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Grab a Lantern

Spooky Tales for Little Readers

Welcome to our haunted library of children's literature. Discover magical picture books and spooky mysteries, with honest reviews to help families choose the perfect treat (no tricks!) for their next storytime.

Bee Reading Book

Anna's Top Pick Featured Reviews

Featured Fantasy

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

An unwanted boy learns he's a wizard and finds a new home at Hogwarts, where magic, mystery, and true friendship await.

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Mythology Adventure
Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan

A funny, fast-paced adventure where a demigod must stop a war between Greek gods. Perfect for readers who love sarcasms and myths.

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Emotional Pick
Wonder - R.J. Palacio

Auggie, a boy with a facial difference, starts school and shows everyone what real bravery and kindness look like.

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The Complete Reviews Collection

Fresh off the Shelf

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Gangsta Granny - David Walliams

Rating: ★★★★★

A bored boy discovers his “boring” granny is actually a retired jewel thief—and together they plan the greatest heist of all time.

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Matilda - Roald Dahl

Rating: ★★★★★

A brilliant girl discovers she has a secret power—and uses it to stand up for herself and her friends against a terrifying headmistress.

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Diary of a Wimpy kid - Jeff Kinney

Rating: ★★★★☆

Greg Heffley is just trying to survive middle school school. With funny cartoons and disasters, this is perfect for readers who like to laugh.

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Anna's Timeless Favorites

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The Boy at the Back of the Class - Onjali Q Raúf

Rating: ★★★★☆

A warm, funny, moving story about friendship, kindness and standing up for someone when they join a new school.

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The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Rating: ★★★★★

A tense, gripping story about survival, courage and standing up for your sister in a dystopian world.

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Millie McCarthy - Leona Forde

Rating: ★★★★☆

Millie McCarthy is bold, funny and often in trouble for speaking her mind while navigating school drama.

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Top Rated Storybooks

Gold standard tales

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The BFG - Roald Dahl

Rating: ★★★★★

Sophie is whisked away by a friendly giant who collects dreams. Together they hatch a brave plan to stop the horrible giants who gobble up children.

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The Famous Five - Enid Blyton

Rating: ★★★★★

Four cousins and their dog Timmy spend their holidays solving mysteries, exploring secret tunnels and uncovering dangerous plots that adults have missed.​

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis

Rating: ★★★★★

Step through the wardrobe into a magical world where it is always winter but never Christmas. This epic battle between good and evil remains a cornerstone of fantasy literature for young readers.

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Genre Spotlights

Epic Adventures & Magic
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The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

Rating: ★★★★★

Shy hobbit Bilbo Baggins is dragged into a dangerous quest with a band of dwarves, facing trolls, dragons and riddles in the dark to find his own courage.

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The Land of Stories - Chris Colfer

Rating: ★★★★★

Twins Alex and Conner fall into a book and land in a world where fairy-tale characters are real, and they must race through magical kingdoms to find a way home.​

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The School for Good and Evil – Soman Chainani​

Rating: ★★★★☆

Best friends Sophie and Agatha are taken to a school where kids are trained to become heroes and villains, and their surprising placements turn every fairy tale upside down.

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Heart & Discovery
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Little Women - Lousia May Alcott

Rating: ★★★★★

Follow the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—as they grow up, chase big dreams and face real-life struggles with heart and bravery. A warm, cozy classic that shows how family, courage and kindness can change everything.

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Under the Hawthorn Tree - Marita Conlon-Mckenna

Rating: ★★★★★

Three brave siblings journey across Ireland during the Great Famine, facing hunger, storms and danger as they search for safety and a place to call home.

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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne

Rating: ★★★★★

Bruno befriends a mysterious boy on the other side of a fence, and their innocent friendship slowly reveals the heartbreaking truth of the world they live in.​

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