A Bunch of Books - Catching Up
Tomes I hath discovered from late 2024 to now.
Hello Friends…in my sugar-crashed stupor of Christmastide it dawned on me that I haven’t posted anything about books since early November. Bad! Bad Ken!
So it weighs upon my spirit to blather upon your heads a plethora of bookish wonderment i hath discovered within November & December 2024 to today. Buckle up and enjoy — your library hold lists or bookshelf carts may overflow, I sincerely hope.
First of all, a few gems I stumbled upon in used book shops and couldn’t resist adding them to my hoard…
JABBERWOCKY and Other Poems by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Gerald Rose
I will collect any adaptation of Jabberwocky if I find a good deal on one worth snatching, and even better if it’s a collection of Carroll poems like this British rarity from 1968. Included are also classics like Walrus & the Carpenter, A-Sitting on a Gate, and others I hadn’t even heard of — and the artwork is delightfully trippy.
THE FLIGHT OF DRAGONS by Peter Dickinson, illustrated by Wayne Anderson
Friends, if you ever stumble upon a rare book with Wayne Anderson illustrations in it, particularly from the 1970s or thereabouts, please let me know, as I may ask you to snatch it for me if the price is right. I want to collect as much as I can from this guy because I love him — so far I have his books THE TIN FOREST, RATSMAGIC, and this one. I want more.
THE FLIGHT OF DRAGONS from 1979 is not so much a narrative as it is a scientific treatise on dragons assuming they actually existed (which of course they did), and breaks down how they are able to fly, how & why they breathe fire, why they hoard gold, and all you could ever wish to know about them. The ideas from this book were weaved into the storyline for a 1982 animated feature by Rankin-Bass which is also delightfully weird and worth your time.
Now to continue, here are some books from this century….
HOTEL BALZAAR by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Julia Sarda
In the realm of middle-grade novels, when I found out that Julia Sarda had illustrated a Kate DiCamillo book I SQUEEEED with glee. They are both favorites, and this collaboration does not disappoint, a wondrous tale from the same universe as THE PUPPETS OF SPELHORST.
THROUGH THE WOODS by Emily Carroll
In the realm of graphic novels, a fair warning that this one is probably too scary for most kids, but if you’re brave enough to enjoy blood-curdling tales of terror this is a great anthology of folk tales in a darker Over the Garden Wall kind of fashion. One page turn in particular scared the Bejeezus outa me.
THE MYTHMAKERS by John Hendrix
Also in graphic novel-world, I have always enjoyed the work of my friend John Hendrix, who I finally got to meet in-person at Hutchmoot 2023 — but I believe this is his masterwork: a gargantuan tome of love & tribute to the fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. The art is fantastic, the writing & research is inspired, and the journey itself gives a true lifting of the heart.
And now, picture books for younger folk…
DRAGON NIGHT by J.R. Krause
More dragons! If you’re a dragon-lover you need this book, as it’s a delightful story and the artwork is unique & inspired.
BARNABY UNBOXED! by The Fan Brothers
Egads, the Fan Brothers have done it again — it’s a glorious thing whenever they release a new book. This one is epic, charming, weird and delightful.
THE PICKLETRIMS GO WILD by Marie Dorléans
A really strange absurdity by a French book maker — there’s an Edward Gorey vibe to these character designs which is tons of fun.
LITTLE SHREW by Akiko Miyakoshi
She’s another writer/illustrator whose work I get excited about and I love everything she does. This one is almost like a mini-novel/picture book hybrid about the everyday routines of a little shrew, and it’s a masterpiece of quaint, quiet quirkiness.
BOG MYRTLE by Sid Sharp
A brilliant book about two sisters, an old hag who lives in the woods, and spiders. Hilarity ensues.
THE HIDDEN WORLD OF GNOMES by Lauren Soloy
Just as weird, whimsical and delightful as you’d expect it to be.
ONE FOGGY CHRISTMAS EVE by Kerilynn Wilson
I implore you friends, to place this in your home and make it your annual Christmas Eve read-aloud. It will make you feel cozy & warm.
THE STRANGEST FISH by Katherine Arden, illustrated by Zahra Marwan
A little girl wins a strange fish at a carnival and names it “October” — but this fish is not what it seems to be…
WHY? by Nicolai Popov
Weird & quirky illustrations grace a powerful & poignant message on the crass stupidity of war. We may need this book as a signpost in times to come.
VANISHING TREASURES: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures by Katherine Rundell, illustrated by Talya Baldwin
Finally, there is this book. ‘Tis not a picture book, nor ‘tis it a novel — rather it’s a collection of essays by the brilliant English author/academic Katherine Rundell, each one about a different animal or bird. It’s a celebration of strange facts about these very real creatures who inhabit our planet, along with dire warnings about how endangered they are — and the whole collection is a plea to save and treasure them before it’s too late.
The book also exists under a different title: THE GOLDEN MOLE AND OTHER VANISHING WONDERS — the only difference is gold-embossing and alternate design of the illustrations, but the text will be the same no matter which edition you find.
Each bite-sized essay, from The Hermit Crab to The Bear to The Golden Mole itself, is a magnificent piece of writing unto its own — but then the collection culminates in an essay about The Human, and it contains a mythic fairy tale of such heartbreaking & devastating truthiness about our collective folly, it needs to be experienced by everyone.
One of my favorite things right now is listening to any podcast or interview where Katherine Rundell shares her voice and her wisdom. I implore you to spend time with this one, and then keep looking for more.
Happy Reading, my friends.