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Reviewed by Louise Hurrell for Readers' Favorite
Tales from Bombast's Bookshelf opens with the eponymous Bombast and his wife Pix arriving on an island in a houseboat filled to the brim with books. From this premise, author Steve Michael Reedy crafts a collection of short stories for children greatly influenced by fairy tales. Some moments also reminded me of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Each story focuses on a different magical creature, the adventures they go on, and the lessons learned along the way.
No two stories felt the same; each had their own distinct tone and message which prevented the collection from becoming staid. The messages themselves were positive – from being yourself to simply living in the moment – and they will resonate with children. Despite all the adventure and mystery in the plots, the themes were never lost and rang clearly throughout the stories. Another aspect of Tales from Bombast's Bookshelf I enjoyed was the inclusion of the frame story. Our nameless narrator begins and ends the book, as well as speaks in between the stories. This was a really fun way to move from one story to another, and the rhyming couplets helped the transition flow smoothly. Reedy's writing was nicely complemented by Tom Fee's illustrations. The stark black and white images leaped from the page and I enjoyed the small details Fee had incorporated. Overall, Tales from Bombast's Bookshelf is a great short story collection for children, particularly for ones who like fantasy or adventure with excellent illustrations.