Romance Friday: The Ugly Duckling Debutante by Rachel Van Dyken

The Ugly Duckling Debutante by Rachel Van Dyken was released in late September by Astraea Press which specializes in non-erotic romance. A lot of fairy tale romance is being published these days as new releases from big name publishers, rereleases of old titles to ebook format, and new books independently published for the first time (in other words, self-published). I've decided to highlight at least one of these titles every Friday for a while since they keep collecting on my lists. I'll categorize them with a romance tag.

Description from the publisher:

Since childhood Sara has lived with the reality of being ugly. Something her awful family never ceased to remind her. After her sisters run off to Gretna Green, she's left with one choice—go to London and take their place for a Season. It's up to her to marry well and save her family from financial ruin.

A distant aunt decides it’s in her best interest to sponsor Sara for the season and help her snag a husband by any means possible.

Nicholas Devons, Earl of Renwick, is a retired rake and consequently bored with life. He’s given up beautiful women and carnal pleasures. Desperation makes him decide to give his massive fortune away and marry the first country girl he sees.

Lucky for Sara she's that girl. Unlucky for Nicholas, he's to be her new tutor in the ways of the ton. Two waltzes, one masquerade, a violent carriage ride, and two duckless ponds later.... and all that's left is a fun twist on one of the oldest stories ever told.

New Release: Treasured Classics by Michael Hague

Treasured Classics by Michael Hague was released last week. Hague has been illustrating fairy tales for decades and I've always enjoyed his work. To be honest, I am not sure if this is a reprint or collection gleaned from previous work but the style is very consistent (Hague always is anyway) so I think it might be new. I can't find an answer online to that question. Either way, most of his fairy tale work is out of print so this is a new, clean, unused edition collecting fifteen tales. A lovely book I may have to add to my library, too. I own some of his other works but not enough to skip this one.

Description from the publisher:

Acclaimed illustrator Michael Hague brings his hallmark artistry to 15 classic stories that have delighted children for generations. From “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty” to “The Gingerbread Man” and “The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” each story is lush with detail and loaded with magic. A wealth of fable and fantasy, truly to be treasured.

Michael Hague has illustrated more than 20 children’s classics. He is also the artist for several popular books written by his wife, Kathleen. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Christian Jackson's Minimalist Fairy Tales

The following are minimalist fairy tale posters by Christian Jackson that are available for purchase. I love them. I think Princess and the Pea and Ugly Duckling are my favorites, but the subtlety of some of them, such as Goldilocks, warm me. There are others on his site, but I chose to stick with the traditional fairy tales here.

Rapunzel and the Seven Dwarfs by Willy Claflin

Rapunzel and the Seven Dwarfs: A Maynard Moose Tale by Willy Claflin and illustrated by James Stimson. I tried to find more images from this book for Youth Art Month, but alas, I didn't find any and I don't own the books themselves. They look like fun and Claflin is winning storyteller awards, but that is the extent of my current information.

Book description from the publisher:

“Once upon a time, a long, long, time ago...” So begins the story of... Rapunzel?... and The Seven, or Eight, or NINE dwarfs?!? Hey, what’s going on here??? Welcome to the slightly off-track world of Maynard Moose and the ancient Mother Moose tales. Willy Claflin channels and translates these tales for our entertainment and enlightenment—or maybe just to confuse us. Rapunzel and the Seven Dwarfs exemplifies the lesson in many of these stories “...That there ain’t no moral to some stories at all.” Fractured English is translated in the glossary at the front (under a tongue-in-cheek “Parental Warning”). The cast of characters seems oddly familiar, while the plot is ... well, plot is overrated. James Stimson’s delightful digital artwork brilliantly renders the details that add wit and substance to every page.

This is the second book in the Maynard Moose Series by Clayfin. The first was The Uglified Ducky.

Book description from the publisher:

You may think you know the story of the Ugly Duckling, but think again. In the capable hands of his alter ego Maynard Moose, storyteller Willy Claflin takes us on a wacky journey where this Uglified Ducky, a hapless young moose, "blunders away" from his home, is mistaken for a baby duck, and endures endless humiliation as he tries to learn to waddle, quack, swim, and fly. Eventually, he finds his true "fambly," who helps him discover his own beauty. In his fractured English, translated in the glossary at front, Maynard relays a surprisingly tender story that echoes the original tale's theme of the struggle to belong. The Uglified Ducky's quest is playfully but sympathetically interpreted in James Stimson's luminous, droll gouache illustrations.

More releases from Willy Claflin: