Wedding Picture Books and Junior Fiction (and bridesmaids too)

Mr. Slinger has big news.

He’s getting married.

Married!

Lilly has big plans.

She’s going to be the flower girl.

(Lilly has always wanted to be a flower girl.

Even more than a surgeon or a diva or a hairdresser.)

The Podcast "Your Kid's Next Read" (an Australian show) shared a list of books about weddings in a recent episode because one of the presenters has just been married.  This got me thinking. I knew my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything had covered this topic. Also, the tiny granddaughter of another friend is about to be the flower girl at her parent's wedding. I previously gifted her the Kevin Henkes book at the top of this post.

I decided to search out wedding picture books and junior novels and compile them into a Pinterest. Megan Daley mentions Lissie Nonsense by Jan Ormerod. I didn't remember that weddings were a major theme of this book. Here is the Kirkus star review of Lizzie Nonsense. I plan to find this one in a library next week and check out the reference to weddings. I will write a blog post about Lizzie Nonsense over the coming days. 

Here are the covers of some of my own favourites including many that sadly are now long out of print but which could/should be held in many school or public libraries.

The Pig's Wedding is a charming story describing the preparation and celebration of the marriage of two pigs, Porker and Curlytail. As the bride and groom, and the guests, are without proper attire, Porker comes up with the brilliant idea of painting clothing on each and every one of them. Everyone has a wonderful time at the wedding celebration, until it begins to rain.  The rain washes the painted clothing off of all them!  Again, Porker has a brainstorm. He tells his guests to follow him as he runs toward a huge mud puddle.  They all toss their pink pig bodies into the mud and have a glorious time! Finally, with the wedding celebration over, Porker carries his bride into their new home--and paints the furnishings all over the stable walls!  The ingenious pig and his wife live happily ever after.

It was such a hot summer. The sky was deep blue and the sun never faltered. All along Brambly Hedge, the mice did their best to keep cool. Poppy Eyebright sought refuge in the mossy shadows of the mill wheel; Dusty Dogwood took to walking by the banks of the cooling stream. Dusty and Poppy spent more and more time together, so no one was at all surprised when they announced their engagement. They decided on a very unusual setting for the wedding ceremony, but even they didn’t realise just how unusual it was prove to be!

Here is a review

I have previously talked about this terrific book series - Aussie Nibbles - but until I listened to the podcast I had forgotten about this one. You could also look for another older junior series - Solo and the book Make me the Flowergirl by Pamela Freeman.

No Room for a Mouse by Kyle Mewburn illustrated by Freya Blackwood

My favourite parts of this book are the cross section illustrations of the huge house and the kindness of Christopher. It is not directly stated but clearly Mrs Fizzletum has become homeless even if the reasons are fanciful and fun:

"I gave my pot plants too much food. ... Now my house is a jungle, and a boa constrictor has swallowed my keys."

Similarly Melody Mistletoe and her family now live at the bus stop. 

"I forgot to turn the taps off in the bath. ... Now our house is an ocean, and there are oysters growing in our beds."

I also love the way everyone contributes to the house and mum finds delightful things such as freshly baked scones but she is so busy that she does not think to ask where they have come from. 

Book seller blurb: Christopher lived with his mum and his best friend, Sneaky, in a house with more rooms than Christopher could count. This charming story about Christopher, his mother and his mouse Sneaky will delight children of all ages. Christopher’s mother is so busy working for the pigeon post that she doesn’t notice when Christopher invites an amazing variety of people to share their enormous house. There’s Mrs Fizzletum, Melody Mistletoe and her family, Maestro Bambonium and his Grand Pandemonium, Ringmaster Fergus and the Sawdust Circus — so many people that there is no room for Sneaky!

This book is a new discovery for me even though it was published in 2007. I have previously talked about Freya Blackwood. Kyle Mewburn lives in New Zealand and is the author of many picture books. She won the Joy Cowley Award (presented by Storylines Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand) in 2005 and won both the Picture Book Category and the Children's Choice Category with Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! at the 2007 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. No room for a mouse won a Storylines Notable Book Award in 2008.

When the orchestra move into the house it reminded me of another book by a New Zealand author - Margaret Mahy:

The Pumpkin Man and the Crafty Creeper

You might also be lucky and have a very old book by Bob Graham:

Meet the illustrator Sami Bayly

Image source: Sami Bayly web page

Here in Australia we are so LUCKY to have a talent like Sami Bayly. And we are so lucky she has applied her amazing illustration skills to the production of the most fabulous nonfiction books about animals of all shapes and sizes. Every reader, young or old, is sure to discover an animal that they have never ever heard of in one of her books. These book are sure to spark curiosity and they are a fabulous resource for a classroom. Sami is also a fabulous presenter. I heard her speak to a huge crowd of children and teachers at an event last year and she totally captured the attention of everyone.

In this interview Sami Bayly talks about her processes. Her web page contains a wealth of materials to explore. 

Sami's first book, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ugly Animals, won the Children's Indie Book of the Year Award and the Australian Book Design Award for Younger Readers. It was a CBCA Honour Book and was shortlisted for an ABIA Book of the Year for Younger Children and longlisted for the ABA Booksellers' Choice 2020 Book of the Year Awards. Her second book, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dangerous Animals, was a CBCA Honour Book, an ABIA Book of the Year for Younger Children, won an Australian Book Design Award for Younger Readers and was shortlisted for the Children's Indie Book of the Year 2020. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Peculiar Pairs was shortlisted for the CBCA Eve Pownall Award and longlisted for Children's Indie Book of the Year Award.

I visited a school library today planning to borrow The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Extinct Animals by Sami Bayly partly because it is a 2025 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Eve Pownall (Non Fiction) Notable or long list title. In my hurry I picked up the wrong book - a companion volume The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ugly Animals and this turns out to be Sami's very first book.

You can see inside this book here.

The CBCA judges said:

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Extinct Animals by Sami Bayly is a visually stunning and deeply moving tribute to the species lost to extinction. The book’s vintage-style design, with its fabric spine and tactile cover, evokes a sense of nostalgia, while the carefully structured content delivers an urgent message about conservation. The four-page contents section immediately sets a somber tone, featuring grey symbolic images of each extinct creature. However, the true artistry lies in the detailed double-page spreads that follow, where Bayly’s exquisite watercolor illustrations bring each animal to life. The inclusion of size comparisons, from the diminutive Yunnan Lake Newt to the imposing Megalania, provides readers with a tangible sense of scale. Each entry follows a consistent format, offering scientific classification, description, diet, extinction status, and habitat, along with an engaging 'fun facts' section. The meticulous organization makes the book both an accessible reference and an immersive reading experience. With an introduction dedicated to lost species and a call to conservation, this book is not only an informative resource but also a powerful reminder of humanity’s impact on the natural world. A beautifully crafted and thought-provoking addition to Bayly’s series, it is an essential title for young readers and educators alike. 

Readings in Melbourne list three reasons why you should read this book about extinct animals and read this one from Kids' Book Review.  

Bookseller blurb: Marvel as you enter the fascinating hidden world of ugly animals in this encyclopedia of the animal kingdom's most unusual and beauty-challenged species. It's time for ugly animals to shine! With more than sixty ugly animals to explore, this compendium of the unusual celebrates the beauty in 'ugliness'. Children and adults alike will pore over the breathtaking scientific illustrations of unusual animals, debating their relative ugliness and merits, learning about science and nature along the way. Featuring illustrations and facts about the thorniest species the animal kingdom has to offer, from the naked mole rat to the goblin shark, aye-aye, sphinx cat, blobfish and many more 'ugly' beauties.

This might sound odd but I feel a little sorry for the ugly animals. I love that Sami Bayly says her book is a celebration of "the beauty in ugliness". Actually, a few of these creatures are somewhat appealing - the American Manatee; the Aye-aye; the Saiga Antelope; and the Helmeted Hornbill. You can see art from this book here. 

Image source: Sydney Morning Herald

A companion book could be Blob The Ugliest animal in the World by Joy Sorman illustrated by Olivier Talle.

In September Sami will release her new book:

Featuring facts and astonishing illustrations about sixty amazing fast and slow animals, including the super speedy black marlin, the cheetah and the gentoo penguin, and the oh-so-slow dwarf seahorse, the gila monster and the immortal jellyfish.

Here is an interview where Sami Bayly talked about her book 

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Peculiar Pairs.

It made me laugh to once again see that in the US our Australian books have different titles and different covers!

You might also have seen these two books by Sami Bayly. I am sure they will be in many school and public libraries.

Paperboy by Vince Vawter

This was beautifully written and palpably sad. Ms Yingling Reads

Carefully crafted language, authenticity of setting and quirky characters that ring fully true all combine to make this a worthwhile read. Kirkus

Have you ever read a book where you kept anticipating dreadful events, you gasped, turned the page and then that event didn't happen but instead a few pages later the author slammed you up against a wall with something even worse? I started Paperboy late in the afternoon and read a few chapters, then read a few more at midnight and then woke up at 3am and read this book right through to the end. All the while I was holding my breath because I was so worried about 'Little Man'.

It seems amazing when I think about it but in over 32 years as a Teacher-Librarian I never had a student who stuttered but I did work with one teacher (in hindsight I think about his bravery to be a teacher and face a group of ten year olds every day) and knew a young boy when I was a teenager. As humans there are some hard things in life that we have to navigate. Sensory impairment such as hearing loss, vision loss, epilepsy, and other disabilities that can make life so complex. I found it heartbreaking to read how much 'Little Man' struggled with his stuttering. In fact the reason we don't know his actual name until the final pages of this book is because his own name is almost impossible to pronounce - it contains the most tricky sounds. 'Little Man' is a highly intelligent young boy and this book and we get to know his story because we can hear his thoughts and read his typewritten words.

His best friend has gone away for a month over summer. 'Little Man' takes over the newspaper delivery job from Art or Rat as he is known. Over the following weeks 'Little Man' meets a variety of characters. My favourite was Mr Spiro who, in contrast with his newspaper delivery boy, uses long complex sentences and shares deep philosophical ideas that come from his extensive reading and huge personal library. He shows a beautiful level of kindness and intelligent interactions with the young boy. On the other hand, the town 'junk man' is a violent individual who you will desperately want 'Little Man' to avoid. When he risks his life twice and has to confront this disgusting man I wanted to shout at 'Little Boy' to run away because I knew he was in enormous danger. You can tell I became very involved in this story.

Adding to the power of this story at the end we discover this book is based on the life of the author. Read this detailed interview. Here are some quotes from the interview:

" ... everything in the book which had to do with stuttering, was factual. I had trouble saying my name, and on more than one occasion, I would pass out because I held my breath too long trying to say my name. If you remember the scene where the boy is in the restaurant with some of his parents’ friends, and he gets embarrassed, and it all just starts coming onto him and he loses his spaghetti all over the table and everybody? That actually happened to me."

"In the past few years, I've been reading an awful lot about the covert stutterer. I should have been the poster boy for covert stuttering. I tried to hide my stutter in every way I could. I would lie about it, I would skip class, I would do anything. I would pretend I was sick; I would do anything not to have to speak in class, or in some social situation. What that did is it held me back from starting on my journey of finding my voice."

"Saying my name was my albatross. At the start of school each year, I would start going into sweats, about the middle of August. School would start the first of September, I'd start worrying about it in August because I knew the teachers would say, "Okay, everybody stand-up, tell us your name. Tell us your brother and sister’s names. What your pet is, and what you did this summer." I'd have rather been whipped 40 lashes than do that."

In terms of an Australian young adult reader this book does contain aspects of US History from the 1960s especially racial discrimination and also a few references to baseball and famous baseball players but these references did not mean anything to me, but my ignorance did not affect the way this story totally engrossed me. Listen to an audio sample of chapter one - Mam is not his mother - she is the hired help - a brave African American lady who I would love to thank for the way she loves and protects 'Little Man'. 

Blurb: Little Man throws the meanest fastball in town. But talking is a whole different ball game. He can barely say a word without stuttering—not even his own name. So when he takes over his best friend’s paper route for the month of July, he’s not exactly looking forward to interacting with the customers. But it’s the neighborhood junkman, a bully and thief, who stirs up real trouble in Little Man’s life.

Awards for Paperboy:

• A Newbery Honor Award Winner
• An ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book
• An IRA Children’s and Young Adults’ Choice
• An IRA Teachers’ Choice
• A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year
• A National Parenting Publications Award Honor Book
• A BookPage Best Children’s Book
• An ABC New Voices Pick
• A Junior Library Guild Selection
• An ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Recording
• An ALA-YALSA Amazing Audiobook
• A Mississippi Magnolia State Award List Selection

On another level this book is also about racial discrimination. Think of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr and also the movie The Help. There are two further books in this series (both are Young Adult or adult titles) and the final one deals with the five days in April 1968 that changed the world - the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Read more here. 

I am working my way through some Newbery winners and honor books from the last 25 years. I was so lucky to spy Paperboy at a recent charity book sale and it only cost AUS$2.

Companion books:

Walking to the bus-rider Blues

Stella by Starlight

The Parker Inheritance

How High the Moon

I also found a list of Middle Grade books that feature stuttering: Say It Out Loud by Allison Varnes; The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga; and Wild oak by C.C. Harrington.

Drift by Pip Harry

How did he see the video?

Who showed him?

Why did he watch it?

Does he see me differently now?

Can we ever be friends again?

Nate has moved from Singapore to Sydney. His mum has a serious issue with her spine and can no longer work. She talks about her days in terms of spoons and often by the end of the day she has no spoons left. Dad is back in Singapore but he will join them soon. Nate has to adjust to helping his mum and fitting in at a new school. He also misses the hustle and bustle of Singapore.

In the house next door there is a girl named Luna. She lives with her mum, dad and older brother. Very recently something dreadful has happened. She has been filmed and this has been shared with 'everyone'. Luna has to endure cruel comments at school and she has now lost her closest friend.

The stage is set for Nate and Luna to find each other and yes they do. Even better this story is also filled with bees and honey and first love and kindness and a glorious seaside Sydney setting. 

There are text fragments in this book that show Pip Harry 'really gets' teenagers:

After class,

the DKs invite me to sit

with their friend group for recess ...

This is the ultimate act of social rescue

and I accept immediately ...

It's Annalise

the most popular

of the popular girls.

We used to laugh when she and her mates

walked past with their

ponytails worn ridiculously

high.

Their skirts ridiculously

short.

We called them 

the Ponytail Gang.

This quote really resonates with me because I call adults who clearly succeeded at High School and who were the queens of their peer group - ponytail girls. 

There is a tiny 'throwaway line' on page 243. Luna has been absent from school for two weeks. She has been refusing to go to school refuser:

I miss face-to-face classes,

new books in the library,

the smell of the art room ...

Thank you, Pip Harry, for having a character mention the school library!

I also love the way Pip Harry makes this story unashamedly about the Northern Beaches of Sydney. She has references to the pool at Curl Curl; a market a Freshwater; Narrabeen Lagoon; Manly Dam; Avalon; Palm Beach; our beautiful flannel flowers (photo below); the Manly Corso; the local rehab hospitals at Dee Why and Warriewood; and she even adds in an echidna and a kookaburra. (I talked about this same use of the setting in The Little Wave). 

My photo of a flannel flower at Dobroyd, Sydney NSW

Also thank you for the tears I shed over this story - this reflects the beautiful honesty of the storytelling the genuine emotions of these two kids - Luna and Nate - kids I have to come to really care about. And there is also honesty in the way so many parts of this story relate Pip Harry's own real life - which is something I discovered from her talk at the library. Like Amber, Pip had major spinal surgery; like Nate and Amber, a swarm of bees did move into the walls of their home; and Pip lives in the same part of Sydney where her story is set. Oh, and Pip is a keen swimmer. In her talk she used the word authentic and that certainly applies to the tone and story she is telling in Drift. 

Luna's dad is a minor character but I love the way he is allowed express his confusion:

He comes from 

The School of Hard Knocks.

My generation Didn't Get Any Handouts.

Get on with it,

don't be a sook. ...

Why are kids so bloody anxious these days, Steph?

I don't remember anyone seeing a shrink

when I was a teenager ...

Life is hard,

out kids need to get tougher.

Am I wrong?

I bought Drift at the literary festival (see below) and came home and read the whole book in one sitting. 

Pip Harry shared the advance copy of her book with Megan Daley and her husband who is a beekeeper. They were able to check her bee keeping facts were accurate. Megan loves bees. Here is her book list for World Bee Day. Megan will launch Drift in Brisbane in mid-August. Her endorsement on the cover says: "Buzzes with warmth and the undeniable magic of bees!" Speaking of the cover - it is fabulous. Well done Astred Hicks. Pip Harry will also be presenting at events over the coming weeks in Bendigo and Adelaide. And she mentioned she is speaking on a panel about allowing children's books to deal with deep and complex issues - I would love to know more about that event. 

Publisher blurb: Fourteen-year-old Nate has just moved back to Australia and is finding it hard to navigate a new city, school and changed home life. His next-door neighbour, Luna, is dealing with her own issues: a viral video, friends who have dropped her, and a subsequent anxiety disorder. When a swarm of 20,000 bees unexpectedly settle in the walls of Nate's family's house, Nate and Luna come together to save the hive, befriending local beekeeper Tyler. Over the course of one summer, their loyalties will be tested and their lives will be forever changed.

Here is a review comment from Instagram. The themes this reviewer identifies (check my post labels) are why I think this book is better suited to mature readers aged 13+: 

Self-harm, depression, chronic pain, violence - it all sounds so heavy but in Pip Harry’s hands it is gentle and tender. These two beautiful characters are vulnerable and loving, wanting no more than to be accepted for who they are. This is not a horror story about social media, but it is a story about the healing power of friendship, in many different forms. And if you are after a book that demonstrates how sweet and thoughtful teenage boys can be, then look no further. Pip’s middle grade novels are extremely popular with kids so no doubt they will go looking for this one, but Drift is firmly YA, 13/14+. I adored everything about it. Drift will be published in August. MSW Book Lady

Companion books:

All the Blues in the Sky

Birdy

I am sure we will see Drift on the 2026 CBCA Older Readers Notables List along with another splendid YA Verse Novel I read this year - The Foal in the Wire by Robbie Coburn.

Yesterday I attended the first Willoughby Literary Festival. My discovery of this event, hosted by the Willoughby Library in Chatswood, held over two weekends, was entirely an accident. This is where I heard Pip Harry talk about her new YA Verse Novel Dift - for ages 12+. It will be released on Wednesday this week. Pip shared her book with fifteen kids in the session today. They were fairly quiet and reticent to participate but she kept up her energy and enthusiasm for the whole hour. If you have the opportunity to have Pip Harry visit your school or library grab it with both hands - your kids will experience a brilliant and insightful session. 

I have previously talked about several books by Pip Harry and I penned a detailed profile post after her presentation at a local Teacher-Librarian conference. I have added the view count beside each title:

• The Little Wave (976)
• Are you there Buddha? (241)
• August and Jones (219)
• Over and Under (111)

August reading pile

Clutch by MG Leonard

I previously loved (5 stars) Twitch by MG Leonard. The back cover of Clutch shows another book possibly from this series called Spark. Hopefully it won't matter if I read these 'out of order'.

Blurb from the author page: When the peregrine falcon nest is raided, Twitch realises a thief is at work. Horrified, he and the Twitchers set out to catch the dangerous criminal, only to be ensnared in a deadly trap. Can they save themselves and stop the villain before anyone gets hurt?

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman

I was gifted a bookshop voucher recently and so I picked up this book because it has been on my to read list this year.

Publisher blurb: Clare is the undead fox of Deadwood Forest. Hovering between life and death, he was given the choice to either cross into the Afterlife or become an Usher of wandering souls. And while he loves guiding animal souls into each of the four realms, Clare is lonely. But Clare’s lonely undead existence is met with upheaval when a badger soul named Gingersnipes knocks on his door. Clare seeks the help of Hesterfowl—the visionary grouse who recently foretold of turmoil in Deadwood. But Hesterfowl has a shocking revelation: Clare is dying—this time really dying. Clare is devastated; outraged; and decides he will do anything to change his fate ...

Penny Pollard's Diary by Robin Klein illustrated by Ann James

I read this back when it was published in 1983 and at that time I really enjoyed the voice of young Penny. I found this copy among a pile of disposed books from a library where I work as a volunteer. I would not have 'weeded' this book but I am not involved in those decisions. I am not a fan of the newer cover. The original edition was a large format book and it looked like an exercise book used as a diary. 

Publisher blurb: Penny Pollard hates: old people, Annette Smurton (who has her own horse), wearing dresses, and doing homework. On a school excursion she meets someone just as rebellious as herself Mrs Edith Bettany (nearly) eighty-one years old and a new friend for Penny.

There are five books in this series:

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

I first read this back in 2010 and I loved it so when I saw a copy at a recent charity book sale I decided it was time for me to revisit this story. Here is my original blog post. You can see all the awards given to this book here. 

Blurb from the author page: When a fortuneteller’s tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller’s mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true.

The Last Chance Hotel by Nicki Thornton

I spied this at a recent charity book sale and the cover looked great  - it has gold foil on the windows and sparkles. This book is published by Chicken House and it was a winner for their fiction competition in 2016. You can see other books by Nicki Thornton here. Kirkus said this book is a "charming, old-fashioned–feeling romp." You can read an extract here. 

Blurb: Seth is the downtrodden kitchen boy at the remote Last Chance Hotel, owned by the nasty Bunn family. His only friend is his black cat, Nightshade. But when a strange gathering of magicians arrives for dinner, kindly Dr Thallomius is poisoned by Seth’s special dessert. A locked-room murder investigation ensues – and Seth is the main suspect. The funny thing is, he’s innocent … can he solve the mystery and clear his name, especially when magic’s afoot?

Hitty: Her first Hundred Years by Rachel Field

52 Mondays by Anna Ciddor references Hitty so I have had this on my to read list for a few years. Hitty also won the Newbery in 1930.

Bookseller blurb: Hitty is a doll of great charm and character. It is indeed a privilege to publish her memoirs, which, besides being full of the most thrilling adventures on land and sea, also reveal her delightful personality. One glance at her portrait will show that she is no ordinary doll. Hitty, or Mehitable as she was really named, was made in the early 1800s for Phoebe Preble, a little girl from Maine. Young Phoebe was very proud of her beautiful doll and took her everywhere, even on a long sailing trip in a whaler. This is the story of Hitty's years with Phoebe, and the many that follow in the life of a well-loved doll.

The House at the end of the world by Nadine Aisha Jassat

I borrowed this 2025 book from the library where I work as a volunteer mainly because it is a verse novel. I am not really a fan of the cover so I will be interested to read this and see 'how it stacks up.' For a verse novel it is quite a long book with over 300 pages of fairly small print. You can see other books by Nadine here. 

Publisher blurb: When Amal and her family unexpectedly inherit the enchanted clifftop home, they can't believe their luck. But their joy is short-lived when a mysterious couple arrives, claiming the house is theirs and giving Amal's family just thirty days to pack up their stuff and leave before they demolish it completely. The clock is ticking, and Amal is determined to save Hope House from destruction. How will she unravel the secrets of the house and its mysterious benefactor in time to save it?

A Night Divided by Jennifer A Nielsen

This will be a good companion book to go with two other books I read about the Berlin Wall - The Wall Between Us by Dan Smith and A Great Escape by Felice Arena.

Book seller blurb: With the rise of the Berlin Wall, Gerta finds her family suddenly divided. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city. But one day on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance. Gerta concludes that her father wants her and Fritz to tunnel beneath the wall, out of East Berlin. However, if they are caught, the consequences will be deadly. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?

Leila and the Blue Fox by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

I previously loved In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen but I didn't really enjoy Julia and the Shark although I read many very positive reviews. And I gave five stars to The Island at the end of everything. I have a strange feeling I may have already read Leila and the Blue Fox but I won't know until I begin reading. I have also read The Girl of Ink and stars but even though I remember loving it I haven't talked about it here on this blog.

Blurb from the author web page: Fox wakes and begins to walk. She crosses ice and snow, over mountains and across frozen oceans, encountering bears and birds beneath the endless daylight of an Arctic summer, navigating a world that is vast, wild and wondrous. Meanwhile, Leila embarks on a journey of her own – finding her way to the mother who left her. On a breathtaking journey across the sea, Leila rediscovers herself and the mother she thought she’d lost, with help from a determined little fox. Based on the true story of an Arctic fox who walked from Norway to Canada in seventy-six days.

Paperboy by Vince Vawter

I am reading Newbery winners and honor titles. I spied this 2014 honor book at the charity sale. I have begun reading this one but I am worried it will be a harrowing journey,

Bookseller blurb: Little Man throws the meanest fastball in town. But talking is a whole different ball game. He can barely say a word without stuttering—not even his own name. So when he takes over his best friend’s paper route for the month of July, he’s not exactly looking forward to interacting with the customers. But it’s the neighborhood junkman, a bully and thief, who stirs up real trouble in Little Man’s life.

When you trap a tiger by Tae Keller

This is also a Newbery title. I have read about half of this one on my Kindle. The story so far reminds me of books by our Australian authors Shirley Marr and Rebecca Lim.

Blurb from author web page: When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni’s Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now, the tigers want it back. And when one of those tigers approaches Lily with a deal—return what Halmoni stole in exchange for Halmoni's health—Lily is tempted to accept. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice… and the courage to face a tiger.

Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traore

Publisher blurb: City girl Simi is sent to stay with her long-lost grandmother in a remote Nigerian village. There’s no TV, internet or phone. Not a single human-made sound can be heard at night, just the noise of birds and animals rustling in the dark forest outside. Her witchlike grandmother dispenses advice and herbal medicine to the village, but she’s tight lipped about their family history. Something must have happened, but what? Determined to find out, Simi disobeys her grandmother and goes exploring. Caught in the sinking red quicksand of a forbidden lake, her fantastical journey begins …

There are only a few main characters in this book but I did keep getting lost and so I wish a list of human and non-human (gods) had been included. The ending is a little abrupt and for me, confusing. I didn't understand why the children were suffering on the other side of the lake and also I still don't really know why hundreds of them were taken there over the years. I also should have made more use of the help glossary which is included at the beginning of the book.

Readers aged 10+ with plenty of reading stamina who enjoy stories set in different cultures and stories with elements of magical realism and danger may enjoy this story. 

Curious readers might dig deeper into Nigerian folklore:

• The Myths of the Yoruba: Deities and Legends from Nigeria
• The Ultimate Guide to Yoruba Mythology: Orishas, Legends & Spiritual Traditions
• Mythopedia (background reading for teachers)

The taking of the children from the village might also make you think of the famous poem about the Pied Piper. 

Children of the quicksand was a debut novel for Efua Traore - she won the Times/Chicken House competition which then led to the publication of her book. You can see her other books here. I do enjoy books published by Chicken House. On their page you can read an extract from this book. Here is a review from the journal Africa Access. 

This is a beautiful story with an evocative setting. The reader is drawn to the rich sights, sounds and smells of the remote setting with its mysteries woven into a story dealing with separation, grief and loss. It is Simi’s personal story, yet the history that she uncovers is also deeply powerful and moving: the story of a family dealing with loss in their own individual ways. It is her grandmother, Iyanla, whose secrets we want to uncover and, when we do, it is via a tale steeped in Yoruba folklore and magic. Books for Topics

Here is an alternate cover:

Read the Kirkus review

Bookseller blurb: A richly imagined magical adventure set in West Africa by a prize-winning new voice in children's writing, Children of the Quicksands introduces readers to Yoruba myths and legends while showcasing the wealth of culture, traditions, adventure, joy, pride, and love found in Nigeria. Both modern and fantastical, extraordinary debut talent Efua Traore takes us to the village of a modern day Ajao and the strange parallel world that lies beneath. In a remote Nigerian village, thirteen-year-old Simi is desperate to uncover a family secret. Ajao is nothing like Lagos--no cells phones, no running water or electricity. Not a single human-made sound can be heard at night, just the noise of birds and animals rustling in the dark forest outside. Her witchlike grandmother dispenses advice and herbal medicine to the village, but she's tight lipped about their family history. Something must have happened, but what? Determined to find out, Simi disobeys her grandmother and goes exploring only to find herself sinking in the red quicksand of a forbidden lake and into the strange parallel world that lies beneath. It must have been a dream...right? Wrong. Something isn't right. Children are disappearing and it's up to Simi to discover the truth.