Clemency Pogue: Fairy Killer by JT Petty

Do you believe in fairies? And if you don't, would you ever say so out loud?

I hope you wouldn't, because you see, it isn't just Peter Pan who knows the power of belief over fairies: as Clemency Pogue discovers, indiscriminate use of those five small words - Eh? Which ones? Oh, I don't believe in - hey wait a minute! I am not going to say it! You can't make me say it. Why, saying that one little phrase could kill some poor unsuspecting fairy somewhere in Russia or Egypt or just down the street!

Not that this isn't sometimes a good thing: Clemency stumbled upon the power in the phrase as she was saving her life from the Fairy of Frequent and Painful Pointless Antagonism. But what about the Tooth Fairy? Or the Fairy of Noninvasive Surgery? Or, for love's sake, the Fairy of Love and Tenderness? Where would the world be without the fairy of Love and Tenderness? We would all be writing horridly rubbishy poetry and never actually speaking with anyone!

So what, if you have just randomly killed seven fairies, some good and some bad, do you do? Well, if you're Clemency Pogue, you set out with the help of a rather rude and crude (but rhyming!) hobgoblin to set things right. Which could mean learning the personal name (not just the job description!) of every single fairy you killed that you didn't mean to kill, or it could just mean saying "I do believe in fairies, I do!" and taking your chances. But that Fairy of Frequent and Painful Pointless Antagonism is pretty stubborn - and pretty nasty. I don't know if I myself would want to take my chances with her...

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Can you imagine if your dad brought home a penguin for a pet? How about twelve of them?

This is what Mr. Popper does, to the amazement of Mrs. Popper and his two children, Bill and Janie. This lucky family has a full dozen penguins living with them - sliding down the stairs, stealing the checkers, and startling the visitors.

But you know, penguins are very expensive to keep, especially when you live in nice warm Stillwater. You need snow for them, and ice, and fresh fish if you can get it - or canned shrimp, otherwise. And when you are only a house painter, as Mr. Popper is, well... the bills can add up quick!

How will Mr. Popper save the day? Why, by taking the penguins on the road in a variety act! But their troubles aren't over yet - how much mischief do you think twelve penguins can get into touring the major cities of the United States?

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

This is a sweetheart of a book, full of just enough adventure to keep you turning the pages, just enough detail to make you fall in love with the characters, and just enough intelligence to make you feel you've read something fully worthwhile.

Despereaux is a mouse who can be summed up quite quickly in the words of his Aunt Florence: "It simply isn't done!" He is born far too small and with far too big of ears - and if that were not enough, he reads books instead of eating them and he talks to humans!

Most specifically, he speaks to the Princess Pea, in whose castle he lives, and with whom he falls deeply in love. This is, of course, another thing that Is Not Done, but how can a young mouse help himself?

And this is only the beginning of the story. There is also Chiaroscuro, a most unusual rat, and his story of living in the dungeons of the castle, and Miggery Sow, a young scullery maid who dreams of being a princess.

This is a story of dreams and realities, of bravery and perfidy, of love and hate and light and darkness. But it is, most of all, the story of a young mouse who follows his heart.

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I also highly recommend the audio version of this story, read by Graeme Malcolm. He brings each character individually to life with unique, recognizable voices, and I - who have a terrible time listening to audio books - was fully entranced the entire story.