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An eerie tale of magic and friendship. When Jack is sent to Hazelwood, Iowa, to live with his strange aunt and uncle, he expects a summer of boredom. Little does he know that the people of Hazelwood have been waiting for him for quite a long time.

Princess Violet is plain, reckless, and possibly too clever for her own good. Particularly when it comes to telling stories. One day she and her best friend, Demetrius, stumble upon a hidden room and find a peculiar book. A forbidden book. A different kind of fairy tale, about the power of stories, our belief in them, and how one enchanted tale changed the course of an entire kingdom.

Warring nations, mysterious stone figures, and the running thread that magic is alive and dangerous all add to the gripping cnarrative of two children who find strength and ingenuity from being pushed out of their comfort zones. Áine, the daughter of the Bandit King, is haunted by her mother’s last words: “The wrong boy will save your life, and you will save his.”

Visiting her grandmother in Louisiana, Maddy realizes she may be only the sibling to carry on her family’s magical legacy. And when a disastrous oil leak threatens the bayou, she knows she may also be the only one who can help. A coming-of-age tale rich with folk magic. See the two other two books in the Louisiana Girls Trilogy, Ninth Ward (opens in a new window) and Sugar (opens in a new window).

Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There’s no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan, again. Crenshaw is a cat. He’s large, he’s outspoken, and he’s imaginary. He has come back into Jackson’s life to help him.

Byx is the youngest member of her dairne pack. Believed to possess remarkable abilities, her mythical doglike species has been hunted to near extinction in the war-torn kingdom of Nedarra. After her pack is hunted down and killed, Byx fears she may be the last of her species. The Endling. So Byx sets out to find safe haven, and to see if the legends of other hidden dairnes are true.

Alberto lives in a remote town called Allora. After his family is gone, Alberto is lonely until he rescues a desperate boy. They share a folktale and see it come true in this evocative store with elements of magic realism.

Only Livy sees the greenish creature when she and her family visit Gran in Australia. They see her talking to a chicken. But Bob is not only not a chicken, he’s quite special. Told from both Livy and Bob’s point of view, this handsomely illustrated and well told tale is fresh and intriguing.

The people of Woo cannot get to market easily as the bridge has been taken over by a dragon named Frightful. When twins Wei and Mei are born, a wise aunt knows that it will take both girls to confront the dragon. Highly detailed illustrations and fast-paced storytelling evokes eastern art, sure to enthrall adventure and dragon aficionados.

Meet Hansel and Gretel again! This, however, is not the typical telling. Here Willow the witch is a kindly good witch who finally has had enough of a rude duo. Strong lines, limited color, and understated text turn the traditional tale into a fresh, funny, and satisfying story. Readers may also enjoy Woollvin’s recasting of Rapunzel (opens in a new window) and Little Red. (opens in a new window)

In addition to his super speedy sneakers, Freddie now has acquired super hearing powers! But what you do with super hearing can have both good and bad results. The latest installment in the series is equally gentle and satisfying.

Making wishes is easy; making them come true in a world of diminishing magic isn’t so easy. That doesn’t stop a new Granter, a young fairy named Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets, from trying along with a canine friend and a couple of humans in this warm, gently humorous, and fresh novel.

Magic has turned Eliza’s 11 brothers into swans and only she can rescue them. Brilliantly illustrated and engagingly retold, the now-classic Hans Christian Andersen enchanted tale of love and loyalty is presented anew.

Jordie is thrilled when Professor Reese moves in next door with her dog, Baxter. Is it possible that Baxter can understand what Jordie says? Has the professor’s work put her in danger? This fast-paced adventure combines mystery and science fiction sure to intrigue.

Sapphire was not like other dragons. She had no desire to “crush castles or capture princesses.” But the local residents of a forest shun Sapphire until other fierce and fiery dragons destroy the woods. Almost translucent illustrations in rich, layered colors move the satisfying story to its dramatic conclusion.

Girl and her friend Dragon long to visit Far Away. Their adventure takes them across the seas where they rescue a small cat from Bad Hats returning comfortably Home again. Imaginative, gauzy illustrations complement the rhythmic text (with echoes of Edward Lear).

A boy on a bike spies a red book by the side of the road. As he reads it in his chilly seaside village, he sees a girl in a boat in a much warmer place reading a red book, and so on. Could children be connected by a book? No words are needed in this intriguing, surprisingly sophisticated story which unfolds through illustrations in a companion volume to The Red Book.

Could the white deer that Eric spots in the woods really be a unicorn? Can Eric help Dr. Brancusi, a vet, and his daughter really keep the unicorn – and her offspring – safe?  Love and loss, hope and happiness are threads throughout this delicately illustrated and absorbing novel.

When Frank’s (nee Francesca) backpack is tossed into nettles by a bunch of bullies, it is Nick Underbridge who retrieves it for her.  Nick is as unusual as his home where Frank finds friendship and solace until a secret upends not only their friendship but almost the entire world. Mysterious and otherworldly, this is an involving and satisfying fantasy.

A fragment of an imaginative tale told by Mark Twain to his daughters has been completed and illustrated with all due respect to the original author. Readers will meet Johnny, a poor but worthy boy who helps rescue Prince Oleomargarine, communicate with animals, and find lasting friendships. Delicate illustrations combine with the Twain-esque narration for a memorable (and gorgeous) package.

Tales from the Norse are not for the fainthearted or youngest, evident in these straightforward retellings. Readers will meet “[s]ome men and women [who will] become great … [and] the gods and goddesses [who] are even stronger and greater” in these myths. Illustrations are ominous, dark, and perfectly fitting for the tone of these tales.

A bard tells the story of a lazy rabbit named Podkin, how he defeated the red-eyed Gorms to save his rabbit family in the first of a new fantasy series. Vivid storytelling includes several battles, including the one in which Podkin loses an ear as he and his allies defeat the Gorm and Scramakshank, the Gorm’s vicious leader.

This collection of 15 stories and legends from Vietnam retold by Zen master poet and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh emphasize themes of cooperation and reconciliation, while providing a rich introduction to the mythical elements of Vietnamese culture. Imaginary characters weave through the lives of actual persons and events, blending fiction and nonfiction, magic and fantasy. 

The impatient young knight is tired of peeling the wizard’s turnips even if they are crucial to the magical mixture. When the wizard is away, the knight decides to create her first enchanted potion but accidentally turns the horse, Edward, into a ravenous, monstrous worm! The comic book format moves the wacky saga along to its equally silly conclusion.