Short books are the reader’s friend. You get to read and not take a long time doing it. You accomplish something. And honestly, sometimes those “little wins” mean a whole lot. That’s one reason why I like children’s books. Not only are they fun, neat and good stories, they can be ways to entertain yourself when you don’t have a lot of time to spend on something longer. Recently, I needed some quick reads to clear the mind of the serious books I was reading and I needed something that could be done at lunch that wouldn’t make me have an icky tummy while reading/eating.
Frank the Monster by Mats Strandberg and illustrator Sofia Falkenhem was the first easier read. It is currently available and I read it via a physical copy. The story is familiar with themes of family, friendship and more coming together with a young boy and the changes of growing up being not “the same” as others. The newer element is that Frank Stein, his mother Mary, father Shel and brother Oliver, live in a town where a monster is stalking it. Only Frank knows that the “monster” is really him after being bitten by his neighbor’s dog, Woof. So, of course, even though Frank is a shifter and not a were-woof, he still must deal with being Other and outwitting the hunters when all he wants is a tummy rub. With an open ending, the other books in the series will continue the fun of Frank as he explores his new world. (The US editions will be out in later summer and fall 2026, though they probably are available in Sweden.). The illustrations are nice, nothing overly fancy. Minimal details and colors, leaning towards blue. 
The other book was Maud and the Very Eventful Week (The Adventures of Maud the Vampire) by Lisa Anchin. It came out the end of July-early August 2026, I read via an online reader. I might not purchase a copy for myself then, but I will be talking to others to find a copy. It is a very basic book. In some ways it reminds me of classical stories like Little Bear and Frog and Toad, only it’s about a little girl who is a vampire, with two wolfy named brothers, a vampire dad and Victorian headless ghost mother. The book has a chapter for each day of the week (I think my favorite was the day she found a tooth as it was just one page, and the adult me found that funny). Kids will have fun watching potions blow up, Maude being a friend and all the adventures she has written as an All Knowing Narrator in a journal like form. Illustrations are a little busy, but not overwhelming. It has an old fashioned tone, with modern elements, this is a sweet and silly book.
