Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 15

This compilation brings a second round of picture book adventures. The Bakery Dragon returns and Sloth & Squirrel go on vacation. There’s a snail on a path and a sheep with a bad hair day. There’s a farm full of animal characters. Do you ever pick up picture books? If so, what grabs your attention?

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake (Oct. 7, 2025) by Devin Elle Kurtz.

<This is a sequel book.>

Little Ember is back! He’s been busy making mounds of golden breads, baked to perfection, and even if he forgets to set the timer, his fellow dragons remain encouraging: “A really unique flavor!” “I love the undertones of charcoal.” He’s grown so much as the bakery dragon and gained so much confidence in breads that Beatrice the baker will leave him to run the shop when she’s got to deliver orders far away. When Beatrice is away, Ember is asked to make a cake for a fairy queen, and he soon learns that cakes are no cakewalk. His attempts are disasters, not because they taste horrible, but because he only knows how to make bread. The fairy princess/sentient vegetable (Princess Turnip) who put in the order isn’t giving up on Ember, though. She will get that cake, and she will not be disappointed! But how will Ember get the right recipe for a confection he’s never made?

            Put on your toque blanche and don your chef’s whites, because Ember the Bakery Dragon is back in this feel-good follow-up picture book sure to encourage anyone with a sweet tooth and/or a love of carbs (like me!). Like its predecessor, this story is cheerful, decadent and sumptuous with enticing, bright, warm illustrations by author-illustrator Kurtz. Each page is dusted in whimsy like powdered sugar over a cake and magic shimmers like edible glitter. It’s a story of new friends and learning from mistakes, learning something new and working under a deadline, but with pictures awash in golden tones and adorable, determined Ember, this sweet story with its grit and its learning goes down smooth like extra chocolatey hot chocolate.

            Book One: The Bakery Dragon

Forever Kind: Forever Friends Farm (May 6, 2025) by Annie Auerbach.

   Luke Flowers, illustrator.

<This is the first book in a series.>

When Jasper the cat arrives at Forever Friends Farm, he’s only looking out for himself. He’s selfish, prickly, unhelpful and doesn’t think he wants friends because, “Where I come from, you take what you can, or you get nothing.” He doesn’t understand throwing a party simply because PJ the goose, the youngest member of the group, has read a book all by himself. Jasper’s antics eventually lead to catastrophe, but instead of being shamed and cast out, he’s met with understanding and kindness.

            The illustrations are eye-catching with their bold, loud, cartoonish colors, which should capture kids’ attention, but I think the dialogue and overall story fall short. There’s someone giving Jasper the occasional side-eye, but there’s never any actual discussion around Jasper’s ill behavior or how they feel about it. Jasper’s behavior, if one reads between the lines, may be a result of a tough life, perhaps having to fend for himself until now, but there’s no backstory. Forgiveness comes easily and the support is effortless, which is pleasant, but it feels unrealistic. My understanding is that this story encourages social-emotional learning, so perhaps the focus on friendship, kindness, teamwork and inclusion over depth is the intent. I don’t plan to continue the series, but for those families looking for friendly, gentle picture books, this may be right for them.

My Path (May 6, 2025) by Jana Curll.

For a little snail, every day is an adventure on its very own path. Sometimes the little snail has company and sometimes not. Sometimes the journey needs to be extra slow and extra careful, and when the path looks impossible, the snail emphasizes that it’s okay to ask for help. What the snail does is always keeps on going, “Whether I’m ready or not!”

Author/illustrator Curll gives young and young-at-heart readers a joyful picture book that encourages everyone to stay true to themselves and to understand that “every path is special. So choose yours ... and keep going!” The illustrations are simple-yet-colorful and straightforward-yet-thoughtful with their smudge-like quality and bring a calming complement to the reassuring text. I am captivated by this plucky, charming snail, and hopefully plentiful readers are, too.

Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep: Baaad Hair Day (June 30, 2020) by Eric Barclay.

<This is a sequel book.>

The wool’s over the eyes – literally! Sheep Sheep loves her naturally curly wool. She can style it in a bun, into pigtails or in a fancy updo. Now it’s grown too full, and she can’t see. She splashes into the duck pond (she refers to the ducks as “water chickens”), steps through cow poo (eww) and winds up in the mud with the pig. When Sheep Dog tells her she needs a haircut, she hides. What will convince her that a shearing is what she needs?

            For any children who’ve resisted haircuts, this spirited, silly story is perfect for them. It’s relatable, but the story is so entertaining that it shouldn’t trigger any barbershop or salon scaries. The relationship between Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep is serious in a lighthearted way with uncomplicated dialogue leading up to the shearing tent, and the cartoon illustrations are colorful, animated and fun. This haircut caper is amusing and charming.

Sloth & Squirrel on Vacation (May 6, 2025) by Cathy Ballou Mealey.

   Kelly Collier, illustrator.

<This is a sequel book.>

Their pickle pop stand is doing great, but Sloth and Squirrel are always busy. They want an adventure (or a “l-o-n-g nap”). When a bench ad promotes Paradise Park, where there is “Something for Everyone!,” they decide that’s the perfect place for the two to vacation. Squirrel is overjoyed by all of the activities, but Sloth wants to lounge (nap) on his floatie first. While Sloth lounges, Squirrel gets distracted by rock climbing, kayaking, paragliding and more. When he realizes he misses Sloth, Sloth wakes up ready to have fun with Squirrel but cannot find him. After they finally reunite, they enjoy something together, but it’s something that should be done FAST!

            One high-octane Squirrel and one laid-back Sloth are an unlikely but lovable pairing of mismatched friends in this winning story. The tame but fun adventure with bright, colorful beach illustrations makes for an engaging book well-suited for young audiences. The story doesn’t always go smoothly, so problem-solving, being a caring friend and being adaptable are good lessons to go over. Nothing in life is perfect, nor are the characters’ vacation in this story, but it shines with positivity and togetherness.

"Warrior of Legend" by Kendare Blake

Warrior of Legend (Oct. 29, 2024) by Kendare Blake.

<This is the sequel novel in a duology.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

The Aristene of Glorious Death bears the name Machianthe, and her Areion is as headstrong and bitey as ever. But Machianthe is still Reed with a new title. She’s meant to guide only those heroes whose glory costs them their lives. She’s already given three lives within a year to the goddess Kleia Gloria, which is an unfathomable pace. Her fellow new Aristene and friend, Lyonene, is in Cerille, defying the goddess by falling in love with her hero. Aristene are meant to guide their heroes and move on, but she’s still with Prince Alsander trying to sneakily lead a coup against his own father. When Lyonene looks into the sacred well, she’s summoned to guide Princess Yngarue to a glorious marriage. She and Reed secretly arrange for Reed to go in her place, but instead of an easy mission as a matchmaker, one of Yngarue’s suitors is Hestion, whom Reed still loves. There’s also an enemy rising who’s a severe threat to the Aristene. Aethiel, the once-queen of Fennbirn Island, watches as her seafaring hero turns into a sea monster and is only able to kill him with her old magic, the magic she’d been born with long ago, when her Aristene magic is subdued. To defeat the enemy, the Aristene are going to need all the allies they can muster, including hotheaded Veridian, their apostate sister. Many Aristene and Areion will fall, but will the enemy, too?

            In a sisterhood of female warriors, there is no shortage of bloodshed and violence. There is a monstrous threat and monstrous gore comes with it. There is tension amongst the Aristene hidden in Atropa from a patriarchal world. Readers are rewarded with a strong, complex YA fantasy that is devastating and satisfying to read in equal measure. It’s grimly entertaining and isn’t without scattered sarcasm to alleviate some of the sequel story’s darkness. As someone who’s known a family horse for over three decades, I appreciate the Areion. Even bitey Silco! Blake’s once-queen of Fennbirn character makes me hopeful that there will someday be a story that connects the current queens of Fennbirn Island and the mighty Aristene.

            Book One: Champion of Fate

"The House of Quiet" by Kiersten White

The House of Quiet (Sept. 9, 2025) by Kiersten White.

<This is a standalone novel.>

If she can enter the House, she can save her sister. This is what Birdie believes, so she’s blackmailed her way in as a maid. She truly is a maid, having worked as one since she was 10. She’s now 16. She saved all of her money for her little sister, Magpie, to have the procedure and hopefully gain a special ability that would get her family off the poorest streets of Sootcity. She always thought Magpie would be a good outward empath. Birdie enters the House of Quiet, which is surrounded by a peat bog. She works hard, but has her eye on the House Wife’s door. Of her fellow maids, Rabbit is very green and Minnow has clearly never worked as one. The only residents of the House are all from wealthy families, so she’s boggled as to why they’re there. They all appear to have abilities, even though none claim to have undergone the procedure. Their abilities are not all obvious. What is obvious is that things are not right. There are only more mysteries. There is handsome and silent Forest, clever River, trapped-in-his-mind Nimbus, wants-to-be-helpful Dawn, what-is-she-talking-about Lake, and scary Sky. Even without the un-navigable bog, the House of Quiet is a desolate, dangerous place. It holds sinister secrets and terrible truths. Birdie only wants the House to hold Magpie, and she can’t be found.

            The latest from White is a dark gothic YA fantasy that is a standalone novel, but could easily start a series. It’s claustrophobic and all-consuming, and that is a compliment. It’s mysterious with a chilling air without being downright scary and is balanced with sparks of sarcasm and a whole lot of empathy. This group – with their different classes in a dystopian-like world – becomes an unlikely group of friends, even when they don’t all trust each other initially (and shouldn’t, as one was sent to kill another). There is struggle where there is also great privilege and friendship through darkness and nightmares. This tale is imaginative and clever with an explosive ending. Get ready to ignite the rebellion with two rebel maids I never knew I needed in my reading repertoire.