Book Review | Trouble with Tattle-Tails @JonathanAuxier

Trouble with Tattle-Tails is a delightful book. I couldn’t resist it when the publishers and Netgalley offered it. I read it on my iPad, for the full effect of the colour illustrations. It also gave me a T for my Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge!

Trouble with Tattle-Tails (The Fabled Stables series)

By Jonathan Auxier, illustrated by Olga Demidova

Auggie and his magical companions are tending to the Fabled Stables when the building shakes and shudders to make room for a new arrival: the Tattle-Tail. He and his friends travel through the portal to a town called Rainbow’s End in search of this mysterious creature. Auggie assumes that the Tattle-Tail is in danger, but he learns that it’s actually the town that needs rescuing . . . from an infestation of Tattle-Tails!
These talking tails have taken over, attaching themselves to every backside in town (including Auggie’s!). The Tails tattle on whomever they’re attached to: She picked her nose! He just double-dipped! The constant stress of being tattled on has thrown all of Rainbow’s End into chaos!
Soon, Auggie and friends hatch a plan to collect the Tattle-Tails and bring them safely to the Stables—foiling a pair of evil bank robbers along the way. [goodreads]

My Review

This beautiful book is pitched at the confident chapter book reader, but probably on the younger side. It would be a lovely book to read to a younger person, say five and up.

The Fabled Stables are a wonderful invention, just right for children who love animals but like a bit of fun and fantasy to go with them. In this tale, there are two problem animals: the squidgy lump who doesn’t seem to do anything, and the tattle-tails, who are hilarious. And very irritating if one of them happens to attach itself to you, because it calls out anything you’ve done wrong.

It’s not only a cracking tale, it’s beautifully illustrated, as you can see from the cover. Most pages have an illustration to accompany the plot. The font changes for the main speakers, which will help a younger child keep track of who’s who. The words are alliterative or rhyming without it being poetry. Just right for kids to repeat with a giggle. Beautifully put together. A treat for any adult who has to read it over and over again to their young person.

I may even buy the set for my great-nieces and nephew.

Book Review | Trouble with Tattle-Tails @JonathanAuxier 'It's not only a cracking tale, it's beautifully illustrated' I'm looking forward to reading it to my great-nieces and nephew! @abramskids #FabledStables #kidlit Share on X