The Baker and the Bard: A Cozy Fantasy Adventure

by Fern Haught

Overview

Author-artist Fern Haught weaves an enchanting, gentle fantasy tale of friendship, determination, and respecting nature in their debut graphic novel, The Baker and the Bard. Perfect for fans of The Tea Dragon Society, Legends & Lattes, and Animal Crossing.

Juniper and Hadley have a good thing going in Larkspur, spending their respective days apprenticing at a little bakery and performing at the local inn. But when a stranger makes an unusual order at the bakery, the two friends (and Hadley’s pet snake, Fern) set out on a journey to forage the magical mushrooms needed to make the requested galette pastries.

Along the way, Juniper and Hadley stumble across a mystery too compelling to ignore: Something has been coming out of the woods at night and eating the local farmers' crops, leaving only a trail of glowy goo behind. Intent on finally going on an adventure that could fuel their bardic craft, Hadley tows Juniper into the woods to investigate.

What started as a simple errand to pick mushrooms soon turns into a thrilling quest to save some furry new friends—and their caretaker, a softspoken little fey named Thistle—who are in danger of losing their home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250828514
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	03/05/2024
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	159,900
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Fern Haught is an author, illustrator, and adjunct professor based in Cleveland Heights, OH. They love crafting stories incorporating queer characters and their relationships, often set in magical worlds. Their two cats, Binx and Honey, are often looking over their shoulder while they work, and do a great job of being honorary co-authors. When they aren’t creating books they decorate cookies at a local bakery and do background painting for games. The Baker and the Bard is their debut graphic novel.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Baker and the Bard:

"It’s right there in the title—this graphic novel is gentle, thoughtful, and, well, cozy. ... Vivid colors, rounded lettering, and soft lines mirror the vibe of this world where it is clear that (mostly safe) adventures abound but home is always only a short distance away, and your bestie (and crush) is always nearby. ... This queer-friendly graphic novel about magic and the glory of nature, set in a world where everyone belongs, feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy night, and the appended recipe for galettes would make an added treat (though mileage may vary on whether creminis are a valid substitute for magic)." —The Bulletin

"Haught’s debut graphic novel is an empathetic tale of friendship, trust, and learning to balance expansion with preserving and living alongside nature. Soft, loosely lined illustrations and muted tones add warmth and gentility to this quintessential, cozy queer fantasy tale that will appeal to fans of The Tea Dragon Society and The Sprite and the Gardener." —Publishers Weekly

"Full of bright and colorful artwork, this gentle D&D-like fantasy is a great read for those looking for a light story or those dipping their toes into this genre for the first time. Haught cleverly touches on urban development, its environmental impact, and the importance of preserving the local ecosystem, and the budding romance between Juniper and Hadley is a sweet addition. This pleasant food-focused quest resolves happily, and readers hungry to try the mushroom tarts they ultimately make will appreciate the recipe included in the back matter." —Booklist

"This fairy tale–like story is charming and serene. The beautiful drawings depict a magical world whose inhabitants are friendly and open with simple needs and desires. ... A ­whimsical, sweet fantasy that is sure to delight teens looking for a ­magical, cozy world and nonbinary representation." —School Library Journal

"Haught’s charming debut features colorful digital art resembling watercolors that captures the mood of this magical, feel-good story, and the eco-fantasy elements are enriched by the heartwarming relationships. Gender identity is thoughtfully touched upon in a conversation between Hadley and one of the fey. Sweet and satisfying." —Kirkus Reviews

"The Baker and the Bard is a cozy new graphic novel perfect for fans of The Tea Dragon Society and Mooncakes. Author and artist Fern Haught’s story is truly delightful." —Geek Girl Authority

From the Publisher

03/01/2024

Gr 7 Up—Juniper and Hadley live in the charming fantasy world of Larkspur where they work at Mira's Bakery. When a wealthy stranger comes into the shop and requests an unusual pastry, Mira assures her they will fulfill the order, even though she knows they lack the proper ingredients. Juniper and Hadley convince their boss to let them go to the forest in search of the necessary glowing oyster mushrooms. On their adventure, they learn that the farmers in the city of Gryfice have lost crops due to a mysterious creature emerging from the trees each night. The friends are eager to investigate, and while searching for the culprit, they run into the mystical fey. Thistle, the leader, admits that her giant caterpillar friends need silvergrass to survive. Juniper, Hadley, and the feys must work together to help solve their problems and restore order to the town. This fairy tale–like story is charming and serene. The beautiful drawings depict a magical world whose inhabitants are friendly and open with simple needs and desires. The themes of acceptance and togetherness prevail as the author successfully weaves these threads subtly through the narrative. The conversation about gender and Hadley's admission that they are nonbinary is a bit forced, without a natural transition into the dialogue. Still, it's an important part of the characters' relationships and creates an inclusive literary environment. VERDICT A whimsical, sweet fantasy that is sure to delight teens looking for a magical, cozy world and nonbinary representation.—Karin Greenberg

School Library Journal

2023-12-16
A quest for a magical ingredient takes two young heroes on a fantastical environmental adventure.

Blue-skinned, magenta-haired, nonbinary Hadley is a bard, and pink-haired, russet-skinned Juniper is a baker. The pair work together at the Blue Heron Inn, and while they’re best friends, there may be feelings between them that aren’t entirely platonic. Although Juniper’s star is rising thanks to her tremendous baking skills, Hadley is in need of “some adventurous material” as inspiration for their performances. After someone offers a bag of riches as payment for a last-minute special food order, the duo sets out to search for the rare mushrooms that will make the pastries glow in the dark. In the neighboring city of Gryfice, they learn that something mysterious is eating the farmers’ crops during the night. There’s a trail leading into the forest, but people are scared to investigate. Hadley eagerly sets off to investigate, while levelheaded Juniper suggests stopping to make a plan. Their quest quickly becomes more complicated, but they meet an important ally, who shows them that things aren’t always as they seem. Haught’s charming debut features colorful digital art resembling watercolors that captures the mood of this magical, feel-good story, and the eco-fantasy elements are enriched by the heartwarming relationships. Gender identity is thoughtfully touched upon in a conversation between Hadley and one of the fey.

Sweet and satisfying. (recipe, character sketches) (Graphic fantasy. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews

12/11/2023

Juniper and her nonbinary best friend Hadley are chasing their dreams in the quiet town of Larkspur; Juniper is an aspiring baker apprenticing at a local pâtissier where Hadley, a bard, enchants patrons with their flute. When the bakery receives an unusually large order with a life-changing price tag, the duo set off on their first-ever journey beyond Larkspur and into neighboring towns seeking the rare ingredient needed to complete the order. What starts off as a simple grocery run turns into a high-stakes adventure when they find a nearby town besieged by mysterious, crop-ravaging monsters—and gentle fey caterpillars desperate for a meal following an expanding city’s new farm fields’ encroachment upon their natural habitat. Haught’s debut graphic novel is an empathetic tale of friendship, trust, and learning to balance expansion with preserving and living alongside nature. Soft, loosely lined illustrations and muted tones add warmth and gentility to this quintessential, cozy queer fantasy tale that will appeal to fans of The Tea Dragon Society and The Sprite and the Gardener. Characters are portrayed as having fanciful skin tones and animalian features. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly