Eliza and the Flower Fairies (Fairy Door Diaries book 1) by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Lenny Wen (Candlewick, 96 pages, grades 1-3). At the end of the school day, Eliza hurries home and retreats to the space behind her bedroom that she’s set up with as a magical retreat where she can read about fairies. The magic turns out to be real, and she’s transported to a fairy kingdom where she befriends the flower fairies. But when Eliza accidentally enters the realm of two evil witches, she has to call on her own courage and wits to save herself and one of her new fairy friends. Back home again, she discovers that her story has magically appeared in her diary, which she enjoys sharing with her little sister Bee.
New chapter book readers will love this magical tale from the Judy Moody creator, full of enchanting colored illustrations that will spark their imaginations. The story was a little too precious for me (I prefer more of a Princess in Black vibe in my enchanted heroines), but I’m sure it will find a big audience with those who love imagining themselves into fairy tales. I can’t find any evidence of a book 2, but I can’t imagine that this won’t be a series.
Search for the Silver Shell (Coral Keepers book 1) by Robin Yardi, illustrated by Paul Kellam (Scholastic, 96 pages, grades 1-4). Princess Finn is the daughter of Queen Ula, ruler of the queendom of Anjeea. Although Finn is a shark magician with magical power over sharks, she has failed her test to become a Coral Keeper four times. When the evil magician Rozaro (who has allegedly stolen Finn’s father’s magical powers and kept him prisoner) comes to the queendom, Finn has a vision of a silver shell she must find, with the help of her friends, siblings Moon and Light. When Rozaro steals the powers of the Coral Keepers, it’s up to the three kids to go on a quest to save their people. A cliffhanger ending will leave readers eagerly awaiting book 2, due out in June.
Like many of the Scholastic Branches fantasy series, this one is surprisingly complex for an illustrated chapter book under 100 pages and does an excellent job of world building that will draw readers into this new series. I fear the cover will keep some boy readers from going any further, but I hope they will be open-minded it enough to give it a try.