Are you looking for a fantasy the whole family can fall in love with? Do you love stories about large families where siblings, despite their differences, always have each other’s backs?
Today I’m featuring a cozy fantasy set in a 1960s British-inspired world. I enjoyed the first book, Trick of Spades, so much, and I was thrilled to join the ARC team for Bridge of Stars by Tasha Kazanjian, releasing on September 29, 2026.
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
As an unofficial champion of underdogs, some of my favorite students have been the ones no one else quite knew what to do with. A little prickly. A little blunt. The kids who always let you know exactly where you stood.
Those personalities often end up cast as the antagonists in children's books, where cheerful, agreeable characters tend to take center stage. That's one reason I loved Growing Home by Beth Ferry and the Fan Brothers. Toasty is prickly—but he's also wonderfully human, funny, and surprisingly lovable.
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
Today I’m opening the door to a fresh voice. A true kindred spirit and fan of cozy stories, Lizzy B is an up-and-coming authoress, the daughter of a dear friend, a recent homeschool graduate, and one of my fabulous beta readers. She is currently writing The Conspirator’s Crown, a whimsical retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in space. (Can you imagine a more delightful combination?) On Lizzy and Crown, she features book reviews of her favorite books, so I invited her and her cat, Faith, to join me on the front porch to share her latest read.
If you love imaginative stories like Harold and the Purple Crayon, but for an older audience, Henry and the Chalk Dragon by Jennifer Trafton and illustrated by Benjamin Schipper sounds fantastic. The premise of this book reminds me of one of my favorite Anne quotes:
“It's delightful when your imaginations come true, isn't it?”
In the town of Squashbuckle, just about anything can happen, and when Henry Penwhistle draws a mighty Chalk Dragon on his door, the dragon does what Henry least expects--it runs away. Now Henry's art is out in the world for everyone to see, and it's causing trouble for him and his schoolmates Oscar and Jade. If they don't stop it, the entire town could be doomed! To vanquish the threat of a rampaging Chalk Dragon, Sir Henry Penwhistle, Knight of La Muncha Elementary School, is going to have to do more than just catch his art--he's going to have to let his imagination run wild. And THAT takes bravery. (from Amazon)
Reading Guide: This book would appeal to 6-12-year-olds as a read-aloud and independent readers at the 4th-grade reading level and above.
Summary: Henry keeps his Art tucked safely away...until a chalk dragon breaks free and takes the other drawings with it!
Notes: Imagine "Harold's Purple Crayon" but a chapter book. And with chalk. Mostly. This book explores what happens when your Art breaks loose, the good, the bad, and the unusual. When your imagination is too big to stay in one place, you have to be careful that it doesn't carry you away. Scattered throughout this book are also many references to other famous - and not so famous - books. After reading this, I made a list of all the books I wanted to read, all of which were mentioned in this book's pages.
Violence: None...unless you count an indoor flood.
Romance: None
Scary themes: Not really...unless you count a green dragon, a robotic-ish Abe Lincon, or a very slimy slug.
 |
| Faith the Cat sporting her favorite hat |
There are no cats. There is an excessive amount of water and vegetables. However, it is a very nice size for me to rest my head on. I give it a two out of five. 🧶🧶
Which stories have been traveling with your family lately? Do you remember the first time you read Harold and the Purple Crayon? Do you have a favorite story that makes you feel like anything is possible with just a bit of imagination?
I’d love to hear about the stories that are lighting up your living room these days.
If you love Anne and tender, heart-filled stories, you’re always welcome here. Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.
If you enjoyed Lizzy’s thoughts, you can find more of her writing over on Lizzy and Crown, where she shares reviews and glimpses of her world-building research. You’re also welcome to join her newsletter if you’d like to follow along as her series takes shape.
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Photo credits: Photo of Faith by Lizzy B., Front porch from Canva
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
.png)
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! One of the best parts of holidays is tying them into what your child or family is learning about. Around St. Patrick’s day, our family often read Irish authors, learned about the real Saint Patrick, or did shamrock math. Today I’m featuring two Irish authors whose books I enjoyed lately. Whether you’re looking for a light fantasy or a historical fiction set in Ireland, I’ve got you covered.
"It's like flying!" twelve-year-old Kathleen Murphy decides after her very first Irish dancing lesson. But times are tough in Dublin, and her da's hardly working, so there's no money to spare for lessons, much less a fancy dancing costume to compete in. Then, when one unexpected thing leads to another, Kathleen realizes that even when dreams change, the future holds possibilities she has never before imagined. (from the front flap)
1. The rich historical detail! This book takes place in 1930s Dublin in the midst of the worldwide economic depression. I really felt immersed in time and place, especially because this author just throws you into this family with very little explanation.
2. How poverty was depicted. One of my pet peeves, especially as a former teacher, is that there is often a stereotype that if a family is poor, they are also mean or abusive. Kathleen is poor. She has to help her siblings and parents and go without in ways kids in North America do not. But her family is loving, though imperfect. And what a joy that was to see that portrayed in fiction.
3. Irish dancing! We used to attend a local Celtic concert where a dear friend of ours would do Irish dancing. My younger son at three called her a butterfly princess. I was so excited to see that dancing was a huge part of this novel—and a way Kathleen embraced her heritage and found something that brought her joy.
4. Family relationships! As mentioned before, I really loved this family, practical, but loving Mam, fun-loving Da, and Aunt Polly, who’s almost like a big sister to Kathleen. And all her siblings! It was really fun seeing this warm family on the page.
5. A realistic, but hopeful ending. As mentioned before, this book didn’t skirt the difficulties with poverty or life in Ireland in 1930, but it left the reader with hope and warmth. If you’d like to celebrate St. Patrick’s with a warm hug, this book will do that.
My favorite quote: “That was another puzzle. If you wanted to know something, why couldn’t grown-ups just tell you, instead of fobbing you off and telling you to go and play?” p.5
A grieving girl in need of a friend. A magical creature with a secret task. Can they end the ancient curse threatening their new home?
When 13-year old Lianna, devastated by the loss of her father, is sent to the distant land of Nivram, she finds her new home and guardian every bit as horrible as she expected. When she meets a magical birdlike creature called a hombit, they strike an alliance: Lianna will help it complete its secret mission if it helps her get home.
But her plan goes awry and she accidentally awakens a creature that threatens both her and her new home. Lianna must uncover family secrets to avoid a terrible fate…
A heart-warming story of the healing power of friendship when all seems lost. (from Amazon)
1. Lianna is a heroine to look up to. Although sometimes she was too reckless (I kept wanting her not to listen to the living rocks!), I loved her bravery and loyalty to her late parents. She didn’t make selfish choices, even when her life was at stake.
2. The Hombit! This creature, a sort of bird with glass wings, definitely stole the show. Its inability to understand words and expressions added so much humor, and I was moved by the close friendship between the Hombit and Lianna. The Hombit is a true kindred spirit.
3. An intriguing mystery that fits well within the fantasy/mystery genre. I was reminded of Edmund in Narnia, Fairest by Gail Carson Levine, and Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. Valinora beautifully portrayed the power of temptation--and an interesting mystery involving jewels.
4. Illustrations and interesting fauna. Throughout the text are illustrations of the creatures Lianna references, such as the bantimouse and the deadly octospider. Kids who love fantasy and biology will enjoy those tidbits — and perhaps be inspired to make their own fantasy nature journal. I couldn't help but think of the interesting creatures from The Wingfeather series, like the toothy cow.
5. An ending that left an opening for a continuation but still tied all the loose threads. I don't know if a sequel is planned, but I loved that we were not left with a cliffhanger, but a very touching ending with Lianna and her uncle understanding each other better.
🦴🦴
 | |||||
| Max, the Reading Dog |
|
Kathleen’s Knot: No dogs again! Ugh! But I would like to go to the Emerald Isle. I hear there is another dog who loves to read over there!
🦴🦴🦴
Lianna and
the Hombit: No dogs, but there is a really cool bird-like creature
called a Hombit. I think I need a bird friend in my life. Maybe the
Hombit would like to go for a walk with me?
What
books have you enjoyed by Irish authors? How do you and your family
like to celebrate St. Patrick’s day? I’m always looking to travel to the
Emerald Isle through stories.
Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.
*Exciting changes are coming to Cozy Stories for Bookish Kids! I am transitioning to a new professional website next month. If you currently follow me here on Blogger, please subscribe via follow.it to stay updated during the move.
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
While I’m not a huge fan of high fantasy, I adore magical realism. Or is low fantasy? Of course, I’m always looking for books that interest boys. The book I’m featuring today is one my younger son enjoyed even though he’s well past the middle grade age. It’s full of twists and turns, adventure, strong family connections, and a unique setting.
If you like quirky books like The Mysterious Benedict Society but with a splash of magic, you’re in for a treat!
When their aunt Finna misses their father's funeral, fourteen-year-old twins Colm and ClÃana know she has to be in trouble. Finna finally appears with an explanation: she's developed an illata, a unique magical power, and she's used it to become one of the city's best bounty hunters. At least, until a few weeks ago, when a powerful criminal underlord finally got the better of her. Now, he's marked her as one of his own. Finna promises the twins that she can handle it, but they know she's lying.
Certain he can save her from the underlord, Colm follows Finna back to the city, while ClÃana chases after them as soon as she realizes her brother's gone. However, Colm's attempted rescue goes awry once he steals a mysterious pair of dice, and he must escape from the underlord's thugs himself. ClÃana, meanwhile, sets out to recruit the help of a wizard fluent in the magical language of Alchema. Her search introduces her to an elite, exclusive world, a world she finds both intriguing and impossibly beyond her reach.
As both twins move toward finding Finna, and each other, they soon realize they've stepped into a world, and a mystery, bigger than they ever imagined-a world of dueling magical fates.
(from Amazon)
My favorite quote: “Don’t stop singing happy songs,” he [the twins’ dad] said. It might be hard. But everyone knows hard, and not everyone knows happy.” (p.5)
Trick of Spades is such an unique fantasy. The richly drawn setting feels like 1950s in the UK with the Gaelic-ish words*, but the country is never named. In this world, not everyone has magical abilities, but some can study and learn them. I also liked how the fantasy elements are accepted as part of life. It is a complicated world, but Tasha trusts the reader to figure things out without info dumps--always a plus in my book! Sometimes, I find dual POV doesn't really add to the story, but in Trick of Spades, the voices are distinct and each twin has their own arc with completely different goals. There are lots of interesting side characters from the overlords' minions to a professor of magic. Sticking with your family despite differences is a strong theme. I’ve heard rumors that there is a sequel coming soon. I can’t wait!
*I don't know Gaelic, so I'm not sure if the words were correct or an approximation.
| |||||
| Max, the Reading Dog* |
It was really exciting, but no dogs again! But maybe she’ll add one to Book 2.
Do you like high fantasy or fantasy books set in a real world? What good books have you been reading lately?
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
 |
Like Green Ember, this was a book forced into my hand by my younger son. So, it's very appropriate that I'm featuring it today, because today is his 16th birthday.
I started and stopped it several times, for some reason, not being able to finish. But, I am so glad I gave it another go. The ending and the many reveals in the second half of the book are well worth the effort.
This is epic fantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It reminds me of Gail Carson Levine’s world building combined with the humor of A Whole Nother Story and Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place.
And there are footnotes! But these are not the boring ones of your school days.
From the back cover:
Andrew Peterson spins a riveting tale-for-all-ages, following Janner, Tink, and Leeili Igiby and their trusty dog, Nugget, in escape from the vicious Fangs of Dang who seek the lost jewels of Anniera. Quirky characters and their world of wonders—from the edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness to the deadly Glipwood Forest and beyond—set the stage for the epic adventure that includes….
-Original Songs and Silly Poems
-An Ex-Pirate Grandfather
-Toothy Cows and Real Sea Dragons
-Tours of Anklejelly Manor and Peet the Sock Man’s Tree House
--Suspenseful Legend and Fascinating Lore
-Genuine Recipes for Maggotloaf
-Authentic Hand-drawn maps
What I liked:
1. Relatable kid characters. It’s hard to choose which of the Igiby children is my favorite: Janner struggles to protect his younger siblings and worries that he’s not a good enough leader. Tink is impetuous and runs headfirst into danger. Leeli doesn’t let a crutch stop her from standing up to the Fangs (lizard like creature).
2. Quirky adult characters: Oh, how I enjoyed Peet the Sock Man (and discovering why he wears socks on his hands!) and Podo, the ex-pirate grandpa. Podo reminded me of my grandpa, who had that same combination of love of fun and the courage to stand up for what was right.
3. A just right pace. This book doesn’t have the cliffhanger endings at the end of each chapter—although things pick up speed in the second half. But part of the fun is enjoying the creative world Peterson has created, the immense fun of his characters and word play. The story never felt rushed, but always engrossing.
4. World building with a side of humor! From the footnotes to the replicas of Podo’s requests to dig the earth, to the Maggotloaf chapter (skip if you’re squeamish), to the running joke about Podo’s feud with the thwaps (gopher-like creatures), this book is so entertaining. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten lost in a world so well-built.
5. Reveals and twists that made sense and enriched the story. As in all good stories, there are characters who turn out to be trustworthy that seemed sketchy at first and vice versa. What I really liked about this story is all these reveals made sense. And even something as simple as Leeli's crutch had backstory and meaning. I also liked how Peterson turned so many fantasy tropes on their head.
6. Sacrifice: It’s hard to sum up why I liked the characters and the book so much, but it comes down to sacrifice. We not only see adults making great sacrifices to protect these kids, but kids taking the first steps to be leaders who lay down their lives for others. When characters puts others before themselves, you can’t help but be moved.
Minor Quibbles: None
It’s funny, I don’t consider myself much of a fantasy fan, yet when I find a good fantasy, those are my favorite types of books. This book reminded me of why I love fantasy.
What books have you loved lately?
To read more middle grade reviews or join in on the MMGM fun, check out Greg Pattridge's blog Always in the Middle.
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
Although I’m not usually a fan of anthropomorphic books, my first pet was a rabbit, and I’ve always had a soft spot for bunnies. And then there’s Watership Down. I was sure I would not like a novel all about rabbits, but I loved it. It’s become part of our family culture.
We first heard about Green Ember from some friends whose reading tastes closely match our own. It seems to be all the rage in homeschooling circles, although it’s little known elsewhere.
So when my son devoured Green Ember and kept begging me to read it, I had to find out what all the fuss was about.
Synopsis from Amazon:
Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives until calamitous events overtake them, spilling them into a cauldron of misadventures. They discover that their own story is bound up in the tumult threatening to overwhelm the wider world.
Kings fall and kingdoms totter. Tyrants ascend and terrors threaten. Betrayal beckons, and loyalty is a broken road with peril around every bend.
Where will Heather and Picket land? How will they make their stand?
What I liked:
1. A brother and sister who like each other. It’s unusual to see siblings without rivalry in middle grade. Although sometimes Heather and Pickett argued at times, they always ultimately wanted to help each other, which was quite refreshing.
2. Picket’s character arc. I know some reviewers have complained that Picket is a little too whiny at times—and that’s certainly true. But I liked how he learned that it wasn’t anger itself that was bad, but what you do with it.
3. Everyone has a calling. It was a given that all the rabbits have a gift to share with the world. In the calling ceremony, the master and apprentice bind themselves to each other and the master says, “I bind you…to release you better still.” And storytelling is considered a high calling in this society!
4. Backstory that is interesting. I liked the backstory of King Jupiter and his fall and betrayal and how that was a huge part of this society. I generally don’t like backstory, but his story, as told by Heather and Pickett’s dad and later by other characters, was interesting and rich.
5. Themes of hope. The whole idea of the rabbits working and looking forward to a “Mended Wood” was lovely. A good reminder right now that this world is not all that there is.
6. Illustrations! You can tell from the cover that the illustrations (black and white inside the book) are beautiful and evoke that old fashioned fantasy. They add a lot to the story.
Minor Quibbles: While I really loved the beginning and ending of this book, I did struggle through the middle. There are a lot of characters and set up, which don’t get satisfied till the end or in the next book. However, I am not generally a fan of epic fantasy, so that might just be me.
Are you a fan of epic fantasy? What books have you loved lately?
To read more middle grade reviews or join in on the MMGM fun, please go to Greg Pattridge's blog Always in the Middle.
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
Creating a cozy corner for bookish kids who love the classics. Writer, retired homeschooler, and former SpEd teacher. My Anne-inspired MG debut: spring 2027!
