The Wondrous Wonders

Jourdy artfully chronicles young runaway Jo’s quest to storm a fairy tale castle alongside a motley rescue team while grappling with family-oriented turmoil in this The Wizard of Oz–flavored graphic novel. While on a camping trip with her father, brand-new stepmother, and two stepsisters, Jo, unhappy with the arrangement, runs away. Deep in the woods, she spies a tiny, crowned elven couple on horseback and joins them on their trek, claiming “I live here now.” She follows them through a mysterious tunnel and into a ramshackle village where she meets anthropomorphic fox Maurice and half-cat child Nouk. Jo learns that the villagers plan to infiltrate despot Emperor Tomcat’s masquerade ball to free their unjustly imprisoned loved ones. Though she’s initially distrustful of Maurice, Jo develops deep affection for Nouk, whose mother is also being held prisoner by Tomcat. Jo’s adventures in the magical animalian kingdom summarily parallel her own struggles coming to terms with her family circumstances. Conversational language, a leisurely pace, and elaborately detailed art rendered in gentle pastels and thin, free-flowing lines imaginatively captures this cozy adventure. Human characters cue as white. Ages 6–10. (Nov.)