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Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest

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Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest by Phoebe Wahl
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

In this four-season volume, Little Witch Hazel follows a tiny witch who lives in the forest. Hardworking and kind Hazel raises a baby owl, learns how to slow down and rest, and helps her friends and neighbors however she can. The world that Wahl creates with her beautiful illustrations and storytelling is whimsical, but also rooted very deeply in connection with nature and community. Hazel has a steadfast, quiet confidence and a commitment to being of service to others.

Little Witch Hazel is a soft hug of a book, with talking woodland creatures, homes made in tree stumps, and witches who heal. A sweet and gentle read for children ages 4-8.

Find Little Witch Hazel in the catalog here!

The Last Dragonslayer

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The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Young Adults, Adults

Jennifer Strange is acting manager of Kazam, an employment agency for sorcerers. Nearly 16 and a foundling, Jennifer spends her days arranging pizza delivery via magic carpet, overseeing rewiring of homes without ripping out walls, and completing the required paperwork for every bit of magic the sorcerers perform, intentional or not. Her Quarkbeast, a terrifying, yet relatively placid beast, tags along for these adventures. Magic has been fading for years, but recently, some of the sorcerers have noticed a surge in their power. And pre-cogs (wizards who see versions of the future) begin to have visions of the death of the last dragon at the hands of the Dragonslayer. But who is the Dragonslayer and why does the dragon have to die?

The Last Dragonslayer is the first of a four-part series, with the final installment set for release in the US in May of 2022. For fans of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett’s The Wee Free Men, and Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series.

Find The Last Dragonslayer in the catalog.

Kiki’s Delivery Service

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Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

It is witch tradition that at thirteen a young witch leaves her home to find a town in need of magical services. Half-witch Kiki hasn’t fully mastered her magical abilities yet, but she also never runs from a challenge. Flying on her broomstick (one of the few magical things Kiki actually is pretty good at) with her black cat, Jiji, Kiki decides to stay one full year in the seaside town of Koriko. At first she’s met with some skepticism by the locals, but determined and lovable Kiki quickly finds her footing.

Kiki’s Delivery Service is a wholesome and warmhearted coming of age story. Originally published in 1985, it was later adapted into the animated movie of the same name by legendary director Hayao Miyazaki in 1989. The newest translation was published in 2020 with new beautiful new cover art and illustrations by Yuta Onoda. Families looking for a book to read aloud together will love its episodic chapters, but I wholeheartedly recommend Kiki’s Delivery Service to any witch in need of a cozy read.

Find Kiki’s Delivery Service in the catalog here!

The Tea Dragon Society

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The Tea Dragon Society Series by Kay O’neill
Format: Book & eBook on Hoopla
Who is it for?: Everyone

Prepare yourself for an overload of adorable in a world where tea leaves grow on the antlers of tiny dragons. In volume one, Greta a blacksmith’s apprentice, meets new friends and the tea dragons that they care for. Minette is a former prophetess with a mysterious past. Hesekiel and Erik, retired adventurers, are the last remaining members of The Tea Dragon Society. Together they work to keep the knowledge of tea dragon care alive. In volume two, The Tea Dragon Festival, we meet Rinn, a forager from a small village in the mountains. On one of their quests, they meet Aedhan, a dragon from the Silver Wing Clan that accidentally took an 80-year nap. In volume three, The Tea Dragon Tapestry, Greta pursues an apprenticeship with a famous blacksmith from a faraway city and Minette has reoccurring dreams of memories she thought were lost to her.

The series touches on a lot of very important themes such as friendship, grief, and personal growth. Each volume includes pages from the Tea Dragon Handbook. Kay O’neill’s art is warm and charming. I enjoyed seeing how they “dragonified” the different kinds of teas. Chamomile is cute and sleepy while Jasmine is regal and well-groomed. This graphic novel series is perfect for someone who wants something calm, endearing, and lovely to read. Find The Tea Dragon Society in the catalog or on Hoopla!

Margaret’s Unicorn

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Margaret’s Unicorn by Briony May Smith
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Margaret’s life completely changes after her family moves to a cottage by the sea, but not in all the ways she might have expected. A little lonely and missing the familiarity of her old home, she goes out to explore. She soon discovers a baby unicorn tangled up in weeds, accidentally left behind by its herd. They become inseparable fast friends, crunching through the leaves of fall together, stargazing, chasing waves at the beach, and making a snow unicorn with an icicle as its horn. As the seasons change Margaret misses her old home less and less, but every day spent together brings them closer to the day she knows her unicorn will return to his family in the spring. Despite having to say goodbye, they will never forget each other.

Margaret’s Unicorn is gorgeously illustrated, with warm and inviting tones depicting a wild countryside reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands. As you read Margaret’s story, you can almost feel the wind flying over the rolling green hills littered with thistles and purple heather, a gloomy sea in the distance. Every page is magically and thoughtfully crafted. Kids ages 4-8 will be spellbound.

Find Margaret’s Unicorn in the catalog here!

We Ride Upon Sticks

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We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
Format:  Book
Who it’s for:  Adults

It’s 1989 in Danvers, Massachusetts, and the Lady Falcons field hockey team is easily the worst team in their high school league. Fed up with losing, the team uses their knowledge of the town’s history as the site for the 1692 Salem Witch Trials to make a deal. This dark deal involves armbands cut from a blue athletic sock and an Emilio Estevez journal.

All of a sudden, the Lady Falcons cannot be stopped. They’re breaking records and are on their way to the state championships. But at what cost? Emilio needs to be fed dark energy. The girls begin doing wicked deeds in order to strengthen the journal and continue winning.

Their goalie has a mark on her neck that looks like it’s growing teeth and it really does seem like their center forward’s bangs might be communicating with them telepathically.

If this sounds to you like the weirdest book ever, you wouldn’t be wrong. While the writing is dense, the description, ‘80s references, and strange point-of-view make you feel like you are a part of the 1989 Lady Falcons. You really get to know each member of the team and what drives them to make the pact with Emilio.

We Ride Upon Sticks is truly impossible to put down once you begin. This is a great choice for fans of Bunny by Mona Awad or anyone else who enjoys strange stories about witchcraft and dark magic.

Find We Ride Upon Sticks in the catalog!