The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen

4 stars Delightfully spooky. An unexpectedly sweet story featuring an old house in the woods, a skull, and a brave girl looking for a place to stay. After running away from home, Otilla comes across a house whose sole occupant is a kindly skull. Little does she know, the skull has a secret and that…

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Rumaysa: A Fairytale by Radiya Hafiza

Illustrated by Rhaida El Touny 3 stars A fun new twist on the classic fairy tales Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Sleepy Beauty. Told through interconnected stories, the book follows Rumaysa who is locked away in a tower where a witch makes her spin straw into gold. I really enjoyed the endings in this book. The heroines…

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Disney Frozen Adventures: Snowy Stories

3 stars A fun collection of comics that combine adventure, mystery, and humor. The comics range from a single page to longer adventures. Plenty of fun with Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven, and Kristoff. Cute artwork. There are nice lessons throughout such as the value of helping others, taking time for yourself, and making new friends,…

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Slumbering Beauty, Vol. 1 by Yumi Unita

Translated by Angela Liu 4 stars An entertaining read with fun little references to Sleeping Beauty. Yaneko loves sleep. But when a sleep spirit named Nerimu gets tired of fighting to wake her up every morning, Yaneko learns there’s much more to the world of sleep. She tags along with Nerimu and finds herself helping…

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The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes: Ultramarine Vol. 1

Story by Mei Hachimoku Illustrated by Koudon Translated by Alexa Frank 5 stars Definitely grabbed this one for its gorgeous cover. I didn’t initially realize it was based on a light novel that was made into an anime. Even without background though, I thoroughly enjoyed this manga. When Kaoru overhears a legend about a tunnel…

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Coral’s Reef Vol. 1 by David Lumsdon

Illustrated by Shiei 3 stars I loved the My Little Pony: The Manga – A Day in the Life of Equestria Vol. 1 so I was really excited to see these two team up again. Welcome to Reef Beach, home to many fantastical residents including ifrits, sea sprites, sirens, kappa, and more. Follow Coral as she makes…

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Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez

Illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz 3 stars A beautiful example of the power of representation and the joy of doing what you love. This book is an interesting mashup of a semi-autobiographical story mixed with magic and time travel. Meli loves exploring the waters of la Playita del Condado, especially the tidal pools. When she…

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I Love My Magic! by Kelly Leigh Miller

4 stars Short and sweet. Willow loves using magic. But sometimes she uses it too much. When her wand is confiscated, Willow has to do things a different way… and it’s maybe not as bad as it first seemed. Cute messages about seeing the world in different ways and using your talents for good, not…

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A Stroke of the Pen: The Lost Stories by Terry Pratchett

4 stars Perfectly Pratchett. A fantastic collection of fantasy and sci-fi stories featuring ghosts, dragons, wizards, talking animals, and time travelers. What a fun read. Its history is as interesting as the stories themselves. Loved diving into this collection of recently discovered stories, the majority originally published under the pseudonym Patrick Kearns. The collection features…

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Rainbow Brite, Vol. 1 by Jeremy Whitley

Art by Brittney Williams, Xenia Pamfil, and Christine Hipp 4 stars When I saw Jeremy Whitley was coming out with a new Rainbow Brite story, I was so excited. This volume did not disappoint. Best friends, Wisp and Willow, bring big adventure to their small town with their amazing imaginations. But when Wisp has a…

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