Reading Suggestions for Grey and Gloomy Weather

      Seasonal Readers: If you are a seasonal reader, you like to pick your books based on the time of year, the land you're traveling to or by the weather. You love holiday classics in the winter, you read spooky scary stories when you visit the Haunted Woods and of course, pick up a moody book when the sky is cloudy! To honor Grey Day and the rainy days ahead, I have a few recommendations to align with a seasonal reader’s wishes.

     1. Maraquan Faerie Tales . This is a quiet and cozy book that will keep you company as you watch the raindrops slide down your window. With stories of Maraquan’s great queens and kings, as well as evil do-ers such as the ever present Drenched, the atmosphere will certainly match the page.

     2. Nomi the Grey Faerie . Whereas we all know and love our Grey Faerie Baelia, many Neopians forget that she is not the only one. Nomi the Grey Faerie is a historical fantasy book that details the story of Nomi the Grey Faerie… from her days as a young faerie, to her curse and life without magic. It was captivating and emotional; the perfect choice to pick up around Grey Day to appreciate the holiday even more.

     3. Zafaras Rainy Day . While there are quite a few good choices in the ‘Rainy Day’ series, my personal favourite is Zafaras Rainy Day , it has a nice balance of humor and adventure. It is the story of one yellow Zafara’s encounter with the Brain Tree on a very rainy day. It is funny and sentimental yet moody with omniscient rain showers. A great choice for any rainy or grey day.

     4. Greyed Expectations . This is one of my all-time favourites! Greyed Expectations is a modern retelling of a Neopian classic. It takes a dark twist on the story we all know and love, with a cynical and scathing tone, while still honoring the original story and characters. It is fun to see a modern take on the story through the lens of Grey Neopets.

     5. Grey in the Shade . Of course, this list would not be complete without the award winning Grey in the Shade . A literary thriller where all of Neopia becomes Greyed, and our protagonists learn that things are not all black and white, whilst trying to restore Neopia to colour. You will feel particularly immersed in the story when skies are grey and the Drenched are watching…

     6. BONUS BOOK : A Watery Book of Water . This is the perfect ‘seasonal’ book since we have certainly been living in wet conditions lately! The name of the book says it all, if there is ever a time to read this and feel submerged, it is now!

      The Young Ones . If you have a young one at home, you are already working hard to raise a Baby Neopet and likely are struggling with them not being able to get outside a play. You need something light, fun and colourful to keep their attention and keep a smile on their face. Here are my book recommendations for our youngest Neopians.

     1. Faerie Rock Touch-N-Feel Book. This book is not only lovely in shades of pastels, but it also involves all six senses. Your young reader can look at pictures, feel the texture, scratch and smell certain pages and even taste a few (please make sure you do not buy this book second hand…). With all these sensations, your young Neopian will be stimulated and amused all day.

     2. Learning Your ABCs and 123s . Perhaps this will be slightly less exciting than the Faerie Rock Touch-N-Feel Book , to your young reader, but it is one of the most important books for them to read! All young Neopets need to learn the basics and the best time to start is now when the weather is poor. This book is a Baby Pet classic, it teaches the fundamentals in a way that is easy, approachable and enjoyable.

     3. The Baby Blue Snorkle . My children loved this book growing up and it still warms my heart. The Baby Blue Snorkle follows the little Snorkle through his adventures in each Neopian land, the illustrations are adorable and it all ties in with a happy ending.

     4. Defenders of Neopia Heroes Colouring Book . Of course, this list needs a colouring book! Young readers love to colour and this will keep them entertained all day. This is a fun colouring book with pictures of the Defenders of Neopia Heroes! Educational, fun to look at and engaging for any young Neopian.

     5. Faerie Tales . This is a must read for any young reader! Faerie Tales is the classic collection of Neopian fables… from The Little Turtum That Could to the Velveteen Cybunny , this collection contains short and sweet stories that are light and uplifting.

     The Motivated Readers. If you are a motivated reader, you probably do not often read for fun – you read strictly to learn. You are always training, watching the stock market and restocking your store. You are motivated to improve yourself every day and only like to spend your time doing things that will help you reach your goals. Surprise my friends, there is a whole collection of non-fiction books in Neopia that will bolster your self-improvement journey. Granny’s tip: if you do not want to sit and read, grab your headphones and pop-in an audiobook, then you can listen while you clean, train or organize!

     1. All About Grey Faeries . With Grey Day and grey skies, there is no better time than now to brush up on your Grey Faerie facts. This is a narrative non-fiction book that reads like fiction. It has a unique voice and slips in vignettes around the cold-hard-facts, keeping the pace fast and your brain from losing interest. This book takes a deep dive into Grey Faeries, from famous faeries, to the history and long-term impacts on the Neopian economy. I highly recommend it!

     2. How to Explore Every Nook and Cranny of Maraqua Book . Let this Hissi tell you how to explore the most hidden places! This is a full comprehensive travel guide with facts, hints, tricks and everything you ever needed to know about exploring Maraqua. This knowledge may come in handy soon if The Drenched stick around much longer…. While it is a chunky book, it is worth the read!

     3. How to Break Codes and Influence Plot Events . This one is for my intellectually motivated readers. You really need to read the whole thing six or seven times before you can understand it, but if you do, it will most certainly be useful. If you are motivated and like to plan ahead, this is the book for you. It breaks down psychological tips, plot patterns and secret Neopian codes. I would emphatically suggest giving this a read before starting any plot.

     4. Kitchen Quest Cookbook . A cookbook is great for any Neopian working on their kitchen skills. Full of delicious recipes direct from the best kitchen on Mystery Island, this comes straight from the Chef himself. This is actually a double win for any motivated Neopian, as learning the secret recipes can help you more efficiently complete Kitchen Quests, leading to more rewards as well as refined skills in the kitchen!

     5. Who is Number Two . This book is a peak behind the curtain of Neopian politics. It addresses the questions we all ask ourselves sometimes. A really fascinating exposé on the functioning of Neopia – both current and historic. This one is for any Neopian interested in government, business or economics.

     Now that is all for today my darling friends. I hope at least one of these books has resonated with you and that you can find yourself enjoying these stories in the grey and rainy days we have ahead. There is a book for every Neopian and the joy of reading is a constant through life. Please feel free to send me your book recommendations and consider joining my book club too! I hope you all stay dry, stay out of the way of the Drenched and have a very happy Grey Day. That is all I have for today for Granny Grumbles’s Hoppin’ Hobbies… until next time. Cheers.

     *Sponsored by the Magical Bookshop, become an enigma*.