Twin Book Babies Are Born!

Guest Post by Josh Funk

Today, October 27th, 2020 is a pretty special day for me. Two books, for which I wrote the words, are being released (amazingly, they’re my 14th and 15th books! eek!).

WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY? A STORY OF PATIENCE & FORTITUDE illustrated by Stevie Lewis

and

IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD illustrated by Edwardian Taylor.

These twins are not identical. But like all twins, these two do have some things in common:

Both books are sequels of sorts.

WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY? is the second book in the A Story of Patience & Fortitude series, following up 2018’s LOST IN THE LIBRARY.

IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD is the third book in the It’s Not a Fairy Tale series, following up 2019’s IT’S NOT HANSEL AND GRETEL and 2017’s IT’S NOT JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.

Both books feature characters that aren’t entirely my own.

In WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY?, the protagonists are Patience and Fortitude, the intrepid lion statues that guard the New York Public Library’s front steps on Fifth Avenue. I did not make them up or give them names. They are real statues and were (re)named Patience and Fortitude nearly one hundred years ago.

In IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, the protagonist is Little Red Riding Hood, a character whose story has a long history throughout European storytelling (for what it’s worth, the Grimms didn’t “make her up” either).

Both books are brilliantly illustrated.

WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY? is illustrated by Stevie Lewis. Her art is brilliant.

IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD is illustrated by Edwardian Taylor. His art is hilarious.

Both books have ISBN numbers beginning with 978.

WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY?’s ISBN is 978-1250241405.

IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD’s ISBN is 978-1542006668.

(you know, in case you wanted to order one or request that your library purchase one or something)

Both books are of the fantasy/adventure variety.

In WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY?, Patience and Fortitude venture all over Manhattan one night looking for their missing library books.

In IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, Little Red ventures through the woods to her grandmother’s house (despite her objections to the narrator’s directions) only to find that Captain Hook has taken her place (the wolf was sick, so Captain Hook filled in).

Both books are eligible for awards.

WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY? has been shortlisted for the [insert award here] award and IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD has garnered lots of buzz the [insert award here] medal.

Both books involve two lions.

WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY? features statues of two lions. IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD was published by Two Lions Publishing.

Both books include cameos by the Ugly Duckling.

In WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY?, Patience and Fortitude visit a statue of Hans Christian Andersen in Central Park to ask for help in finding their library books. This statue of Andersen is sitting on a bench (which is a real statue in Central Park) sits beside a small statue of one of his most beloved characters, The Ugly Duckling.

In IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, illustrator Edwardian Taylor has added a plethora of characters from fairy tales and fables to the background scenery, including The Ugly Duckling, which can be found on the copyright page.

Both books have deep dark secrets.

Just kidding. Neither has a dark secret. They’re both fun and lighthearted romps.

Other than that, the books are completely different. But they’re both available now! I hope you enjoy them!

Josh Funk is a software engineer and the author of books like the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, the It’s Not a Fairy Tale series, the How to Code with Pearl and Pascal series, the A Story of Patience & Fortitude series, Dear Dragon, Pirasaurs!, Albie Newton, and more.

His two newest books, WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY? and IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD both come out today!

For more information about Josh Funk, visit him at www.joshfunkbooks.com and on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @joshfunkbooks.