Description: From Newbery Honor-winning author Erin Bow, a timeless tale of friendship and magic, delivered in a stunning, collectible package--first in a new series.
Homeward Bound meets The Odyssey with the charm of Studio Ghibli in this instant classic for 8-to-12-year-olds about magical animals on a quest to find their lost witch. Once upon a time there was a pair of witch's helpers: a cat named Butter and a raven named Owl. The cat knows he is destined to be a great hero--just ask him. The raven wouldn't recognize destiny if she flew into it beak-first. They do not get along. But then their witch vanishes, and Butter and Owl must quest to find her. To reunite their family, they'll have to outwit sirens and cyclops, gods and ghosts--and hardest of all, they'll have to learn to work together. Humorous and heartfelt, the story of Butter and Owl's first adventure shows what it means to be a great hero--and what it takes to be a good friend. With enchanting illustrations by New York Times best-seller Kelly Murphy and sparkling words written by beloved, Newbery Honor-winning author Erin Bow, this tale is a classic in the making--a whimsical, witty, and warm story worthy of reading again and again.Review Quotes: Praise for Witchward Bound: A Butter and Owl Adventure by Erin Bow
"With cozy charm and humor, heroic quests in a magical world, and deep insights on friendship and acceptance, discovering Butter and Owl's adventures feels like stepping into Narnia for the first time. What a gift!" -- Wendy Mass, New York Times best-selling author of The Candy Makers and coauthor of The Lost Library "I'd bet my house that Witchward Bound has a heroic destiny of its own, certain to join the pantheon of books beloved by both children and adults along with Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Wind and the Willows. In this tale of Butter the cat (weighty in more ways than one) and Owl the raven (flighty in more ways than one) who undertake an odd-couple odyssey to find their missing witch, Erin Bow weaves pure magic. Told with heart, humor, and sparkling worldplay, this is a story to share over and over." -- Jan Flynn, author of Griffin Speaker "Bow displays a knack for giving her characters a winning mix of animal and human qualities; her prose is elegant and inviting, her plotting superb." -- Kirkus, starred review "Wry language and tongue-in-cheek humor relay an energetic escapade elevated by whimsical illustrations with a Garth Williams vibe." -- Publishers Weekly"Threading the narrative with clever asides and inventive mythological references...A deliciously playful tale best described as creative homage to The Odyssey, or perhaps even as Homeric fan fiction." -- Kirkus
Praise for Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow A Newbery Honor Book
Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature
A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book
An Audie Award Finalist
Winner of the 2023 CYBILS Award for Middle Grade Fiction
Winner of the 2024-2025 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
An Indie Next Selection
A National Education Association's Read Across America Recommendation
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2023
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2023
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2023
A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2023
A Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Book
A Chicago Public Library Kids Best of the Best Book
A Bank Street College 2024 Best Book of the Year (with a star for outstanding merit)
A 2023-2024 Project LIT Book Club Pick
An Amazon Editors' Pick January 2023 "Funny, poignant and--most important--hopeful." --The New York Times "A remarkable achievement." --Ali Benjamin, New York Times best-selling and National Book Award-nominated author of The Thing About Jellyfish "Fast-paced and full of quirky characters, Simon Sort of Says presents a tragedy stitched up with humor, sensitivity, and rare humanity." --Jack Gantos, Newbery Award-winning author of Dead End in Norvelt "This book is as close to everything as one book can be." --Kyle Lukoff, Newbery Honor-winning, Stonewall Award-winning, and National Book Award-nominated author of Too Bright to See ★ "Adroit, sensitive, horrifying, yet hilarious." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review ★ "Compassionate and refreshingly hopeful." --Publishers Weekly, starred review ★ "Bow's storytelling brims with vitality." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review "A near-perfect novel." --Shelf Awareness "[Masterful] . . . funny and heartfelt in equal measure." --School Library Journal "Heartwarming, heartbreaking and, it must be said, hilarious." --National Catholic Reporter