Early Book Review: The Secret Life of Trees: Explore the forests of the world, with Oakheart the Brave by Moira Butterfield

The Secret Life of Trees: Explore the Forests of the World, with Oakheart the Brave by Moira Butterfield is currently scheduled for release on August 18 2020.

Did you know that trees can talk to each other? Or that the oldest living thing is a tree? Let the ancient and mysterious Oakheart, the oldest and wisest tree in the forest, lead you through this beautiful guide to trees. Learn all about how they grow and survive, the many different types, why they are so important to humans, and tree folklore from around the world. Oakheart knows all the trees’ secrets, and he’s going to share them with you! This collection of delightful stories and engaging facts will impart a love of nature, and inspire you to look after the world around you. Whimsical and detailed illustrations have pride of place in magical tales that mix natural history with a splash of fantasy, creating a book that you will pore over time and again.

The Secret Life of Trees is a nice blending of stories and science. The stories will capture the attention of readers. I like the science and nature information that is layered between those stories, and while I knew most of it already I think young readers will be engaged with those sections as much as the stories. I thought the illustrations were whimsical and nicely colored, but I would have like a few more bold colors and lines. However, that is about personal preference, not the skill of the artist.

The Secret Life of Trees is a book that will become a fast favorite for some readers and families, but it did not wow me.

Book Review: Unwritten by Tara Gilboy

Unwritten by Tara Gilboy is a middle grade fantasy. Twelve-year-old Gracie Freeman is living a normal life, but she is haunted by the fact that she is actually a character from a story, an unpublished fairy tale she's never read. When she was a baby, her parents learned that she was supposed to die in the story, and with the help of a magic book, took her out of the story, and into the outside world, where she could be safe. But Gracie longs to know what the story says about her. Despite her mother's warnings, Gracie seeks out the story's author, setting in motion a chain of events that draw herself, her mother, and other former storybook characters back into the forgotten tale. Inside the story, Gracie struggles to navigate the blurred boundary between who she really is and the surprising things the author wrote about her. As the story moves toward its deadly climax, Gracie realizes she'll have to face a dark truth and figure out her own fairy-tale ending.

Unwritten started of as a hard read for me, be quickly changed to an engaging adventure. When readers meet Gracie she already knows that she came out of a fairy tale along with some others, and that the author is coming to visit a local bookstore. I found all the information to be a little overwhelming and it felt a bit like a recap so I felt like maybe I had missed a previous book . However, once the major action got moving I was fully engaged i the story and it worked much better for me. I liked the struggle of the main characters in dealing with the two sides of themselves and their two stories. I really liked the idea of how we can overcome what is written, or destined, for us by taking the time and care to make the right choices. I found the secrets and lies to be good plot devices, and realistic for people to cling to in situations like the ones they faced. The thoughts and ideas about people and characters shared by Winters (the author in the story) were profound, although a little heavy handed at times. I liked the general feel of the characters, and how the interacted. I also like the fairy tale world building and character building that was done. So much really worked, but when the story was finished I had mixed feelings. I liked it, but I did not love it, and could come up with no definable reason why. 

Unwritten is a solid fantasy, with good amounts of action and character development. There is room for a sequel, but still a satisfying conclusion- so who knows there could be moren in the future.

Early Book Review: Nothing Happens In This Book by Judy Ann Sadler, Vigg

Nothing Happens In This Book is a picturebook written by Judy Ann Sadler and illustrated by Vigg. It is currently scheduled for release on May 1 2018. The narrator of this picturebook warns us:Reader, don't waste your time with this book. “You might as well stick it back on the shelf,”“Or toss it under your bed. You don't need to read it because it looks like nothing happens in this book.” But, wait, he's spotted something. There's a trumpet without a trumpeter. And there's a tiny car without a driver. And a baton without a twirler. Maybe if you keep turning the pages, you'll find out who is missing these items. Maybe they are all together, getting ready to do something awesome. Maybe something amazing does happen in this book after all! The text and visual narrative work hand in hand in this playful, page-turning meta picture book, encouraging children to join in on the quest to find the seemingly missing story.

Nothing Happens In This Book is a fun interactive picturebook that leads readers on a hunt to see what might happen. There are clues on each page, and as out character discovers missing objects and moves forwards young readers are encouraged to imagine what might be coming. I thought the text and pictures were playfully paired, with a subtle humor and a hunt that encourages listener and reader participation. While I had a digital copy, the paper edition includes a gatefold spread to reveal the busy parade that completes the story and solves the mystery of just who lost all the wacky items, and what their plan was. This book would make a wonderful read a loud, one on one or in a library or classroom setting. It can also be used to start a discussion on story writing, telling, or building for an older audience.