Cornbread & Poppy
by Matthew Cordell; illus. by the author
Primary    Little, Brown    80 pp.    g
1/22    978-0-759-55487-0    $15.99
Paper ed.  978-0-759-55486-3    $6.99
e-book ed.  978-0-759-55484-9    $9.99

Cornbread & Poppy at the Carnival
by Matthew Cordell; illus. by the author
Primary    Little, Brown    80 pp.    g
6/22    978-0-759-55489-4    $15.99
Paper ed.  978-0-759-55490-0    $6.99
e-book ed.  978-0-316-16899-1    $9.99

In the first two books of a beginning reader series, Cordell (Wolf in the Snow, rev. 11/16; Bear Island, rev. 3/21) introduces two mice who are best friends sharing adventures. The series starter, Cornbread & Poppy, begins as a takeoff on Aesop’s “Ant and the Grasshopper,” with responsible Cornbread’s pantry stocked for winter and fun-loving Poppy facing shortages. The tale continues with a trek into the ­mountains — and a new (old) friend encounter. Carnival is slightly lower-stakes, ­centering on a carnival visit where Cornbread refuses to go on most of the rides. In each book, three short chapters set up, continue, and then resolve the friends’ manageable problems. Cordell’s pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are textured and appealing, supporting the texts and illuminating vocabulary that might be out of sight-word range for new readers building fluency. Words are occasionally lettered into the illustrations to heighten action (“SHRIEK!” and “SCREAM!” at the carnival) and give readers more to think about and explore. Cordell resists making the pals stock characters — sometimes Cornbread steps up to be the brave one and Poppy’s the one who’s nervous. With these two gentle and nuanced explorations of friendship, this duo is well set up for future outings.

From the March/April 2022 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.