Etan loves spending time at his grandfather's shop. Ever since his mother went to stay in the hospital, he hasn't felt like speaking much. Etan's grandfather understands and doesn't try to pressure him or make him feel guilty. So he's happy to help his grandfather's friend by making a grocery delivery to a house on the outskirts of town. When he gets there, he discovers it's the home of "the creature," a girl with a skin condition who was bullied so badly she's now home-schooled. Etan quickly befriends her, even when his classmates tease him for it. Everyone is excited for The Battle of the Bay with the A's pitted against the Giants in the World Series, but soon something will happen that will take everyone's minds off baseball and their own problems as they have to face the power and brutality of nature.

There's so many aspects of this book to love from the incorporation of Jewish folklore and the golem to the way Etan and Malia's friendship blossoms. There's just a hint of magical realism but it's mostly grounded in history. Of course people familiar with Bay Area history will know what to expect as the Battle of the Bay looms closer, but for many readers it will be a surprise. A novel in verse, it is a quick but impactful read that I highly recommend, especially for locals.

​The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th grade
​tags: character driven, disability, family life, friendship, historical fiction, magical realism, mental illness, novels in verse, People of Color, SEL

It all started with a pesky seagull. When it steals Sofia's ice cream cone, Max offers her a replacement and before they know it that same gull leads them to an abandoned sailboat. Soon the magical boat whisks them away to Hawaii where a nest of baby sea turtles is in trouble. Will Max and Sofia be able to save the turtles with the help of a new friend, Laila? Or will the poor, helpless turtles be doomed?

This is a great early chapter series for animal lovers. The sailboat is magical, but the dangerous situation the sea turtles face is all too real. The ample pictures and short chapters along with fun animal facts and plenty of action make this an engaging read for children just starting chapter books.

Wind Riders #1 Rescue on Turtle Beach by Jen Marlin illustrated by Izzy Burton

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd grade
tags: adventure, animals, contemporary fiction, issues fiction, magical realism, People of Color

​Jordan loves her basketball teammates and playing with them at practice, but after she became paralyzed from the waist down she hasn't been allowed to play in official games. Jordan is having difficulty adjusting to life in a wheelchair, but things change when she comes across a wounded baby elephant on her way home from school. She takes the elephant home to her mother, a veterinarian, and quickly forms a strong bond with the animal. Soon Jordan is back to competing, this time in water polo, and what starts as a hard year turns out to be the most magical of her life.

I love Marshmallow! This sweet, intelligent creature is sure to win over animal lovers. Jordan's profound sense of loss when she can't play basketball with her team and her commitment to learning a new sport will resonate with sports fans as well. The drawings have a beautiful, dreamlike quality while remaining rooted in real-life, which is perfect for the magical realism of the story. I love that the author includes the occasional word in Indonesian and all the details of the setting. A great comic book with wide appeal.

Marshmallow & Jordan by Alina Chau

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th
​tags: animals, character driven, comics, magical realism, disability, friendship, global perspectives, People of Color, school stories, sports

Del and Alma are cousins and best friends and soon they will live in the same building, above the Curious Cousins Secondhand Shoppe. Alma is excited to live closer to her family, but at first it feels like she doesn't belong. Del can't wait for Alma to move in, but she wishes Alma believed in magic like she does. When the best friends get in their first big fight and Del's magical earrings go missing will they be able to work it out or will the move turn out to be a disaster?

I love the family relationships in this book between the cousins but also the grandmother and great-aunt who run the shop and all the other relatives that live in the building. The story switches between Alma and Del's perspectives so you can see both sides of the story and understand where their disagreement is coming from. I love the way it depicts life in a big city and the hints of magic throughout. A warm, wise, wonderful book for the early chapter book crowd

Hand-Me-Down Magic #1: Stoop Sale Treasure by Corey Ann Haydu, illustrated by Luisa Uribe

Erica's Picks
2nd - 4th
​tags: character driven, family life, People of Color