With a deft, lively text from Nathaniel Lachenmeyer and eye-popping, painterly art by Simini Blocker, The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales is the perfect read for kids who love a good yarn―and good comics! A genie just wants a chance to grant a wish to the frog who accidentally let him out of his lamp―meanwhile, the frog just wants to be left alone. A witch is tormented by the cheerful (and awful) singing of a persistent bard, but when she finally snaps and turns him into a rock, he just keeps on singing―somehow the power of terrible music overcomes all magic. A wizard wants a pet. An ogre just wants to make beautiful art. Four original, wry, and utterly charming fairy tales comprise this new collection for young readers. "These wry and charming tales of the power of persistence will delight readers with lively text and expressive art. It's a great addition to elementary and middle school graphic collections."- School Library Journal "In this comics-format collection of four original fairy tales, Lachenmeyer and Blocker play with universal themes of identity, truth, and joy using a distinctly droll tone.... Blocker's illustrations enhance the absurdist nature of Lachenmeyer's stories, and her expert control of facial expression and body language add a layer of slapstick, which heightens the collection's comedic sensibility.... These fairy tales are sure to entertain."- Publishers Weekly "The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales makes with the magic this summer.... You can't use adjectives like 'brand-new' and not deliver, so it's a good thing writer, Nathaniel Lachenmeyer, and artist, Simini Blocker, do.... Just in time for summer, it's a quick read but one where the fun doesn't have to stop with the last page."- Comiccon "In this charming book of fairy-tales, there is a fun surprise for every type of reader. There's a frog who can't get away from a voracious genie and a witch who ends up seeing her spell backfire. Then there's a series of fun and whimsical stories about a parrot that surprises his new owner with very specific vocabulary, and one about an ogre determined to truly see himself as art no matter how many artists it takes to make it happen. Broken up into four distinct stories, this collection brings chuckles and surprises along the way. Even though all the stories are illustrated by the same artist, they all have their own distinct personality and style. The beautiful, richly colored stories bring the characters and their adventures to life, with some stories relying on traditional paneling while others take a more freewheeling approach. A cute and welcome addition to the fairy-tale genre that will have young readers laughing with delight at the misadventures of all of the charming characters."- Booklist Nathaniel Lachenmeyer is an award-winning author of books for children and adults. Nathaniel’s children’s books include Broken Beaks , The Origami Master , and Octopus Escapes! He has a lifelong love of fairy tales. Simini Blocker has worked on several middle-grade and YA titles, including Almost Midnight , and the My So-Called Superpowers series. When not illustrating, she loves experimenting with embroidery, traveling as much as possible, and collecting too many stationary supplies.