Some Fairies Wear Hearing Aids

Some Fairies Wear Hearing Aids by Penny Gill

A magical story for children with hearing aids or cochlear implants, their friends, classmates, and families. Piper and Paige are best friends - you might even say they are two peas in a pod! These clever girls are both deaf, use listening technology, and are always ready for adventure. When they decide to build a fairy house, they are in for a big surprise!

This charming yet simple story explores friendships between people with hearing loss, the journey from birth to listening through sensory devices, and the fun of creative play in nature. There is even an adorable hearing dog!

Some Fairies Wear Hearing Aids is a delightful story that provides "mirrors and windows" for children with hearing loss and their typically hearing friends, classmates, and families. The book includes "participation pages" at the end, with suggested activities.

Dragons in a Bag

Dragons in a Bag

By Zella Elliott

A fresh new chapter book fantasy series in an urban setting, Dragons in a Bag follows Jaxon as his mom leaves him with Ma, an older woman he's never met. He soon discovers Ma is not his grandmother, but a witch! And his mother was her apprentice. Ma tells Jaxon she needs help delivering baby dragons to a magical realm, but there are two important rules: do not open the bag they are in and do not feed them anything sweet. His friends, Vikram and Kavita, become involved in the adventure by freeing the baby dragons and sharing their sweets.

Dragons in a Bag

Dragons in a Bag

By Zetta Elliott

A fresh, new, chapter-book fantasy series in an urban setting, Dragons in a Bag follows Jaxon as his mom leaves him with Ma, an older woman he's never met. He soon discovers Ma is not his grandmother, but a witch! And his mother was her apprentice. Ma tells Jaxon she needs help delivering baby dragons to a magical realm, but there are two important rules: do not open the bag they are in and do not feed them anything sweet. His friends, Vikram and Kavita, become involved in the adventure by freeing the baby dragons and sharing their sweets. Oops.

This is a perfect introductory fantasy novel for young readers. Because of the detailed world-building, it's a great primer to reading the Harry Potter books.

Witches of Brooklyn

 Witches of Brooklyn

By Sophie Escabasse

When 11-year old Effie’s mother dies, she moves in with her two strange aunts who live together in a Brooklyn brownstone. Montreal-based author illustrator Sophie Escabasse delivers vivid images for this feelgood story. In the middle of one of her first nights staying there, Effie’s favourite singer and idol, Tilly Shoo, shows up at the house. Tilly has come for her aunts healing powers and at first Effie believes her aunts, Carlotta and Selimene, are acupuncturists and herbalists, but soon enough she realizes there may be magic at play. Is Effie magic, too? This is a delightful and warm fantasy graphic novel for ages 8-12.

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest

By Andi Watson

Kerry’s parents are very sick and he is their only hope. So Kerry leaves their family farm to retrieve their lifesaving medicine.  As he skirts the forest on the way back, he is led astray by what appears to be a little girl.  But this girl isn’t what she seems.  As Kerry follows her into the woods, he quickly becomes lost.

The forest itself is filled with dangers.  From one-eyed monsters to mystical weed-filled swamps to captive children, Kerry finds peril wherever he runs.  He is desperate to find his way home, but every turn in the forest seems to take him further into darkness.

But on his travels, Kerry also meets an old forest creature called Waystone.  With his one eye and rock-like appearance, Waystone seems rather menacing.   But Kerry quickly learns that Waystone is the Knight of the Forest, a trustworthy fellow who is willing and able to lead Kerry back to his farm.

Even with Waystone on his side, moving through the dark forest is not easy.  But as danger closes in, Kerry unexpectedly finds friends too.  His open heart allows him to trust some of the forest dwellers, despite Waystone’s warnings.  Will Kerry’s faith in the goodness of the world be his ultimate downfall?

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that leads readers down the path of the old-fashioned lost-in-the-woods fairy tale.  By turns frightening and hopeful, Kerry will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

The Storm Keeper's Island

The Storm Keeper's Island

By Catherine Doyle

Fionn and Tara Boyle have been sent to the Island of Arranmore to spend the summer with their grandfather.  Although they are close in age – Fionn is eleven and Tara is thirteen – they are no longer interested in the same things.  Tara, in fact, drives Fionn crazy.

On Arranmore, Tara meets up with her boyfriend, Bartley Beasley, but they won’t have anything to do with Fionn.  Away from the comforts of his home in Dublin, Fionn doesn’t know what to do.  But Arranmore is full of secrets, and as Fionn begins to question his grandad, some of those secrets begin to reveal themselves.

Arranmore, it seems, has a long history of magic.  It dates back thousands of years to a battle between the evil Morrigan and Dagda the good.  Morrigan is darkness incarnate.  She has been hidden away all these years, but is now regaining strength.

Fionn also learns about the Sea Cave, a magical place that promises to grant one wish.  But finding it turns out to be more dangerous than he thinks and he faces some stiff competition to get there first.

With Fionn’s arrival, the island starts to wake up.  The magic that’s been tucked away for years begins to appear everywhere. It’s thrilling but it’s also terrifying.  And when Fionn learns that Arranmore is searching for a new Storm Keeper, he fervently hopes that it won’t be him.

Filled with magic, The Storm Keeper’s Island is about a boy who learns he is capable of much more than he thinks.  If you like a bit of magic in your stories, you’ll love this book!

Bluecrowne: A Greenglass House Story

Bluecrowne: A Greenglass House Story

By Kate Milford

Fans of Greenglass House rejoice!  Kate Milford gives us some Greenglass House history in Bluecrowne.  

Lucy Bluecrowne has been raised on a schooner.  The Left-Handed Fate is her home, but in the early 1800s, a ship is not a safe place for a little girl.  Lucy’s father and the rest of the crew regularly do battle with other ships.  When Lucy is injured in one of those battles, her father decides enough is enough.  He and Lucy retrieve her stepmother, Xiaoming, and her stepbrother, Liao, from their home in China.  When they make landfall in Nagspeake, they know they have arrived at their new home.

Lucy begins the process of moving into the beautiful Greenglass House but longs for her home at sea.  She is terribly sad to be left at the house while her father continues his life aboard ship.  In an attempt to keep her happy, her father offers to buy her a small boat – her first command!  Lucy is thrilled, and drags Liao along to find one.

For his part, Liao is obsessed with fire and fireworks, and at seven years old is quite skilled with pyrotechnics.  Greenglass House will be different from China, but will at least offer him his own workshop.

As the two siblings set out to explore their new surroundings, they meet two peddlers, Trigemine and Blister, who are awfully interested in them.  Aware of Liao’s love of fire, Blister offers to bring him some supplies that can help him put on a thrilling show.  But these peddlers are not what they seem.

Trigemine and Blister arrive at Greenglass House and lure Liao into his workshop.  When Lucy sees a big explosion, she fears that Liao is dead.  When she can’t find him, she becomes frantic.  She soon begins to realize that Trigemine and Blister have powers beyond her imagining.  But to her surprise, her stepmother does too!  

Join the early inhabitants of Greenglass House on an adventure that crosses space and time, and that brings ancient Chinese mythology to life in a blaze of glory!

The Magic Misfits

The Magic Misfits

    by Neil Patrick Harris  


The Magic Misfits is a fun, quirky middle grade book by actor Neil Patrick Harris. It begins with Carter, a young boy who lives with his Uncle Sly, a street con artist who forces Carter, a young magician, to assist him with his pick-pocketing. Having had enough of his uncle's dishonest ways,Carter takes a chance and runs away on a train leaving town. 

Not sure where he is headed, Carter leaves the train when he sees a sea of circus tents in a little town of Mineral Wells. Heading to the circus, where he can hide amongst the crowd, Carter encounters B.B. Bosso and his unruly, band of crooked con artists. 

Meeting Dante Vernon, a local illusionist, leads Carter to his first real family and a group of magic misfits who quickly become his friends. Using each of their magical skills, this diverse group of pals; Leila, Ridley, Theo, Olly, Izzy and Carter unite to thwart the villainous exploits of Bosso and his thugs.

This is a fun read that is more than the story of Carter and his magical friends. Each chapter includes magic tricks the reader can try at home, secrets and codes to crack. The book speaks to you in Neil Patrick Harris' inimitable chatter and is sure to delight his fans and those new to his writing.