(2) 1-3 Fabled Stables series. Illustrated by Olga Demidova. Auggie, the boy who cares for one-of-a-kind creatures at the Fabled Stables on an island at the top of the world (Willa the Wisp, rev. 9/20), returns for his second lively adventure with a new set of challenges. In the village of Rainbow's End, the newly arrived Tattle-Tail has escaped its box and multiplied. By the time Auggie and his partners, Fen the Stick-in-the Mud and Willa the Wisp, arrive, the Tattle-Tails have attached themselves to the behinds of every resident. These Tattle-Tails tattle on the town's ­residents with great enthusiasm, broadcasting all the wrongs they have witnessed. "She cut in line." "He didn't wash his hands." "She said a bad word." All this exposure of bad behavior adds a lot of humor to the story as well as making trouble for Rainbow's End. The tattling creates so much bickering and disruption that no one can address truly important issues--such as the town's stolen pot of gold. Bright cartoon art and speech-bubble dialogue help add character and detail to the story. The silly imaginary creatures combined with a gentle plot work well for early chapter book readers as well as for those eager to listen to longer stories read aloud. The solution to the Tattle-Tail dilemma, and the problems it caused, offers a number of points for engaging discussion.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) 1-3 Fabled Stables series. Illustrated by Olga Demidova. "At the top of the world sat an island. And at the heart of that island lived a boy named Auggie." So begins this early chapter book full of magical creatures, puzzling situations, and playful nonsense. Auggie's job on the island is to take care of all the one-of-a-kind creatures at the Fabled Stables, such as the Long-Beaked Curmudgeon and the Yawning Abyss. Auggie has a unique rapport with animals as well as a Horn of Plenty that produces the appropriate food for each creature on command. He's helped by a "stick-in-the-mud" named Fen, who begrudgingly mucks out the stalls. One day, the stables magically expand to make room for a new creature: a wisp. Unfortunately, the wisp needs to be rescued before it can move in, and adventures ensue. Plentiful illustrations with small bursts of text on the pages make for a high-energy story full of twists and turns. Many mysteries around the nature of the island and its inhabitants remain unsolved, including the motivations of Professor Cake, the island's owner. "He was very old and very clever. He collected things that were one-of-a-kind. Things like Auggie." Great for reading aloud, this lively first entry in a projected series offers a curious setting and an imaginative cast of characters.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(1) 4-6 When child chimney sweep Nan Sparrow gets stuck in a flue and nearly dies, she is saved by a "soot golem." Nan and the kind, gentle "Charlie" escape from her cruel master and make a home in an abandoned mansion. Weaving together strands of Jewish folklore, Blake's poetry, Frankenstein, child-labor reform, and magical realism, Auxier crafts a beautiful, hopeful story from the ugly realities of nineteenth-century British life.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) 4-6 A bookbinder for her father's bookshop, Sophie dreams of leaving the almost-all-white Bustleburgh, where her dark skin makes her stick out and her love of stories is considered dangerous. When a blindfolded boy (Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes) and his cat-horse-hybrid companion appear, Sophie gets her wish. With a Lemony Snicket–like narrator and a smart, independent heroine, this is an enchanting companion tale.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(4) 4-6 Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts series. Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan find themselves in the final battle against the Wyrm, who threatens to destroy their world. With the ever-growing character list seemingly solidified, the relentless action in this volume drives the story to its conclusion. Still, some characters do have time for personal growth, which is a pleasant change from prior entries in the series.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(2) 4-6 During the Irish Potato Famine, siblings Molly and Kip land in England at the once-proud Windsor family's stately but decrepit mansion, which appears to exert a malevolent force on its inhabitants. Auxier delivers a spooky, menacing atmosphere; mystery; and suspense. While the book partakes of familiar tropes and themes, there's enough of a fresh spin on them that readers should be captivated.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2014

(3) 4-6 Ravens plucked out Peter Nimble's eyes before the infant was rescued at sea. Blind and orphaned, the boy grew into a miserable life of thievery. When he steals a set of magical eyes, however, Peter is set on a hopeful course to heroism and home. Daring adventures, vivid characters, and a particularly droll narrator bring this inventive story to life.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem