The Sweet Adventures of Henry P. Twist and The Sweet Adventures of Henry P. Twist: The Island of Milk and Honey by B.W. Van Alstyne
At the midpoint of fantasy and reality come the stories by B.W. Van Alsyne. The main character, Henry P. Twist, once a pastry chef for Brackmeyer Sweets in the unremarkable town of Apfeldorf, finds himself retired and relegated to his former employer’s nursing home. However, not all is as it seems here, and he stumbles upon a fantastical world of faeries — a world that brings new life to his aging bones.
Over the course of his two-book children’s series, The Sweet Adventures of Henry P. Twist and The Sweet Adventures of Henry P. Twist: The Island of Milk and Honey, author B.W. Van Alstyne describes how his elderly protagonist tackles a complex storyline of conflict: finding familial relationships and learning the important lesson that “you really are as young as you think or feel.” As the author explains on his website, this series is the perfect fit for grandparents to read to their grandchildren.
With themes of determination, creativity, and love, readers will come to identify with and learn alongside Henry P. Twist as he navigates between the worlds of human and faerie. The two books stretch the imagination, making for a cozy read in front of the fireplace or curled up under a blanket. Children (and adults!) will also be able to learn a thing or two, challenged by elevated vocabulary and real-world concepts — such as references to retirement packages and pensions.
The Sweet Adventures of Henry P. Twist and The Sweet Adventures of Henry P. Twist: The Island of Milk and Honey are available in paperback, hardcover, and eBook editions from amazon.com or in paperback and eBook editions from barnesandnoble.com. Another title from Alstyne includes poem and board book Under The Crescent Moon and is intended for ages 0 to 5 years.
For more information, visit thesweetadventuresofhenryptwist.com.