Tag Archives: youth fantasy

Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Katy K.

Here’s the final book from my Baking Fantasy list – I enjoyed it just as much as I was hoping.  Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow. Read by Renee Dorian and Amber Dekkers. Feiwel & Friends, 2023 ISBN … Continue reading →

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Three Tasks for a Dragon and My Head Has a Bellyache

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Katy K.

Just in case you’re still looking for a gift to give to a kid in your life, here are two beautiful books, each suited to a different kind of kid, or perhaps different moods. Both of these have been nominated for … Continue reading →

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Unconventional Epics: Abeni’s Song and Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Katy K.

I’m reading my Cybils nominations far faster than I’m able to blog them, but here are two recent reads that I really enjoyed, both classic epic fantasies with unconventional twists. Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark. Starscape, 2023. ISBN 978-1250825827. … Continue reading →

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Classics Reimagined: The Grace of Wild Things and Moongarden

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Katy K.

Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden were two books that I read and reread more times than I could count as a child. I was very happy to see these two fantasy retellings in my Cybils nominations pile … Continue reading →

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8 Baking Fantasy Books

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Katy K.

I love baking and reading about baking, so I’ve gradually put this list of baking-related fantasies together over the past seven years. It’s finally long enough to deserve its own list rather than just “if you like this, you may … Continue reading →

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Cozy Middle Grade Fantasies: The Lost Library and the House of the Lost on the Cape

Posted on November 12, 2023 by Katy K.

Here are two lovely, cozy Cybils-nominated middle grade fantasy books that are perfect for reading aloud as well as solo. Remarkably, both of them achieve this while being set in the aftermath of significantly traumatic events – and both have … Continue reading →

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Dog Stories: Elf Dog and Owl Head and The Eyes and the Impossible

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Katy K.

Continuing on with my Cybils reading, I have two beautifully illustrated stories of dogs, both great for reading aloud as well as independent reading. I confess I’m more of a cat person myself, but these doggos still won me over. … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Murder: Between Monsters and Marvels and Don’t Want to Be Your Monster

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Katy K.

Today I have for you two stories of monsters that, while taking readers along on adventures to solve murders, also ask them to question who the real monsters are. Between Monsters and Marvels by Alyssa Wishingrad. HarperCollins, 2023. ISBN 978-0063244870.  … Continue reading →

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Haunted Houses: Finch House and Nightmare House

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Katy K.

Here are two stories of kids standing up to haunted houses and the horrors behind them – one more action-oriented and the other more introspective. Both of these books have been nominated for the Cybils Award, and these reviews reflect … Continue reading →

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Nominate Me for the Cybils 2023!

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Katy K.

Dear readers – it’s Cybils time! Being a panelist always brings with it the joy of stacks of books to read – and the fear that those stacks will be missing important titles. Here are some of the books that … Continue reading →

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