The Lost Treasure (The Adventures of Logan and Lilly #1)

Bespectacled, white-presenting Logan is whisked away on a seafaring adventure after a mysterious flashing watch brings his toys to life in Valek’s bustling tale. Captain Orangebeard, a plastic toy pirate, has an important quest for the child: Logan must help rescue Joey, an innocent stuffed kangaroo, from the nefarious Pinky Pirate. When Orangebeard ushers Logan through a bedroom-wall portal that transforms the child into a toy, they emerge on Orangebeard’s pirate ship, then set sail to the Isle of Nowhere, a vibrant land where toys and anthropomorphic animals reign. But as they embark on their quest for Joey, Logan worries that his newfound friendships will disappear when he returns to the real world at journey’s end. Sabater’s expertly shaded b&w illustrations are scattered throughout as half-page spreads and chapter headers, depicting emotive characters and Logan’s swashbuckling exploits. Valek’s easily digestible portal fantasy, populated by fearsome anacondas and spider-ruled caves, is a deeply imaginative escapist adventure and a tender exploration of enduring companionship. Ages 7–9. (Self-published)