FANTASY/SCI-FI

Aaron Becker

Summary: A master of the wordless form imagines a futuristic Noah's Ark in a luminous sci-fi parable for our changing world. (From the publisher)

Curricular Use: 3-LS-4-3; RL.7

Drew Beckmeyer

Summary: A classroom’s first week launches a dynamic change in this inventive picture book. (Publishers Weekly)

Curricular Use: RL. 3; RL. 7; SS.K.7; SS.1.7; 

X. Fang

Summary: On a starry night in the American countryside, “something” (clearly a flying saucer) crashes near Mr. and Mrs. Li’s house. (Booklist)

Curricular Use: This could be used to start a discussion about showing kindness to others, inferring, and pairing the text with the illustrations. 

Erin Entrada Kelly

Summary: With the end of 1999 coming in a few months, twelve-year-old Michael wants to be prepared. In his small apartment, he gathers supplies so he and his mom can be ready for Y2K. When he meets Ridge, a pioneering time-traveler, Michael thinks this is his chance to find out what happens. 

Curricular use: This book would be a great conversation starter about history and how every day is a piece of history. 

Shirley Marr

Summary: Eleven-year-old James has his world turned upside down when his parents announce they will divorce and his mom moves out. As he helps his mom settle into a new apartment and navigates sharing time between each parent, James reflects on the things that will never be the same. 

Curricular Use: A poignant story about accepting the present instead of reliving the past, this book would be useful when examining character development and motivation. 

Jonathan Roth

Summary: This third book in the Rover and Speck graphic novel series follows the two robots on another cosmic adventure. 

Curricular Use: This book would be a great connection to astronomy and solar system concepts. 

Daniel Nayeri

Summary: In this enthralling and emotional palindrome picture book, a young boy grieving the loss of his mother embarks on a lushly fantastical adventure that illuminates what remains when our loved ones are gone. (from the publisher)

Brandon Sanderson

Summary: Listen, this book is boring. We're telling you it's boring. It's in the title of the book—in fact. (from the publisher)

Kate DiCamillo

Summary: Orris the rat lives alone in an old barn surrounded by his treasures, until the day his solitude is disrupted by a sudden flutter of wings and a loud screech. A small owl has gotten caught in a trap in the barn. (from the publisher)

Katherine Rundell

Summary: The day that Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. (from the publisher)

Craig Kofi Farmer

Summary: Discover a stunning middle grade fantasy about a boy hurled into the Ghanaian underworld to help his grandmother save humanity. (from the publisher)

Katherine Marsh

Summary: Ava Baldwin has always tried to keep her anger in check, just like her mom taught her. But when know-it-all classmate Owen King tries to speak over her yet again, Ava explodes . . . and Owen freezes, becoming totally unresponsive. (from the author’s webpage)

Summary: Chung and Majoka offer a wordless graphic novel for younger readers that presents dystopian science fiction through a gentle, nearly amicable viewpoint. (from Horn Book Magazine)

Curricular use: This wordless book can be used to discuss past, present and future with younger students, using the viewfinder as a way to see past events in the story. The setting of the story shows a change in time and place, and the plot development through images is an excellent way to demonstrate how the illustrations support the story. 

Summary: The brilliant Baxter clan returns in another intergalactic outing aboard the Oasis International Space Station. Abby’s Mami and Papi are renowned scientists on the Oasis, and now that it’s Career Day, Abby feels the pressure to live up to their example. (from Kirkus Reviews)

Curricular use: This early chapter book would be useful to explore careers and community workers. It examines the roles of different adults on the Oasis Space Station. Each job is important to keeping the space station and its inhabitants happy and healthy. Connections can be made to community workers in students’ lives and what might be needed to live in space. 

Summary: Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry. When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. (from Kirkus Reviews)

Curricular use: This chapter book focused heavily on the ocean environment and the animals who live there. Habitats, ecosystems, and environmental changes would be excellent topics to pair with this book. A number of ocean animals are introduced in the story, and students could use this to drive further research about these animals. 

Summary: Grades 3-6. Grace lives on a space station with her mom, the chief engineer, while her ba, Kendra, is a cargo ship captain who makes a living hauling freight around space. Ba has a work trip planned to Titan, and Grace is thrilled to have a chance to have her feet on solid ground for a change. (from Booklist)

Curricular use: This graphic novel is primarily set on Titan, Jupiter’s moon, and weaves factual information about it. It may be a way to introduce the topic of space exploration and the possibility of living in space. 

Summary: In Cole's middle-grade climate dystopian, 12-year-old Erie lives in a dark city shrouded by lockwood trees. Every morning, each kid small enough to fit climbs and cuts the lockwood so that their secluded town can catch a brief glimpse of sunlight before the lockwood grows again overnight. The citizens too big to climb—like Hurona, Erie's older sister—work on the ground harvesting mysterious pods for an all-powerful corporation. Years ago, when wildfires raged, scientists created the lockwood, a fire-resistant plant, as a solution; now, it completely dominates the lives of the townspeople of Prine by necessity. But one night, while on an unplanned climb, Erie discovers a dangerous secret about the lockwood that threatens everything she's ever known. (from Booklist)

Curricular use: The fire-resistant trees and genetically-engineered plant life highlighted in this book would pair nicely with the study of plant cells. In the book, the concern about wildfires and preventing damage to towns could be a topic of discussion in science classes, and the authority of businesses and corporations is also a possible debate topic for many classes. 

Summary: Set in the middle of the pandemic, three seventh graders are enrolled in a new virtual learning school for varying reasons: a fresh start after being bullied, to avoid revealing a medical condition, and to learn a lesson about popularity. Complete with virtual reality headsets and equipment, the students have a chance to create a new virtual persona while they attend virtual classes, compete in games, and attend activities from the comfort of their home. 

Curricular use: This book would be a great way to have discussions about online presence, digital identity, and friendship. 

Summary: As the inhabitants of a peaceful home aquarium turn in for the night, Fish and Crab climb into their beds. Ready for some shut-eye, Crab clicks off the lamp, casting the room’s cheerful colors into grays, and falls right to sleep. Fish, on the other hand, still has their eyes wide open, anxious thoughts racing through their mind. 

Summary: Anderson brings to life the magical world found in Mount Norumbega, in this stand-alone novel. Clay O'Brian is tired of the virus that has forced him to stay home away from friends and enjoys the time he spends in the wilderness exploring. When elf-dog Elphinore is locked out from her home beneath the mountain, she comes across Clay in the woods and their adventures together begin.

Summary: Helvetica the raven wryly narrates the tale of Gumluck, an earnest little wizard who lives outside the village and grants magical favors to the ungrateful villagers who come knocking, even when it costs him. But Gumluck's refusal to cast a nefarious spell for the arrogant Prince Whoop-de-doo earns him the mockery of everyone in the village. 

Summary: Harbor, a princess, lives with her mother within a small community of adults, including several magical aunts, on a mysteriously hidden island. At Harbor’s christening, a reclusive aunt prophesied that before her thirteenth birthday, she would prick her skin, with deadly consequences for them all. Another aunt softened the curse, prophesying that a stranger from far away will save them. Harbor is 12 when she pricks her finger. Six-year-old Peter arrives from another dimension (modern-day Kansas), befriends her, and leaves. A few days later, 12-year-old Peter arrives but then returns home. Certain that he is the hero foretold, Harbor summons him when enemies attack. 

Summary: A superbly written, exciting debut that will leave fantasy lovers wanting more. Eleven-year-old Persian-British protagonist Daisy Thistledown lives a nomadic life of adventure, following her journalist mother as she chases global stories. Then, Ma goes missing while on assignment. Following her mother's last request, Daisy seeks refuge in Greenwild, a hidden world of botanical magicians ("Botanists") and discovers she is one of them. 

Ozzie and Prince Zebedee are the best of friends. They do everything together, but things change when Prince Zebedee accuses Ozzie of cheating and Ozzie swallows up Prince Zebedee in one big GULP! Before too long, an emotional Ozzie has crunched up half the town while a stubborn Prince Zebedee refuses to leave the dragon's tummy until he apologizes.  With wit and charm, Gela Kalaitzidis has crafted a tale of love, forgiveness, and empathy in one hilarious package. (From the publisher)

Young readers (PreK-2nd grade) will relate to Ozzie and Prince Zebedee’s friendship, and the big emotions that happen when friends don’t always do exactly what you expect.  This is a good companion story to other books about friendship and social-emotional relationships. 

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Alice loves to imagine herself in the magical pages of her favorite book. So when it flaps its pages and invites her in, she is swept away to a world of wonder and adventure, riding camels in the desert, swimming under the sea with colorful fish, floating in outer space, and more! But when her imaginative journey comes to an end, she yearns for the place she loves best of all. (From the publisher)

A fantastical journey into the love of reading, easily paired with introductions to the library, as an intro to the world of books, or just imagining all the places a good book might take you. (K-2nd grade)

A beautiful picture book about neurodivergence.  Miro sees and hears things, the Curiosities, that others cannot see or hear. At first he enjoys their differences, but sometimes they become overwhelming and make Miro feel like an outsider. (From the publisher)

An excellent way of making neurodivergence visual for kids, or putting an image to the abstract idea.  Not necessarily a popular, kid appealing story, but essential for explaining and building empathy for students with disabilities such as autism and tourettes.
(K-3rd grade)

NOTHING INTERESTING EVERY HAPPENS TO ETHAN FAIRMONT
Nick Brooks

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TREX
Christyne Morrell

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ASKING FOR TROUBLE
Sarah Prineas

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Heather has always longed to be taken aboard an alien spacecraft and have wondrous adventures in space. One night she sneaks away to a place called Wonder Rock, where she tries to send a signal to any alien crafts in the area by blinking her flashlight on and off into the sky. To her amazement, an alien ship does land and she’s invited on board. She is tempted to leave Earth, but a glimpse of her parents looking frantically for her is all she needs to draw her back home. For years she hopes to be visited by her alien friend again, but it doesn’t return until she is an old lady. This time she does embark on a journey with her alien friend, but when she sees Earth getting smaller and smaller in the window, she once again realizes that everything she really longs for is on Earth.

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When a mysterious visitor arrives in the night from outer space, it’s up to the family dog to determine if they’re friend or foe. (from the publisher)
Simple rhyming text to build phonemic awareness. 

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Iris loves to push elevator buttons, and it has always been her job until one day when her little brother pushes the button. As her parents celebrate this achievement, Iris feels only betrayal. When she sees a broken elevator button pad being cast aside by the maintenance man, she seizes her opportunity. Once she gets to her bedroom, she tapes the broken button to the wall, and to her astonishment it dings and opens to a jungle setting! The adventures begin, and Iris is amazed to discover that adventures are sometimes best shared, even with annoying little brothers.

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A new guest has arrived at the Mermaid Hotel, and spunky Mabel, whose parents run the place, is convinced that the eccentric old woman is a jewel thief. Mabel names her “Madame Badobedah (rhymes with ooooh la la).” When Mabel is caught spying on the mysterious guest, she is surprised to be invited in for tea and a friendship begins to form. As the two unique characters learn more about each other they share marvelous fanciful adventures. Between the imaginary episodes, Madame Badobedah’s life story is gradually and sensitively revealed. The connection between young and old is beautiful, and the reader comes to see how first impressions shouldn’t be given too much weight; sometimes a person is just in need of a true and reliable friend. 

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When Kate’s estranged uncle shows up for her 11th birthday with the gift of an actual steam engine, she and her brother Tom are a bit perplexed as to how to play with such a gift. They are quite unprepared when the train suddenly embarks on a magical adventure to deliver animals to new homes. Kate and Tom befriend the animals on board, who reveal that they are travelling to a new home because of the actions of humans that have endangered animals and habitats. The train is threatened by several invasive species (who try to board the train without a ticket!), and there is a beautifully crafted chapter where the kids experience the world from a tree’s perspective. The call to environmental protection is powerful, but it doesn’t distract from the action-packed adventures.

An exquisite wordless adventure with intricate illustrations that portray a paper boat’s journey through some pretty wacky waters. A stunning masterpiece with something new to notice every time. 

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A young wombat named Lola is out for one of her secret daytime adventures when she hears a terrible screeching followed by growls, and she knows her entire wombat burrow is under attack! She sees her family and neighbors being hauled away at the command of a Tassie devil, and the only hint as to what she should do is her mother calling, “Find your uncle! He’ll know what to do!” Uncle? What uncle? Lola embarks on a dangerous journey to free her family. She is accompanied by a swamp rat and a young penguin, but it’s difficult to know whether they are to be trusted. As her quest takes her closer to the queen’s palace, family loyalties come into question as well. 

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Pong was born in a prison, but he never could accept that he is forced to live there until he comes of age. When the opportunity to escape arrives, he takes it! This puts the prison warden out of a job, which upsets his daughter Nok enough that she begins searching for Pong. Pong has found a home in a city called Chattana. The city is ruled by a corrupt governor who, ever since the Great Fire, uses his magic to create glowing orbs, the only light source allowed in the city. When Pong is abruptly forced out of his first home within the city, he gets connected with a group of protesters who are planning a peaceful revolt against the governor. A Thai version of Les Miserables.

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This story and author are Malaysian. Upon her grandmother’s death, Suraya inherits her pelesit (similar to a daemon companion). This is a truly compelling story of jealousy, family, grief, and forgiveness, but it is a little disturbing and grotesque at times.

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