Forsynthia: Rise of the Cupcakes
A Children's Book Council Summer 2024 Showcase: Imagination Celebration! Pick
In Forsynthia: Rise of the Cupcakes, the first installment in a brand new funny and fun-loving early reader graphic novel series, author-illustrator Rachel DiNunzio introduces us to Forsynthia, a young dragon, and her family, and puts them in all sorts of adventures that blend science, fantasy, mystery, and fun.
Forsynthia and her little sister Daisy bake their Mom (a scientist for the Secret Magical Bureau) cupcakes for her birthday. But they all get more than they bargained for when a cupcake merges with the magical artifact Mom has been studying and a villainous mega-cupcake forms, multiplies, and then attempts to take over their town of New Harmony! Will Forsynthia and family capture Megacupcake, save mayor Loren, put stop to the chaos, and save the day?
"Action-packed! Cupcake-packed!! Jetpack-packed!!! It's better than 'Great Things to Do in 1982.' Way better!!!! You'll see!" - Tom Angleberger, author-illustrator of New York Times bestselling Origami Yoda series
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"Action-packed! Cupcake-packed!! Jetpack-packed!!! It's better than 'Great Things to Do in 1982.' Way better!!!! You'll see!"
- Tom Angleberger, author-illustrator of New York Times bestselling Origami Yoda series, Flytrap Files, DJ Funkfoot and more
"A typical day with their mother proves extraordinary for Forsynthia Smoke and her younger sister Daisy in this cheery series debut by DiNunzio (Scarlet's Symphony). Forsynthia and her family are dragons, one of many mythical and anthropomorphic creatures living in the city of New Harmony. Her mother works for the Secret Magic Bureau, which is responsible for investigating strange magical objects and inventions. When a mysterious crystal is delivered to their mother's home lab, the siblings go on a series of "errands" with mom to S.M.B. research libraries and supply warehouses hidden behind city storefronts. Upon returning home to make cupcakes with Nana, chaos ensues, forcing Forsynthia and her sister to work together to save the mayor-and all of New Harmony-from a confectionary disaster. While the pacing is occasionally sluggish, minimal backgrounds, cartoon-style drawings, and a muted palette of yellows, reds, blues, and purples craft an inventive and absorbing origin story. Swift yet simple action sequences convey low-stakes conflict, and Forsynthia's fourth wall-breaking narration and enthusiasm for her mother's research are refreshing and endearing."
- Publishers Weekly
"An inventive and absorbing origin story."
- Publishers Weekly
"[Kids will] enjoy the goofy gadgets and silly cupcakes-talking food is always good for a laugh."
- No Flying No Tights
"As if James Bond teamed up with dragons who were Encyclopedia Brown and had magical cupcakes!"
- Cannonballread
