Whimsical with an Edge
924048
Simultaneously lighted hearted yet not for the faint of heart.  There are many entertaining twists in this quirky hero's journey, with a touch of insightful philosophical discourse thrown in.
4518257
Enter a world filled with rabbits, tigers and bears mixed in with humans. Its a world where fish serve as buses and then fly through the air. Its a world where art reaches beyond its frames. Dinosaurs still fly, cats play chess, umbrellas lift you into the sky. Told in simple yet soaring text, this picture book invites young readers to enter a world that is reminiscent of Narnia in its magical qualities, a wondrous place where mid-century cars mix with elegant trains and dreams of all sizes come true.

The poetic text of this picture book serves as a broad invitation to dream along with the author. And though the text is lovely, it is the illustrations that truly shine. They are done in ink and are filled with small details that bring the world fully alive. I appreciate that this imaginary world is an urban setting, offering even more children the ability to see their world as magical.

This is a beautiful book that is just right for sending children off to their own nighttime dreams or creating new ones during the day. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
578546
"In the land of Farlandia there are lush woodlands rich with giant hardwoods, evergreens, fern groves and flowing streams lined with lush moss banks."

This is a tale of a white squirrel and her friends--elves, fairies, duchesses, princesses, unicorns and assorted birds--all those animals that live in the forest and many others who only live in our imaginations. This story will delight both children and adults. (The recipes in the back will be fun for all ages too.) This was a fun and easy read. I loved Judy's imagination of the world, characters and the food. (She made me hungry.) Some of my faves were walnut-encrusted jumbledberry scones, honeysuckle tea, nutty fruitinas, hazelnut tarts filled with raspberry jam, moon nuts, star nuts, almond-veggie smackaroons, and roasted vegetable razzle-dazzles. I wanted to taste all of these.

This book had a disneyland feel to it--all fun, smiles and a happy ending.
3629951
The drawings are witty and whimsical. The premise never drifts into precious or twee. As a bonus, the text and commentary offer a very sly, and even a bit edgy, send up of Victorian mores and attitudes. It's not a one-trick pony, and benefits from rereading, which is an unexpected treat. It's even just the right length. The slight steampunk feel is fun. What a happy find.
2284865
Finnegan the Pinewood Derby Car Race reminds me of the stories that my father-in-law and husband use to make up to entertain our two sons. I wish I had taken the time to write their stories down like Joanne did. What a wonderful gift of love and connection. As simple as the story is, a tale about two dogs out on an adventure, the way that she tells the story peaked my interest and drew me in.  I found the two dogs engaging and I couldn't wait to see how this story was going to unfold. What also makes this story special is that she manages to weave a bit of her own history into it through the many references to where she lives and to where her children grew up forever preserving a bit of herself and family for her grandchildren.  Further, through her introduction and afterward, she is reaching beyond the children who will thoroughly enjoy this whimsical fantasy to their parents by sharing her personal story and encouraging them to record their own stories. Finally, in this day of overstimulation and special effects, the minimalist illustration was charming and refreshing and left enough space for the kids who read this book to fill in with their own imaginations. If you are fond of storytelling, you will like this book.
3826870
I was charmed and impressed by the depth of the characterization and the way the fantastic elements were integral to it, and to the image of how the arts work, particularly for the fiercely passionate youthful artist.  This is an author to watch -- it's "urban fantasy" without any of the over-used tropes that have encrusted the genre like barnacles.  Some of the descriptive passages are both lyrical and disturbing.
120936
Poison is different from most of the fantasy I've read, either YA or otherwise.  It's lighthearted and whimsical, and never takes itself too seriously. I'll admit, my personal preference normally trends a bit darker, but Poison was a fun read that kept me smiling from beginning to end.

From the first few pages, it becomes clear that Poison is a different type of high fantasy. It's not Lord of the Rings. It's not even The Princess Bride. Don't let this scare you, but if I had to find something to liken it to in tone, I'd probably have to pick...A Kight's Tale. Yes, that terrible Heath Ledger movie. (That I kind of love anyway. Shh, don't tell.) It's got that same mix of medieval setting with modern language and humor, and though the stakes are high, the situation never really feels truly dire, because that's not the tone of the story.

Kyra isn't the most likable heroine I've ever read, but she's fun. As the Master-Potioner-turned-attempted-assassin, she doesn't really turn the trope on its head, but she gives it a refreshing spin. She has her share of cleverness, but also isn't immune to the semi-regular embarrassment that comes with her not-so -developed social skills. But she doesn't go SO far into the land of the socially inept that it becomes strange that she catches the eye of the Good Looking Guy. Whose name is Fred, by the way.

Fred is a fun character. Yes, he does arrive on the scene as Good Looking Guy, but he quickly displays a carefree and quirky personality that won me over. But the real star of the story, in my opinion, is Rosie the Magical Piglet.

You know a story is going to be fun when there's a magical piglet involved.

Together, Kyra, Fred, and Rosie search for the princess, thwart bad guys, and endeavor to save the kingdom. There's magic in the from of witches and potions, but no sweeping, glittery spectacles. There's road trips and sword fights and court intrigue, but with none of the grittiness that normally accompanies these things in fantasy. Part of me missed the grit (seriously, I think this was the best fed and least financially challenged group of fantasy travelers I've ever encountered), but grit would have clashed with the playful tone of the book.

This story a fun, frolicking adventure that enjoys making its readers smile and laugh.  The pages turned quickly, and the plot kept me engaged from beginning to end. If you're looking for something fun, friendly, and full of whimsy, check it out.
3669373
Magical.  Funny. Whimsical.  Surprising.  Everything a good "modern" fairytale should be.  A wonderful trip trough the nooks and crannies of historic Chicago.  The story follows the life of depressed Richard Lyons, who is stuck in the humdrum of corporate America.  Due to an unexpected event, Richard explores the magical and surprising Windy City of today and yesterday, meeting a number of unforgettable characters along the way; the most memorable being Francesca Finnegan.  The ending is redeeming and heartwarming.  Truly a fun and fanciful tale.  Chicagoans will adore this nostalgic ride.
947196
This is a charming whimsical fantasy centered around the adventures of a young girl who is destined to save the fantasy world in which she finds herself. The story explores the foibles of life that creates a situation which threatens the very existence of this world. The unforgiving pride of two families almost causes this worlds destruction and the young girl is their only hope of redemption.

This movie should especially entertain younger girls and those dedicated to fantasy fairy tales. It emphasizes the nobility of self-sacrifice for ones friends and ends on a happy note. The movie is suitable for general viewing by the entire family and could become a favorite of those families with younger girls with vivid imaginations.
4607369
Join Ben on a whimsical, mythical (and sometimes trippy) journey along with the Dudes, three stone heads who's knowledge are greater than time. Ben creates worlds and rules over fairies, and time can be changed by his will. His grandmother might be older than dirt, but the unique story is fresh and lively.

The world the author created is richly detailed and imaginative, though occasionally the story gets bogged down in itself and Ben's journey might wander here and there at a leisurely pace. There are jam sessions and goblins and a lot of fairies. The Dudes add humor and the story weaves in mythology and many mythical creatures. Ben might be overly girl crazy at times, but the story retains a sweet essence.
515699
A richly-illustrated and provocative, engaging read, set before WW2. Delightful, whimsical and mystical, I appreciated the history that the story touches on, the subtext of the history yet to come, and the interweaving of Native American & Jewish lore. It's easy to love the wily characters as the reader follows their exploits, and if you know your (world and California) history, you have a sense of the landscape they'll face after the book ends, which lends a thread of wistfulness to the story; perhaps one of the messages is, Bad things happen in the world - so make music with your friends, and celebrate anyway.

One of my first thoughts after finishing the book was, I hope the author and illustrator collaborate on further adventures of Trickster (coyote) and Elijah (HINT, HINT). This felt like a great beginning. I want more!
1983615
It is seldom that one finds a treasure that has the power to delight young and old readers at the same time. Uvi Poznansky delivers with an enchanting story enriched by the original artwork that accompanies it. The dazzling watercolors are guaranteed to fascinate children while adults will find themselves lost in the sensitive emotions that wind their way in and out of the story of a child and a tree.

The author takes poetic license with her rhyming scheme, and I loved the way the rhythm of the poetry wins out over the chosen words. The Gothic fonts match the mood of the book, with sweeping loops that mimic the tree and leaves. I found the idea of writing the description on a leaf drawing very original. If you are reading the book on a Kindle Fire and find the text difficult to read, you can bring up a box with normal text with a simple double-click.

This is a nice, simple tale with a learning opportunity at the end. Five stars.
718766
Very whimsical and fun.  Great book for children and adults alike, but may be a little graphic for younger children.
254634
Fun, light, and whimsical.
Winterreise is a welcome escape for those who enjoy urban fantasy interspersed with well-placed humor.
Penny, the protagonist, is on a quest of sorts that takes her from her "normal" world as a music student into a fairy tale land filled with mythical creatures from common stories (think dwarves, gnomes, fairies, snow white - kind of, etc.). She seeks the Erlking, a fun, devious character, who "accidentally" left her a locket.
Read this if you enjoy a fun quest book that doesn't take itself too seriously. This book takes a little bit to wind up, as the characters and world are introduced, but I find any good book worth reading develops its world and characters for a greater reward to the reader as the book comes to a close.
2732403
Tiger Kingdom and The Book of Destiny is a portal fantasy for young readers that has a Narnia vibe, while still retaining its originality.  The book opens with a scene thats exciting and deeply intriguing:  white tigers running down the street. It seems only Suzie saw them. Did she invent them?  Were they actually there or a vision meant only for her?  And why would such a strange sight appear to a seemingly ordinary ten year old girl?  With these questions circling in my mind, I plunged forward, eager to discover what lay in the pages ahead of me.

I was not disappointed.
As the plot unfolds, more little mysteries are offered up for the reader to solve alongside Suzie and jack.  Plenty of imaginative devices entreat the senses, but many touchstones of reality are sprinkles throughout to help readers make connections.  The addition of circus themes was a good touch and provided an element of whimsy.  Elena and Liam were my favorite characters - Elena for her wistful secretiveness and Liam for his steadfastness and intelligence.  Im eager to see what the next book has in store for them.

Every time I get my hands on a work intended for younger readers, I find myself slipping into teacher mode.  Sometimes books intended for children are dumbed-down, but that is definitely not the case here. Readers are given opportunities to expand their vocabularies, draw conclusions, and make predictions while immersing themselves in world rich with beautiful imagery.  It was maybe a bit short for my tastes and could have used a little fleshing out in some areas, but the length is probably perfectly fine for the intended audience.
1951214
Whimsical and entertaining!  A nice escape from your day!
2142867
Whimsical and entertaining yet sweet, "Story Tellers:  In Pursuit of Happiness" is an enjoyably unique take on folklore.  There's a lot that you will recognize, but it's told through a unique new lens that offers new insights.  I liked the bilateral structure, with the different storytelling emphasis in Books 1 and 2 respectively.  Overall, this is a touching and whimsical tale that I would highly recommend!