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

Nannerl Mozart loves to lose herself in music. Her father allows her to perform at the piano, at least until she reaches a marriageable age, but he doesn't allow her to compose. It's not proper for a lady. Meanwhile her younger brother Wolfgang Amadeus is given free reign to compose and quickly begins to outshine his older sister. Nannerl and Wolfgang have always been close, playing together and making up elaborate fantasy worlds to pass the time. But the injustice of how they are treated differently due to their sex begins to grate on Nannerl. When an elven prince from one of their stories appears to Nannerl in real life, he offers her the fame she deserves; a guarantee her name will live on forever. But what seems like a fairy tale happy ending is twisted when Nannerl discovers the price she'll have to pay.

I loved this combination of fantasy and historical fiction. I had never heard of Wolfgang Mozart's older sister before and was intrigued by her story. I was equally enthralled by the fantasy world coming to life and the twists and turns of figuring out the truth of it. Most of all I was moved by the relationship between the siblings Highly recommended.

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu 
Erica's Picks
6th - 8th
tags: fairy tales, family life, fantasy, historical fiction

Every day, King Bheema opens up his court to his subjects. Some come with complaints about a neighbor, some with tricky problems to solve. King Bheema deals with each fairly. Prince Veera watches his father and is excited when his chance finally comes to take over for a day. But some of the problems present unique challenges and puzzling circumstances. Will Prince Veera and his best friend Suku be able to solve them all?

This story is excellent for fans of folklore and traditional puzzle stories. Each chapter presents a classic dilemma for Prince Veera to solve. Children will enjoy trying to solve the puzzles before Veera and it would make a great class read-aloud so students can work together to try and solve them. The Indian setting only adds to the appeal, as does the sense of humor present throughout. Short chapters and ample illustrations make it great for young readers.

Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship: Stories from India by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Uma Krishnaswamy
Erica's Picks
2nd - 4th grade
​tags: fairy tales, global perspectives, historical fiction, People of Color

Shapeshifters, ghosts, androids, gods, MMORPGs, goblins, and more. This collection of short stories has it all. Each story is based on a traditional tale from the author's East or South Asian culture. Some stories stick closer to their traditional roots while some are set far in the future. But every one has a fantastical element that will transport you to another time and place. My favorite was Olivia's Table by Alyssa Wong but they're all great. After each story is a brief note from the author explaining their inspiration and giving you a peek behind the scenes. A must-read for fans of speculative fiction looking for a global perspective.

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh
Erica's Picks
7th & 8th
​tags: fantasy, fairy tales, global perspectives, People of Color, retellings, science fiction, supernatural

A cruel stepmother entranced by a magic mirror, a girl with a heart cut out by a huntsman, and seven dwarves who find and save her. You may think you know the story of Snow White, but this twist on the tale will leave you with a new perspective on what a heart can do and how poison can destroy us all.

Sophie is a much more resilient and inspiring figure than the usual depiction of Snow White. She has much more agency in her fight to survive to save not only herself, but her people. The step-mother is as wicked as ever, but how she became that way is painted with more understanding. Great for fans of fairy tales retold.

Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly
Erica's Picks
8th grade
tags: fairy tales, retellings, romance

Inspired by transformation in the tales of Snow-White and Rose-Red and Swan Lake, McLemore has created a beautiful story of magical realism in lyrical prose.  The title characters are two sisters who come from a long line of women in a Latinx family that has been cursed for generations. The curse is that there are always two daughters and one is chosen by the swans to become one of them. Roja has always know it would be her, for she is seen as the one with darker skin and fiery red-black hair and wicked, passionate ways.  Blanca of the fair skin and hair is the sweet, obedient, graceful one.
They are the yin and yang and closer than a circle.  Together they vow to break the curse.  While they hope to stop the transformation to swan, two missing boys have become a bear and a cygnet. A rich boy from an abusive family has become Yearling the bear. The cygnet is Page, a trans boy from a family who grow apples as if it is an art. Love happens to all but not as expected and with dire consequences.  Can destiny be avoided, can expectations and assumptions be shattered?
“The story of the ugly duckling was never about the cygnet discovering he is lovely. It is not a story about realizing you have become beautiful. It is about the sudden understanding that you are something other than what you thought you were, and that what you are is more beautiful that what you once though you had to be.”
One of the most beautiful books I have read, magic, fierce, bright and unforgettable. 
 
 Tessa's Picks
7th-8th grade, Character driven, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance, People of Color 

​If you believe in faeries, you should read this book as everything you thought about truth and the fierce beauty of that in-between world will be confirmed. If you don’t believe, you should even more so read this book so that you can experience that twilight world where dreams can be real and faerie “makings” encompass everything from transfiguration to keys made of poems and dance.
Clare is 14 and returned to Ireland and the domed underground house of her birth and the yew tree that grows within.  She is the latest of the tree’s guardians; her dead mother and all those grandmothers before her are a legacy.
Within the tree’s between place, she meets Finn, a boy part fairy, part human who she knew as a toddler.  Together they embark on quest to save the two worlds from forever closing which would cut the human world off from the ability to dream and create and the fairies from the ability to love.
Finn’s father Balor is a hideously fierce and unfeeling opponent to be faced and bound before he can destroy the gateway for ever. Here be true magic, both bright and dark. Gorgeous, haunting and wonderfully strange.  Dare to enter this world.


​Tessa's Picks, 5th-8th grade, Fairy tales, Fantasy, Supernatural

Elle's life is controlled by her wicked step-mother. One of the only bright spots is Starfield, a show her parents loved when they were alive. When it's announced that the latest teen heart-throb is cast as the lead in the new reboot, she's crushed. But when a costume contest for the show at the local comic con is announced, she sees its cash prize as her ticket to freedom. In her quest to alter her dad's costume and make it to the masquerade ball she'll find an unexpected fairy godmother and an even more surprising prince charming.

This is a great retelling of the Cinderella story. The magic pumpkin is replaced with a vegan food truck, the fairy godmother is a surly coworker, and the evil step-mother is...well...an evil step-mother. Some things don't change. I like that the story alternates between Elle's perspective and the actor playing the lead. Even better it turns out that he's more than some brainless heart-throb and is actually a huge fan of the show.

​Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Erica's Picks
6th - 8th Grade
Tags: ​contemporary fiction, fairy tales, people of color, retellings, romance

You may think you know the stories of Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel but don't believe everything a bard tells you. And what about those nameless Princes Charming? Read this book to get the low-down: the pampered, sheltered life was not enough for Cinderella. Rapunzel saved herself and her prince never lived it down. Sleeping Beauty is a spoiled brat. Snow White's prince can't be left unsupervised. Somehow this unlikely band finds themselves thrown together on a quest to save each other, defeat an evil witch, and show the world that they're more than their stories.

This book is a hilarious take on classic fairy tales. Having the various Princes Charming meet and lament over their plight at being looked over for their princesses adds a fun twist. Each have very distinct personalities and watching them interact and learn to get along is both entertaining and touching. It contains a lot of great lessons ranging from how to be a good friend to how to be true to your self. I particularly appreciate that there's male characters who are hopeless with swords and fierce female fighters and vice versa. The illustrations throughout only add to the already ample humor.

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
Erica's Picks
​Tags: Adventure, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Friendship, Humor, People of Color, Retellings