SKUNK AND BADGER (Algonquin Young Readers, 136 pp., $18.95 ages 8 to 12), by the Newbery Honor winner Amy Timberlake (“One Came Home”), is the first title in a new chapter book series. But those looking for a dark and suspenseful tale will find this one truly captivating. In this reviewer’s imagination, it also brings to mind the weird contrasts and visuals of Wes Anderson’s film “Isle of Dogs.” It is probably not appropriate for the youngest audiences. This is Kraus’s first foray into middle grade novels, but it’s in line with his previous fantasy-adventure successes (from “The Shape of Water” and “Trollhunters” for adults, both written with Guillermo del Toro, to the young adult duology “The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch”). The wording is playful and descriptive, and Sugar’s commentary injects humor. Sensitive readers beware: Tea parties and snuggles are juxtaposed with trash heaps where one could lose a stuffie at a moment’s notice. They’re Furrington Teddies, teddy bears in their own apocalyptic world. In the opening chapters we meet Buddy, the leader Sunny, the brave one Horace, with PTSD Sugar, damaged yet sweet and finally Reginald, the sage. In the wide acceptance of graphic novels for children, in the inclusion of more art in books for elementary readers transitioning to novels, illustration is once again being championed beyond picture books.ĭaniel Kraus’s THEY THREW US AWAY (Henry Holt, 256 pp., $16.99 ages 10 to 14) is the first book in The Teddies Saga, a trilogy for middle grade readers. It makes me smile to see a change starting to ripple through the industry. In my own work I have found myself looking backward for inspiration, writing and illustrating to fill a gap on today’s shelves. It wasn’t as if illustrated novels didn’t exist when I was growing up - who doesn’t have fond memories of “Winnie the Pooh” or “The Wind in the Willows”? - but it seemed they’d fallen out of fashion since the heyday of A.A. To read a book with pictures is to place oneself in those images, connecting more deeply to the characters and their world. They also offer a space in the story to pause, to reflect on the meaning of what one has just read. Illustrations can arm apprehensive new readers with confidence, particularly if they’re visual learners. But as I became more comfortable with the words and moved on to chapter books and novels in upper elementary school, I missed that extra layer of story the art had provided. Images provided a bridge to comprehension when words were little more than mysterious hieroglyphs. Like most children learning to read, I leaned heavily on illustrations to help me understand and enjoy stories.

Skunk and badger book