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A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm
A New York Times bestseller!
A plucky young goatkeeper sets out on a misadventurous rescue mission in this uproarious debut novel, perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Lemony Snicket.
In a kingdom ruled by a capricious king, the castle rests on the backs of twenty-four goats, and the welfare of those goats rests on the back of a girl called Bernadette. So when one goat escapes, it’s up to her—with the help of a very forgetful wizard and a Boat That Does Not Grant Wishes—to bring it back safely.
Her task may be straightforward, but this book is anything but. Like a swirling herd of restless goats, the chapters are all out of order. The ending may prove to have been the beginning all along. All the while, the author of Bernadette’s saga—a character himself—hurries to write her a resolution, with very mixed results. And if you’re feeling lost, don’t worry; the story has twenty-four morals, of varying advisability, to edify you along the way.
Award-winning picture book author and illustrator Philip Stead makes a confident debut as a novelist in this laugh-out-loud, one-of-a-kind illustrated tale, chock-full of running gags, broken fourth walls, and underdog triumph.
Gilded edges, a velvet-touch jacket with foil accents and embossing, a foil-stamped cloth case and printed endpapers make A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic as thrilling to hold as it is to open, a perfect gift for any young reader.
A plucky young goatkeeper sets out on a misadventurous rescue mission in this uproarious debut novel, perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Lemony Snicket.
In a kingdom ruled by a capricious king, the castle rests on the backs of twenty-four goats, and the welfare of those goats rests on the back of a girl called Bernadette. So when one goat escapes, it’s up to her—with the help of a very forgetful wizard and a Boat That Does Not Grant Wishes—to bring it back safely.
Her task may be straightforward, but this book is anything but. Like a swirling herd of restless goats, the chapters are all out of order. The ending may prove to have been the beginning all along. All the while, the author of Bernadette’s saga—a character himself—hurries to write her a resolution, with very mixed results. And if you’re feeling lost, don’t worry; the story has twenty-four morals, of varying advisability, to edify you along the way.
Award-winning picture book author and illustrator Philip Stead makes a confident debut as a novelist in this laugh-out-loud, one-of-a-kind illustrated tale, chock-full of running gags, broken fourth walls, and underdog triumph.
Gilded edges, a velvet-touch jacket with foil accents and embossing, a foil-stamped cloth case and printed endpapers make A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic as thrilling to hold as it is to open, a perfect gift for any young reader.
328 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2026
60 people are currently reading
3948 people want to read
About the author
Philip C. Stead
30 books239 followersPhilip C. Stead is the author of the Caldecott Medal winning book A Sick Day for Amos McGee, also named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2010 and a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of 2010, illustrated by his wife, Erin E. Stead. Together with Erin, he also created Bear Has a Story to Tell, an E.B. White Read-Aloud Award honor book. Philip, also an artist, has written and illustrated several of his own books including Hello, My Name is Ruby, Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat, A Home for Bird, and his debut Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast, which was applauded by School Library Journal for “its wry humor and illustrations worthy of a Roald Dahl creation.” Philip lives with Erin and their dog, Wednesday, in a 100-year-old barn in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 3, 2026
This book was an absolute treat. It might be because I just started approaching middle-grade books, but THE CREATIVITY, THE RANDOMNESS, THE CHAOS of this book were an absolute delight.
ADHD on dr*gs basically.
Now: Is this a children's book? Not sure. But I do not mind.
⚡️ There is Bernadette, our fearsome MC, who is the goat keeper of 24 goats (95 legs) that hold the king's castle.
🪄 There is a magician, a tree/boat/wheeled barrel/hut, a turtle (or was it a turkey? :P), and the NC!
🦄 And there are chapters in the wrong order. Oh, and an author who would have liked to be a bike mechanic
☔️ And an umbrella storm. OBVIOUSLY
I loved the chaotic energy of this one.
ADHD on dr*gs basically.
Now: Is this a children's book? Not sure. But I do not mind.
⚡️ There is Bernadette, our fearsome MC, who is the goat keeper of 24 goats (95 legs) that hold the king's castle.
🪄 There is a magician, a tree/boat/wheeled barrel/hut, a turtle (or was it a turkey? :P), and the NC!
🦄 And there are chapters in the wrong order. Oh, and an author who would have liked to be a bike mechanic
☔️ And an umbrella storm. OBVIOUSLY
I loved the chaotic energy of this one.
April 22, 2026
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher for promotional purposes.
This was such a cute and fun middle grade book!
The story was so creative. It was told out of order (it started at chapter thirteen) but was not confusing at all. The chapters were all clearly labeled so you knew where you were. The story reminded me of Alice in Wonderland because of how nonsensical and outrageous it was. For example, the castle was built on top of goats which obviously makes no logical sense, but that’s the genius of it. The book fully leaned into its absurdity and that made it work so well. The king in the story also reminded me of the Queen of Hearts because of his self centered attitude.
I loved the main character, Bernadette. I was happy to see things work out for her in the end.
The book also has illustrations throughout as well as full page character illustrations at the very beginning. All the pictures made the book feel so immersive. It made it so easy to visualize the story.
The endpapers of the book were the map that Bernadette receives from Clarence, the tollbooth owner. I thought that was a cute touch. I loved that the map was from his perspective because there was a lot to discover in the story and the map didn’t give anything away. The map also highlighted the ridiculousness of the story.
Overall, I had a blast reading this book. If you like silly and outlandish fantasy reads, I highly recommend this one!
This was such a cute and fun middle grade book!
The story was so creative. It was told out of order (it started at chapter thirteen) but was not confusing at all. The chapters were all clearly labeled so you knew where you were. The story reminded me of Alice in Wonderland because of how nonsensical and outrageous it was. For example, the castle was built on top of goats which obviously makes no logical sense, but that’s the genius of it. The book fully leaned into its absurdity and that made it work so well. The king in the story also reminded me of the Queen of Hearts because of his self centered attitude.
I loved the main character, Bernadette. I was happy to see things work out for her in the end.
The book also has illustrations throughout as well as full page character illustrations at the very beginning. All the pictures made the book feel so immersive. It made it so easy to visualize the story.
The endpapers of the book were the map that Bernadette receives from Clarence, the tollbooth owner. I thought that was a cute touch. I loved that the map was from his perspective because there was a lot to discover in the story and the map didn’t give anything away. The map also highlighted the ridiculousness of the story.
Overall, I had a blast reading this book. If you like silly and outlandish fantasy reads, I highly recommend this one!
April 22, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the kind of story that feels slightly… misplaced—and yet, somehow, exactly where it belongs. It doesn’t quite behave the way you expect it to—and that’s where the magic lives.
I received an ARC of the audiobook via NetGalley, and from the very first moments, it felt like being invited into a story that already knew the shape it wanted to take.
A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic doesn’t follow a straight path. It turns, it loops, and unfolds in its own time—yet beneath that, there is a quiet assurance. A kingdom balanced on goats, a journey that resists urgency, and a narrative that moves out of sequence could easily feel disjointed, but instead, it settles into something cohesive and thoughtfully constructed.
What might have felt chaotic instead reveals itself as intentional. The nonlinear structure and looping progression don’t distance the listener—they ask for a different kind of attention. The story invites you to move with it rather than ahead of it, to trust its rhythm rather than question its direction. And in those moments where the narrator becomes part of the story itself, the boundary between storyteller and tale softens in a way that feels purposeful, drawing you further into the experience of being told a story.
At the centre of it all is Bernadette. There is a quiet steadiness to her, an emotional weight that anchors the narrative and gives shape to its more unusual edges. Through her, the story remains grounded, even as it bends and shifts around her.
The narration elevates this even further.
Daniel Henning brings an incredible sense of timing, personality, and theatrical charm to the story. Each character feels distinct without ever becoming overdone, and he leans into the humour and absurdity with such confidence that it enhances every moment. The pacing—especially with the unconventional structure—is handled beautifully. It never feels confusing, only immersive. It genuinely feels like being told a story by someone who understands exactly how it should be heard. It feels less like listening to an audiobook and more like being drawn into a story that’s being shared just for you.
The combination of Stead’s inventive storytelling and Henning’s performance creates something that feels both nostalgic and entirely unique—like a fairytale that wandered off-script and became better for it.
A story that takes risks, understands them, and carries them through with quiet confidence. ✨
This is the kind of story that feels slightly… misplaced—and yet, somehow, exactly where it belongs. It doesn’t quite behave the way you expect it to—and that’s where the magic lives.
I received an ARC of the audiobook via NetGalley, and from the very first moments, it felt like being invited into a story that already knew the shape it wanted to take.
A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic doesn’t follow a straight path. It turns, it loops, and unfolds in its own time—yet beneath that, there is a quiet assurance. A kingdom balanced on goats, a journey that resists urgency, and a narrative that moves out of sequence could easily feel disjointed, but instead, it settles into something cohesive and thoughtfully constructed.
What might have felt chaotic instead reveals itself as intentional. The nonlinear structure and looping progression don’t distance the listener—they ask for a different kind of attention. The story invites you to move with it rather than ahead of it, to trust its rhythm rather than question its direction. And in those moments where the narrator becomes part of the story itself, the boundary between storyteller and tale softens in a way that feels purposeful, drawing you further into the experience of being told a story.
At the centre of it all is Bernadette. There is a quiet steadiness to her, an emotional weight that anchors the narrative and gives shape to its more unusual edges. Through her, the story remains grounded, even as it bends and shifts around her.
The narration elevates this even further.
Daniel Henning brings an incredible sense of timing, personality, and theatrical charm to the story. Each character feels distinct without ever becoming overdone, and he leans into the humour and absurdity with such confidence that it enhances every moment. The pacing—especially with the unconventional structure—is handled beautifully. It never feels confusing, only immersive. It genuinely feels like being told a story by someone who understands exactly how it should be heard. It feels less like listening to an audiobook and more like being drawn into a story that’s being shared just for you.
The combination of Stead’s inventive storytelling and Henning’s performance creates something that feels both nostalgic and entirely unique—like a fairytale that wandered off-script and became better for it.
A story that takes risks, understands them, and carries them through with quiet confidence. ✨
April 10, 2026
I picked up a signed copy in a cute little bookstore while vacationing in Savannah, Ga. This book is quirky and fun and full of delight. I loved that it was out of order and I can imagine a lot of kids will too. It makes you so curious as to what happened to put the character in her current predicament. I have three kids and often help with a fourth grade class and I can see them very much enjoying the humor and fun in this book. It has a very lovely ending.
May 8, 2026
P.25 the process of writing diwn elements in your memory”.
Use of language is amazing.
Makes me think of Norton Juster, John Agee, Kate DiCamillo, lemony snicket and so many others. Love the reverse chapers!
so much to care about in this. I yield to reviews that have and will. be written by so many.
This will be embraced by math, literature, philosophy teachers at almost all levels. Not sure how I feel about it for 5th graders. Kind of how I felt about Ella Enchanted so many years ago.
Use of language is amazing.
Makes me think of Norton Juster, John Agee, Kate DiCamillo, lemony snicket and so many others. Love the reverse chapers!
so much to care about in this. I yield to reviews that have and will. be written by so many.
This will be embraced by math, literature, philosophy teachers at almost all levels. Not sure how I feel about it for 5th graders. Kind of how I felt about Ella Enchanted so many years ago.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2026
This story started out with the premise of the king building a castle on the back of goats. It goes downhill from there. It made completely no sense. It started in the middle and kept going back and forth to different chapters- none of them in order. It was impossible to track. I can imagine children not being able to make sense of this at all and abandoning it. Several times in the book they start to say a cuss word, but bleep it out. I don’t really think that’s appropriate. The author makes use of a lot of eloquent sentences, but I feel like it’s over the heads of the intended audience. The Latin phrases don’t add to the book. To me they just cause more confusion. It’s weird that the author is a character in the story and doesn’t know how to write it or where it’s going. Maybe I could get behind that idea if the story wasn’t so messy. Bernadette was a likable character and I found myself rooting for her and the goats.
April 11, 2026
In a fantasy micro-kingdom not so much ruled as treated-as-disposable by its capricious, egotistical king, Bernadette is an orphan essentially enslaved (they call it "hired") to be the keeper for the 24 goats who form the foundation of the king's castle. Then things start happening. Bernadette's best friend, a turtle called Perseverance, is conscripted as a main course for a feast, and Bernadette is Not Having It. She's determined to rescue her turtle, and then there's the matter of the escaping goats, too. She manages to get across the alligator-filled moat and set off into the woods for the tree that grants wishes, but the tree is essentially on strike. Then there's the wildly forgetful magician who lives in a house full of invisible things, who joins Bernadette and the tree-become-boat and several goats on their quest, though I don't remember why. Meanwhile, the author of this tale lives on the mountain above the castle, and is shunning writing (it's hard!) in favor of sketching goats. And the story is all muddled up, starting in the middle, going back to the beginning (or near it), then to the acknowledgements, etc.
I thought I would love this, because I like tales told out of chronological order (it's kind of how I read, anyway), and this seemed as though it might be Phantom-Tollbooth-like (though perhaps it's just the cover design). It wasn't, though, and went on and on and on. Some of it was funny, yes, and clever, but I couldn't keep track of everything, and kept running up against the suspension of disbelief, because I'm more used to fantasies with deeply-drawn worlds that interlock and make sense. I kept getting thrown out of this one because I didn't believe a lot of it, and I know that wasn't the point, but I was also just confused about so much of it. I think it was trying to be more like Discworld, but as insane as Discworld is, it still makes an absurd kind of sense. I couldn't keep track of all the characters in this, and most of them were unlikeable except for Bernadette and her goats. I guess I was not the right reader for this after all. What I liked best was that in the audiobook version, each "moral" was sandwiched between two goat sounds, which did make me laugh. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
I thought I would love this, because I like tales told out of chronological order (it's kind of how I read, anyway), and this seemed as though it might be Phantom-Tollbooth-like (though perhaps it's just the cover design). It wasn't, though, and went on and on and on. Some of it was funny, yes, and clever, but I couldn't keep track of everything, and kept running up against the suspension of disbelief, because I'm more used to fantasies with deeply-drawn worlds that interlock and make sense. I kept getting thrown out of this one because I didn't believe a lot of it, and I know that wasn't the point, but I was also just confused about so much of it. I think it was trying to be more like Discworld, but as insane as Discworld is, it still makes an absurd kind of sense. I couldn't keep track of all the characters in this, and most of them were unlikeable except for Bernadette and her goats. I guess I was not the right reader for this after all. What I liked best was that in the audiobook version, each "moral" was sandwiched between two goat sounds, which did make me laugh. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What drew me to this book was the title and the cover and I'm very glad I decided to pick it up. The story opens on a forward by the author where he explains how he came up with the title of the story and the fact that it starts in medias res (in the middle of things). It begins on Chapter 13 and continues on from that point.
The story follows a young girl named Bernadette who is a goatkeeper. She lives in a kingdom whose king's castle rests on the backs of twenty-four goats. One day one of the goats escapes and Bernadette has to go on a mission to bring it back along with also trying to save her beloved turtle friend.
With the chapters all out of order, the reader goes on quite an interesting journey with Bernadette, a forgetful wizard, a Boat That Does Not Grant Wishes, the author of the story himself, Steve the three-legged goat, and many other characters. I have always loved books with interesting formats and this is one of the best I have found for younger readers. It is quite a fun story. Though the formatting may confuse some readers if they do not pay attention to what is going on.
Loved Philip Stead's sense of humor and the absurdity of the many different characters in this book. The idea of the story being all out of order was such a cool idea and I found it to work very well for me. It feels like a longer fairy tale. Also, the narrator Daniel Henning did a wonderful job creating voices for each of the characters.
I will definitely get a copy of this book for my collection and I look forward to seeing his illustrations for the book.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Phillip C. Stead for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
The story follows a young girl named Bernadette who is a goatkeeper. She lives in a kingdom whose king's castle rests on the backs of twenty-four goats. One day one of the goats escapes and Bernadette has to go on a mission to bring it back along with also trying to save her beloved turtle friend.
With the chapters all out of order, the reader goes on quite an interesting journey with Bernadette, a forgetful wizard, a Boat That Does Not Grant Wishes, the author of the story himself, Steve the three-legged goat, and many other characters. I have always loved books with interesting formats and this is one of the best I have found for younger readers. It is quite a fun story. Though the formatting may confuse some readers if they do not pay attention to what is going on.
Loved Philip Stead's sense of humor and the absurdity of the many different characters in this book. The idea of the story being all out of order was such a cool idea and I found it to work very well for me. It feels like a longer fairy tale. Also, the narrator Daniel Henning did a wonderful job creating voices for each of the characters.
I will definitely get a copy of this book for my collection and I look forward to seeing his illustrations for the book.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Phillip C. Stead for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
April 18, 2026
This book felt like getting lost in a magical maze!✨📚
A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic by Philip C. Stead was a wildly clever, laugh-out-loud adventure that completely played with my brain and I loved every second of it!
From the very first page, I was thrown into a kingdom where a castle stands on the backs of twenty-four goats yes, goats 🐐, and somehow that’s not even the strangest part. Following Bernadette on her quest to retrieve a runaway goat felt like chasing a story that refused to stay in one place in the most chaotic, magical way.
The chapters are out of order, the narrator literally inserts himself into the story, and the ending loops back on itself like a clever little riddle. At times I felt delightfully disoriented but that’s kind of the point. This book leans all the way into absurdity, breaking the fourth wall and sprinkling in humor that feels both childlike and surprisingly sharp.
And can we talk about the vibes?? It gave me cozy fairytale energy mixed with quirky, almost Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland chaos. Add in a forgetful wizard, a boat that refuses to grant wishes, and 24 morals that may or may not help you and you’ve got a story that’s as unpredictable as it is unforgettable.
What I loved most is how this book celebrates storytelling itself, the messiness, the magic, and the way stories can twist into something completely unexpected.
If you’re looking for a traditional, linear fantasy this is NOT that. But if you want something imaginative, funny, and totally unique, this one is pure magic.
✨Thank you Holiday House and Philip C. Stead for sharing A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic with me!
A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic by Philip C. Stead was a wildly clever, laugh-out-loud adventure that completely played with my brain and I loved every second of it!
From the very first page, I was thrown into a kingdom where a castle stands on the backs of twenty-four goats yes, goats 🐐, and somehow that’s not even the strangest part. Following Bernadette on her quest to retrieve a runaway goat felt like chasing a story that refused to stay in one place in the most chaotic, magical way.
The chapters are out of order, the narrator literally inserts himself into the story, and the ending loops back on itself like a clever little riddle. At times I felt delightfully disoriented but that’s kind of the point. This book leans all the way into absurdity, breaking the fourth wall and sprinkling in humor that feels both childlike and surprisingly sharp.
And can we talk about the vibes?? It gave me cozy fairytale energy mixed with quirky, almost Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland chaos. Add in a forgetful wizard, a boat that refuses to grant wishes, and 24 morals that may or may not help you and you’ve got a story that’s as unpredictable as it is unforgettable.
What I loved most is how this book celebrates storytelling itself, the messiness, the magic, and the way stories can twist into something completely unexpected.
If you’re looking for a traditional, linear fantasy this is NOT that. But if you want something imaginative, funny, and totally unique, this one is pure magic.
✨Thank you Holiday House and Philip C. Stead for sharing A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic with me!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC courtesy of RBmedia, thank you!
This was such a chaotic and genuinely fun listen.
If you like Roald Dahl-style stories that lean a little silly but are also clever and full of heart, this will probably work for you. I always enjoy when a story doesn’t fully follow the rules, and this one really commits to that.
The out-of-order chapters add a lot to the charm. It makes the story feel a bit like a puzzle, but you do have to pay attention to keep up with what’s going on.
There are also these recurring Latin phrases that give the characters this slightly ridiculous, over-the-top sense of importance. It’s very much that “trying to sound intelligent by using complicated words” energy, which actually becomes funnier the more it’s repeated.
The narration worked really well for this. Daniel Henning gives each character a distinct voice without making it feel overdone, and his delivery really helps carry the humor and the pacing of the story.
For me, this landed at 4 stars instead of 5 because it did miss a bit of emotional depth. It’s fast-paced, which fits the story, but I sometimes felt like I didn’t fully connect on a deeper level with what was happening.
🖤 Final thoughts:
A playful, unconventional story that leans into its chaos and creativity. It might not hit as deeply emotionally, but it makes up for it with charm and originality.
📌 Best for: readers who enjoy whimsical, slightly chaotic storytelling, especially if you liked The Princess Bride.
This was such a chaotic and genuinely fun listen.
If you like Roald Dahl-style stories that lean a little silly but are also clever and full of heart, this will probably work for you. I always enjoy when a story doesn’t fully follow the rules, and this one really commits to that.
The out-of-order chapters add a lot to the charm. It makes the story feel a bit like a puzzle, but you do have to pay attention to keep up with what’s going on.
There are also these recurring Latin phrases that give the characters this slightly ridiculous, over-the-top sense of importance. It’s very much that “trying to sound intelligent by using complicated words” energy, which actually becomes funnier the more it’s repeated.
The narration worked really well for this. Daniel Henning gives each character a distinct voice without making it feel overdone, and his delivery really helps carry the humor and the pacing of the story.
For me, this landed at 4 stars instead of 5 because it did miss a bit of emotional depth. It’s fast-paced, which fits the story, but I sometimes felt like I didn’t fully connect on a deeper level with what was happening.
🖤 Final thoughts:
A playful, unconventional story that leans into its chaos and creativity. It might not hit as deeply emotionally, but it makes up for it with charm and originality.
📌 Best for: readers who enjoy whimsical, slightly chaotic storytelling, especially if you liked The Princess Bride.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House | Neal Porter Books, & Phillip C. Stead for the ARC! My family members have been fans of the Stead family for years. It's always worrisome when an author steps out into a new foray, but this one is a homerun! The out-of-order tale, quirky characters, and mantras shared throughout the story combine to make a hilarious tale of whimsy yet also of moral lessons. The snarky and sarcastic nature of some of the main characters mixed with a fantastical plot are ingredients for a successful middle grade novel. Readers will not be disappointed by the insanity of the tale; the book begins with Chapter 13, and picks up various chapters as it goes, all the while searching for Chapter 1. What can go wrong with a castle built on top of 24 goats, a wizard missing his memory, a missing turtle, a young goatherder on a quest, and a demanding king and his not-so-merry band of council members? Bonus: adorable illustrations from Stead that only add to the humor of the tale!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an electronic ARC from Holiday House | Neal Porter Books through NetGalley.
I looked forward to seeing Stead's first middle school book. His style certainly carried through in the unusual chapter arrangement and the omniscient narrator who even shares the author's thoughts. The story itself is absurd - as expected, but is a bit too far for me. Middle grade readers will appreciate the humor and the adventures if they don't get frustrated by the story jumping around. Stead's narrator offers plenty of warning when these jumps are going to happen and readers may anticipate where it will go next. Some may even go back and read it in order by flipping through a second time. It's hard to imagine the detail needed to give all twenty four goats their own personality but Stead does this successfully. I wish we had a bit more information about the main character as Bernadette is a bit flat as a character. Overall, a fun, light read.
I looked forward to seeing Stead's first middle school book. His style certainly carried through in the unusual chapter arrangement and the omniscient narrator who even shares the author's thoughts. The story itself is absurd - as expected, but is a bit too far for me. Middle grade readers will appreciate the humor and the adventures if they don't get frustrated by the story jumping around. Stead's narrator offers plenty of warning when these jumps are going to happen and readers may anticipate where it will go next. Some may even go back and read it in order by flipping through a second time. It's hard to imagine the detail needed to give all twenty four goats their own personality but Stead does this successfully. I wish we had a bit more information about the main character as Bernadette is a bit flat as a character. Overall, a fun, light read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Stead shows off some real writing skills with this little magic trick of a book. I had a bit of trouble getting the hang of the round-a-bout descriptions, and the occasional latin phrases, but I soon found myself having a lovely time. Bernadette and her flock are adorable, the castle and it's inhabitance are utterly absurd, and I loved both. I have no small amount of appreciation for a book that neither takes itself too seriously, nor tries to explain itself too much. (Why a castle on goats?) By this same logic, I found the author to be insufferable in places and he went to great lengths to justify his complicated chapter structure. In the end, I liked the book very much, but I will hesitate to offer it to any but my strongest young readers, as the convoluted sentences and plot may give some of them a tough time.
April 20, 2026
"Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo," says Goodreads -- I disagree. If you are trying to figure out ahead of time whether you will like this, your feelings about Kelly Barnhill might be the best reference. I think I could paste almost verbatim my (positive) reviews of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and The Ogress and the Orphans here. I do agree both Barnhill and Stead could be seen at times as trying to DiCamillo but seem to me more similar to each other than to the inimitable Kate.
My point is, I think this book walks a fine line and could have been a failure but, I think, succeeds and deserves extra credit for that. It almost feels like the book Stead wished we were writing when doing The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine, and it just felt to me like he cared more about doing this one right.
My point is, I think this book walks a fine line and could have been a failure but, I think, succeeds and deserves extra credit for that. It almost feels like the book Stead wished we were writing when doing The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine, and it just felt to me like he cared more about doing this one right.
May 3, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐.75/5
A Potion, A Powder, A Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm is a creative, magical tale.
I absolutely adored this one. This is a tale that reveals the power and possibilities of stories and storytelling. The story embraces chaos and non-linear storytelling in the most delightful way, delivering a quirky and unpredictable plot with energetic pacing. The cast was vibrant, funny, and compelling, and I loved the exploration of friendship and animal bonds. The world-building was immersive and magical, providing a fun background for this story of hope, love, loneliness, curiosity, and friendship. Philip C. Stead’s prose was witty, propulsive, and whimsical. I highly recommend this captivating adventure!
Daniel Henning was a brilliant narrator for this one. His voice captured the characters, emotion, and whimsy of the story beautifully. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!
A Potion, A Powder, A Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm is a creative, magical tale.
I absolutely adored this one. This is a tale that reveals the power and possibilities of stories and storytelling. The story embraces chaos and non-linear storytelling in the most delightful way, delivering a quirky and unpredictable plot with energetic pacing. The cast was vibrant, funny, and compelling, and I loved the exploration of friendship and animal bonds. The world-building was immersive and magical, providing a fun background for this story of hope, love, loneliness, curiosity, and friendship. Philip C. Stead’s prose was witty, propulsive, and whimsical. I highly recommend this captivating adventure!
Daniel Henning was a brilliant narrator for this one. His voice captured the characters, emotion, and whimsy of the story beautifully. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!
October 8, 2025
DNF. I was so excited to get an e-galley of Stead's middle grade debut. I managed to finish over a third of it. Stead tells a story about a ridiculous kingdom and many of its people, and also goats, in a deliberately out of order manner. It seems like the book is too long and, frankly, I've read things like this before where the author is trying too hard to prove that they can be silly and amusing to young readers. The recent Frances Hardinge book, Forest of a Thousand Eyes, also fits this category. Holiday House is comparing it to books by Kate DiCamillo and Lemony Snicket, which are obvious read-alikes with all of the goats in The Beatryce Prophecy and the incessant defining of words and phrases as Lemony Snicket does. Perhaps you just need to be in the right mood for it. I really do love so many of Stead's picture books though. Review from e-galley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Middle-grade is one of my favorite genres and I was excited to listen to A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic by Philip C. Stead. I powered through it, but wished I had DNFed it. The chapters are told out of order, and it was very hard to follow. I also didn't find any of the characters lovable. They all felt flat. This book is compared to titles by Lemony Snicket and Kate DiCamillo, but there is no comparison. When Snicket uses the phrase, "a word which here means", it's funny. When Stead similarly used Latin phrases, it just didn't work. The audio narration was fine, but again, I didn't love it. The narrator's take on the female main character's voice grated on me.
Review of advance copy
What a romp! Take a typical fairy tale quest. Add a forgetful magician, a sweet-tempered three-legged goat, a tree that does not grant wishes, and a brave girl. Toss all of the chapters into the air and then retell the story completely out of order. It shouldn't work, but it does. Daniel Henning's narration adds just the right air of gravitas to this hilarious and touching tale. Thank you to Libro.fm for the advanced listening copy.
April 21, 2026
Perfectly whimsical with a big heart—I found this book delightful! A narrator like Lemony Snicket (prepare to learn a lot of Latin phrases!), an adventure and heroine like Alice in Wonderland, and a whole lot of lovely goats make this book fun for kids of all ages.
It jumps all over the place, which can seem a little jarring at first, but stick with it! It’s a lot of fun how it all ties together.
It jumps all over the place, which can seem a little jarring at first, but stick with it! It’s a lot of fun how it all ties together.
April 7, 2026
Incredibly quirky, and so many goats… I am truly not sure how middle grade readers will respond to this one.
I liked the sketches and unique format throughout, and I look forward to seeing the finished product which may (or may not) answer a few of the questions I have about the story.
- - -
You are who you choose to be.
(What would you like to be?)
I liked the sketches and unique format throughout, and I look forward to seeing the finished product which may (or may not) answer a few of the questions I have about the story.
- - -
You are who you choose to be.
(What would you like to be?)
April 12, 2026
This obviously has Series of Unfortunate Events vibes with its quirkiness and language fun, although it's definitely its own kind of quirky thing. I enjoyed the oddness and whimsy and I seriously love goats. This was fun and went in places that delighted me. Thanks to NetGalley I got to listen to the audiobook, and it had a sense of fun too
This is a review of the audiobook.
This is a review of the audiobook.
April 17, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and RB media for an ALC of this excellent children’s book. What an interesting, cute, silly book. Not only does it have two titles but it’s told completely out of order and it starts in the middle.
It reminded me of the same writing style as The Book With No Pictures, which is a major favorite in my house. Excellent narration!
4⭐️
It reminded me of the same writing style as The Book With No Pictures, which is a major favorite in my house. Excellent narration!
4⭐️
April 18, 2026
I thought this was a delightfully made-up story, told completely out of order. I think my 5th graders would enjoy it. It was just so silly and the premise and characters absolutely outlandish (a castle resting on the backs of a prime number of goats!!) I thought the addition of silly Latin sayings and goat-embedded morals was also quirky. Highly entertaining!
May 8, 2026
Wonderfully whimsical, totally unpredictable, A Potion, A Powder, A Little Bit of Magic or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm, A story out of order by Philip Stead is an amazing book for families to share. Unexpected twists and humorous turns keep readers turning pages and the intriguing illustrations add to the adventure. This is more than a story, it is an experience.
May 8, 2026
This book was great fun, a fairytale told out of order and filled with rich nonsense and wisdom. The author speaks directly to the reader, much like A. A. Milne's Winne-the-Pooh, adding to the whimsy. The absurd, magical chaos is reminiscent of Terry Pratchett. The whole thing is silly, charming, and deeply tender.
April 14, 2026
This book is wonderful! This is a book to read aloud and you must have the real book - the illustrations and feel of the pages are important to its magic.
Thank you Philip Stead for a delightful story. Long live the goats.
Thank you Philip Stead for a delightful story. Long live the goats.
April 17, 2026
4.5. Loved the quest, the characters the in-between goats life lessons and the non-linear. The humor is on point. Possibly one to become a classic.
April 18, 2026
that was fantastic and so fun. like howl's moving castle in terry pratchett style.
April 18, 2026
It's a cute story but I'm not sure what the effect is of presenting chapters out of order. I felt like there was a lot of uncontrolled wackiness, which kept me from enjoying this more.
April 27, 2026
This was so good for the heart. I loved the experience of this read.
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