Kids

The girl who drank the moon book cover

The girl who drank the moon

Kelly Regan Barnhill

jFICTION Barnhill Kelly
Kids, Fantasy

"An epic fantasy about a young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, who must unlock the powerful magic buried deep inside her. Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule--but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her--even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she's always known. The acclaimed author of The Witch's Boy has created another epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to become a modern classic"--

Becky's picture

Kelly Barnhill is one of my favorite children’s fantasy authors. “The Girl Who Drank the Moon” is an adventurous and magical story with an intriguing plot and well-developed characters throughout. It has magic, dragons, enchantment, evil, and twists—what’s not to love!? -Becky

Snow & Rose book cover

Snow & Rose

Emily Winfield Martin

jFICTION Martin, Emily
Kids, Fantasy

Snow and Rose search the forest for their missing father and discover there is a sinister magic at work in the woods. A reimagining of the classic but little-known fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red.

Becky's picture

This is a descriptive and lyrical retelling of Snow and Rose that features beautiful artwork from the author. Snow and Rose are sisters who are navigating the mysterious loss of their father and subsequent move from a large estate to a small cottage in the woods. While the plot may be a bit choppy at points, I did enjoy the fully distinct personalities between the two sisters and the magic of the woods. -Becky

Rump : the true story of Rumpelstiltskin book cover

Rump : the true story of Rumpelstiltskin

Liesl Shurtliff

jFICTION Shurtlif Liesl
Kids, Fantasy

Retells the tale of Rumpelstiltskin's childhood and youth, explaining why his name is so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold, and why a first-born child is his reward for helping the miller's daughter-turned-queen.

Becky's picture

Liesl Shurtlif does a great job developing a backstory for Rumpelstiltskin. Typically the antihero in fairy tales, Rump is shown here as a misunderstood and thoughtful hero. His power develops during a time of hunger and loss, and we watch as he learns more about himself, his powers, and the consequences of magic. Plot driven, surprising, and a fun read! -Becky

Beauty : a retelling of the story of Beauty & the beast book cover

Beauty : a retelling of the story of Beauty & the beast

Robin McKinley

YOUNG ADULT FICTION McKinley, Robin
Kids, Fantasy, Young Adult

Kind Beauty grows to love the Beast at whose castle she is compelled to stay and through her love releases him from the spell which had turned him from a handsome prince into an ugly beast.

Becky's picture

A very detailed and descriptive adaptation of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast! The pace of the story moves more slowly, allowing the reader to really understand the character development, relationships, and the magical setting of the tale. Beautifully written! -Becky

The jumbies book cover

The jumbies

Tracey Baptiste

jFICTION Baptiste Tracey
Kids, Fantasy

Eleven-year-old Corinne must call on her courage and an ancient magic to stop an evil spirit and save her island home.

Becky's picture

"The Jumbies" is the first book in a trilogy which stems from Carribean folklore. This is a plot driven and frightening novel that would be enjoyed by children who enjoy suspenseful tales, magic, and brave characters! -Becky

Where the mountain meets the moon book cover

Where the mountain meets the moon

Grace Lin

jFICTION Lin, Grace
Kids, Fantasy

Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.

Becky's picture

This is a beautiful fantasy adventure novel rooted in Chinese folklore. It follows Minli, a strong and lovable heroine, on her quest to seek answers from the Old Man of the Moon. While traveling, Minli meets several interesting characters and is told memorable folklore tales. This is a book for all ages! Grace Lin is an excellent storyteller and her artwork throughout the story is stunning! -Becky

Endurance : my year in space and how I got there book cover

Endurance : my year in space and how I got there

Scott Kelly

j629.45092 Kelly
Kids, Nonfiction, Science

Adapted from the memoir of NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a record-breaking year in space.

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Shouting at the rain book cover

Shouting at the rain

Lynda Mullaly Hunt

jFICTION Hunt, Lynda Mullaly
Kids

Delsie loves tracking the weather, living with her grandmother, and the support of friends and neighbors, but misses having a "regular family," especially after her best friend outgrows her.

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Astrophysics for young people in a hurry book cover

Astrophysics for young people in a hurry

Neil deGrasse Tyson

j523.01 Tyson
Kids, Nonfiction, Science

"From the basics of physics to big questions about the nature of space and time, celebrated astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson breaks down the mysteries of the cosmos into bite-sized pieces. Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry describes the fundamental rules and unknowns of our universe clearly--and with Tyson's characteristic wit, there's a lot of fun thrown in, too.This adaptation by Gregory Mone includes full-color photos, infographics, and extra explanations to make even the trickiest concepts accessible. Building on the wonder inspired by outer space, Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry introduces an exciting field and the principles of scientific inquiry to young readers"--

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What the dog knows : [scent, science, and the amazing ways dogs perceive the world] book cover

What the dog knows : [scent, science, and the amazing ways dogs perceive the world]

Cat Warren

j636.70886 Warren
Kids, Nonfiction, Animals

"In this young readers edition of the New York Times bestseller, Cat Warren and her canine companion, Solo, teach readers that the nose knows no bounds when it comes to working together, being persistent, and helping others. But he's only one of many thousands of scent-detection dogs all over the United States. That's a group that includes cadaver dogs, tracking, trailing, and apprehension dogs, and dogs that can locate unmarked graves of Civil War soldiers. What the Dog Knows shows the science, the rigorous training, and the skilled handling that underlie these amazing abilities."--Back cover.

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