Book Buddies: Marco Polo Brave Explorer

Can an intrepid toy mouse help a child venture out of his comfort zone? Book Two of an endearing illustrated series about friendly library toys and the children who borrow them.

Marco Polo is a retired Christmas ornament, but in his mind he is a great mouse explorer. Because he’s tiny and likely to be lost, he is the least-borrowed of the Book Buddies—toys that children can check out of the library just like a book—and he almost never leaves the library. But the little mouse finally meets the right match in Seth, a boy who is about to attend his first sleepover. If Seth were to bring the stuffed bunny he usually sleeps with, he’d risk being teased, but Marco Polo is the perfect size to hide away in his sleeping bag. Are both boy and mouse in for an unexpected adventure? Charmingly illustrated and offering a window into the secret life of toys (including a suspenseful glimpse at where all the household’s lost toys go), Marco Polo Brave Explorer explores common fears and quiet bravery and will leave readers eager for the next episode in the Book Buddies series.

“Lord's engaging narrative is well-attuned to the concerns of readers who find comfort in stuffed animals. . . . An appealing addition to the Book Buddies series. --Booklist The series' second title gently explores children's fears and sensitivities. The message of empathy is reinforced by Graegin's soothingly retro art. . . . A charming balm for anxious small fry. --Kirkus Reviews Sweet and sincere, the 'Book Buddies' series is best suited to pre-ironic children ages 5-7. Cynics need not apply. --The Wall Street Journal”

Lord’s engaging narrative is well-attuned to the concerns of readers who find comfort in stuffed animals. . . . An appealing addition to the Book Buddies series.
—Booklist

The series’ second title gently explores children’s fears and sensitivities. The message of empathy is reinforced by Graegin’s soothingly retro art. . . . A charming balm for anxious small fry.
—Kirkus Reviews

Sweet and sincere, the ‘Book Buddies’ series is best suited to pre-ironic children ages 5-7. Cynics need not apply.
—The Wall Street Journal

Cynthia Lord is the author of award-winning middle-grade fiction. Her titles include Book Buddies: Ivy Lost and Found, the Newbery Honor Book Rules, Touch Blue, Half a Chance, A Handful of Stars, Because of the Rabbit, and other books for young readers. Cynthia Lord lives in Maine.

Stephanie Graegin is the author-illustrator of Little Fox in the Forest and the illustrator of many other books, including Book Buddies: Ivy Lost and Found by Cynthia Lord, You Were the First by Patricia MacLachlan, and Water in the Park by Emily Jenkins. Stephanie Graegin lives in Brooklyn.

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