*Highlighting up and coming illustrators and authors from independent publishing houses and self-publishers*

Please reach out to MaiStoryBook through Instagram, FB, or by commenting on my blog, and *share or tag* books, authors, or illustrators who would fit into this category of independent/self publishing! I’m excited for the wonders we will find!

Now without further ado~

This week’s featured fantasy~*fungi* finds:

Spiderella by Romey Petite and Laurel Holden

Published by Romey Petite and Laurel Holden: Self-Published

~ A young girl trapped to sew day and night~ with some special eight-legged friends, whom may cause a fright. A prince to be married who’s dull and drab, just may be Eleanor’s ticket to freedom  with her compass, quilt, and map. ~ A clever twist on this classic Cinderella fairytale, *Spiderella* enchants young readers by weaving a web of magic, friendship, and courage. Locked away in the attic, Eleanor designs and sews gorgeous, lavish dresses for her demanding boss, Minerva. Trapped, Eleanor is determined to use her traveling father’s secret gifts, and the help of her eight-legged friends, to escape to freedom and start on an adventure of her own. Along the way, she runs into some royal friends who may have more in common with her than she thinks. Be prepared for a new *spin* on a fairytale classic.

This 200 page illustrated tale is perfect for an extended read aloud~ each day you can read the next part to your little one~ they will adore a week full of this magical adventure! The text is evenly distributed throughout the pages, and accompanied by lively watercolor illustrations that capture the eye and are sure to hold children’s attention as you read through the story. The soft, watercolor pastels create a fantasy world of wonder~easily sweeping you away into a land of elaborate balls and grand castles. Plus, Spiderella features a strong, independent female lead~ the perfect modern-day princess role model for your little ones!

A bit more about the Author and Illustrator: Romey Petite and Laurel Holden

Author Romey Petite enjoys traveling along the east coast, writing in coffeeshops and sitting near picture windows. Illustrator Laurel Holden enjoys writing secret notes in code and reading books upside down and backwards. Petite and Holden met in 2011 while studying in Vermont. Both lovers of whimsy and fairytales, they collaborated to create *Spiderella: The Girl Who Spoke with Spiders.* The original draft was actually published as Holden’s Senior Thesis. The pages of this book were posted, one at a time, at spiderellastory.com until the artwork was completed. To learn more, follow them on Instagram @thespiderella.

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The Sock Monster by Linda Lokhee

Published by Cilento Publishing: mentors authors through the self-publishing process to produce professional quality print and ebooks

~The mysterious case of the *missing socks,* once they go into the laundry machine… they never come out~ Where they go, nobody knows, *until now.*  Meet Ike, the sock monster, who loves to creep at night, taking just one sock, not the other, since *a pair is no fun!* ~Socks of all sorts of patterns, and all sorts of textures, sizes and styles and colors galore~* But socks aren’t friends, and Ike is lonely. That is, until one day he is caught sock-in-hand, by none other than the sock-owner himself, little Tim! Can a friendship be forged between a sock monster and young boy? With a little bit of kindness and a sprinkle of faith, even sock monsters don’t need to steal socks when they have a best friend.

This rhyming read aloud introduces a brand new character, *The Sock Monster,” who is sure to win over the imaginations and hearts of little ones. The full-page illustrations make the scenes pop with bursts of colors, and the facial expressions portray different emotions with clarity. This tale portrays the main ideas of loneliness and the power of friendship, in a new way bound to engage the little ones. Plus, for those scared of monsters, this story brings to life the *friendly* monsters full of light-hearted mischief and willing to play!

A bit more about the Author: Linda Lokhee

Every since she was a little girl, Linda Lokhee dreamed of becoming a published author~ And now she is!! Congratulations!!! Linda is currently a primary school teacher in Australia. She loves working with children, and especially enjoys their laughter and creativity. She looks forward to sharing her book with all of the children of the world. To learn more, visit her site, lindalokhee.com and follow her on Instagram: @lindalokheeauthor.

Check here to find this book for your own home library!

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We Are Fungi by Christine Nishiyama

Published by Might Could Studios: Self-publishing company founded by Nishiyama that focuses on creating books about life and science

Fungus~ that black, green, squishy icky stuff on the base of the tree ~or those rows of looming red-ish, polka-dot mushrooms growing in the woods. Well, we’ve seen them, and we’ve felt them, and we’ve even *eaten* some of them, but~ What are fungi?? Well, let’s hear from some fungi themselves. In *We Are Fungi,* the fungi in the woods narrate a tale of their lives, their names and their actions, their preferences and their characteristics. ~Everything you wanted to know about fungi, told in a beautifully illustrated, life-science themed children’s book~ From slithering and sliding, from delighting to displeasing, these fungi have a ton to unload and share with you and your little one.

This is the perfect book to plan for another Fall/Winter nature walk with your child. Search for the mushrooms and fungus crawling over the roots of the trees. Stop to appreciate the fall leaves, and the nature and life that surround us daily. The vibrant, warm colored illustrations will have your feet itching and nose twitching to be out in the world, exploring on foot and breathing in the crisp, cool autumn air. In *We Are Fungi,* Author and Illustrator Nishiyama stikes the perfect balance between teaching and introducing life-science concepts, while keeping the engagement levels and interests of young children focused and purposeful. I’ve never been more enchanted by fungi, than when delving into this sweet little masterpiece. Definitely a book to share with science teachers and lovers~ I can absolutely see myself reading and using this book with my own 2nd grade classroom.

A bit more about the Author: Christine Nishiyama

Christine Nishiyama is an author and illustrator from Atlanta, Georgia. She has written and illustrated picture books, graphic novels, and comic stories. She has also authored essays, and has taught art courses to help others share their own stories through art and creation. Her stories often skew towards more nonfiction themes, yet, she often presents both fiction and nonfiction side by side. To learn more about Nishiyama, visit her site at  mightcouldstudios.com, and follow her on Instagram: @might_could.

Check here to find this book for your own home library!

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*~Support these independent/self-published authors and illustrators and check out what they’ve been writing and creating.  Please share any books, authors, or illustrators that fit into this category by tagging me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary,  posting on MaiStoryBook’s FaceBook page, or commenting on the blog below! I’m always looking for new treasures to read, support, and share with all of you!~*

*Plus, checkout out an interactive  read aloud of aThanksgiving Feast tale   here. *

*~Until Next Time, Happy Reading~*