Here, There, and Everywhere  

Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time II criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.

Book 2: Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (February 18, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0618981780

From Booklist:
Twelve-year-old Claire and other Blue Wing townsfolk know there's something magical about living along the Mississippi River. How else can they explain Claire's bullying cousin Duke suddenly finding a rhino horn growing where his nose was? Or Duke's parents mysteriously turning to stone? Seeking antidotes, Claire, who "can't resist an adventure," joins Duke and a motley trio of river trolls on a quest filled with obstacles, magic, and mayhem that ultimately leads to a showdown with a Rock Troll, who may hold the key to it all. Folksy charm, inventive fantasy, and diverse characters blend in this offbeat river tallish tale.

I have to admit that the artwork on the cover AND the title caught my attention some time ago and is probably what made me buy the book!  I was really curious of the title.. one could "see" the "horn" part of the title but "wrinkles??"

Well I sure don't want to give away the meaning of the title.  I will say you do find out before it's all over! heh.

Duke and Claire are cousins who hang out together, but it turns out that Duke is quite a bully, even to his own cousin.  Each time Duke is mean and bullies Claire his nose grows (flashes of Pinocchio flash thru my mind).

I'm sure everyone knew a bully when they were young.  Hopefully you didn't have to deal with the bully,but if you did, you could only wish his nose would grow!

Claire becomes the one to deal with river trolls and rock trolls and even a blue wing in order to try to save Duke and family members that the trolls have turned into stone.

Have you ever had to deal with trolls?  Ah, well.. me either, but yaknow.. we all do what we must to get thru life.

This was a cute fantasy story, and along with the artistic illustrations by Nicoletta Ceccoli the adventure that Claire and Duke live through comes to life.

A very enjoyable book indeed.