Book Review: Dear Yeti

DEAR YETI by James Kwan is an adorable picture book featuring a pair of young hikers on a quest to find a mythical creature.

A small, blue bird delivers letters from the hikers to the yeti trying to convince the creature to show itself. Along the way, the yeti helps the children by leaving them berries, building a snow shelter, and saving them from a bear. In the end, they form a friendship.

The large, informal font and epistolary form will be attractive to young readers. The illustrator’s use of a red dotted line to follow the bird’s flight will appeal to young adventurers.

Librarians will find this story of a friendly, helpful monster to be popular with primary-aged children. The story would also be a fun way to introduce letter writing.

Learn more about the author/illustrator at http://www.james-kwan.com/.

Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan on November 3, 2015.

Book Review: Because You'll Never Meet Me

BECAUSE YOU’LL NEVER MEET ME by Leah Thomas tells the story of pen pals who bond through their unique challenges and perspectives on life.

Ollie is allergic to electricity and Moritz lacks eyes, but has super-sensitive echolocation skills. They live lonely lives a world apart, but become close friends through their correspondence. Dealing with a disability and the challenge of being different are at the core of this engaging work of young adult fiction.

Through letters in alternating chapters, Thomas tells a humorous, but also serious story of two teens growing up in isolation. Careful readers will enjoy seeing the plot unfold and be satisfied by the multi-faceted conclusion.

Librarians will find this work of fiction appealing to those that enjoy quasi-realistic fiction with an epistolary approach. However, the hint of fantasy makes the story intriguing for those that enjoy mystery and science fiction.

Published by Bloomsbury, Macmillan on June 2, 2015.