When you read as much as I do, things can start to look and feel similar; especially with children’s books. Usually I just think, “That reminds me of something” but try not to dwell too much on it, otherwise I’ll be as nutty as people think I am! And when I tried two online reader copies recently they seemed familiar but honestly didn’t raise any alarms (mostly because the familiar was more the age levels and less the look or story). Only when I was trying to confirm the spelling of their name did I realize that Kaeti Vandorn and I are old reading friends.
First, I was looking up Vandorn and Friends as my keywords and found Monster Friends: (A Graphic Novel) and realized I had read that awhile back. Then I saw Friends in the Dark (I Like to Read Comics) and said, “Hey! I know you, author! I didn’t realize they were both you.” Then, Wiggler’s Big Joke (I Like to Read Comics) title came up. Well, I’ll be! I have read that too! Later I found out she is also the author of Crabapple Trouble and yup, read it! The differences between Vandorn’s titles is when they were or will be published. Friends in the Dark is due January 2027. Wiggler’s Big Joke (I Like to Read Comics) came out January 2026 and Monster Friends is all the way from 2021, with Crabapple Trouble the year before.
I’ll start with Friends as it is the one I liked the best. It is a cute story about what happens at night, how friends help each other and the “take it slow once in a while” theme. There are a few chapters, a slow and steady flow to things. And is a good way for beginning readers to start reading solo, have a little help and for most ages (under 7) to have read to them. Cute images that are sweet, not too busy or underbusy and just fit things. It is a cozy, little “spooky” (but not scary, after all it is set at night) and just fun.
Wiggler’s Big Joke is meant to be both funny (the jokes) and serious as Wiggler learns to “read the room” and pick up on those cues to when a joke (no matter how funny) should be told. Whereas Friends is a sweet, familiar look to things, Wiggler’s goes off the map and is as the publisher comment says, “candy-colored graphic novel.” It is whacky-do! Not to say it is bad, but I was not as taken with it. I do know, however, the right reader is going to love it. It has a lot of character (and characters) and it a good read for the right reader.
You can find the other two reviews from the provided links.
