The Sisters of Luna Island by Stacy Hackney (Middle Grade Fantasy Book Review)

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

The Sisters of Luna Island
by Stacy Hackney
Published by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
on April 12, 2022
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Length: 336 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

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Synopsis:
Little Women gets a Nevermoor twist in this bewitching novel about a young girl tasked to break a centuries-old curse or risk losing her beloved sisters. 

Twelve-year-old Marigold Lafleur is the last of a long line or aromages: witches who blend scents into practical charms using aromagic. But ever since a terrible accident injured her father and damaged Luna Island, Marigold and her sisters, Birdie and Lou, have vowed to abandon their family legacy and mama's way of life. Shunned by their neighbors and overlooked by their parents, Marigold relies on her big sisters above all else. 

But when Marigold discovers a secret curse that threatens her family, her sisters can't stop the impending danger. It's up to Marigold and her best friend, Sam, to uncover the origins of the curse and break the spell. To do so, she must learn to trust her instincts and believe in her own unique magic or risk losing her beloved sisters forever. 


My Thoughts:

This is a fantastic coming-of-age story filled with magic, mayhem, and familial life lessons! 

Marigold LaFleur lives with her mother and three sisters on Luna Island, as did all her ancestors before her. Like their mother, Marigold and her sisters, Birdie & Lou, are aromages and can make magic charms or potions by mixing scents and can also sense unknown things through scents around them. But using their gifts can have consequences, called vexes, and Marigold and her sisters have vowed to never use their aromagic again after the earthquake that injured their father and caused him to leave the island. 
Marigold and her sisters, unfortunately, seem to always be around when something goes wrong and they are quickly ostracized by their friends and community while their mother becomes more and more withdrawn from their daily lives. When Marigold learns that their family is cursed and that she is destined to lose one of her sisters, the few people she has left, she is determined to find the source of the curse and end it once and for all, but she will learn many lessons along the way. 

This is being promoted as Practical Magic meets Little Women and I have to agree, in all the best ways!
It's filled with magic and mystery, sisterly love and feuding, and a familial curse that must be broken to save a family and island community! 

There are some tough life lessons in this story that can also double as CONTENT WARNINGS, such as parental separation, child abandonment, bullying, and more. 
 Marigold struggles with guilt over her father's new absense, her mother's withdrawal, and the building tension between her older sisters, as well as the community, all creating the perfect storm.
Of course, there is character growth and resolution that ends on a happy, positive note! 

I loved that each chapter begins with a little herbal information such as "Sage leaves promote wisdom", which really sets the tone for the story ahead. 

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Thankful by Elaine Vickers & Samantha Cotterill (Children's Picture Book Review)

Thankful
Words by Elaine Vickers
Pictures by Samantha Cotterill
Published by Simon Schuster / Paula Wiseman Books
on September 7, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 48 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
Stunning, diorama illustrations bring to life this lullaby of a picture book about celebrating everyday things that make life wonderful. 

I am thankful for a home where I am safe and warm.
Thankful for parents who read me stories and comb my hair gently, gently.
Who whisper the same poem every night when they tuck me in. 

When the first snow falls, a little girl writes down the things she's thankful for on strips of paper and links them together. As one idea leads to another, her chain grows longer. This beautiful story is a much-needed reminder to observe and honor life's small joys.


Our Thoughts:

This beautiful story features a very grateful young girl who begins a paper chain when the first snow of the year falls, writing all the things she is thankful for on the scraps of paper, and continuing it into December until it is long enough to decorate with! 

The artwork in this picture book is truly unique, with both 2-D & 3-D layers of paper-cut illustrations set up in neat diorama settings that made it tons of fun to read and look at. The colors, details, and depth really brought a warm coziness to the scenes.

Perfect for the Autumn/Winter season, this heartwarming picture book is a fantastic bedtime story or the perfect book to read while snuggling on the couch. 
The simple craft incorporated into the story inspires readers to create thankful paper chains of their own, which we did, of course!
You can see ours on our instagram post linked here and/or shown below! 

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The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers (Children's Picture Book Review)

The Night Gardener

by Terry Fan & Eric Fan

Published by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
on February 16, 2016
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 48 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years
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Literary Awards:NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor Book (2017)Monarch Award Nominee (2019)

Synopsis:
One day, William discovers that the tree outside his window has been sculpted into a wise owl. In the following days, more topiaries appear, and each one is more beautiful than the last. Soon, William's gray little town is full of color and life. And though the mysterious night gardener disappears as suddenly as he appeared, William --and his town-- are changed forever.

Our Thoughts:

One morning, William wakes to find the tree outside his room at the orphanage has been carved into a wise owl. Every night after that, a new topiary appears and excites the neighborhood. But who is creating this magic? On his way home one night, William spots a man with a ladder and follows him!

What a beautiful story!

This is one of the most detailed picture books I've ever come across. You can see every leaf on every tree. It has a traditional pencil-drawn illustration style that includes 'hatching' for shadows. 

There's also a very dated or historical aspect to the drawings. Some of the illustrations are in all sepia tones while others burst with color. 

The story is sweet and memorable with a focus on creativity and bringing a community together but the illustrations really win the prize in The Night Gardener. 

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From Tree to Sea by Shelley Moore Thomas (Children's Picture Book Review)

From Tree to Sea
Written by Shelley Moore Thomas
Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Published by Simon Schuster / Paula Wiseman Books

on February 12, 2019

Genre: Children's, Picture Books

Length: 32 pages

Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:

 From a child's point of view, this lyrical picture book looks at the relationship of nature to the human world and the place we call home. 

From the edge of the sea to a high mountain top, everything has its place in the world and all living things are connected. The world around us has a lot to tell us if we take the time to look and listen. This tender and comforting picture book celebrates the wisdom in many of the things great and small that make up our wonderful world. 

My Thoughts:

From Tree To Sea is a fantastic picture book about the world around us, taking us on a journey through nature, from a tree dancing in the breeze to the sea and its' endless view, teaching us small lessons that can be found in each.  

Nature lovers will love the beautifully illustrated landscapes and seascapes and skyscapes, as well as the close-ups of bees in gardens, birds in nests, and more. There are beautiful night sky pages and pages full of lovely green growing things as well!

 This calming book reminds us of all the wonderful things that nature has to offer, whether you're in your backyard or not!

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The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt & Tony DiTerlizzi

Title: The Spider and the Fly

Based on the cautionary tale by Mary Howitt

Author & Illustrator: Tony DiTerlizzi

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Length: 40 pages
Format: Hardcover

Source: borrowed

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Synopsis: 

" 'Will you walk into my parlor,' said the Spider to the Fly..."

is easily one of the most recognized and quoted first lines in all of English verse. But do you have any idea how the age-old tale of the Spider and the Fly ends? Join celebrated artist Tony DiTerlizzi as he--drawing inspiration from one of his loves, the classic Hollywood horror movies of the 1920s and 1930s--shines a cinematic spotlight on Mary Howitt's warning, written to her own childre about those who use sweet words to hide their not-so-sweet intentions. 

My Thoughts: 

This is the classic poem by Mary Howitz retold through brilliantly dark illustrations. This 'story' is a sort of parable about not talking to strangers or that words can be deceiving. It doesn't have the happiest of endings but I think that serves to ingrain the message into the reader's mind. 

I've had my eye on this book at the library for some time now. I'm a sucker for a good spooky story and I knew I wanted to read this but decided to wait until it was closer to Halloween. 

I only recently discovered Tony DiTerlizzi when I read The Spiderwick Chronicles a few months ago and have since found that DiTelizzi is a very talented artist. The black and white illustrations in The Spider and the Fly are fantastically gloomy. He did an amazing job of bringing this poem to life with illustrations that are dark and macabre without being overly spooky. I loved that the spider looked a bit like Vincent Price.