Horses that fly, and birds that can’t, plus ukelele-strumming octopuses, Bigfoots, and water princesses.
Grades
PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8
1 | The Secret Horses of Briar Hill By Megan Shepherd. $16.99. Any girl who’s ever loved a horse (or The Secret Garden) will devour this story set in WWII England that deals with secrets, sickness, and being brave. Grades 3–7.
2 | Gary By Leila Rudge. $16.99. Gary is an enthusiastic racing pigeon—who can’t fly. But when he ends up a long way from home, his scrapbook of maps and schedules comes in handy. Delightfully humorous illustrations. Grades K–2.
3 | Rhymes With Doug By Chad J. Thompson. $16.99. Learning the -ug rhyming words will be a snap after reading this comic tale of a little bird whose rhymes get Doug in some deep trouble. Grades K–2.
4 | Penguin Problems By Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith. $17.99. It takes a philosophical walrus to change the attitude of a cranky young penguin whose beak is always cold. Great deadpan text from John. Grades K–2.
5 | The Water Princess By Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. $17.99. A beautifully drawn story based on the childhood of model Georgie Badiel conveys all in Africa is not “tragic.” Back matter on water crisis. Grades K–2.
6 | The Great Spruce By John Duvall, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. $17.99. More a paean to nature than a Christmas story, this tale of a boy and his tree will make each of us want to climb, or plant, one. Grades K–2.
7 | Also an Octopus By Maggie Tokuda-Hall, illustrated by Benji Davies. $16.99. This goofy and clever book starring a ukelele-strumming octopus with intergalactic dreams will get kids thinking of their own crazy plots. Grades K–3.
8 | How to Avoid Extinction By Paul Acampora. $16.99. What to do when you have to watch your stubborn, donut-loving grandma? Follow her to a dino dig in Utah, of course. The humor is cut with sobering themes. Grades 3–7.
9 | Full of Beans By Jennifer L. Holm. $16.99. The true, absorbing story of how Key West was saved in the ’30s and became a vacation mecca stars a Little Rascals–like cast of kids with the best nicknames ever. Grades 3–7.
10 | The Littlest Bigfoot By Jennifer Weiner. $16.99. Fantasy meets true-life bullying issues when a lonely girl makes an unlikely friend. Weiner keeps it funny by lampooning both teen vanity and hippie culture. Grades 4–7.
Megan Shepherd
Author, The Secret Horses of Briar Hill
Q | Why use magical-realism to write about WWII?
A | I’ve always loved stories where magic seeps into our regular world. Not necessarily definitive magic like in Harry Potter or Narnia, but the type that sneaks up on readers and leaves them with a sense that the world is a little more mysterious, beautiful, and strange than they might have thought.
Q | Are secrets important in childhood?
A | I can think of few things more crucial to childhood. It’s how we bond and gain a sense of self.
Q | Why humanize “cruel” characters, whether it’s a boy or a horse?
A | In the book, the Black Horse “does not bring strife because he enjoys it. He has a place in this world.” I remember this being an important lesson in my adolescence. That my sweet pet cat could be a monster to the mice. That’s simply nature, not good or evil.
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