Tag: magic

The Language of Spells

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Grisha is a dragon, living in a world where most people have forgotten how to see magic. Maggie is a girl, living in a world that wants her to be ordinary, even though she’s extraordinary. They encounter one another in the hotel that Maggie lives in… and their friendship might mean that there’s hope to solve a great mystery.

What I loved most:

There are some books that are written to children – where adults write down to their audience… and then there are books written with love for children. It’s like the difference between talking to a little kid while you’re standing up, and they have to crane their neck to look up at you… and squatting down when you’re talking to a kid, so that you’re at their level. The Language of Spells is the second kid of book. The language Weyr uses feels like a big cozy sweater and like an invitation to go on a bold adventure, all at the same time. It gives me the same kind of vibes of K. E. Ormsbee, who y’all know I love. This is a book that I’d highly recommend to literally any kid that I know.

Read this book if you like:

The House in Poplar Wood by K. E. Ormsbee, friendships, adventure, finding magic in the ordinary

Book details:

  • Author: Garret Weyr
  • Publisher: Chronicle Books
  • Date of Publication: June 26, 2018
  • Interest Level: Mid-elementary to early middle schoolers

Once Upon a Unicorn

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Curious is a unicorn. He doesn’t quite seem to fit in with the other unicorns, because his Scientific Mind makes him interested in things the rest of them don’t care about.

Midnight is a night mare. She can’t quite seem to keep her fire under control, and that makes it hard for her to be included with the rest of the nightmares.

Everyone knows that unicorns and night mares don’t like each other. It’s just not how things work. But when Curious and Midnight cross paths while on an Experiment and a Plan (respectively), they’ll have to work together to escape from pumpkin-headed fae, figure out what the fairy queen is up to, and maybe save their world.

What I loved most:

I picked up Once Upon a Unicorn on a day when life was feeling heavy and I wanted to escape the world for a while. Anders built such a fun, rich, beautiful world – and it was a delight to escape to. I love unicorns, so trust me – I have read a lot of unicorn books (see my post on Welcome to Unicorn School for another one of my fav unicorn stories). I’ve never encountered anything quite like the night mares found in this story (which are clearly NOT the opposite of unicorns – just ask Midnight). I appreciate the way that Curious’s and Midnight’s eccentricities were strengths, and essential to who they were. I am also a sucker for any chosen family stories, and I adore how Curious and Midnight overcame their prejudices to create a solid bond. I loved this story as an adult, and I know that any kids reading it will be just as swept up into this world as I was.

Read this book if you like:

Unicorns, fantasy worlds, enemies-to-friends scenarios, fae, laughing while on adventures

Book details:

  • Author: Lou Anders
  • Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
  • Date of Publication: August 25, 2020
  • Age Recommendation: 4th – 7th grade
  • Look up Once Upon a Unicorn on WorldCat to find it at library near you!

The Hippo at the End of the Hall

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

When Ben receives a mysterious invitation to the Gee Museum, he has to investigate. For some reason, the pictures on the invitation stir up memories of his long-lost father. But that wouldn’t make sense, as he’s been gone for so long. When Ben arrives at the museum, it’s old and run-down, and the posted hours indicate that it’s barely open. But when he steps inside, he walks into a world of talking animals, magic, and adventure. Will he be able to save the museum from a nefarious developer and the owner of the other museum in town? The animals from the museum seem to think it’s his destiny.

What I loved most:

If you crossed the fever-dream quality of Alice in Wonderland with the vivid imagery of The Chronicles of Narnia, you’d get The Hippo at the End of the Hall. Magic abounds in this adventure, in a way that would be absolutely entrancing to kids. This is also a highly illustrated book, and the beautiful sketches help bring the characters to life.

Read this book if you like:

Adventures, magic, long-lost families, stories of destiny

Book details: