Marco Polo Brave Explorer
by Cynthia Lord, Stephanie Graegin
Marco Polo is a small toy mouse, who can be checked out from the library just like a book. But he is so small that he never gets borrowed by any of the children, because they are afraid he will get lost. Seth visits the library, looking for something to help him be braver, and he discovers that Marco Polo is just the adventurous mouse to help.
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Ready for the Spotlight!
by Jaime Kim
Tessie is jealous that her big sister Maya always steals the spotlight in their ballet class. Maya is older and has more training with dance, so she gets to wear a crown in the ballet recital. Tessie is so sick of always being overlooked! Until one day in class they have freestyle dancing, and Tessie gets a chance to show her amazing dance skills.
I loved this cute book! It’s so sweet how the sisters navigate some tough emotions of jealousy and inadequacy, and they learn to help and appreciate each other. I love the positive messages in this story as the girls learn to share the spotlight together.
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Tea Party with Brielle
by Brielle Vivienne, Jacqueline Regano, Yuliia Zolotova (Illustrator)
Brielle is preparing a tea party for her guests. She chooses a theme, picks out a fancy dress, sets the table with a beautiful tablecloth, and prepares the food. She even has a special recipe for a delicious tea! When her guests arrive, everything is ready for a fantastic tea party!
This is such a cute book! Everything is floral and pink and pretty- perfect for those girly girls who love a fancy tea party! I love all the little details about the teapot and the plates, the flowers, and all the chic accessories.
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My Colorful World: Making New Friends
by Jill McKellan
In this book, the Fairy Brigade pretend to be regular children to help Arya gain the confidence to make new friends. Arya is very nervous, but the Fairy Brigade help her to overcome her fears. Little by little, she opens up and learns how to make friends.
This is a cute story about overcoming social anxiety, and finding ways to connect with people. I liked the positive messages in this book! The story is very simple and the writing is a little stiff, but I enjoyed the way that Arya grows and becomes more courageous.
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James and the Giant Peach
by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)
James lives his two horrible aunts, wishing that he could get away. A mysterious stranger gives him a bag of magic, but James accidentally drops the bag near an old peach tree, and the tree absorbs all the magic creating a giant fruit. The giant peach propels James into a new adventure that will take him farther than he ever dreamed and get rid of his awful aunts once and for all.
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The Magic House: The Amazing Adventures of Alexander and Sophia
by Alan Matkovic
Sophia and Alexander are two children looking for adventure. They discover a secret entrance to a magic house with mysterious rooms filled with every imaginable delight. As they explore the rooms, they find all their favorite things. But the mystery behind the last door will surprise them with magic they never imagined to be possible.
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I Can Be Creative Like Leonardo da Vinci
by Christopher Robbins, Susanna Covelli (Illustrations)
This board book has a little finger puppet of Leonardo da Vinci sticking out of the book! It’s so cute and fun to play with! The story inspires little readers to be imaginative like da Vinci was. He invented new things, studied nature, and drew beautiful paintings and sketches.
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Forgotten Fairy Tales: Fearless Girls Around the World
by Isabel Otter, Ana Sender (Illustrations)
This collection of fairy tales features stories from all over the globe. Each story has a fearless woman or girl who dives into adventure with courage and resourcefulness. The stories have a wide range of settings in different cultures, including Germany, Mexico, Siberia, Japan, Fiji, Nigeria, and India. Some of the tales include magical beings like elves and sorcerers, and some have magic gods and giants.
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Knock Three Times!
by Marion St. John Webb
5 out of 5 stars
Molly and her brother Jack encounter a strange magical Grey Pumpkin, and they follow it into another realm. They embark on a quest to find the elusive Black Leaf and defeat the evil Grey Pumpkin. There are many dangers along the way. Molly and Jack are not sure who to trust, but the kindly Old Nancy gives them some enchanted matches to help guide them.
I always love rereading this favorite children’s classic. The story is so exciting, and full of twists and turns. The world building is full of magic and enchantment. I love all the crazy characters that Molly and Jack meet on their travels. Every person is so memorable and different.
The writing style is excellent, and there is such a great balance of funny and serious scenes. The adventure is full of suspense, but there are some really hilarious parts too.
I always enjoy rereading this book over and over again! It’s such a delight!
Luminous Libro 