A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book by Jonathan Fenske

I love that this is unknowable. Let me explain. I visited some grandparents today who have two young grandkids staying for a holiday. The grandfather described the kids' favourite book (as of today I am sure this changes all the time) as a book with a unicorn, dinosaur, shark and a kitten wearing a rainbow t-shirt. I was absolutely certain the grandfather was joking - pulling together all their favourite things and imagining they could all be in one book - in fact I almost suggest HE could write that book. Then the little girl passed me this book and asked me to read it!  Such fun. AND it breaks the fourth wall. 

I made one tiny mistake with my reading and was swiftly corrected which shows me this book has been read and re-read many many times - hooray! 

So, what in unknowable? Well, I am asking why is this particular book such a big hit with this four- or five-year-old? The illustrations are okay but lean more to a cartoon style. I know she loves unicorns but this unicorn is not especially appealing or traditional. Perhaps it is the way you just have to read this book aloud with voices. Or is it the offstage narrator (of course she doesn't know that is what that voice is called). Or is it the hilarious but also dangerous ending - Kitty looks like she is about to be devoured by the very hungry dinosaur who has complained through the whole book that he has only come along to be fed. It could also be that she loves the distinct voices or personalities of the three main characters. The unicorn is clearly quite vain, and the shark actually tries to eat the pages of the book. I love that all of this is unknowable and that this child at this point in time simply loves this one special book. Although I do need to say when I asked which book was a winner, she proudly showed me about fifteen more from their coffee table including one of my own favourites - Bye Bye Baby by Allan Ahlberg. 

Publisher blurb: While the narrator insists that the characters are in the best book ever, they are all less than impressed and won’t cooperate with the storyteller’s cues. Can the narrator find a way to convince them to stick around, or will the creatures choose to skedaddle off the page? 

Here is the Kirkus review. Here is a video of the whole book (not perfect but it will give you a sense of the story - but please find the book before you share the video).

It is also interesting to think about this image from very early in the story and the way it needs to be understood by a young child:

I have also discovered a sequel:

What are a unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark to do when they just want to relax, but the narrator of the book keeps INSISTING that they're riding a bicycle? Who calls the shots in a story, anyway--

the narrator, or the characters?

Growing Home by Beth Ferry illustrated by The Fan Brothers

The only thing to note about Number 3 Ramshorn Drive was the big oak tree in the front yard—and what went on inside. I can promise you it won’t be what you are expecting. Unless of course you are expecting a story about two plants, a spider, and a magical fish tank. Oh, and cheese puffs—lots and lots of cheese puffs. 

If you’re expecting that, then this is the story for you.

And don’t forget, hope is like a hook ... 

Once it catches hold of you, it doesn’t easily let go.

First off I need to say this book will be nearly impossible to find here in Australia unless, like me, you are prepared to read an ebook version. If you do find the book [9781665942485] the price of the print edition is way too high for a school library at over AUS$32 for this 272pg middle grades illustrated novel. Hopefully there will eventually be a paperback edition for a better price AND booksellers will bring it here to Australia (hint hint Gleebooks Kids).  

Here is a list of the characters in this book. I am sure you will find it hard to imagine how there could possibly be a story that connects them - a goldfish named Toasty; an ivy pant in a pot named Ivy; a spider named Arthur; a violet plant in a pot named Ollie; a canary named Sunny; and a bee named Louise. Listen to this podcast. And here is part two of that same podcast. 

Jillian's parents run an antique store. They have dreams of 'making the big break' and finding an antique worth tons of money. Right now this is even more important because Mr and Mrs Tapper have made some unwise decisions, borrowed too much money from the bank and now they are in real danger of having no money and perhaps no home.

They regularly visit garage and farm house sales and that is where they found the very curious octagonal-shaped fish tank (that is where Toasty lives). The parents, however, have no idea that someone else wants this tank nor do they know it has magical properties. 

Jillian is desperate for a pet but Toasty the fish is all she is allowed to have until she finds Ivy. Yes, Ivy is an indoor plant, but Jillian loves her and talks to her. In fact, Toasty is becoming quite jealous about their relationship. Also, Ivy is sure SHE is Jillian's favourite.

Mr and Mrs Tapper bring home an old large desk from a bookshop - the house is filled with the antiques the collect. What they do not know is that a little spider has made the desk his home and even more importantly (but I cannot tell you why) this desk also contains a very large, very old, first edition (hint) book.

So in this story there will be heroism, teamwork, everyone will make new friends, and of course you will be smiling over the glorious happy ending. This is a perfect book to share with readers aged 7+. 

Here are some text quotes to give you a flavour of this story:

Ivy was the small houseplant who sat on the kitchen table. She had three speckles on each leaf and three letters in her name. “Good morning, Ivy!” Jillian sang. “Who’s ready for some sunshine?” Jillian had never actually announced to anyone that Ivy was her favorite, but Toasty could tell. Actions speak louder than words. So do singing and dancing and kissing. Jillian picked Ivy up and danced her to the window, where the sun could kiss her leaves. The sun had never kissed Toasty’s fins or his face or his tail. Not once. Not ever.

“A goal of the day keeps the boredom away!” she said. ... “ROY is the beginning of the rainbow,” Ivy explained. “It stands for red, orange, and yellow. I’ve decided my goal of the day is to find something for each color of the rainbow.”

Despite not being her favorite, Toasty loved Jillian. She might have questionable judgment when it came to favorites, but she was always doing something interesting. And when you’re a goldfish—even a goldfish in an octagonal tank—interesting is important. Toasty couldn’t wait to see what was in the box. He was sure it wasn’t cheese puffs, but as we’ve said, hope is like a hook, and Toasty was hooked on cheese puffs. And hey, weirder things have happened.

And in that moment, Arthur realized that he, too, had a superpower. It was reading. Which explained why there were so many books in the world. Everyone wanted a superpower.

You will remember that Toasty does not have very good manners. It’s still up for debate as to why that is, but it is a fact. Toasty felt like his home was being overrun by strangers. First a spider, then a violet, and now a bee. Enough was enough! “Manners, schmanners. What’s next, a horse?”

“Friends, schmends,” Toasty muttered. “Cheese puffs are better than friends.” “Nothing is better than a friend, Toasty!” Ivy admonished.

Listen to an audio sample here. And I found a video of Beth Ferry reading the opening chapters of her book.

One of my favorite things about this book is the abundance of wordplay the author uses. Whether your kid is an English nerd or just loves a funny book, they’ll have plenty to giggle about while reading this one. It features a truckload of puns, new vocabulary words taught to readers as they read, and beautiful illustrations to bring each chapter to life. Reading Middle Grade

"Ferry has presented a wonderfully imaginative story with magic, mystery, and adventure, set almost entirely in one setting (goldfish tanks don’t move that easily). In addition, detailed pencil illustrations by the talented Fan brothers are sprinkled throughout, and these add whimsy to the novel’s delightfully expressive animal and vegetal protagonists, especially Toasty, with his signature bowler hat and perpetual frown." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Kirkus review: Each character has a distinct personality and perspective; sometimes they clash, but more often they learn to empathize, see each other’s points of view, and work to help one another. ... The Fan brothers’ soft-edged, old-fashioned, black-and-white illustrations depict Toasty and Arthur with tiny hats; Ivy and Ollie have facial expressions on their plant pots. ... The story comes together like a recipe: Simple ingredients combine, transform, and rise into something wonderful. In its matter-of-fact wisdom, rich vocabulary (often defined within the text), hint of magic, and empathetic nonhuman characters who solve problems in creative ways, this delightful work is reminiscent of Ferris by Kate DiCamillo ...

This book will be a really terrific family read aloud. I suggest you buy a packet or two of cheese puffs - Toasty loves these and because he kept talking about them I started to want to eat some too. I am not sure what we call these here in Australia but I found this packet which is sold at our local supermarkets. 

You can read more plot details here. 

Bookseller blurb: Ivy is the beloved houseplant of young Jillian Tupper of Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, much to the constant dismay of Toasty the goldfish, who is technically the family pet—swimming in his special place of honor, the antique octagonal fish tank—and should be the most loved. It seems that's how the cookie (or cheese puffs, in Toasty's case) crumbles in the curious Tupper household, but soon a sequence of thrilling and magical events challenges that way of life forever. First, there's the arrival of Arthur, a knowledgeable spider with a broken leg and a curious mind, hidden in an old typewriter. Then Jillian throws everyone for a loop when she brings home dear, sweet Ollie, a school houseplant who just wants to be friends and sing. When Toasty splashes the plants with his tank water out of frustration, the friends learn that they can do magical things—like lift heavy objects and turn things invisible! It turns out Toasty's fishtank isn't just for fish; it was made by a curious inventor who gave it special powers that, in the wrong hands, could disrupt everything forever. And a curious man with purple shoes just so happens to want that tank at any cost. Can Ivy, Toasty, Arthur, and Ollie grow to be friends in time to work together to save their beloved Tupper family from utter ruin?

I have previously talked about lots of book illustrated by The Fan Brothers and also Beth Ferry (check out her page about Growing Home) and see all her books here.  I am excited to meet The Fan Brothers at the 2026 IBBY Congress on Ottawa. 

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman illustrated by Marcin Minor

When winds blow

Through Deadwood east

The undead monster waits to feast

On little bones

And braids

And toes

But don't you scream

Or its hunger grows!

While I did read this book fairly quickly, over a couple of days, it took me a little while to get used to the use of a girl's name - Clare for a male character - the undead fox.

What does undead mean? Well, when a creature dies it usually just heads off to the afterlife but there are some creatures that need help to find the right door or realm. This guiding or, as it is called here, the Ushering, is the job of the undead - in this case Clare the fox but there have been many others before him - Brickbane a fox; Eddifoot a racoon; Po an elk and Felix a moth. There are four destinations:

"Travel north from here and you'll find the realm of Peace ... for those who found joy in rest. Head east and you encounter the realm of Pleasure ... best suited to those who sought fun about all else. Directly west is Progress ... for those who loved work, service and effort. And finally travel south ... and one enters the realm of Pain."

Clare has been sending the souls who arrive at his cottage in Deadwood Forest to the 'right' door for over four years. He enjoys his work and loves tending to his extensive mushroom garden but deep in his heart he is lonely and also frightened because Brickbane told him, on the night of his death, that he was destined for Pain. And not only that a prophecy song is circulating:

"On All Hallows Eve, Deadwood will bring mayhem to Fernlight. And before the moon sets, one in Deadwood will vanish forever."

Then there is new arrival. It is a badger named Gingersnipes. Astute readers will realise something is wrong. Gingersnipes does not arrive in the usual way by knocking on Clare's door. When Clare sends Gingersnipes away to his assigned realm "he did not wait for the crackling sound of her departure".  This is a big mistake.

Hopefully now you have lots of unanswered questions. How did Clare die? Why did Gingersnipes arrive at this time? What does do the songs of All Hallows Eve mean? Who is the little girl with the red shoes? Can the message and advice from Hesterfowl be trusted? And most important of all what on earth is a braid?  (Of course, dear reader you know the answer to this final question but it is a mystery to Clare).

There is one very violent scene near the end of this book so I am going to say this is a book for mature readers aged 10+. 

All of this plot sounds every 'heavy' but there are some sweet touches of humour in this story and you are sure to enjoy meeting the rats at the dump named Nine and Two. The names of the mushrooms that Clare collects from the forest are also delightful. And I loved the way Clare always said 'travel true' as he sent lost souls off to their assigned realm. 

Here is a description of Clare's cottage:

"Clare, for example, had strung the ceiling with rows and rows of twine. The walls were lined with shelves crammed with jars of all shapes and colours, gathered from Deadwood Dump and filled with dried fungi. In the firelight the vessels glinted and glowed, splashing the hollow in jewelled hues."

Here is a line that made me smile - it is Gingersnipes speaking:

"I have a moose-sized bone to pick with you. Four times you sent me into that forest. And four times the coloured lights led me back here. Is this some sort of game? A test? Because I'm tired of it, fox!"

And later Gingersnipes says: "You're a tough nut to crack, Clare, and frankly I am not a squirrel!"

There is an interesting theme in this book about thirst - this is something I need to think a little more about. Being undead Clare does not need food or drink, but he makes special tea for all his visitors and so it seems important and very strange that once Gingersnipes arrives, and Clare's world shifts, he seems to be desperately thirsty all the time. 

Here is a description of Hesterfowl the grouse - "She wore a cloak of moss. A collar of bones encircled her short neck, some poor dead animal's rib cage fanning up and around her head. The feathers surrounding her eyes were smeared with berry pulp and groomed into sharp points." (I need to make special mention of the amazing illustrations in this book AND question why his name is not on the cover or title page. You can see his art here on Instagram). Marcin Minor lives in Poland.

Image source Instagram

I think it was the cover that first caught my attention. Checking some details I see the hardcover of this book arrived here in Australia in late February 2025 then, as I already mentioned I was given a generous book voucher for one of book chain stores here in Sydney - so when I saw they had the paperback which was released in April this book was an obvious first purchase.

SPOILER ALERT - Bookseller blurb: Clare is the undead fox of Deadwood Forest. Here, leaves grow in a perpetual state of fall: not quite dead, but not quite alive...just like Clare. Long ago, he was struck by a car, and, hovering between life and death, he was given the choice to either cross into the Afterlife or become an Usher of wandering souls. Clare chose the latter: stepping into a solitary life of helping souls meet their destiny. Clare's quiet and predictable days are met with upheaval when a badger soul named Gingersnipes (arrives). Despite Clare's efforts to usher her into the Afterlife, the badger is unable to find her way out of Deadwood. This is unprecedented. Baffling. A disturbing mystery which threatens the delicate balance of the living and the dead. Clare seeks the help of Hesterfowl--the visionary grouse who recently foretold of turmoil in Deadwood. But Hesterfowl divulges a shocking revelation about the badger that leaves Clare devastated, outraged, and determined to do anything to change their fate.

Read some young reader reviews - very insightful.

Heartbreaking, marvelously funny, and generously redemptive. Kirkus Star review

"I really love Gingersnaps" "A timeless book". Colby Sharp Newbery prediction.

US author Aubrey Hartman has written two books. Check out her webpage.  

Companion books:

Good Dog

Loteria

The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke

Magrit