Tom Thorneval - Dream Merchant Extraordinaire (PB) (2015)

This rippingly entertaining anti-fairytale follows the misadventures of Tom Thorneval - a very likable half-fairy Dreammaker hoping to make it big in the world of men. Unfortunately, his plan has drawn the ire of Fate, and Tom is robbed of all his dreams shortly after setting out on his grand adventure. With his loyal (if slightly insane) stoat Wix, a devastated Tom battles on through a series of horrifically funny misfortunes as he makes his way towards what he hopes is the Grand Goblin Fair, only to draw farther away from it in the process. Will the courageous half-fairy make it back to his true love Mary? Will she be waiting for him? Or will all the orcs, imps, witches, dwarves and mysterious creatures that line the forest paths ruin his one chance at happiness? The answer lies in the pages of this innovative literary event that races middle-schoolers through a Pythonesque world of music, color and wild adventure. Readers are invited to listen to the three songs from the tale with their smartphones and go on to learn the über-catchy, author-composed melodies at the Addison's Tales channel on MuseScore.com. With its philosophical turns and fable-like qualities, Tom Thorneval is a modern twist on what it's like to be a little dreamer in a very big world.