Croco'nile

By: Roy Gerrard

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd. Excellent for storytelling and easy for children to follow.

Plot: A brother and sister, Hamut and Nekatu, became friends with a baby crocodile. One night they stowed away on a boat and before they knew it, they were hundreds of miles away from home. The captain left them with trusted friends and they became very skilled and popular at young ages. They were captured by slave traders. When the ship capsizes, the crocodile is there to save them and take them home.

Characters: Hamut, Nekatu, and the crocodile.

Setting: Ancient Egypt

Theme: Friends are always there to help you when you least expect it.

Illustrations: By Roy Gerrard. Paintings.

Many Moons

By: James Thurber

Illustrated by: Louis Slobodkin

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-4th. The length is appropriate for an older age but the small amount of words on each page and wonderful illustrations can be used to attract younger readers and be used for storytelling.

Plot: The princess falls ill and tells her father the king that the only way she'll be better is if she can have the moon. The king calls upon the Lord High Chamberlain, the Royal Wizard, and the Royal Mathematician to make it happen. None of them found it possible and the king was nothing short of frustrated. The court jester walks in and asks what is wrong. The king explains and the jester asks if the princess knows any of what they told the king. The king answered no and the jester went to find what the princess knew of the moon. She explains that is made of gold and no bigger than her thumbnail. The jester has a piece of gold forged and attached to a chain so the princess may take it everywhere. But now the king is distressed because the moon will be out again. The Chamberlain, Wizard, and Mathematician come up with silly impractical ideas. The king was devastated again and the jester went to ask the princess once more how this could be. She explains that a new one grew in its place when he gave her the one she has. 

Characters: The king, Princess Lenore, Lord High Chamberlain, Royal Wizard, Royal Mathematician, and Court Jester.

Setting: In a kingdom far far away.

Theme: Think outside of the box. 

Illustrations: By Louis Slobodkin. Watercolors with a mix of sketches.

The Reluctant Dragon

By: Kenneth Grahame

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 5th - 7th. Though the book isn't long, the language of the book and lack of illustrations suggests difficulty for younger readers.

Plot: A shepherd finds a dragon sleeping in a cave near where his sheep graze. He runs and tells his wife and son. His son being the book reader convinces his mother and father to allow him to speak to the dragon before they do anything rash. The next day he goes to speak to the dragon and the dragon does not want to leave. Turns out he is rather lazy and apathetic and does not want to leave. He would much rather recite poetry and discuss things of that nature. Soon, the townsfolk hear word of the dragon and call for a knight. St. George shows up and the villagers tell him how violent and evil the dragon is and he believes them. The boy meets with him trying to convince him otherwise but St. George's prejudice is strong and would like to meet the dragon himself. When meeting they become friends and would like to peacefully resolve but cannot agree upon how. The dragon refuses to fight because he sees no point but the boy and the night crave a fight. After acting out a fight for all the villagers to see, the dragon is brought back alive and everyone loves him. Solving all their problems.

Characters: The dragon, the boy, the shepherd/father, mother, St. George, the villagers.

Setting: Long ago it was seems to be Britain

Theme: Looks can be deceiving

Illustrations: Ernest H. Shepard. Sketches that simply assist in what the characters look like.

Winnie-the-Pooh

By: A.A. Miline
Illustrations: Ernest H. Shepard

Genre: Fantasy because Christopher Robin's dolls come to life and have adventures.

Age Range: 5th-8th grade. Even though this is a fantasy book revolving around a stuffed bear and his friends, the writing style and chosen language of the book promotes challenges for young readers. Their is also a variety of personalities which young readers may also have difficulty understanding.

Plot: The book is a collection of adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Kanga, Baby Roo, and Owl. Many resulting in Pooh and his friends getting in some sort of situatuion which Christopher Robin helps them.

Characters: Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, the narrator, Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Kanga, Baby Roo, and Rabbit.

Setting: Christopher Robin's house and The Hundred Acre Wood.

Theme: Friends are very important.

Illustrations: Sketches done by Ernest H. Shepard add to the reasoning of why this book is for older readers. The sketches are simple outlines simply aiding the imagination of the reader as to what was going on or how things looked.

Shrek

By: William Steig

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 2nd-5th. Repetition in the text as well as some challenging words. The illustrations take up more space than text and is separate.

Plot: After Shrek is forced to find his own way in the world, he comes upon a which who tells him his fortune. She tells him he'll soon meet a princess and marry her. Having heard this, Shrek began looking right away. As he walked he came across a peasant and took his pheasant and Shrek warmed it simply with his glare. It began raining and lighnting stuck Shrek but he simply ate it and moved on. He came to a warning sign but merely ignored it. Suddenly a dragon pinned Shrek to the ground but he knocked him unconscious. He came upon a castle with a knight on guard and defeated him easily. He saw the princess and they both fell in love and lived horribly ever after.

Characters: Shrek, the witch, the donkey, the princess.

Setting: A fairy tale land.

Theme:

Illustrations: By William Steig. Water color, separate from text. Assist perfectly in portraying the characters and scenes.

Where the Wild Things Are

By: Maurice Sednak

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd. The text is separate from the illustrations and takes up less space than the illustrations. There is some repetition.

Plot:: Max is sent to bed without dinner for causing mischief and suddenly a forest begins to appear in his room. He finds his own personal sail boat and sails to where the wild things are becomes their king. Playing and sleeping all day but Max begins to miss his home. He decides to leave the wild things and sails home to his room where his still warm dinner is waiting. 

Character: Max, his mother, the wild things.

Setting: Max's room and then an imaginary forrest. 

Theme: Imagination can take you to impossible places.

Illustrations: Done by Maurice Sendak, they are mixed media. They assist perfectly in telling the story and showing the wild things Max encountered. 

Coraline

By: Neil Gaiman.

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 5th-8th. Even though this book does not have any situations with physical development, has conflicts with adults and many problem solving situations enticing the readers to figure out what Coraline will do next.

Plot: Coraline is bored with her life. Her parents do not listen and her neighbors cannot get her name right. On a rainy day that forces her to stay inside, Coraline begins exploring the house. She finds a door which wasn't supposed to go anywhere but this time, it did. Crawling through the door she walked back into her home but it wasn't her home. This other home was much more exciting. The food smelled delicious and the garden was magnificent. Her other parents wanted her to stay very much but she must sew black buttons over her eyes. Coraline refuses, hurriedly climbs back through door and closes it behind her. She arrives back in her real home but cannot find her parents. She discovers her other mother has taken them and she must get them back. With help from the cat, she manages to defeat the other mother, save her parents, and the souls of others the other mother has captured. Coraline and everyone escapes safely to her home. However, the souls she saved tells her it isn't over. The other mother's great right hand is after the key to the door that hangs around Coraline's neck. She lures the hand to the deep, deep well in the garden. Laying a trap, she places the key on a table cloth over the well. Without hesitation the hand jumps for it, tumbles far down the well and Coraline quickly boards up the well preventing it from ever escaping.

Characters: Coraline, Mother and Father, Miss Spink, Miss Forcible, Mr. Bobo, Cat, Other Mother/beldam, Other Father, Other Miss Spink, Other Miss Forcible, Other Mr. Bobo, the rats.

Setting: It gives no mention of time but I'd guess present day in a suburban/rural area in England.

Theme: "When you're scared but still do it anyway, that's brave." A direct quote from the book.

Equity: No stereotypes or gender bias.

Illustrations: By Dave McKean. Sketches that help show both worlds Coraline is in.

Puss in Boots

By: Charles Perrault

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd grade. This book is appropriate for this age group because of the talking animals, the pictures go hand-in-hand with the reading keeping the attention of young readers, and allows for expansion of language.

Plot: A miller dies and leaves nothing for his three sons except his mill, donkey, and cat. They divide them up with the oldest getting the mill, second oldest getting the donkey, and the youngest getting the cat. The youngest is unhappy but the cat promises him it will be worth his while. The cat begins to catch game and give it to the game saying it is from his master, the Marquis of Carabas. The king is very pleased and Puss continues to manipulate and out smart everyone including a giant Ogre. Puss tricked him into turning into a mouse and ate him leaving his lands and castle to his master. This impressed the king so much that the Marquis married the princess that same day.

Characters: Puss, the Marquis of Carabas (the youngest son), and the Ogre.

Setting: French countryside hundreds of years ago

Theme: Little things can accomplish big tasks

Illustrations: Fred Marcellino; Following the story exactly, the illustrations help to keep the attention of the children allowing them to also see the story and help keep up.

Awards: Caldecott  Medal (1990)