Get kids excited about reading with this week’s #newreleasekidsbooks … #modernclassics #coffeetreebookskids #moana #encanto #disney #disneyclassics #interruptingchicken #interruptingcow #janeyolen #JaneYolen #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #maiknguyen #keklamagoon #thesecretlibrary #dadjokes #skyexplorer #Loki #loki #lokiseries #louiestowell #curveball #pablocartaya #girlssoftball #katherineapplegate #theoneandonlyivan #isleofthelost #melissadelacruz #lisafipps #andthenboom
Jaclyn’s pick of the week is Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen!! She also says this: “⚾️ In typical fashion, I also want to highlight two baseball books (it was hard to chose)” Curveball by Pablo Cartaya and Miguel Díaz Rivas Tryouts by Sarah Sax • Stop by the store today to buy all three. You know you want them. 🤩 • • • • • • • • • #pickoftheweek #potw #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #maiknguyen #new #newrelease #newreleases #newbooks #bookstagram #books #read #shopsmall #supportsmallbusiness #shoplocal #shoplocalva #rva #rcx #richmondcomix #comic #comics #comicshop #comicbook #comicbooks #comicbookstore #comicbookshop #yay #love #open #tuesday
Today’s the day! ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS is out in the world at last! You can grab your copy now! 👹✨ I put so much heart into this book. I hope you enjoy this little adventure as much as I enjoyed creating it! 💕Now for some obligatory sappy words to follow💕 Initially, I just wanted to tell a fun fantasy story with myths and legends (and a big dog), but it’s turned into so much more. Before I knew it, Anzu was helping me to reflect on my own experiences as a mixed raced kid— what identity and culture and authenticity means to me. Finding belonging is hard, and I still struggle with it today, but Anzu’s became a little space of catharsis for me during the last few years. I hope you, as readers, can see that heart shine through her story. There are many people to thank but there are a few I must call out here: This book wouldn’t even exist without my agent, Britt Siess. I remember feeling very confused after out first call… like why is she so excited about this story? About me? I don’t get it??! Is this a trap? (Hello, anxiety) I realized now that Britt is everything I’m not and thus everything I needed to be able to commit to a career choice I’ve been side-eyeing for years. A powerful, no-nonsense-get-stuff-done advocate, all wrapped up in genuine compassion. And for that, I am infinitely grateful. And of course, my editor, Maggie Rosenthal, who really worked magic on my story to bring it to it’s full potential. There were so many ideas and scenes and beats that would not exist without Maggie. She has the magical ability to find the heart in a story, dig it up, and polish it. Without Maggie, my book might still be eye candy but I think it would be missing a certain spark. Thank you for helping me unearth that spark, Maggie! And lastly, this story wouldn’t exist without my sister @mamahayama At first, I was considering a more European inspired underworld myth, but of course, Ila would bring me the perfect myth to draw from— Izanami and her time as Queen of Hell. Anyway that’s all the energy I have for now! I need to go do my laundry! Pick up a copy of my book! @penguinkids #anzuandtherealmofdarkness
It’s the last day of Yokai of the day, featuring the okuri inu! A wild dog that stalks travelers at night before attacking and devouring them 😰 In my book, the gatekeeper of the underworld is an okuri inu. And he’s much less murderous! 🐾 ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS is coming out tomorrow!! Order yourself a copy at your favorite bookstore 💕📚 Thanks for hanging around as I illustrated all kinds of creatures from Japanese lore! 👹 #okuriinu #yokai #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids
Anzu is a girl who just moved during Oban (a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors), and when she chases a stray dog. Instead of celebrating with her family, she sets in motion an adventure she never planned and certainly never wanted: she’s trapped in the Shinto underworld known as Yomi. She has to manage to break a curse, free spirits, and find a way home, or she’ll be trapped there forever. Adventure indeed! . I thought this was such a fascinating #graphicnovel - I loved how it introduced me to Japanese folklore in a deeper way (wonderful end notes on this topic) and the illustrations are so good. . This is an outstanding book and one that I think #middlegradereaders will really enjoy. Thanks to @penguinkids for sharing this one with us! . . . #kidlit #kidlitart #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #bookstagram #bibliophile #reading #mgbooks #mgreads #middlegradebooks #middlegradereads #middlegrade #picturebookplaydate_mg #picturebookplaydate_gn #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #maiknguyen #japanesefolklore #penguinkids #graphicnovelsforkids #gifted
Day 25 of yokai of the day is the korpokokkur. They’re tiny, nature-loving, elusive folk from Ainu lore! 🍃 📚 preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with your favorite booksellers ✨💕 #yokai #korpokkur #ainu #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids
Day 24 of yokai of the day is the sunekosuri! On rainy nights, it’ll weave around your legs and cause you to trip. How terribly evil! 📚 Preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with your fav booksellers ✨💕 #sunekosuri #yokai #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids
Day 23 of yokai of the day is the todomeki! A woman with a penchant for stealing is cursed with a hundred eyes on her arms. 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 📚 you can preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with your favorite booksellers! #todomeki #yokai #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids
Day 22 of yokai of the day is the kijimuna, a banyan tree dwelling, big-headed creature from Okinawa. Sometimes they’re nice… sometimes not 😈 📖 preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with your favorite booksellers! #kijimuna #okinawa #yokai #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids
Day 21 of yokai of the day is the baku! A chimera of sorts that eats your nightmares 🌙🛌 📚 you can preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with your favorite booksellers 🌟 @penguinkids #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #baku #yokai
Day 20 of yokai of the day is Akkorokamui, a god from Ainu lore. They have the power to heal and best knowledge ❤️🩹 📚 Preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with your favorite booksellers @penguinkids #yokai #akkorokamui #anzuandtherealmofdarkness
Day 19 of yokai of the day is the yuki onna! She appears to traveler’s lost in snow storms and drains them of their life force by freezing them with her ice breath. ❄️ 🌟preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with your favorite booksellers! #yokai #yukionna #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids
Happy Friday! Here's some of what I've been reading this week. Thanks to the tagged publishers for my review copies! Sidelined - oh my gosh, as a woman who loves sports this was a must read. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me so angry, and it was helpful to know there are others in this camp of loving something that doesn't often love or even care about you back. Daniel, Deconstructed - the plot of this contemporary YA was very cute and Daniel was a great MC but I found the writing wasn't quite holding up to the ideas and characters in the story. Still an adorable read with plenty of great queer rep that I would put in the hands of teens. Anzu and the Realm of Darkness - this graphic novel is my current read and I'm enjoying the mythology and adventure although I've been confused a few times with the jumping of time within the panels. Force of Nature - this was a sweet (and heartbreaking) novel in verse about the life of scientist Rachel Carson. The writing was beautiful and the illustrations were gorgeous and while I really enjoyed it I don't think it will be for a wide range of readers. [ID: a stack of the books mentioned sitting on a desk, with mugs of pencils and a bookworm trophy behind] #Bookstagram #BookStack #BookWorm #WeeklyReads #AmReading #Partner #MiddleGradeBooks #YaReads #DanielDeconstructed #ForceOfNature #Sidelined #AnzuAndTheRealmOfDarkness #GraphicNovels #Bibliophile #Bookish
Day 18 of yokai of the day is the nekomata. A nekomata is a cat so old that its tail has split into two and has gained supernatural, sometimes necromantic, powers. Mine is being edgy by playing a shamisen. 🐱 🧙♀️ 😈 📚 Preorder my ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS. Link in bio ✨ #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #nekomata #yokai @penguinkids
Day 17 of yokai of the day is the gashadokuro. It’s a giant skeleton sometimes made of the souls of those who died in battle and sometimes of those who starved to death. 💀 📚 Preorder my book! Link in bio 🌟 @penguinkids #yokai #gashadokuro #anzuandtherealmofdarkness
***Anzu & the Realm of Darkness StoryGram Tour*** ⁉️What do/did you call your grandmother? I have had the joy of knowing all of my grandmothers. So each one has had a different name. I have had a Nana, Grammy, Grandma, and Granny. A beautiful message of accepting yourself and finding who you are through your ancestors wraps up Anzu & the Realm of Darkness in a pretty red ribbon. I enjoyed every second of reading this story and what I imagine is going to be filled with beautiful colors to go along with the GORGEOUS artwork. Read the rest of my review in the comments… Thank you to @penguinkids for gifting me a copy of this book and teaming up with me for this giveaway! 💫GIVEAWAY💫 Enter to win Anzu & the Realm of Darkness! TO ENTER: •Follow Me (@ohyouread) @penguinkids @storygramkids •Tag a friend you think will be interested! For an EXTRA Entry: •visit @avainbookland account and repeat these steps. RULES •Giveaway ends April 29th at Midnight EST •US ONLY •This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram •Must be 18 or have parent’s permission •Must be a public account so entries can be verified. • • • • #AnzuAndTheRealmOfDarkness #MaiKNguyen #PenguinKidsPartner #StoryGramKids #GraphicNovel
Q: Do you have a pet? If you do, do you wish your pet had any special powers? 🐶Thank you to @penguinkids for sending me a copy of the book and teaming up with me for a great giveaway! Check out how to enter below: GIVEAWAY Enter to win a copy of Anzu and the Realm of Darkness 🐶follow me, @penguinkids and @storygramkids 🐶tag a friend you think will be interested For EXTRA entry 🐶visit @ohyouread account tomorrow and repeat these steps RULES 🐶Giveaway will end April 29th at midnight EST 🐶US Only 🐶not affiliated with Instagram 🐶must be 18 or have parents permission 🐶 must be a public account so I can verify entries SUMMARY Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died, though, Obon has lost its magic. She doesn’t feel much like celebrating anymore. While avoiding holiday festivities, Anzu spots a stray dog down the street. A dog that seems to be staring right at her. But when she chases after it, she slips and falls down a ridge, losing consciousness. When she awakes, she’s in the Shinto underworld known as Yomi, a place she’s only heard about in Obaachan’s stories. The stray dog, she finds out, is actually the Gatekeeper of Yomi, and he warns her to return to the human realm before it’s too late. Only, getting home is not as simple as she’d thought. Faced with the nefarious Queen Izanami of Yomi and a world full of creatures she’d once thought weren’t real, the race against the clock is on. She must break a curse, free the spirits of other lost children, and reach the gate home before sunrise…or be stuck in Yomi forever. #AnzuandtheRealmofDarkness #PenguinKidsPartner #MaiKNguyen #storygramkids #bookstagram #booknerds #booktography #shelf #bookislife #booksinstagram #flowersofinstagram #booknerdsandfriends #bookhoarder #bookaesthetic
Day 16 of Yokai of the Day is the daidarabocchi, just in time for earth day! A very big giant that hides amongst the hills. ⛰️😴 📚 Preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with your favorite booksellers! @penguinkids #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #daidarabotchi #yokai
QOTD Do you have a favorite Studio Ghibli movie? Or what is your favorite animated movie? 🌻 Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died, though, Obon has lost its magic. She doesn’t feel much like celebrating anymore. While avoiding holiday festivities, Anzu spots a stray dog down the street. A dog that seems to be staring right at her. But when she chases after it, she slips and falls down a ridge, losing consciousness. When she awakes, she’s in the Shinto underworld known as Yomi, a place she’s only heard about in Obaachan’s stories. The stray dog, she finds out, is actually the Gatekeeper of Yomi, and he warns her to return to the human realm before it’s too late. Only, getting home is not as simple as she’d thought. Faced with the nefarious Queen Izanami of Yomi and a world full of creatures she’d once thought weren’t real, the race against the clock is on. She must break a curse, free the spirits of other lost children, and reach the gate home before sunrise…or be stuck in Yomi forever. 5 Worlds meets Spirited Away in this tale of a girl fighting her way back home after getting trapped in the spirit world. Thank you to @penguinkids for sending me a copy of the book and teaming up with me for a great giveaway! Check out how to enter below: GIVEAWAY Enter to win a copy of Anzu and the Realm of Darkness - follow me, @penguinkids and @storygramkids - tag a friend you think will be interested For EXTRA entry - visit @bibliophile_nikki's account tomorrow and repeat these steps RULES - Giveaway will end April 29th at midnight EST - US Only - not affiliated with Instagram -must be 18 or have parents permission -must be a public account so I can verify entries Book Link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/703288/anzu-and-the-realm-of-darkness-by-mai-k-nguyen/ #AnzuandtheRealmofDarkness #PenguinKidsPartner #MaiKNguyen #storygramkids #bookgiveaway #bookstagram #spiritedaway
So excited to share that ANZU is a Junior Library Guild gold standard selection! 🌟 It means that my book is rad and you should definitely preorder it 😉 #juniorlibraryguild #anzuandtherealmofdarkness
Day 15 of my yokai of the day is the chouchin obake. Just a sentient old lantern being a lil spooky and stuff. 📚 Preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with you favorite bookseller 😊 #yokai #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #chouchinobake @penguinkids
✨ BOOK TOUR + GIVEAWAY ✨ Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died, though, Obon has lost its magic. She doesn’t feel much like celebrating anymore. While avoiding holiday festivities, Anzu spots a stray dog down the street. A dog that seems to be staring right at her. But when she chases after it, she slips and falls down a ridge, losing consciousness. When she awakes, she’s in the Shinto underworld known as Yomi, a place she’s only heard about in Obaachan’s stories. The stray dog, she finds out, is actually the Gatekeeper of Yomi, and he warns her to return to the human realm before it’s too late. Only, getting home is not as simple as she’d thought. Faced with the nefarious Queen Izanami of Yomi and a world full of creatures she’d once thought weren’t real, the race against the clock is on. She must break a curse, free the spirits of other lost children, and reach the gate home before sunrise…or be stuck in Yomi forever. Thank you to @penguinkids for sending me a copy of the book and teaming up with me for a great giveaway! Check out how to enter below: ✨GIVEAWAY✨ Enter to win a copy of Anzu and the Realm of Darkness - follow me, @penguinkids and @storygramkids - tag a friend you think will be interested For EXTRA entry - visit @thereadingcornerforall account tomorrow and repeat these steps RULES - Giveaway will end April 29th at midnight EST - US Only - not affiliated with Instagram -must be 18 or have parents permission -must be a public account so I can verify entries . . . #AnzuandtheRealmofDarkness #PenguinKidsPartner #MaiKNguyen #storygramkids #books #graphicnovel #graphicnovels #bookgiveaway #bookfeature #reader #read #bookshelf #bookblogger
Day 14 of Yokai of the Day is the kitsune! I opted for the less divine, more of a i-wanna-mess-with-you-for-the-laughs kind of kitsune. 🦊 Preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with your favorite booksellers 💕 link in bio! #yokai #kitsune #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids
💜 Book Tour Book Review! 💜 Anzu and the Realm of Darkness Written by Mai K. Nguyen @bymainguyen Published by Viking @vikingbooks @penguinkids Book tour hosted by @storygramkids It is the last day of Obon (a festival to celebrate ancestors), and Anzu feels completely lost. Since Anzu’s obaachan (grandmother) died, Obon doesn’t seem as bright and happy like it used to. Anzu feels like she doesn't belong and runs away from Obon ans her family home. Alone, Anzu sees a stray dog and decides to follow the dog. Suddenly, the dog turns on her and steals her necklace -- the last physical memory of her obaachan. Desperate to get it back, Anzu blindly chases the dog through a tear in the universe, stumbling into the Realm of Darkness. There, she meets Izanami who says she can guide Anzu back to her side of the tear. As she travels with Izanami, she experiences all kinds of challenges, including getting cursed, forcing Anzu to team up with the dog thief in a race to get back home. This was a fun read with great illustrations, even though I didn’t get to see it in full color (it's an ARC, so it's black and white). I liked all the Japanese culture in the book, especially the Japanese version of the Underworld. Rating: 9 out of 10. This rating will probably go up once I read it in color because vivid illustrations are so impactful in graphic novels. Thank you to @penguinkids and @storygramkids for the book to read! It was a fun read!! ❓️What holiday or festival do you love celebrating? I'm a HUGE Christmas fanatic but also love Thanksgiving! #pagesforpaige #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #maiknguyen #vikingbooks #penguindkids #storygramkids #storygramtours #booktour #booktourbookreview #welovemgbooks #mgbooks #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #mggraphicnovels #ireadgraphicnovels #ireadmgbooks #mgbookshelf #mgreads #mgbookstagrammer #mgbookstagram
Day 13 of Yokai of the Day is the futakuchi onna, a woman cursed with a gluttonous second mouth on the back of her head. Sometimes, she grows this mouth because she’s selfish, sometimes because she’s starving. 👄🍙 📚 Preorder my ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS with your fav booksellers! #yokai #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids #futakuchionna
Running behind a bit, but Day 12 of Yokai of the Day is a kamaitachi! They’re weasels that ride dust devils and shreds things apart with their long, sickle like claws. ✂️🌪️ 📚Preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS at your favorite bookseller ! @penguinkids #yokai #kamaitachi #anzuandtherealmofdarkness
Welcome to my stop on the Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen book tour! Anzu misses her late grandmother more than anything. Her family just moved to a new city and she is going through an identity crisis, triggered in part by microaggression she experienced at her old school. A group of her friends collectively decided without her to shorten her name to Anne. While on a walk to clear her head, a strange dog suddenly steals a family heirloom necklace, and she chases him through a wrinkle in time into another dimension, where she becomes disoriented and lost. A beautiful queen appears and coyly lures her like the White Witch in Narnia. The queen invites her to a feast but after taking one bite of food, the dog reappears and rescues Anzu, claiming that the queen has poisoned her! Anzu is confused and infuriated but when her hand starts turning black, she realizes that maybe the dog isn't a villain after all. Anzu joins the dog on a heart-pounding quest through the realm and learns important truths about her identity and the power of her true name. I love the gorgeous illustrations which will be in full color in the finished book! Thank you to @penguinkids for sending me a copy of the book and teaming up with me for a great giveaway! Check out how to enter below: GIVEAWAY Enter to win a copy of Anzu and the Realm of Darkness - follow me, @penguinkids and @storygramkids - tag a friend you think will be interested For EXTRA entry - visit @kylielovesbooks account tomorrow and repeat these steps RULES - Giveaway will end April 29th at midnight EST - US Only - not affiliated with Instagram -must be 18 or have parents permission -must be a public account so I can verify entries #AnzuandtheRealmofDarkness #PenguinKidsPartner #MaiKNguyen #storygramkids #ownvoices #representationmatters #representationsaveslives #tck #thirdculturekid #stopasianhate #aapi #asianamerican #bookgiveaway #graphicnovel #middlegradegraphicnovel #mggraphicnovel #giveaway #bookgiveaways
Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died, though, Obon has lost its magic. She doesn’t feel much like celebrating anymore. While avoiding holiday festivities, Anzu spots a stray dog down the street. A dog that seems to be staring right at her. But when she chases after it, she slips and falls down a ridge, losing consciousness. When she awakes, she’s in the Shinto underworld known as Yomi, a place she’s only heard about in Obaachan’s stories. The stray dog, she finds out, is actually the Gatekeeper of Yomi, and he warns her to return to the human realm before it’s too late. Only, getting home is not as simple as she’d thought. Faced with the nefarious Queen Izanami of Yomi and a world full of creatures she’d once thought weren’t real, the race against the clock is on. She must break a curse, free the spirits of other lost children, and reach the gate home before sunrise…or be stuck in Yomi forever. 5 Worlds meets Spirited Away in this tale of a girl fighting her way back home after getting trapped in the spirit world. Thank you to @penguinkids for sending me a copy of the book and teaming up with me for a great giveaway! Check out how to enter below: GIVEAWAY Enter to win a copy of Anzu and the Realm of Darkness - follow me, @penguinkids and @storygramkids - tag a friend you think will be interested RULES - Giveaway will end April 29th at midnight EST - US Only - not affiliated with Instagram -must be 18 or have parents permission -must be a public account so I can verify entries #AnzuandtheRealmofDarkness #PenguinKidsPartner #MaiKNguyen #storygramkids
I have three kids who LOVE graphic novels! They’re 10, 12, and 18 years old. LOL! As soon as I get a new graphic novel, those three kids pounce on it like a cat on a laser light. When I saw that this book was pitched as, 5 Worlds meets Spirited Away in this tale of a girl fighting her way back home after getting trapped in the spirit world, I KNEW I had to get it for them! 💫BOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY💫 Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died, though, Obon has lost its magic. She doesn’t feel much like celebrating anymore. While avoiding holiday festivities, Anzu spots a stray dog down the street. A dog that seems to be staring right at her. But when she chases after it, she slips and falls down a ridge, losing consciousness. When she awakes, she’s in the Shinto underworld known as Yomi, a place she’s only heard about in Obaachan’s stories. The stray dog, she finds out, is actually the Gatekeeper of Yomi, and he warns her to return to the human realm before it’s too late. Only, getting home is not as simple as she’d thought. Faced with the nefarious Queen Izanami of Yomi and a world full of creatures she’d once thought weren’t real, the race against the clock is on. She must break a curse, free the spirits of other lost children, and reach the gate home before sunrise…or be stuck in Yomi forever. 💫Thank you to @penguinkids for sending me a copy of the book and teaming up with me for a giveaway! 💫GIVEAWAY Enter to win a copy of Anzu and the Realm of Darkness - follow me, @penguinkids and @storygramkids - tag a friend you think will be interested For EXTRA entry - visit @thehspbookshelf account tomorrow and repeat these steps RULES - Giveaway will end April 29th at midnight EST - US Only - not affiliated with Instagram -must be 18 or have parents permission -must be a public account so I can verify entries . . . #AnzuandtheRealmofDarkness #PenguinKidsPartner #MaiKNguyen #storygramkids #raisingreaders #graphicnovel #graphicnovelart #middlegradebooks #bookishflatlay #kidsunplugged #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram
“5 Worlds meets Spirited Away in this tale of a girl fighting her way back home after getting trapped in the spirit world.” QOTD: If you were to slip and fall into your current book where would you be and would you survive it? I would be in a burlesque show run by a villainous maestro, probably indebted to him for life, with death lurking around giving Death’s Maiden names of people to ☠️ …In theory I should should survive, but who really knows 😂 Thank you to @penguinkids for sending me a copy of the book and teaming up with me for a great giveaway! Check out how to enter below: GIVEAWAY Enter to win a copy of Anzu and the Realm of Darkness TO ENTER - follow me (@dany.alvy), @penguinkids, and @storygramkids -tag a friend you think will be interested For EXTRA entry -visit @magicalbooknook’s account tomorrow and repeat these steps RULES -Giveaway will end April 29th at midnight EST -US Only -not affiliated with Instagram -must be 18 or have parents permission -must be a public account so I can verify entries SYNOPSIS IN COMMENTS BUY IT HERE: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/703288/anzu-and-the-realm-of-darkness-by-mai-k-nguyen/ 🏷 #AnzuandtheRealmofDarkness #PenguinKidsPartner #MaiKNguyen #storygramkids #bookish #bookstagram #booklover #middlegradebooks #middlegradefiction #middlegradereads #readathon #readmorebooks #readmore #bookishlove #bookflatlay #graphicnovels #graphicnovel #booktok #bookrecommendations #middlegrade #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #diversebooks #bookcommunity #bookvibes #weekendreads #KidLit #kidsbookstagram #kidsbookswelove #bookshelf
Day 11 of Yokai of the Day is not a yokai, but a goddess. Izanami began as a goddess of creation, but died during childbirth and made her way to the underworld, Yomi, where she rules as the goddess of death. ☠️💃 . Preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS today! Link in bio 💕 . #yokai #izanami #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids
Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen . Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died, though, Obon has lost its magic. She doesn’t feel much like celebrating anymore. While avoiding holiday festivities, Anzu spots a stray dog down the street. A dog that seems to be staring right at her. But when she chases after it, she slips and falls down a ridge, losing consciousness. When she awakes, she’s in the Shinto underworld known as Yomi, a place she’s only heard about in Obaachan’s stories. The stray dog, she finds out, is actually the Gatekeeper of Yomi, and he warns her to return to the human realm before it’s too late. Only, getting home is not as simple as she’d thought. Faced with the nefarious Queen Izanami of Yomi and a world full of creatures she’d once thought weren’t real, the race against the clock is on. She must break a curse, free the spirits of other lost children, and reach the gate home before sunrise…or be stuck in Yomi forever. . I loved this graphic novel, Anzu does face struggles with bullying, moving, loss of a grandparent, but don’t we all struggle with things sometimes? The difference is we might not all get an epic adventure into the underworld! Now Anzu must find a way to escape and to connect with herself (this will make sense when you read it!). I loved all the illustrations. This one is a page turner I loved the mix of adventure, mythology and fantasy all rolled into one. . Do you have a favorite Studio Ghibli movie? Or current read? . Thank you to @penguinkids for sending me a copy of the book and teaming up with me for a great giveaway! Check out how to enter below: GIVEAWAY Enter to win a copy of Anzu and the Realm of Darkness - follow me @avainbookland @penguinkids and @storygramkids - tag a friend you think will be interested For EXTRA entry - visit @dany.alvy account tomorrow and repeat these steps RULES - Giveaway will end April 29th at midnight EST - US Only - not affiliated with Instagram -must be 18 or have parents permission -must be a public account so I can verify entries
Day 10 of Yokai of the Day is the kasa obake! He’s just your classic spooky lil guy. ☂️👻 an anti-planned obsolescence and pro-hoarder monster, just the way I like em 🥹 . Preorder ANZU AND THE RELAM OF DARKNESS at any bookseller! #yokai #kasaobake #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids
Day 9 of Yokai of the Day is the kappa! They’re aquatic creatures that love cucumber and also sometimes drowning people. 😨🐢 Preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS at any bookseller! Link in bio 💕 @penguinkids #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #yokai #kappa
While the cat’s away the mice will play! Hubby is at a blues festival so @biscuit_the_lady are just hanging out this evening. I’ve got a beer, cheese, a snuggled dog, and the ARCs I received this week. What could go wrong? 😂 Yes, my reading tastes are a bit eclectic, but the variety keeps me engaged! Excited for each of these titles below!! Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven is YA Fantasy coming out Winter 2025 from Wednesday Books. “They’ve loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They’ve killed each other in every one.” Smothermoss by Alisa Alering is a debut described as dark fairy tale meets rural gothic coming out this July from Tin House. Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen is a middle grade graphic novel taking place in the Shinto underworld coming out next month from Viking. #AnzuAndTheRealmOfDarkness #Smothermoss #OurInfinateFates #MaiKNguyen #AlisaAlering #LauraSteven @penguinkids @alisa.alering #TBR #TBRStack #2024Author #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #BookAddicts #BookLover #Bookworms #ReadersOfInstagram #ARC #AdvanceReaderCopy @ohmaipie @laurasteven @wednesdaybooks @tin_house @vikingbooks #ComingSoon
Day 8 of Yokai of the Day is the umibouzu! They’re sea spirits that rise from the ocean, creating giant waves to capsize ships. 🌊 📚 Preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS. Link in bio! @penguinkids #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #yokai
Day 7 of Yokai of the Day is the narikama! Narikama are old iron pots that have acquired a spirit. They can tell fortunes based off the whistling sound they make when they’re boiling. 🫕 📚 you can preorder my comic book now! Link in bio 💕 @penguinkids #yokai #narigama #narikama #anzuandtherealmofdarkness
Day 6 of Yokai of the Day is the classic tanuki! More specifically, the bake tanuki. They are shape-shifting, round-bellied, good-natured, occasionally mischievous yokai. In my book, the tanuki is a shady merchant who travels across the realms gathering rare trinkets like snow globes and twinkies to sell at the night market 🍶🥁 You can preorder my book now from your favorite booksellers! Link in bio :) #yokai #tanuki #anzuandtherealmofdarkness @penguinkids
Day 5 of Yokai of the Day is the Kasha 火車 ! Kasha steals the bodies of sinners to do who knows what with. In my story, the Kasha is a cat who carries the palanquin of the queen of the underworld! 😼🚗💨 You can preorder ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS! Link in my bio ✨ @penguinkids #yokai #anzuandtherealmofdarkness
Anzu is caught in wanting to fit in, and not being able to. Her food that she brings to school is made fun of, and her name is changed by her “friends” because it is too silly or hard to say. And she just accepts that she is now Anne. And now she has had to move, and so has to start all over again. She has lost her grandmother, and misses her. But she doesn’t want to do any prayers to her, even during Obon, which is the time to celebrate your ancestors. So, Anne wanders off, to be by herself, and gets caught up with a magical dog who steals her jade necklace, and she ends up in the underworld, despite being alive. The gate has a fault to it, and that is the least of her worries. Queen Izzami wants all the souls of the lost children, of which Anzu|Anne is one. Good story. Slightly reminiscent of Spirited Away, but different at the same time. This is more of a story of not knowing who you are, and wanting to be yourself at the same time. The sadness of Anzu is quite fierce, and the dog who helps her, the gatekeeper, is also determined to both save her, and repair the gate. Loved the illustrations. Loved the story, sad and frustrating as it was. I think this will connect with children who are half in the world, and half out. That are pushed into conforming, just to fit in. Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out from Penguin Young Readers Group on the 7th of May 2024 #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #maiknguyen #graphicnovel #middlegrade #japanesefolklore #bookreview #bookstagram #amreading #currentlyreading #advancedreadercopy #arc
Do you wanna sneak peek of my current project? For my June blog post, I share some roughs from Anzu and the Realm of Darkness! ⛩🐕💀 You can read it as one-time or monthly supporter on my Ko-Fi page! Link is in the bio ☝️ #wip #comics #graphicnovel #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #maiknguyen #middlegrade #process #csp
“Pilu if the Woods” by Mai K. Nguyen @ohmaipie Published by Oni Press @onipress A lovely morning read to get me inspired for the weekend. Time to write, send some emails, (…taxes) and work on videos. #piluofthewoods #onipress #onipresscomics #naturelover #indiecomics #indiecomic #mushroomrice #magnoliablossoms #exploreforest #mushroomhunting🍄 #mushroomhunters #forestsprite #forestspirit #treespirits
Wanna see everything that I included in my pitch packet for ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS? You can read my blog post about it over on ko-fi as a one time or monthly supporter! Link is in my bio! ⛩💀🐾✨ #anzuandtherealmofdarkness #kofi #middlegradebooks #graphicnovel
I’m making two more books! It will be a while until it’s available and there is lots of work to be done, but I’m so excited to be jumping into graphic novels again 😊💕 #maiknguyen #graphicnovels #middlegrade #anzuandtherealmofdarkness