Willa the Wisp (Fabled Stables #1)

Young Auggie has a job that many children will covet: he cares for the magical, mysterious, and "just plain weird" creatures at the Fabled Stables, located on an island at the top of the world. Auggie loves his work, overseeing meals, snacks, and the raucous "hurly-burly hour," but he has a problem: he longs for a friend. When the stables rearrange themselves to welcome a new arrival, Auggie undertakes a rescue mission to bring the new creature--playful Willa the Wisp, pursued by hunters and hounds--to safety. Graceful text by Auxier (Sweep) moves nimbly from one suspenseful moment to the next, building tension as Auggie, clever and resourceful as well as modest and good-hearted, resolves an array of threatening situations. Folkloric illustrations by Demidova (A Friendship Yarn) portray a fantastical world that brims with life; animals dash with fervor across luminous spreads as startling noises pop off the pages: "The hounds SNARLED and SNAPPED and SPLASHED after their prey!" Words and pictures partner to create a captivating, promising series starter that boasts quirky secondary characters and a sympathetic hero. Ages 6-9. Author's agent: Joe Regal, Regal Literary. (Oct.)

GR 2-4-Beginning chapter book readers will appreciate this simple yet engaging story about a boy named Auggie and his sidekick, Fen, a stick-in-the-mud who can transform into almost anything. Together, they live with mystical and magical animals at the Fabled Stables located on an island on top of the world. Though life is full of adventure for Auggie, he longs for a friend to play alongside him. One morning, a new arrival appears at the Fabled Stables, and it is immediately chased by hunters and hound dogs. Auggie must quickly figure out why the new creature is sought after and how to help it. Could this be the friend Auggie has been patiently awaiting? Readers will be rooting for Auggie and Willa the Wisp as they travel through the swamp to outwit the hunters. The colorful illustrations fit perfectly with the text, allowing the reader to feel and see what the characters are experiencing. VERDICT A first rate purchase for libraries whose young patrons are fans of fantastical beginner novels.--Martha Rico, Yselta I.S.D., TX