Book Review: Alistair Grim's Odd Aquaticum

ALISTAIR GRIM’S ODD AQUATICUM by Gregory Funaro is the second book in this quirky fantasy series for children.

Ruthless villain Prince Nightshade wants to steal the power of the Odditorium. Young Grubb, his newly found father Alistair Grim, and a crew of eccentric characters set out on an underwater quest to find the legendary sword Excalibur and save the Odditorium. They must survive a witch, sea monsters, an assassin, and other magical adversaries to reach their destiny.

Weaving together elements of steampunk, fairy stories, witches, and magic, this series has broad appeal. The combination of whimsical settings, legendary characters, and action-packed adventure will have youth coming back for more.

Librarians will find that fans of the first book will enjoy this new addition to the series. Because both the first and second books have been well-received, interest in the series is growing.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.gregoryfunaro.com/.

Published by Disney-Hyperion on January 5, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Clover's Luck

THE MAGICAL ANIMAL ADOPTION AGENCY is an adorable new series by Kallie George. The first book titled CLOVER’S LUCK sets the stage for the series by introducing an unlucky girl named Clover who stumbles into a summer volunteer position at an animal adoption agency. However her job isn’t to match cute puppies with new owners. From unicorns to dragons, the animals in her care are all magical and the potential owners are princesses, witches, and wizards.

This enchanting fantasy series will appeal to a broad range of independent readers who enjoy fairy tales and magical creatures. The writing includes a nice balance of description and dialogue perfect for the target audience. The very short chapters and fast-moving story will keep young readers interested.

Readers will be lining up at school and public libraries to check out Clover’s Luck. This charming series will be particularly popular with children who are seeking a gentle story with only brief glimpses of the scary side of fantasy.

Be sure to download the teacher’s guide at http://www.magicalanimaladoptionagency.com/…/Clovers_Luck_t….

Readers will enjoy exploring the series website at http://www.magicalanimaladoptionagency.com/.

Published by Disney-Hyperion. Publisher ARC used for review.