Nimpentoad

Up until now, Literary Lunchbox has been a children's lit blog focusing on young adult, middle grades and picture book titles. And, let's be honest, it's mostly middle grades fiction. With a brand new year of stories to read, I've decided to add chapter books to the line-up.

Why, you ask? I have two reasons for adding chapter books to my blog.

1. The first reason is my seven-year-old daughter Della. She's reading early chapter books. Lots of them. And I'm running out of good ones, and she reads about two a day, and I need to find some more. 
2. SCBWI authors have asked for my consideration and review of their work. Included in these titles are some well-written, independently published chapter books. There aren't many blogs out there that will review independently (self) published books. I will. Why not? If it's good, I will recommend it at Literary Lunchbox. If it isn't good, I won't. Same rules for traditionally published books. No favoritism, just good kid lit that I feel comfortable writing about and recommending to readers and their parents.

So.... without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to Nimpentoad.

Charming...Brave...Clever...Loyal... These are the words I would use to describe the title character of this high fantasy early chapter book. 

Nimpentoad is a Nibling - a tiny forest creature, small and skinny and short. He and his Nibling friends are tired of being picked on by the nasty goblins in Grunwold Forest and set out on a dangerous journey in hopes of new jobs in the castle of Goofus the Giant. The giant could use some pint-size help, and Nimpentoad hopes the castle will be a safe and secure haven for he and his Nibling friends.

On their forest journey, the Niblings meet a variety of unsavory forest-dwellers. Some of these beasts are dangerous and mean, while others are just brutish and annoying. Nimpentoad safely navigates the forest and bests the foul creatures with his charm, his bravery and his clever ways. Loyal to the end, Nimpentoad leads his friends to a better life.

Nimpentoad was written by Henry Herz and his school-age sons, Josh and Harrison. The artwork was created by Sean Eddingfield and Bill Maus.

Henry and his boys hope to write more Nimpentoad adventures, but in the meantime, they are busy working on a different book. The new book is an easy reader about a clever sloth named Twignibble who goes around the world helping his animal friends protect their habitats. They believe young readers   will enjoy the story and the terrific artwork and will identify with the book's important themes of conservation, teamwork and empathy.

Blog you later!

Ali B.