Fae and the Moon

This cozy graphic novel fairy tale by Aureliani (Peach and the Isle of Monsters) and twin animators and comics illustrators the Satruns examines grief through the lens of a winsome protagonist embarking on creature-filled adventures. Still reeling from the death of her mother, red-haired, pale-skinned Fae finds comfort in her companions, a talking white rabbit named Percival and gray mice named Frik and Frak, who help her maintain her mother’s garden. But the vivid dreams she has of her mother convince Fae that the woman is still alive, stalling her grieving process. Desperate to reunite with her mom, Fae builds a ladder out of tree branches and plucks the moon from the sky, hoping that doing “something so big she just has to notice” will prompt her mother’s return. But Fae’s theft lures villainous creatures to her door. Suddenly being pursued by the Rat King, Fae struggles to keep the moon captive while uncovering secrets from her mother’s past and encountering betrayal at every turn. The Satruns enliven Aureliani’s familiar character arcs and stakes with brightly colored illustrations rendered in soft lines reminiscent of wide-eyed, Disney-esque protagonists. Easy-to-follow panels and concise dialogue conjure an epic quest that provides audiences with a handy stepping stone into larger fantasy worlds. Ages 8–12. Agent: Marie Lamba, Jennifer De Chiara Literary. (Feb.)