Louisa wants nothing more than to spend the summer rehearsing with her violin for her big audition with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. But her environmentalist parents have other ideas. They went off on an expedition observing toads and sent Louisa to stay with her uncle in the wilds of the Tasmanian jungle in Australia. At first Louisa is scared stiff of the spiders and snakes that could be lurking in any corner, but soon she learns that even more fantastic creatures may be lurking in the jungle. Creatures like the widely-believed to be extinct Tasmanian Tiger. As she learns more about the history of Tasmania and her family she becomes determined to find and save the enigmatic creature that seems drawn to her music. But with her uncle's home set to be bulldozed, will she be able to find it before it's too late?

This is an excellent read for music and animal lovers everywhere. The book completely transported me to Tasmania and made me fall in love with its native fauna. Even tasmanian devils are cute as babies. Louisa is a great character who grows immensely over the course of the book and watching her friendship bloom with Colin was a delight. Highly recommended.

Music for Tigers by Michelle Kadarusman

Erica's Picks
4th - 7th
​tags: 

 When a villager gets injured and needs money for a doctor, Chaya knows just where to get it. She sneaks into the Queen's chambers while everyone is distracted with a party and steals her jewels. But when her best friend gets blamed for the crime, she knows she has to save him. Soon she's fleeing through the jungle on the King's own elephant. With the King's guard hot on her heels and the dangers of the jungles all around her, Chaya plots to save herself and the rest of the villagers under the King's cruel reign.

I loved the adventures of this young Robin Hood and the Sri Lankan setting was like a character to itself. This fast-paced novel provides plenty of excitement and animal lovers will love the story too. Great for children looking for an adventure or as a read-aloud.

The Girl Who Stole An Elephant by Nizrana Farook
Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th
​tags: adventure, animals, fast-paced, friendship, global perspectives, People of Color, social justice

Will loves turtles, but he hates being called turtle boy. The specimens he collects from the nature preserve behind his school are silent but supportive friends he can study and understand. The kids at school, on the other hand, only call him "turtle boy" because of his small chin. It turns out to be more than just a cosmetic concern, and the doctor says he'll need corrective surgery soon. But Will has been terrified of hospitals ever since his father unexpectedly died during a routine operation. Then his rabbi assigns Will to cheer up a RJ, a teen dying from an incurable illness, as his community service project for his Bar Mitzvah. Both boys seem to hate it at first, but Will's life changes in ways he never would have believed once he discovers RJ's bucket list and becomes determined to help him finish it.

This is such moving story that I didn't even mind the buckets of tears it made me cry. All of the characters are well drawn and learning about their interests from herpetology to drumming was fascinating as well. Highly recommended, but have the tissues ready.

Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein 

Erica's Picks
4th - 7th
​tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, family life, friendship, SEL, tear jerker

Ever since a dark mage killed the prince, magic has been forbidden to all except the Keepers of the Light. Anyone with magic or suspected of having magic is banished to the Twists. That's the way it's been for generations. Unfortunately for Flissa and Sara, being a twin is a sign of magic. Luckily, they were born to the King and Queen. Enter Princess Flissara: the role they take turns playing in public while the other is kept safely hidden away in their personal chambers. But when a dark mage returns to curse the Queen and they suspect the Keepers of collaborating, it will take both princesses to run away from the castle and venture into the magical prison of the twists that is filled with dark mages and the many magical traps and dangers meant to punish them.

This is a great fantasy adventure full of magical creatures, plot twists, and hidden secrets. Flissa and Sara both have their strengths and weaknesses shaped by the types of tasks they usually do and the different experiences they've had. Flissa usually does the fencing, horseback riding, and anything that involves athletic ability. Sara, on the other hand, thrives in social settings and public appearances. There's a large cast of great characters including talking horses, a bird as a tutor, and a magical black kitten. Perfect for young fans of magic.

Twinchantment by Elise Allen 

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th
​Tags: 

Lucely's father runs a ghost tour business where he fools tourists with hidden speakers and fake ghost sightings. But Lucely is the real deal. She sees ghosts of her family members every day. No one outside of her family knows except for her best friend Syd. When Lucely's ghost family is threatened, Lucely and Syd try to save them. But playing with spells they don't understand has dire consequences. Soon the whole town is overrun with evil spirits and they realize that they are in far over their heads.

This story has a little bit of everything from the mystery of who is messing with the town and how to save it to the all the thrills and chills you'd expect to find in a ghost story. There's more than a few laughs as well. Lucely and Syd make a great team and there's a wonderful cast of supporting characters from Syd's grandmother (who is a real witch) to Lucely's cousin who was a champion fighter before her death. Of course my favorite is the cat, Chunk, who belongs to Syd's grandmother and saves the day more than once.

Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega 

Erica's Picks
4th - 6th
​Tags: adventure, animals, family life, People of Color, supernatural

When Thom's super strength first showed up, it was bad enough. She used to love playing soccer, but now she either barely taps the ball or hits it so hard it injures people. Then her mother moves her across the country and she struggles to fit in. At her old school there were plenty of Asian-American kids, but at her new school it makes her stand out as she gets bullied for her 'strange' ways. Then she accidentally unleashes the Monkey King and her life is changed forever. She's heard the stories about how he's a trickster, but he seems nice enough. And he's the only one who seems able to help her with her powers. Soon she discovers all the stories her mother told her are true and she has no idea who she really is or who she can trust.

This fantasy story based on Vietnamese mythology drew me in from the first page. Thom is a great character and it's easy to relate to her struggle to fit in and confusion over who to trust. The Monkey King is charismatic, but mischievous. Her new neighbor seems nice but is clearly hiding something. And Thom's mother loves her but refuses to tell her anything about her father. It certainly kept me guessing and resulted in a few surprises. A fun adventure story for all. 

Girl Giant and the Monkey King by Van Hoang 
Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th grade
​tags: adventure, animals, fantasy, fast-paced, People of Color, retellings, sports

Eleven year old Danny still believes in fairy dust, much to the dismay of his social worker. When Danny injures himself trying to fly, she has to find a new foster family for him. She urges him to forget about the fairy tales his older sister used to tell him before she disappeared. But Danny knows his sister is waiting for him in the world of Rio Luna, if he can only find a way there. No one believes him, until a field trip to the New York Public Library leads him to a copy of the original Rio Luna book that's glowing. There he finds a kid his age and her aunt, who agree to help him on his quest. Along the way they encounter fantastic creatures and sights and many dangers. But nothing can stop Danny on his quest to find his sister.

This will appeal to all book lovers who have ever wanted to escape into the world of their favorite story. There's a great cast of characters from Danny and Glory to Prince Llewelyn the Jackalope. The story is a bit slow to start, but once Danny finds the magical book and his quest begins the plot speeds along with fantastical creatures, magic, and adventure.

The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Córdova 
3rd - 5th
​tags: adventure, animals, fairy tales, fantasy, People of Color

An evil tsar, a misunderstood witch, a plucky orphan, and a wolf in disguise: get ready for a classic fantasy adventure that will transport you to a fairy tale Russia. Zima has never trusted humans, especially Baba Yaga, but when her pack is threatened she makes a deal with the witch and they trade bodies for a spell. Nadya also braves the woods to seek Baba Yaga's help, but doesn't realize it's really a wolf in Baba Yaga's body. Nevertheless they team up to fight the evil Tsar, save Nadya's friend, Zima's pack, and the magical woods they call home.

I love a good Baba Yaga story and this one certainly fits the bill. It has plenty of adventure but nothing too scary for younger students and a lot of heart. It would make a great read-aloud. The illustrations throughout capture the fairy-tale feel of the book. All the characters are great but my favorite was the wolf, Zima. I love how the author captured the world through her eyes and fellow animal lovers will appreciate her too.

A Wolf for a Spell by Karah Sutton
Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th
​tags: animals, fairy tales, fantasy, retellings

When Bea's adopted grandfather goes missing, she is determined to find him. He may be a powerful wizard, but he doesn't remember things like he used to and Bea is afraid for his safety. Along the way she meets Cad, the last of the Galudrians who is convinced that her grandfather holds the key to keeping the darkness at bay. Together, along with Bea's pet cat, they set off on a quest through a strange and dangerous world to find Bea's grandfather, the lost Galudrians, and the light.

This is a beautiful fantasy world and the full-color illustrations transport you into it. With lush landscapes and expressive characters, the comic has a cinematic quality. The story is a classic adventure tale with sacrifices, trials, tricks, and battles. Great for fans of Amulet and other fantasy adventures.

Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian by Tim Probert

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th
​tags: 

When the old "witch" at the edge of town patches up Snapdragon's dog, she knows the rumors can't be true. So when she finds a litter of orphaned possums, she knows where to bring them. The witch agrees to help Snapdragon raise the possums, but only if Snapdragon will help with her business. It turns out the witch finds dead animals on the side of the road, cleans their skeletons, puts them together, and sells them online. It's surprisingly lucrative and Snapdragon is fascinated. But just when Snapdragon thinks she has it all figured out, it turns out the old woman has powers after all, and a secret from her family's past.

This is a great supernatural comic for fans of the macabre. The cute puppies and baby opossums are balanced out by skeletons and ghosts. The characters are all underdogs in their own way and seeing them come together and support each other is heart-warming, even if they use demons to do so.

Snapdragon
by Kat Leyh

Erica's Picks
4th - 7th
​tags: animals, comics, family life, LGBTQ, People of Color, supernatural