Best friends Juniper and Hadley go on an adventure to find a rare ingredient for Juniper’s bakery. Along the way, they run into a mystery, make a new friend, and save the habitat of some furry creatures.

The Good:

✔️A very enjoyable debut novel

✔️Colorful, imaginative artwork

✔️Queer characters

The Bad:

❌It needs more developing

❌The story felt rushed

❌I couldn’t get a feel for any of the characters

I really enjoyed this book. I’m super excited to read this author’s next books. Fern Haught has a lot of talent and imagination. I did have a few problems with the overall development of the book. However, given that it is a debut, I tend to give them some extra credit.

I did have some personal dislikes about the art. I feel like the art style doesn’t show the characters’ emotions enough and that there isn’t enough detail in the scenes. The scenes could be swapped around and it wouldn’t make much of a difference in the story. However, I did really like the soft, bright colors.

I’m so happy the term nonbinary was explicitly used in this book. We don’t often get that word used directly in mainstream media. One might argue that it’s an anachronism, but, for the most part, anachronisms don’t bother me.

This book is marketed at YA but it could be middle-grade or YA. It’s a little too simplistic to be YA for my taste. Which brings me to the story development. I was disappointed that it was so surface-level. We don’t get to know any of the characters besides ‘Juniper is a baker’, ‘Hadley is a nonbinary bard’, and ‘Thistle is a fey’. I understand that it’s a short graphic novel, but I wanted a little more depth.

Overall, I had a fun time reading this book and I am really excited for this author. The Baker and the Bard is the perfect read for a cozy little night in with some hot chocolate.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, what a cute and cozy story!
As soon as you start reading, you're immediately immersed in this world Fern Haught created. There's no need for an introduction or exposition, you're instantly familiar with the characters and the world they live in. It was a very sweet story and you'll finish it with a smile on your face!
The art style was pleasant and consistent, and the colors are always soft and warm, which adds to the cozy feeling of the story. The plot was simple, I would argue it fits more in the middle grade/teen category than YA, but it was nice and well executed. Without giving too much away, it was nice to glimpse into a world where everyone is kind and well intentioned.
It's not five stars for me because I think it could do with a bit more depth into the subjects it raises. like habitat destruction and gender identitiy.
Either way, this is a great book to read with your kids or young cousins or if you're young yourself. It's a very subtle way to start a conversation and it has a very cute message.

Thanks netgalley for the earc

This book was just not for me I tried to read it but could not finish

→5 stars

so. freaking. cute!! i couldn't wait to get my hands on this and I'm so glad I was approved for the arc!

if you're looking for a cozy, fantasy, adventure story with absolutely adorable characters then look no further come March, 5th! follow the tale of Juniper and Hadley as they embark on an adventure to find the glowing mushrooms for a special recipe. they meet some friends along the way and solve the mystery of the dying crops and mysterious creatures! highly recommend!

thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and the author for giving me an arc!!

This is a cute graphic novel about two friends (and crushes) going on an adventure together. They need to collect materials for their bakery, but they stumble across a mystery that they want to solve. This opens their world to different creatures, and the friends expand their relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

A baker and a bard must journey to another town to pick up a special ingredient for a customer's order. A very light-hearted "cozy" adventure, that was charming, and very low stakes. This graphic novel is short and sweet, but too simplistic for my taste. The plot was very basic, and the dialogue also felt rather jejune. The nonbinary representation and accompanying simplified explanation of what NB is were nice. It was a short and straightforward explanation. The art style was cute, but again, was much too simplistic for me. This is marked as a Teen/YA book, I think honestly it would be better as a Middle Grade book.

3 stars

A cute cozy fantasy with charming art. However I felt I didn’t really get to know the characters that well, especially Juniper. I wish it had been longer so there could have been more time spent getting to know the characters and establishing their relationships before the adventure started.

True to name, Fern Haught's debut graphic novel is coziness incarnate. Haught's illustrations are soft and inviting, while their story blends fantasy and slice-of-life to create a tale that's as whimsical as it is relatable. The Baker and the Bard is the perfect young adult graphic novel for fans of Wendy Xu and K O'Neill.

The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught shared the story of a young baker and a young bard who set off on a journey to find some glowing mushrooms to bake with (and along the way, experience an adventure worthy of writing songs about). The two find a mystery that they sidetrack to solve - meeting a new friend, learning about the environment and yes, ultimately getting those mushrooms.

The artwork is beautiful in this graphic novel and the simple storyline has a lot to share with the reader. I loved the nonbinary representation in the book and how it was just part of the storyline, not the focus.

Overall, this was a lovely little read with gorgeous illustrations that will be well-received by middle grade readers.

Juniper and Hadley are on an adventure! Setting off on an errand for the bakery they come across a fey and their family that needs their help.

This was a quick and soft read. I appreciated the queerness and how it played into the story, but wasn't the conflict. I love when the art matches the tone of the story and I think this graphic novel did a great job of that, Juniper's design was my favorite!

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

That was weird. I think this was a me issue. And just not for me. I did not connect with any of the characters. And the dialog was very one dimensional.

Thanks @netgalley for the eARC!

Will I continuously be rereading this graphic novel every time I need a cozy pick me up? Yes, yes I will. The characters are fantastically lovable and wholesome. The story and plot are simple but get the job done with a sweet little adventurous mystery and fun along the way! Plus the illustrations are some of my absolute favorite! If you’re looking for something to set the perfect vibe, this is definitely it.

Juniper and Hadley go on a quest for glowing mushrooms, and along the way they make some new friends and solve a mystery together.

This book was so cute! The artwork is fantastic, fitting well with the style of the book. The story itself is amazing, weaving in tales of friendship, how to live alongside people different from us, and more. It was just a really good graphic novel. The only problem I have is I don't know any fey that can let me ride on their butterlies!

I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley.

Two friends—an apprentice baker and aspiring bard—set of on an adventure to gather ingredients to fill a special order at the bakery they both work at in this delightful little cozy fantasy read. I think that it would be excellent for kids, especially. I loved the non-binary rep and the fact that the art was so cute and accessible. I appreciated how the main plot focused on the interconnected web of life.

this story was cute and heartwarming. it made me happy as I read it, it was a unique world that this story was set in, I quite enjoyed all the characters that were introduced and the graphics of them added very much to the story. overall, this story is a cute story of a quest between to whimsical best friends who encounter a cities problem and solve it with new friends. I quite enjoyed my read of this and look forward to more from this author and will certainly purchase this graphic novel for my shelf when it is available.

I loved this book! It reminded me of "Crumbs" and "Life of Melody." It was a short, quick read that I devoured in one sitting. I already have it on order for my library!

On a quest to find glowing mushrooms, Juniper and Hadley encounter a mystery- something has been coming out of the woods at night and eating local crops. When the investigation ensues, they meet a little fey named Thisle who needs their help to protect their home. This graphic novel epitomizes a “cozy fantasy” while exploring themes of identity, home, and friendship.

THE ART IN THIS IS ADORABLE!!!! It's pastel and gorgeous and gave me the coziest of feelings. I do think this could have been a tad bit longer to explore some more, but it was lovely and wholesome. It’s not a storyline that would entice me to reread it, but I’m happy I got to read it! If you’re in need of a sweet cozy story, pick this one up!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest review!

It is a very cute book, and the art is pleasant. I don't think I'll be recommending this one to the library though.

The level of story feels like it wanted to be middle school and it fell closer to toddler levels. It read to me like a one-shot for a D&D game (Or other TTRPGs). Everything is easily fixed and set to rights, it feels like the conflicts don't really matter.

Like I said, the art is pretty, the story is there, it's just about as deep as a puddle, and I think our young readers are looking for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's for the e-arc!

I was intrigued by this book after I saw that it was recommended for fans of Legends & Lattes and Animal Crossing. I was pleasantly surprised when it exceeded my expectations. This slice of life story is about a baker and a bard going on a journey. The journey has some sense of urgency but the progression of the story is short and sweet. It also touched on gender identity and environmental issues which is always a plus! Overall, I would recommend this for fans of the aforementioned properties.

This was such a cute graphic novel, and cozy mystery combined. I am a big DND fan, so having a bard as the main character was super fun and interesting. I loved the little banter between Hadley and Juniper - but I especially loved FERN! Super easy to read, got through it super quick because once I started I did not want to stop reading. I can't wait to visit this world again someday!