Stories that qualify as modern fantasy contain plot elements or characters that could not happen in real life. These elements could include supernatural encounters, mystical or magical creatures, or other extraordinary features such as talking animals, superpowers, and time travel. This is a great genre for science fiction fans!
The Monster in the Backpack
By: Lisa Moser
Illustrated By: Noah Z. Jones
Reviewer: Brandon Berrey
Grade Level: K-3
Reading Level: 2.0
Oh how Annie loved her new backpack. It was pick with floors, it had a zipper and... it had a MONSTER! At first it was a very scary monster, but Annie found out at least he was friendly. Friendly was the only good thing about him. He ate her lunch, he slept in her right boot and put gum in her left boot. The last straw was ripping up her homework and throwing it into the air for a parade. Kate offered her a backpack trade at lunch, should she take it now? Why did the monster throw a parade in her backpack? To find out check out this wonderfully illustrated book.
Emily the Emerald Fairy
By: Daisy Meadows
Reviewer: Mike Slowinski
Grade Level: K-3
Reading Level: 3.4
A part of the Jewel Fairies series, Emily the Emerald Fairy tells the story of Rachel and Kirsty's adventures in a toy store one day. Suddenly, the two friends realize that they are seeing magical visions in the mirror of the toyshop, which can only mean one thing: there is fairy magic nearby! Soon after, Emily, the Emerald Fairy appears to the girls asking for their help in recovering her lost emerald. However, just as the girls locate the precious stone, one of Jack Frost's notorious goblins swoops in, steals the stone, and makes a run for it. Now the girls must catch this crook and return the emerald before the mischievous goblin is able to exit the store and make off with the emerald forever! This book would be great for early readers who enjoy stories about magic and fairies. It has five chapters, but is easy enough for young readers to follow along.
Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale
By: Daniel Kirk
Reviewer: Joseph Diefenthaler
Grade Level: K-3
Reading Level: 4.6
Mrs. Forrester, the school's librarian, asked the kids to work with a partner and write/illustrate their very own book. Tom, a shy little boy, has no one to work with so the librarian said that she will work with him. As Tom entered the library the next day, he found a little book on the librarian's desk. Not knowing where it came from, he showed it to the librarian. She said that it looked like many others books that Sam has written but know one knows who Sam is. That is until Tom realizes that Sam is a mouse in the library and begins writting back and forth. By the end of the book, Tom and Sam end up working as partners to publish a book together.