To continue our monthly series of book lists for youth, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library would like to recommend the following titles:
August, 2006 -- Magical Animals
If you enjoy some of these books look for more by the same author!
Three Tales of My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett. Elmer faces many challenges while rescuing a baby dragon held captive on Wild Island and the pair continue on more adventures. Three-book series in one volume. Grades K-4. Cassette book RC 46345.
Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin. Mrs. Tabby's four kittens are born with wings and use them to run away from the difficulties of city life, only to find that the country has dangers of its own. #1 in Catwings series. Grades 2-4. Cassette book RC 29445. Braille book BR 7881.
Summer of the Sea Serpent by Mary Pope Osborne. Annie and Jack are reunited with the young sorcerer Teddy and transformed into selkies to retrieve a magical sword for Merlin. #31 in Magic Treehouse series. Grades 2-5. Cassette book RC 58226. Braille book BR 15397.
The Fairy Rebel by Laura Giannarelli. Tikki the fairy is already in trouble for wearing jeans, but the fairy queen really gets mad after Tikki uses magic to help a human family have a child. Grades 3-6. Braille book BR 7890. Large Print book LP 12491. Cassette book RC 30333.
Girls to the Rescue by Bruce Lansky, editor. Ten fairytales from around the world featuring clever and courageous heroines. Includes Lian and the Unicorn. Volume 2 offers more folktales. Volume 3 includes more realistic tales. Grades 3-6. Cassette book CBA 6673.
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville. Running from bullies and a girl trying to kiss him, Jeremy stumbles into a mysterious shop and leaves with what he thinks is a ball until he reads the instructions. #2 in Magic Shop series. Grades 3-6. Cassette book RC 37037.
Smart Dog by Vivian Vande Velde. Scientists have enhanced Sherlock the Dog's brain and now they want to dissect it! He escapes, chooses the unpopular Amy as dog's best friend, and the two tackle their problems together. Grades 3-6. Cassette book RC 49623.
The Book of Enchantments by Patricia Wrede. A collection of 10 fantasy stories in both traditional and modern settings, detailing unicorns and wizards, future-telling roses and the unlikeliest of weapons, the Frying Pan of Doom. Grades 4-7. Cassette book RC 46004.
The Kelpie's Pearls by Mollie Hunter. An old woman of the Scottish highlands makes friends with a kelpie, sees the Loch Ness monster, and practices some of her grandmother's witchcraft. Grades 5-8. Large Print book LP 007954.
Merlin's Kin: World Tales of the Heroic Magician by Josepha Sherman. In this collection of thirty international folktales, some of the stories feature a wizard with books and spells and others feature a traditional shaman. Grades 5-8. Braille book BR 13116.
The White Stag by Kate Seredy. A legend of Attila the Hun and the founding of Hungary . A white stag and a red eagle lead the people to their promised land. Newbery Award. Grades 5-8. Cassette book RC 23270.
Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley. To pay her father's debt, young beauty must voluntarily live in the castle of an enchanted beast. Grade 5 and up. Cassette book RC 55360. Braille book BR 6800.
Birth of the Firebringer by Meredith Anne Pierce. Aljan is hotheaded unicorn prince. With his friend and his mentor he will face many enemies before the meaning of his dreams and his destiny are revealed. #1 in Firebringer series. Grade 5 and up. Cassette book RC 27813.
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede. To escape the boring world of a proper princess, Cimorene demands to be a dragon's captive. She aids bumbling knights, hysterical princesses, and dragons feuding with wizards. #1 in The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Grade 5 and up. Cassette book RC 33457.
Dragon of the Lost Sea by Laurence Yep. The evil witch Civet has stolen the dragons' sea and Shimmer, a dragon princess in disgrace, tries to redeem herself and save her homeland aided by the human boy Thorn. #1 in Dragon series. Grade 5 and up. Cassette book RC 26538.
The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer. Jack and his little sister Lucy are captured by Viking Berserkers. To save them both, he must deal with the marauders, trolls, giant spiders, dragons, and dangerous journeys. Grade 5 and up. Large print book LP 21278.
Goblin Wood by Hilary Bell. Makenna, a young hedgewitch, organizes an army of clever goblins to fight against the ruling human hierarchy, who are trying to rid the land of all magical creatures. Tobin, an idealistic knight, is sent to entrap her. Grades 6-9. Cassette book RC 57268.
Eragon: The Inheritance, Book I by Christopher Paolini. Fifteen-year-old Eragon bonds with the baby dragon, Saphira. Brom trains them in magic and martial arts and together they journey to save the empire. Some violence. Grade 6 and up. Cassette book RC 57232.
Link to previous Recommended Reads.