The Fabled Stables: Willa the Wisp. Jonathan Auxier. Illustrated by Olga Demidova. 2020. [October] 96 pages. [Source: Review copy] [j fantasy]
First sentence: At the Top of the World Sat an Island. And at the heart of that island lived a boy named Auggie.
Premise/plot:
Auggie, the stable boy, works for Professor Cake. He's the only boy on
the island, and, he gets a bit lonely for a playmate. Fen, his
stick-in-the-mud sidekick, IS decidedly not a boy. But his job taking
care of super-unique and amazing animals is awesome. In this first book
in a new chapter book series, readers meet one of those animals, Willa
the Wisp.
My thoughts: I'm conflicted between four stars and five
stars. I'm leaning towards five stars because I really love, love,
love, love, love, love Auxier's books. I've read The Night Gardener about
six or seven times now. And I'm working my way through a second or third
rereading of his other books. (Sophie the Squire; Peter Nimble and His
Fantastic Eyes). I love his writing, his characters, his stories. But it
might be closer to a four star read in some ways. It is the first in a
series. It is really setting things up. There is perhaps more set-up
than adventure. Though the half with adventure, I think would be
entertaining for little ones.
I am excited that a younger
audience will get to enjoy Auxier's storytelling. I am excited to see
what other animals and beasts we will be meeting in the future. I am
excited to get to know more about this island and Auggie.
© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers
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