and joey make each other “very HOPPY”; and the lioness and cub are a “PURRRFECT pair.” Most of the puns are both unimaginative and groanworthy, and they are likely to go over the heads of toddlers, who are not know for their wordplay abilities. The text is set in abcb quatrains split over two double-page spreads. On each spread, one couplet appears on the verso within a lightly decorated border on pastel pages. On the recto, a full-bleed portrait of the animal and baby appears in softly colored and cozy images. Hearts are prominent on every page, floating between the parent and baby as if it is necessary to show the love between each pair. Although these critters are depicted in mistily conceived natural habitats and are unclothed, they are human stand-ins through and through.
The greeting-card art and jokey rhymes work for the baby-shower market but not for the youngest readers. (Board book. 6 mos-2)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7282-1374-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
