Goldibooks and the Wee Bear

Written by Troy Wilson

Illustrated by Edwardian Taylor

Running Press Kids

978-0-7624-9620-4

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

January 2021

 

When Goldibooks and her reading-loving parents head to the library to exchange their books, they spot a wee bear that the girl thinks is adorable. Though her parents caution her away because adult bears can be protective of their young, she needn't have worried as the cub is just desperate to find something to read.

 

From Goldibooks and the Wee Bear by Troy Wilson, illus. by Edwardian Taylor

When the wee bear comes across the humans' cottage, he can't resist peeking in and is elated to spot three packed bookshelves. As in the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, upon which Troy Wilson has based his story, the wee bear tries out the books on each case. Of course, Mom's are too hard, and Dad's are too soft, but Goldi's are just right.

From Goldibooks and the Wee Bear by Troy Wilson, illus. by Edwardian Taylor

Similarly, the wee bear looks for a comfy spot to read and finally finds that Goldi's chair is just right, though he does have a bit of a fumble with it. So he tries the beds because what better place to read, right? And as every reader knows, when gets comfortable reading, he falls asleep.

 

From Goldibooks and the Wee Bear by Troy Wilson, illus. by Edwardian Taylor

When the family returns from the library, they are shocked to see the mayhem with their books, and their chairs, and beds. Just as Goldibooks discovers the wee bear who knows he shouldn't have trespassed, his bear parents show up, distressed that he didn't stay away from the wee human whose parents could be dangerous if you get near their kids. (Sounds familiar, doesn't it?)

From Goldibooks and the Wee Bear by Troy Wilson, illus. by Edwardian Taylor

But books can do so much to help us overcome fears and discrimination, and soon enough the wee ones, human and bear, have encouraged their families to enjoy reading together.

 

By writing this story as a fractured fairy tale, Troy Wilson is able to incorporate important messages about reading and the coming together of cultures in a familiar narrative that kids will love. They'll know where the story should go—i.e., the first is too hard, the next is too soft and the last is just right—but they won't exactly know where Troy Wilson will take them. And by blanketing the story about a little bear who wants to read and parents who want to protect their young, even if their fears are unfounded, Troy Wilson gives us more to the story than just respecting other's stuff. 

American Edwardian Taylor's cartoon illustrations, with his apple-cheeked characters and fairy-tale setting of forests and cottages, keep the story light and cheerful. Even when the wee bear causes a bit of damage and the bears and humans meet, his colours and shapes add whimsy and brightness.

 

Goldibooks and the Wee Bear, Troy Wilson's second fractured fairy tale (Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf  in 2019 was his first) among his rich collection of picture books, releases today. With it, Troy Wilson is becoming a stand out in twisting a classic tale into a more contemporary and more meaningful story for teaching and entertaining young readers.

Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf

Written by Troy Wilson

Illustrated by Ilaria Campana

Running Press Kids

978-0-7624-9266-4

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

July 2019

Readers know that you can find all the answers you need in books and Little Red Reading Hood, who loves red and reading, proves that books are also the means for surviving life and making friends.

From Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf by Troy Wilson, illus. by Ilaria Campana

When little Red learns that her grandmother, who'd sewn her a special hood embellished with letters and books, is ill, the child makes a special treat for her and heads off to deliver it. Along the way she meets a wolf and, following the directions in books, she maintains eye contact and backs away slowly before distracting it with hand movements and throwing rocks. Though he'd tried to tell her he just wanted...something, he slinks off dejected. But at her grandmother's house, she finds the wolf already there and in disguise, lounging in bed. Red's books had already taught her "what to do if you encounter a wolf dressed as a grandparent" and she proceeds to point out his large features. The wolf goes along with her until he becomes frustrated and lunges for her basket as she runs out.

From Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf by Troy Wilson, illus. by Ilaria Campana

The smell that had so entranced him? The smell of a new book. He begs her to read to him. But Red is perplexed. None of her books had told her "What to do if a wolf sniffs the book you made for Grandma, asks you to read it, and doesn't once try to eat you." When he finally helps Grandma from the armoire and Red is preparing to read to both of them, the woodsman arrives with his axe held high. After Grandma shelters the cowering wolf and Red explains, the group settle at Grandma's bed to share the book Red had brought.

In this twisted fairy tale, Troy Wilson extols the wisdom to be found in books while also recognizing that we often judge–wolves, people, books–on their outward appearances. Sure the wolf looks large and menacing but he is but a lover of books–don't we all love that new book smell?!–and of having someone read to him.  Fortunately, little Red reads the situation well before the wolf is hurt and in turn learns a lesson about not jumping to judgements.

From Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf by Troy Wilson, illus. by Ilaria Campana

I love a good fractured fairy tale, one that takes a popular fairy tale and turns it on its head. Victoria's Troy Wilson takes the story of Little Red Riding Hood and reshapes it to emphasize the importance of reading and a love of books with a caveat that "you can't judge a book by its cover." He plays up the fun and leaves the darkness of the original tale behind. Similarly, the artwork by Italy's Ilaria Campana attends to some of the original story with the dark woods through which Red travels, the size of the wolf and more while lightening it with the dramatic expressions and uniquely shaped bodies of her characters, the homey indoor settings, and even a ubiquitous little robin.

Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf removes the darkness that is prevalent in so many cautionary tales of yore and heralds fierce women, compassionate understanding and caution to stereotyping. Books can teach everything and anything, can't they?

In the Key of Nira Ghani & Trail of Crumbs: Book launches (Edmonton, AB)

Join authors

Natasha Deen

and 

Lisa J. Lawrence 

for the launch of their new YA novels

In the Key of Nira Ghani

Written by Natasha Deen

Running Press Kids

9780762465477

304 pp.

Ages 12+

April 2019

 and

 Trail of Crumbs

Written by Lisa J. Lawrence

Orca Book Publishers

9781459821217

256 pp.

Ages 12+

March 2019

on 

Saturday, May 11, 2019

 2-4 p.m.

at

Audrey's Books

Edmonton, AB

 •••••••••••••••••••

Here's a little bit about each book from the publisher's or distributor's website:

In the Key of Nira Ghani

Nira Ghani has always dreamed of becoming a musician. Her Guyanese parents, however, have big plans for her to become a scientist or doctor. Nira’s grandmother and her best friend, Emily, are the only people who seem to truly understand her desire to establish an identity outside of the one imposed on Nira by her parents. When auditions for jazz band are announced, Nira realizes it’s now or never to convince her parents that she deserves a chance to pursue her passion.

As if fighting with her parents weren’t bad enough, Nira finds herself navigating a new friendship dynamic when her crush, Noah, and notorious mean-girl, McKenzie “Mac,” take a sudden interest in her and Emily, inserting themselves into the fold. So, too, does Nira’s much cooler (and very competitive) cousin Farah. Is she trying to wiggle her way into the new group to get closer to Noah? Is McKenzie trying to steal Emily’s attention away from her? As Farah and Noah grow closer and Emily begins to pull away, Nira’s trusted trumpet “George” remains her constant, offering her an escape from family and school drama.

But it isn’t until Nira takes a step back that she realizes she’s not the only one struggling to find her place in the world. As painful truths about her family are revealed, Nira learns to accept people for who they are and to open herself in ways she never thought possible.

Retrieved from https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/natasha-deen/in-the-key-of-nira-ghani/9780762465477/ on May 2, 2019.

Trail of Crumbs

After moving into a dank and drafty basement suite in West Edmonton with her truck- driving father, nasty stepmother and taciturn twin brother, Ash, seventeen-year-old Greta doesn't have high expectations for her last year of high school. When she blacks out at a party and is told the next day that she's had sex, she thinks things can't get any worse. She's wrong.

While Greta deals with the confusion and shame of that night, her stepmother and father choose that moment to disappear, abandoning Ash and Greta to the mercy of their peculiar landlord, Elgin, who lives upstairs. Even as Greta struggles to make sense of what happened to her, she finds herself enjoying her new and very eccentric family, who provide the shelter and support that has long been absent from her life. Much to Greta's surprise, she realizes there is still kindness in the world—and hope.  

Retrieved from https://www.orcabook.com/Trail-of-Crumbs-P4003.aspx on May 2, 2019.

 

The Tallest Tree House

Written and illustrated by Elly MacKay

Running Press Kids

978-0-7624-6299-5

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

April 2019

Mip, the red mushroom-capped fairy, is a true kinesthete. She's always on the move, singing, flying and building. Her impetuousness has her challenging Pip, her book-loving, contemplative fairy friend to a tree house race after she sees him reading a book on architecture.

From The Tallest Tree House by Elly MacKay

Mip is all at it immediately, determined to make the tallest tree house ever and by sundown. Pip, on the other hand, sits on his rock among the Trillium, Erythronium and Aquilegia, and plans his build with precision and thoughtfulness.

From The Tallest Tree House by Elly MacKay

Slowly the two tree houses start to take shape, as Mip frantically and rather haphazardly builds and builds while Pip slowly but methodically creates his own.

From The Tallest Tree House by Elly MacKay

When "Gusts of wind send sprays of mist over the rocks" and "The leaves began to dance," Pip suggests Mip secure her tower. Of course Mip sees this as a ploy to slow her down and continues building. But when the wind and rain topple her tower into Pip's tree house and traps his wing, Mip comes to the rescue. Then, after the storm has passed, the two work together on a new tree house that incorporates both their structures into "a winning piece of architecture."

As her website's name and Twitter handle can attest, Elly MacKay truly creates theatre in the clouds. Through a laborious process that may appear to be like play–see full details at her website here–Elly MacKay blends inked figures and other structures cut from paper into a theatre in which she can manipulate the layers and lighting. It's a stunning blend of two-dimensional creations with three dimensions. Children are fascinated by the textures that come from her artwork and have been charmed by it in her picture books from If You Hold a Seed (Running Press, 2013) to her latter works including Butterfly Park (Running Press, 2015) and Red Sky at Night (Tundra, 2018). Couple that art with fairies and a competition that transforms into cooperation and partnership and The Tallest Tree House becomes a winner for all readers.

From The Tallest Tree House by Elly MacKay