Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: December 6th

Gustaf Tenggren’s illustrations bring everything to life with that unmistakable vintage style: soft lines, warm colors, and a cozy feel that makes every page inviting. My son loved pointing out all the little details, especially the moments where the poky puppy notices things the others miss.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: November 29th

What I love is how Hutchins manages to take a concept that could be confusing for young readers—how and why clocks don’t always match—and turns it into a playful mystery. The illustrations are classic Hutchins: clean, engaging, and full of little visual details that make rereading a treat. The pacing is light, the humor gentle, and the payoff at the end is just the right kind of satisfying.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: November 22nd

What I appreciated most is how the book doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. It’s pure humor, no apologies. Whether it’s a joke about golf or a punchline about kids, the tone is light, accessible, and designed for sharing—either with friends or keeping to yourself for a private chuckle. As a guy who lives in the world of dad-jokes and pun hunts, I found this book to be a perfect companion

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: November 15th

McCreedy’s writing has this wonderful rhythm—clever, warm, and just spooky enough to keep it exciting without ever being too much. The dialogue sparkles, the settings are vividly drawn, and Liberty herself is a fantastic heroine: curious, brave, and full of heart. She’s exactly the kind of character young readers can see themselves in—and the kind adults can’t help but root for.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: November 8th

Reading it again reminded me why I loved it so much as a kid: it’s a story about friendship, forgiveness, and using your gifts for good—all wrapped up in a fun, imaginative adventure. And watching my kids light up (pun intended) as we turned the pages brought it full circle.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: November 1st

As someone who loves comics, cartoons, and anything that celebrates humor in art, this book instantly hit that sweet nostalgic note for me. It’s a reminder of how much energy and storytelling can live inside a single, well-drawn line.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: October 25th

What I love most is how Marvels reminds you that wonder, fear, and inspiration all go hand in hand. It’s about the people behind the headlines, and what it means to live in a world full of gods, monsters, and miracles.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: October 18th

What I love most about A Hero Reborn is how it balances heart and heroism. It’s not just about punching bad guys—it’s about finding your place in a world that doesn’t slow down for you. Tim Drake embodies that perfectly, and by the end, you can’t help but root for him as he earns his cape and mask.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: October 11th

The illustrations by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu are bright and full of movement, perfectly matching the rhythm and excitement of the text. We stopped on nearly every page to look closer at the butterflies and talk about what was happening. It’s always fun when a book becomes both a story and a mini science lesson without feeling like one.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: October 4th

Marc Brown’s illustrations are just as charming as I remembered—full of little details that make each page fun to linger over. And while Arthur’s world feels familiar and safe, the story also gently teaches about courage, kindness, and not letting fear get the best of you.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: September 27th

Sometimes you just need a book that makes you laugh out loud—and Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy delivers exactly that. Dav Pilkey is a master at mixing silliness, action, and a dash of toilet humor into something kids can’t put down (and adults can’t help but chuckle at too).

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: September 20th

Carrie Brownell’s The Golden Hour is a heartwarming and beautifully crafted story, one that feels both timeless and gently new. It invites young readers (and those young at heart) into a magical moment tucked into an ancient hall, where carved angels hide a secret light and an ordinary Christmas becomes extraordinary.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: September 13th

What I love is how this bedtime parody pokes affectionate fun at our modern habits—with perfect gentle humor and beautifully playful illustrations. It reminds us to hit pause, unplug, and reclaim that old-fashioned, glowing warmth of analog bedtime.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: September 6th

Reading Cast Into Twilight after talking with Keller Marie gave me a deeper appreciation for her creativity and vision. It’s suspenseful, mysterious, and leaves you eager for the next installment. If you enjoy survival fantasy with a fresh edge, this is one to put on your list.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: August 30th

When I was a kid, our school library had the full Tintin series—or at least I thought it did. Every album was there on the shelf… except Tintin and the Picaros. For years, it was the elusive missing piece of the collection, the one story I never got to read. Fast forward to now, and I finally sat down with it for the first time. And let me tell you—there’s something pretty special about getting a “new” Tintin adventure as an adult.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: August 23rd

The story follows the eccentric inventor Septimus Bean and his mysterious “amazing machine.” No one knows what it’s supposed to do—including Septimus himself. Naturally, this leads to confusion, criticism, and ultimately, a wonderfully unexpected discovery. The beauty of the book is that it celebrates curiosity, persistence, and the idea that not everything has to have a clear purpose right away to be worthwhile.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: August 16th

One of the joys of revisiting this book is seeing Hergé lean fully into his late-series flair for eccentricity. The stakes are high—hostage situations, volcanic islands, secret tunnels—and yet, between Allan’s thuggish antics and Haddock’s volcanic temper, it’s impossible not to chuckle. And then there’s Laszlo Carreidas, the ultra-rich tycoon whose paranoid, penny-pinching quirks make him an instant classic in the Tintin cast.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: August 9th

The adventure begins when opera diva Bianca Castafiore descends upon Captain Haddock’s estate. From there, a missing emerald, eccentric paparazzi, paparazzo mix‑ups, a persistent broken step, and a mischievous magpie turn everything into a comedy of red herrings. Yet the real brilliance is Hergé’s genius at building suspense from nothingness—with a perfectly structured farce reminiscent of classic stage comedy.

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: August 2nd

What makes this book so magic is its cumulative structure—each page builds on the last, and kids love predicting what comes next. The gentle rhymes and artful illustrations by Don Wood create the perfect sleepy rhythm, followed by a surprise that snaps the whole house—and you—wide awake

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Barney Smith Barney Smith

Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: July 26th

The book is small in size but big in charm. Told from the perspective of a wise owl, it gently walks young readers through what makes her special—how she flies silently at night, cares for her chicks, and lives a life quite different from the birds we usually see during the day. The story is simple, sweet, and quietly empowering.

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