by Ridley Pearson Illustrated by Abigail Larson 3 stars This book features backstories and twists on Aladdin, Chernabog from Fantasia, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Little Mermaid, and The Rescuers. It was fun to visit the worlds of some of the less-retold stories. I was…
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Illustrated by Michela Cacciatore 3 stars A really fun concept. I recommend reading after having watched My Little Pony: The Movie (1986). This graphic novel features Reeka and Draggle’s own daughters and their plot for revenge against the pony world. They set their sights on Equestria and come up with a plan to create chaos…
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Translated by Stephen Kohler 5 stars A breathtaking read full of mystery, magic, and secrets. Coco has always been fascinated by magic. When she discovers the secret to casting spells, she tries to teach herself. But her attempts result in a devastating mistake. To set things right, she becomes a witch’s apprentice and dives headfirst…
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Art by Lorenzo Mattotti 3 stars Nicely told. This is a pretty standard version of the Hansel and Gretel story. We get all the elements we’ve come to expect: the siblings abandoned in the woods, the trails of stones and breadcrumbs, the house made of gingerbread, and the hungry old woman in the forest. Lorenzo…
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5 stars A reluctant hero, a lost baby, and a witch who will do anything to find them. I loved everything about this. Wonderful artwork with a perfect blend of weird, sweet, spooky, and beautiful. Bera is a pumpkin farmer who lives on an island with her loyal owl friend, Winslowe. After rescuing a human…
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Story & Illustrations by Angela De Vito Written by Leigh Dragoon 2 stars A kidnapped princess, a prince’s stollen heart, an orphan with mysterious abilities, and a witch out to ruin them all. I thought this was a standalone when I started it, but later found out it will be part of a trilogy. There…
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adapted by Naoko Amemiya 3 stars A lengthy picture book that covers the entirety of the film, Howl’s Moving Castle. I don’t normally like picture books that use screengrabs of movies, but the artwork from this movie is so well done, I really didn’t mind. I think you could take any Miyazaki film and easily…
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by Manuro Illustrated by Gorobei Translated by Mélanie Strang-Hardy 3.5 stars A fun adventure that puts you in charge of where to go next. Follow either Hocus or Pocus as they explore Grimm’s Woods in search of missing children. Along the way, you’ll collect stars, answer riddles, play games, and keep your magical creature fed…
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by Yoh Yoshinari Art by Keisuke Sato 3 stars A nice blend of events from the anime along with original mini-stories. Great for those who want more after watching the show. I especially loved the character design section at the end. It delivers on all the personalities from the show. Nice art style. Fun humor….
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by Esme Symes-Smith 2.5 stars I’m really conflicted about this one. I went into it excited to read an epic fantasy about a non-binary child who dreams of being a knight in a world that enforces a strict gender binary of girls using magic and boys training to fight, going up against an unknown evil…
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