The Fabled Stables: Willa the Wisp

Auggie has a wonderful job at the Fabled Stables taking care of one-of-a-kind creatures. Some are magical and mysterious while others are just weird! He feeds them every morning with his magical Horn of Plenty. They roam the island freely because there were no cages or leashes.

Unfortunately, Auggie is the only boy on the island, and he is lonely. Despite his animal friend Fen, which was a thing called a Stick-in-the-Mud, Auggie yearns for friends. He tries to engage the mysterious Miss Bundt in conversation, but she is busy working. He wonders about Professor Cake, the elderly and reclusive owner of the island.

One day, the stables suddenly shake, shudder, twitch and sputter. What has happened? When Auggie investigates, he finds a new stall in the stables. Instead of a wall, the new stall looks out into a murky swamp. “It was like a window to another world – someplace far, far away.” (p. 29) A sign over the gate reads “wisp”. Auggie decides to investigate when he hears a hungry howl in the darkness. Could the wisp be in trouble? As he explores the mysterious swamp, he discovers a new friend named Willa the Wisp being chased by evil hunters. The two new friends must face great danger and use their ingenuity and imagination to escape.

Willa the Wisp is the first book in “The Fabled Stables” series by Jonathan Auxier. This story is a wonderful introduction to the magical world of Auggie’s island at the top of the world. Here, readers will discover magical, mysterious, and weird creatures cared for by the energetic and enthusiastic Auggie. When he discovers Willa the Wisp being chased by evil hunters, Auggie must deal with his fears which he overcomes by using his imagination to deal with the dangerous situation. He is not only courageous, but he is also kind and resourceful. He longs for friendship and finds it in unusual places. In these difficult pandemic times, young readers are experiencing isolation, fear, loneliness, and stress because of their new reality. They are missing their friends. This book will help them examine and talk about the feelings they are experiencing and explore ways to deal with these feelings.

Olga Demidova’s illustrations are wonderful. They add an important visual element to the storyline which will help young readers to relate to the characters and their experiences. The weird and wonderful animals come to life in the artwork. Auggie, Miss Blunt, Fen and Willa the Wisp become vibrant individuals in the illustrations of their interactions.

Willa the Wisp is ideal for young readers just beginning to read chapter books. The text is accessible with short sentences and paragraphs. The illustrations add a great deal of detail to the narrative as well. The book would also be a good choice for a read-aloud. There are several compelling topics explored in this novel: animal care, loneliness, friendship, cruelty to animals, imagination, fears, and challenges. Young readers (and the adults who read with them) will definitely look forward to the next novel in “The Fabled Stables” series, Trouble with Tattle-Tails.