This is a sponsored post in honor of the Mightier than the Sword awareness tour, with The Children’s Book Review, Drew Callander, and Alana Harrison. All opinions are always my own.
Mightier Than the Sword by Drew Callander and Alana Harrison, and illustrated by Ryan Andrews, is an interactive middle grade novel that lets YOU be the hero of the story. As you read, you get to write and draw and be part of the story. This sounds like the perfect book for creative kids and/or those who don’t necessarily love to read! I’ll have a review of the sequel next month, but today, I’m sharing a fun book list, featuring the first book!
Four Fun & Interactive Books for Young Readers
One: Mightier than the Sword by Drew Callandar and Alana Harrison
Mightier than the Sword is written in second-person, so YOU, are definitely a character throughout. You are also able to use a pencil to write and draw and help make the story come alive. It’s almost like a choose your own adventure story, but readers get an even bigger role.
Two: Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster
Know any teen (or older) Jane Austen fans? Lost in Austen is a more grown up version of Choose Your Own Adventure, except it brings all the Jane Austen novels together. I love that it’s not just a Choose Your Own Adventure Pride and Prejudice, etc. Oh no, you get to mix and match all sorts of famous Austen characters and settings through this read!
Three: Dragonology by Dugald A. Steer, Ernest Drake, Wayne Anderson (Illustrator), Helen Ward (Illustrator), Douglas Carrel (Illustrator)
This book is set up as if a real dragonologist is sharing his research and findings. I love that it’s essentially a touch and feel, lift-the-flap, type of book except it isn’t for babies! According to Goodreads, it includes the following:
— Novelty item on every spread, including tactile samples of dragon wings, dragon scales, and dragon skin
— Booklet of dragon riddles (indispensable to the burgeoning dragonologist)
— Sealed envelope containing a powerful dragon-calling spell
— Embossed faux leather cover with silver foil, encrusted with three dragon gems
Personally, I think more books should have touch and feel elements. I mean, come on! How fun would that be?
Four: The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base
This book is about the birthday party of Horace, the elephant. Someone has eaten the birthday feast and now readers must use the rhyming text and illustrations to figure out who! I love the idea of a mystery that puts readers in the detective’s shoes. Can you figure out who ate all the food?
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Would you – or someone you know – read any of these interactive books? What do you love about interactive stories?
Giveaway Time!
Enter for a chance to win a Mightier Than the Sword prize pack!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
A hardcover copy of Mightier Than the Sword
A hardcover copy of Mightier Than the Sword: The Edge of the Word
A paperback copy of Mightier Than the Sword
A personalized video message from Manteau—the lovable French stoat
Three (3) winners receive:
A paperback copy of Mightier Than the Sword
A hardcover copy of Mightier Than the Sword: The Edge of the Word
Five (5) winners receive:
A paperback copy of Mightier Than the Sword
The giveaway begins November 16, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends December 16, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
Ooh; that’s interesting about Lost in Austen. I would enjoy mixing some of her characters!
Oooh I wonder if my nephew would like these.
These look great! My son read Mightier Than the Sword and loved it! It was so different!
Interactive books are so fun!
Interesting that Mightier Than the Sword is told in second-person POV. The artwork in The Eleventh Hour looks amazing!
Mightier Than the Sword sounds really cool. My kiddo would love being able to write and draw in a book to be part of the story themself!
Lost in Austen sounds fab!
looks cute
Who wouldn’t love an interactive Jane Austen book this Christmas! I’m thinking of indulging myself actually. I used to love choose your own adventure books when I was young. I remember The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base when I was in primary school, I think I was around eight or so when it was released and being an Australian author, I love seeing this one on the list. Highly recommended!
Oh my gosh, I NEED the Lost In Austen book and I can actually think of a few people who might also enjoy it 🙂
I enjoyed doing the Lost in Austen choose your own adventure-style book. They all look good.
I am entering for my hubby and yes he loves interactive books, and I know he would love these.
@tisonlyme143
Darn, that 1st comment was for another post, not for my hubby LOLL, .. I was going to delete it but I can’t ‘oops.. Anyway’ I don’t mind the grandchildren having interactive books and mostly they usually choose the books that they like, each one has their own style.
@tisonlyme143
[…] might remember that I recently wrote a post about 4 Interactive Books for Young Readers, and I included Mightier Than the Sword by Drew Callander and Alana Harrison. Well, today, […]