Modern fantasy books contain plot elements or characters that are unrealistic in life. For example, they may have supernatural heroes, mystical or magical creatures, talking animals or other non-human objects. These books also have known authors, unlike some fairy tales and myths that have been passed down for generations. In addition, Science-Fiction is a category that falls into this fantasy genre.
March of the Ankylosaurus
By: Rex Stone
Illustrated by: Mike Spoor
Reviewer: Christopher Schiemann
Grade Level: K-3
Reading Level: 3.9
In this fantasy adventure, friends Tom and Jamie go through a magical portal along the beach to visit and explore Dino World. They've already been here before and have befriended a little dinosaur named Wanna. On this adventure, they follow some footprints to a baby Ankylosaurus stuck in the stinky, goopy muck. Using their teamwork and problem-solving skills, Tom and Jamie help this baby dinosaur get unstuck in the mud so it can rejoin its mother. Spoor writes this book as a great way to display teamwork together to help a creature. Included in the back of the book is a glossary of terms to help readers with prehistoric vocabulary.
Ravenwood
By: Daisy Meadows
Grade Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 4.1
From the Publisher: Who holds the seeds to save a sky-high world? Arborium is at risk, the sharpened blades of rival Maw poised to saw off its bark and branches. What can a poor plumber's apprentice armed with little more than a monkey wrench do to stop the chopping? Carved into a massive, mile-high canopy, the forest kingdom of Arborium stands upon the tallest of trees. Within them, 14-year-old Ark holds the lowest of jobs: unclogging toilets. He's already up to his elbows in gunk when he REALLY steps in it. He overhears a plot echoing through the pipes: Maw, a ruthless glass-and-steel superpower, is scheming to wield its axes of evil to strip Arborium of its wood -- a natural resource now more precious than gold. The fate of a kingdom in the filthy hands of a plumber boy? Plunged into danger, Ark must make the treacherous climb down to the darkest roots of RAVENWOOD if there's any hope of rescuing his threatened tree home!
Wildwood
By: Colin Melot
Illustrated by: Carson Ellis
Grade Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 5.3
From the Publisher: Prue McKeel?s life is ordinary. At least until her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows. And then things get really weird. You see, on every map of Portland, Oregon, there is a big splotch of green on the edge of the city labeled ?I.W.? This stands for ?Impassable Wilderness.? No one?s ever gone in?or at least returned to tell of it. And this is where the crows take her brother. So begins an adventure that will take Prue and her friend Curtis deep into the Impassable Wilderness. There they uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval, a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much bigger as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness. A wilderness the locals call Wildwood. Wildwoodis a spellbinding tale full of wonder, danger, and magic that juxtaposes the thrill of a secret world and modern city life. Original and fresh yet steeped in classic fantasy, this is a novel that could have only come from the imagination of Colin Meloy, celebrated for his inventive and fantastic storytelling as the lead singer of the Decemberists. With dozens of intricate and beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Carson Ellis, Wildwoodis truly a new classic for the twenty-first century.
Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
Edcited by: Kazu Kibuishi
Grade Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 2.4
From the Publisher: Seven clever stories answer one simple question: what's in the box? Funny, fantastic, spooky, and suspenseful, each of these unique and beautifully illustrated short graphic works revolves around a central theme: a mysterious box and the marvels-or mayhem-inside. Artists include middle school favorites Kazu Kibuishi, Raina Telgemeier ( Smile), and Dave Roman ( Astronaut Academy), as well as Jason Caffoe, Stuart Livingston, Johane Matte, Rad Sechrist (all contributors to the groundbreaking comics anthology series Flight), and upcoming artist Emily Carroll. Praise for Explorer: Mystery Boxes STARRED REVIEW "An outstanding out-of-the box anthology from renowned comics veteran Kibuishi. With eye-popping full-color art and palettes ranging from candy-colored to ethereal earth tones, this is both a visual feast for the eyes and a healthy helping of thought for the soul. Superb." Kirkus Reviews, starred review STARRED REVIEW "Coherent for all its variety, there will be something here for most readers." School Library Journal, starred review "This standout anthology will leave its audience with a fresh appetite for more from both the series and the individual contributors." The Horn Book "Award-winning comics creator and editor of the celebrated Flight anthologies, Kibuishi offers yet another great anthology geared toward middle-school readers. Always clever and never boring, these diverse stories run the gamut from creepy to sarcastic to witty to cute to Zen to wacky to thoughtful. While the pieces feature different artists and styles, each one is complete and so well composed that the transitions from one to another do not seem jarring or out of place. A great introductory title for young or struggling middleschool readers starting to explore the world of graphic novels." Booklist