Out of the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst.

Due out in June 2008.

I was fortunate enough to serve on the Cybils Committee nominating a final slate of science fiction/fantasy books to the judges.  Into the Wild by Durst was one of our selected books for younger readers.  And then I was lucky enough to nab an ARC of this new book from someone who attended ALA Midwinter (thanks Marge!)

Out of the Wild is one of those incredibly rare sequels that is even better than the first book.  The green hungry mass of the Wild has returned to hiding in Julie’s bedroom, but her community still feels the effects of having once been swallowed by the Wild.  When the Wild swallows one of the Three Blind Mice, Julie and her mother are astonished to see that her father is spit out, returned to her mother after 500 years apart.  Her father is confused by this new world, but continues to act as a prince in a fairy tale.   He can’t be stopped from trying to rescue Sleeping Beauty despite the fact that his beloved is also in some danger.  Julie chases after her father on his quest, desperate to continue protecting the secret of the fairy tale characters living in the real world.  But her father is impossible to stop even when they realize that they are walking into a trap.

Durst’s writing continues to be the same high quality as the original book.  Her tone is completely consistent between the books, two halves of a whole story.  After the first story, I never expected a sequel.  It had been a completely satisfying and complete tale.  But now having read the second book, I realize that half of the story was missing though I didn’t know it at the time.  What an accomplishment – to create a complete tale and then create another book that makes the first even more complete and powerful.

Durst’s books are very friendly, filled with humor, and will be enjoyed by many types of readers.  This is fantasy that has an ease about it and should be recommended to readers who enjoy fantasy but also to any child who enjoys a great read.  Highly recommended for ages 9-12.

Waking Beauty by Leah Wilcox, illustrated by Lydia Monks.

See the bright pink cover?  What you can’t see is the glitter on the title too.  Looks like quite a book for little girls, doesn’t it?  But I am here to tell you that this is one version of Sleeping Beauty that will have the little boys clamoring for another reading! 

When Prince Charming approaches the castle covered in vines, he hears a horrible noise that he thinks is a dragon.  He draws his sword, prepared to do battle, but to his dismay finds a snoring princess fast asleep.  Three fairies appear and offer advice to the prince, but he refuses to listen.  He tries many ways to get Beauty to wake up.  He shouts, jumps on the bed, dumps water on her, and finally resorts to firing her out of a cannon.  But nothing will wake Beauty up except a kiss, which is something that completely terrifies the brave prince.  Will he be willing to wake her?

A great rhyming story, you will get delighted responses from both boys and girls to this story as they realize it is a real twist on the traditional tale.  The rhymes add to the jolly nature of the story and the pure fun of the twists.  Monks artwork is beautiful, graceful and lovely, but doesn’t shy away from the slapstick nature of the book either.  The art offers a bridge between the beauty of the traditional tale and the silliness of this version.

Highly recommended for 4-7 year olds, especially as a final book in a story time.  I always guaranteed good laughs in my final book at a preschool story time.  This one is a perfect candidate and definitely guarantees giggles.