The Lumberjanes have put together a guidebook on the most amazing creatures you’ve ever heard of and a few you haven’t.
This hilarious collection of magical beings is sorted into six categories. Each has been written by a different scout, giving each section their own unique flair that Lumberjanes fans will love. The scouts are working together to earn the BEAST or Best Everything Amazing Study Trophy for recording the supernatural creatures they’ve encountered. It’s the biggest achievement in Lumber-know-how that can be achieved, so the stakes are high but the girls are up to the challenge.
The scouts have run into many different creatures at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. From outer space to under the sea we have details of these beings documented in just as many different styles as you can think of. Interviews, lists, stickers, badges, side bars, recipes, photos, facts and let’s call them fictional facts. This wide variety keeps readers engaged.
This book is so artistically and beautifully put together that it feels like a collector’s piece for anyone’s Lumberjanes’ library. The cover artwork is styled like a diary, as this is a BEASTiary, after all. It has fun googly eyes, embossing, stickers, sticky notes and washi tape bringing together the multicolored text. Inside the brightly colored pages are decorated in scrapbook style with post-it notes, cue cards, unique fonts, fun borders, paper clips, photos and all kinds of little doo-dads.
Mariko Tamaki guest authors several Lumberjanes books, but she is best known as the award winning Canadian co-author of the graphic novel This One Summer. Her writing style does not disappoint here and she works wonderfully with artist Brooklyn Allen. Allen is the original illustrator for this series and co creator so you can expect the same quality in this book as you do in the rest of the series.
Fans of the Lumberjanes series will love giggling and flipping through the pages of this companion novel. Readers get the opportunity to learn more about their favourite scout in their mini biographies which include fun facts like their favorite song, a quick quote and of course, a fun photo.
Additionally, this series always does an outstanding job of creating characters that are truly role models for children reading these books, well, except maybe Ripley who would encourage anyone to take home a whole litter of kittens given the chance. However the love of reading shines through as something that is to be not only proud of, but something that is cool to do. This is a great message for kids to hear. Reading competency is such an important life skill and this series makes it fun to achieve. I highly recommend adding this book to your collection.
Lumberjanes BEASTiary
By Mariko Tamaki
Art by Brooklyn Allen
ISBN: 9781419736445
Amulet Books, 2020
Publisher Age Rating: 9-12
Browse for more like this title
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Tween (10-13)
