The Wizard's Dog by Eric Kahn Gale

The Wizard's Dog by Eric Kahn Gale is a RICBA Nominee for 2019. Nosewise is a dog who belongs to Merlin the Magician. Nosewise knows lots of tricks, like sit and stay, but what he wants to learn are the magic tricks that Merlin teaches to his apprentice Morgana. When Nosewise accidently ends up with Morgana's magic stone around his neck, he can suddenly speak, in words! But before Nosewise can learn any magic, Merlin is taken away by an evil Fae, who wants to use Merlin's magic to become King of the humans. It is up to Nosewise to save his beloved master, with a little help from a boy named Arthur.

I am a big fan of the King Arthur legends and love reading this new take on the  story from the point of view of Nosewise the dog. Nosewise is quite funny and it's cute to see into the mind of a dog, "stupid doors"! Watch a trailer for the book.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley

Bella at Midnight was written by Diane Stanley.  Bella's mother dies during her birth and her father, who is a knight, can not bear to even look at her.  Her aunt takes her to a loving blacksmith's family to be raised by them.  Thinking she is the daughter of a peasant, Bella is happy through her childhood and even becomes best friends with Prince Julian.  All of that changes on the day she is sent for by her cruel father to return to her rightful place as the daughter of a knight.  What will her new family be like?  Will she be happy, or will she miss Julian and the family who has raised her?  What dangers will she face to help the people she loves?

 

I have always loved stories set in the times of kings and queens.  Adventure, magic, romance and danger combine to make this a great story.  You will cheer Bella on as a strong female character, who fights against the path her life has taken.  Once you read this book, it should remind you of another famous story.  Do you know which one?

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Kenny and the Dragon by Tony Diterlizzi

Kenny and the Dragon by Tony Diterlizzi was a really great book.  You might know TONY DITERLIZZI by “Spiderwick” because he helped make that book with Holly Black.  Well back to my book, lets see, this book is really good because Kenny(the bunny) lives on a farm and one day his dad smells smoke, so he goes to check it out and he finds out there was a Dragon living in a cave (his name is Grahame).  The dad runs home and yells, “WE NEED TO MOVE NOW!!!!!!!!!”  And his wife says, “Honey calm down, now tell me what happened.” So while Kenny’s dad is saying what happened, Kenny goes to check it out.  He finds out that Grahame is really nice.  Grahame tells Kenny how he came to the world of animals.  One day there was an earthquake and he fell in a HUGE crack in the ground.  He lived on lava rocks until he NEEDED to get out, so he dug and dug till he came to a cave, A.K.A Kenny’s farm. Read to find out what happens next.  

Reviewed by gibby22