LIS 721 Books to Inspire Childlike Wonder

Heidicker, C. (2019). Scary Stories for Young Foxes. (J. Wu, Illus.) Henry Holt and Company.       An adventurous tale with a tinge of horror, this book follows three separate plots that slowly come together as one. Our first plot is one of a litter of kits wanting to hear a story that is so frightening it will turn the tips of their tales white. They go to the den of an older fox that is known for sharing this kind of tale. This plot is what mainly pushes the book forward, coming in between each scary story to serve as a palette cleanser and to engage the reader. The kits listening to and engaging with the story serve as surrogates for the reader, asking the questions they are bound to be asking themselves and sharing reactions. Encouraging the kits to keep listening and paying attention, the old fox is also engaging with the reader, compelling them to continue reading as well.     The other two plots alternate until they come together, one following a kit named Mia and the other fo

Mbalia, K. (2019). Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. Disney Hyperion.         Inspired by West African gods and African American folk tales, this book takes a stab at the tried and true formula of integrating old myths and tales with a modern world to give new life to the stories that have already inspired many. Right away, we see that this book will be magical even though it begins with very human troubles. The magic is hinted at by the glow that seems to come from the journal Tristan’s late best friend wanted him to have which only he seems to be able to see. The introduction of magic early on allows the reader to understand what kind of book this is and not be surprised when it jumps into a magical world a few chapters later. Also introduced early on so the readers are aware that it will become a major component of the story are the tales shared by Tristan’s grandmother and best friend. Based on Tristan’s emotional connection to them, the reader starts off simply understandi