How to Wrestle a Kraken: Book 3 in The Quests of Tiny Wilde by Andy Tolson

“Fun fact: Dragons poop in the sky. They just let it go and don’t care who’s under them. If you’ve ever been under a seagull when their nasty stuff lands on your shirt, the disgusting brown and chunky bomb from a dragon is about a million times worse. Oh, and possibly lethal since it’s the size of a baseball glove.”

This is just the beginning of another fun, fantastical installment in Andy Tolson’s The Quests of Tiny Wilde series: How to Wrestle a Kraken, which was released in August by Nimbus Publishing. A small taste of what to expect in Andy’s action-packed adventure story targeted for middle-grade readers.

How to Wrestle a Kraken begins with Tiny Wilde, a 12-year-old giant who has still not hit his growth spurt yet, sneaking out at night to fly his dragon, Basil. Not an easy thing to do with a giant, fire-breathing, mythical creature. Flying dragons within the town limits was a definite no-no, and with his dad being the town mayor, Tiny should be following the rules. But Basil needs to train and get in shape so that he will survive in the wild with his own kind in the Hinterlands. On the way back home, he and Basil spy a mysterious, eerie orange glow moving rapidly beneath the water. A mystery to be solved.

During a fundraiser at the Wonderville Hotel, Tiny was supposed to demonstrate his giant strength by breaking a brick, but wellness icon Carmela Crustido interrupts. Why would a famous entrepreneur care about their little fundraiser? And why is she buying up the land where Mystic World once stood? Tiny’s old mentor, Podge, leads Tiny to a key. Is it connected to the Library of Legends and Tiny’s Mother’s missing journal? Is there a missing mystic creature? The mysteries keep adding up. Soon, Tiny gathers his trusted allies, including the bravest person he knows, Nalia Souza, his best friend and a fellow mystical creature, a Water Mythic (do not call her a mermaid!), and the smartest person he knows, Sadie Brooks, to form a Quest Club.

In How to Wrestle a Kraken, we get to revisit the characters from Andy’s previous books: How to Kidnap a Mermaid and How to Rescue a Unicorn. Even Bessie 2, a souped-up dumpster truck, returns. We also get to meet some new characters. How to Wrestle a Kraken can be read as a stand-alone, but may be enjoyed more, binged read back-to-back with the others.

Soon, Tiny gathers his trusted allies, including the bravest person he knows, Nalia Souza, his best friend and a fellow mystical creature, a Water Mythic (do not call her a mermaid!), and the smartest person he knows, Sadie Brooks, to form a Quest Club.

This thrilling, fast-paced, middle-grade fantasy adventure is full of mysteries and secrets waiting to be unraveled. It is perfect for young readers who love character-driven stories, with quests and magical creatures.

As with the other books in The Quests of Tiny Wilde, there is a delicious recipe included at the back of the book, a meal found within the story. I am looking forward to reading book 4, How to Hide a Dragon, to be released in the fall of 2027, in hopes of finding out if Tiny finally hits his growth spurt and how Basil is making out with his peers.

Details

Andy Tolson has been a boy magician, drummer, propmaker, photojournalist, and filmmaker. He lives in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, in a big old house with his family and two cats named Olive and Ottoline. He is the author of the novel Noisemaker, published in 2022 by Moose House Publications. How to Kidnap a Mermaid was his debut middle-grade fantasy. How to Hide a Dragon will be out in the fall of 2027. Visit his website: www.andytolson.com

Publisher: Nimbus Publishing (August 26, 2026)
Paperback 8″ x 5.25″ | 256 pages
ISBN: 9781774715741

Sue Slade

Sue Slade has a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. After working with children and adults with special needs, she now has her midlife dream job of working with books. Sue manages an independent, locally owned bookstore, Dartmouth Book Exchange, and is known for planning and executing amazing, engaging book events. Through her charismatic sharing centred around books and community, Sue has created an interactive cornerstone for authors, customers, and book lovers of all ages. Sue is an avid reader, and her reviews cross over many genres. As the East Coast Advocate for The Miramichi Reader, Sue champions Atlantic Canadian literature by featuring the diverse works and unique communities that define her home region.