(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Junyi Wu. Clay and his family are suffering the accumulated ­tensions of a "global sickness" shutdown. Online school, isolation from friends, financial worries, too much togetherness--Clay needs escape, and he gets it via a charming elf-hound who has wandered up from the fairy Kingdom Under the Mountain. The dog also gives Clay access to a new friend, Amos, an owl-headed boy who inhabits a different parallel world that resembles a Puritan village. Once these worlds start to leak into one another, chaos is loosed upon Clay and his family. The tone is largely cartoonish, as set pieces of hilarious slapstick involve, for example, an out-of-control wool sweater that reverse-evolves into its original sheep. It's a veritable plum pudding of energetic action and witty delights, but a ­foundation of traditional folklore elements--standing stones, half-buried sleeping giants, fairy mischief, portals to the underworld, the Wild Hunt, and predatory wyrms--creates an underlying hint of genuine menace. One of the guests at the big Midsummer's Eve supernatural shindig is Death ("When he calls, we must go. But knowing that the night may be cut short is what makes it so sweet"). Balancing this chill is the devoted relationship between Clay and his dog companion, a theme that stands sturdily in the middle of the mayhem. Black-and-white full-page pencil illustrations contribute to both coziness and eeriness.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) 1-3 Clarice Bean fans rejoice: the star of highly illustrated chapter books (and of picture books) brings her trademark exuberant stream-of-consciousness narration (with occasional sly authorial snark) to Christmas. Twelve brief chapters touch on card giving, gift exchange (who doesn't love fudge?), favorite carols, Ruby Redfort, and more, as the narrative--with the series' recognizably quirky shifts in font, type, format, and mixed-media illustrations ­throughout--follows our plucky protagonist through the highs (singing a solo) and lows (ruining the turkey) of the season. An enjoyable chapter book full of wit and good cheer.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Guy Francis. This super-entertaining book reveals the science behind Santa's Christmas Eve magic. Holly, part of a team of tech-savvy elves, takes us on a tour of Santa's workshop (which must produce over a billion presents a year); garage (run by Mrs. Claus, where they've built a sled equipped to carry a million tons of toys and stop in the space of a single roof); and loading dock (where Santa dons a special suit designed to handle the g-forces of traveling 730,000 miles per hour). Flying from east to west across the International Date Line, he's able to complete all his deliveries and--jangling jingle bells!--make it back to the North Pole to start the process all over again. Double-page spreads full of bustling activity and humorous details add to the appeal.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) YA Folk of the Air series. Illustrated by Rovina Cai. Black returns to the world of her acclaimed Folk of the Air trilogy (beginning with The Cruel Prince, rev. 1/18) in this illustrated companion volume that hinges on three chance encounters between the inscrutable elf Cardan and the troll woman Aslog. Each time they meet, they exchange a story about a boy with a heart of stone, a story that grows and changes in the retelling, even as Cardan and Aslog themselves change from meeting to meeting. Ultimately, the themes coalesce around forgiveness, redemption, and transformation. ("You didn't get what you deserved, but you don't have to live inside that one story forever. No one's heart has to remain stone.") The book works best as a character study, revealed in brief, impressionistic vignettes, helped enormously by a handsome design and lavish imagery. Cardan was a complicated love interest in the trilogy, and fans will welcome this opportunity to see what makes him tick.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Heather Fox. Feeling old ("ho ho oww") and lacking holiday spirit four days before Christmas, Santa Claus makes a wish to be young again. He doesn't specify how young, though, and magically reverts to infanthood. Thankfully, Santa Baby rallies the elves to help him save Christmas Eve. He also rediscovers the "wonder of Christmas"--and his former, full-of-life self. Stutzman's lighthearted--and appropriately juvenile--text provides plenty of laughs (when being tested by the elves for Santa's essential skills, Santa Baby "chewed his list. He chewed it twice") and is playfully complemented by Fox's child-friendly illustrations. Dynamic speech balloons and a varied page layout add to the book's cartoon vibe.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(1) YA Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. Historian and diplomat (and spy) Brangwain Spurge has been sent from Elfland to the neighboring goblin kingdom. He befriends his host, goblin archivist Werfel. Unbeknownst to them both, however, their nations are preparing for war. Pen-and-ink illustrations resembling medieval lithographs represent Spurge's not-always-reliable spy reports; with touches of humor, whimsy, irony, and menace, they're well suited to both the acerbic wit and the affecting tenderness of Anderson's prose.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(2) 4-6 The magical shield around the fairies' kingdom is weakening. When siblings Wynn and Elric (The Silver Gate) venture beyond the protective boundary and into the Nightfell Wood, their bravery and openness to friendship help to resolve an impending crisis. An abundance of visual description and drama--conveyed in relatively simple language and sentence structure--makes Bailey's tale both satisfying and eminently accessible to young readers.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) 4-6 This companion to The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart focuses on dragon-turned-human chocolatier Aventurine's (human) friend Silke. Silke catches the attention of the princess, who assigns Silke spy duty over devious elves visiting the palace. But Silke has her own agenda: the elves took her parents years ago, and she's determined to find out what happened. Plucky Silke's first-person narrative reflects her strong, independent spirit.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Adventurers Guild series. Half-elf Zed, his human friend Brock, and their fellow guild apprentices are hired by the elf queen to reclaim her ancestral city from an undead sorcerer and his legions. Meanwhile, Zed and Brock's friendship is tested as both boys struggle to keep devastating secrets from each other. Compelling characters, stirring action, creepy enemies, and shocking twists will leave readers eager for the next volume.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Snared series. Orphan "trapsmith" Wily Snare maintains the underground traps guarding a wizard's treasure until eccentric adventurers spring Wily from his dungeon. The group of marauders wants help plundering other protected riches, but instead Wily convinces his new friends to help defeat the Infernal King and his mechanical soldiers. Despite an abrupt resolution, earnest heroism and some entertainingly sinister booby traps elevate this fantasy series-starter.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Michael Fry. After saving Christmas (The Naughty List), Bobbie returns to normal life until her elf friends reappear asking for help closing the Trans-Dimensional portal. She grudgingly agrees, only to have Grumpus try to use her nightmare to terrorize the real world. A frantic pace, haphazard encounters, and Bobbie's near-constant complaining may annoy readers, but there's plenty of anarchic humor and comics-style illustrations to enjoy.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Epic Series of Failures series. Luckless Chicago kid Greg discovers his Dwarf lineage through a resurgence of ancient magic that will soon cripple all technology. Guided by a talking ax, Greg tries to rescue his kidnapped father and ease tensions with his Elf best friend before Dwarves and Elves declare all-out war. Fans of Percy Jackson will enjoy the folkloric adventure, offbeat humor, strong friendships, and intriguing magic of this new series.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 At Freestone's Guildculling ceremony, half-elf Zed hopes to join the Mages Guild, while his human friend Brock aspires for the Merchants Guild. But the terrifying woman who leads the Adventurers Guild--charged with defending the walled town against the Dangers (monsters that have overrun the world)--forcibly recruits Zed, and Brock follows. A compelling post-apocalyptic/fantasy series-starter filled with strong characters, intrigue, and plenty of action.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. River Rose accidentally falls asleep on Christmas Eve while waiting to hand-deliver her letter to Santa. She wakes, and the three balloons (from River Rose and the Magical Lullaby) take her to the North Pole. Though the rhyming cadence occasionally stumbles, the story and colorful illustrations offer plenty of holiday cheer. A link to the elves' Christmas song (sung by Clarkson) didn't work.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sarah Warburton. Looking to make a friend, "brainy and bright" Princess Eliza leaves her snowy northern palace and stumbles upon Santa's distressed elves at his workshop. Eliza secretly builds contraptions to help her new friends save Christmas while Santa recovers from the flu. Channeling Andrea Beaty's Rosie Revere, Engineer, this read-aloud-ready holiday story, with lilting rhymes and whimsical mixed-media illustrations, celebrates helping others and girls in STEAM.

Reviewer: Janet Daniels

(3) 4-6 A retiring Santa announces a competition for his replacement. Claus family members and elves alike (including protagonists Ollie and Celia) compete in events ranging from sleigh-racing to cookie-and-milk consumption. A society devoted to the perpetuation of wish-fulfillment and Christmas cheer is fertile territory for puns and parody, and Huett's are all in good fun. The spirited holiday romp endorses teamwork, respect, and generosity.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 Devils' Pass series. Illustrated by Tyler Champion. This satisfactory hi-lo series introduces the middle schoolers of the Loyal Order of Helga, monster-fighters in small Devils' Pass, Minnesota. Each book focuses on a different creature as one member steps into the role of hero. Humor and legend combine in stories that focus as much on friendship as they do on monsters. Full-page black-and-white illustrations help readers envision both the horror and the humor. Review covers these Devils' Pass titles: Evie Allen vs. the Quiz Bowl Zombies, Jeff Allen vs. the Time Suck Vampires, Tiffany Donovan vs. the Cookie Elves of Desctruction, and Zach Lopez vs. the Unicorns of Doom.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) 4-6 Lailu, a brilliant young chef specializing in the hunting and cooking of fantastical beasts, opens a restaurant with mentor Master Slipshod. But when Slipshod makes a bad deal with a loan shark, Lailu must save herself and the restaurant from mobster-like Mr. Boss. A clever, fast-paced story in a unique fantasy world populated with eccentric characters, both good and evil (including the ruthless "elf mafia").

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(4) 4-6 Keeper of the Lost Cities series. In book six, elf Sophie vows to rescue her human parents, who've been kidnapped by the Neverseen. But Sophie quickly realizes that it's equally important to discover the Neverseen's larger plan if she's going to finally defeat the villains for good. The plot unwinds slowly (over nearly 800 pages), but Sophie's fears and anxieties about her loved ones are portrayed realistically.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(3) PS Illustrated by Adam Record. A winsome little girl hears a noise on Christmas Eve and investigates, only to find a crumb trail leading away from the plate of cookies for Santa. So begins a parade through her house as she discovers several visitors, including a mouse, an elf, and a reindeer. A lyrical cumulative text is accompanied by cheerful digital illustrations in this amusing, lighthearted holiday read.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler