The Imaginary Veterinary by Suzanne Selfors

One of my students loves animals and hopes to be a veterinarian someday.  She discovered The Imaginary Veterinary series and shared it with me.  What if mythological creatures had their own veterinarian?

Ben Silverstein's cat brings home a wounded dragon.  He and his new friend Pearl Petal bring the dragon to Dr. Woo's Worm Hospital for treatment.  When a Sasquatch is accidentally let loose, the two children set off to find him and return him to Dr. Woo.  This is only the beginning of the children's adventures helping imaginary creatures.

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The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

My niece loves these books, and on a shopping trip last December, she introduced this series to me.

Emily Windsnap lives on a boat, but her mother wants to keep her away from the water.  Emily struggles to fit in at her school.  During a swimming lesson, Emily discovers just how different she is from her classmates.

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How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

This Friday the movie How to Train Your Dragon 2 will be in theaters.  This franchise is popular with many of my students.  Cressida Cowell has written several books in this series.


The series follows Hiccup the "dragon whisperer" and his dragon, Toothless.  I was first introduced to these books nine or ten years ago when a very reluctant reader brought in the first book to school.  He shared with others and soon half my class was reading the series.

The movie and the TV shows are different from the books, but good in their own right.  I can nudge my fantasy loving readers toward this series unequivocally.

If you want to compare and contrast the books with the movies, here is a graphic organizer.

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The Summer of Moonlight Secrets by Danette Haworth

One of my fourth grade students wanted me to read this book so much, she bought it for me at the school book fair.  Because I know her particular obsession, I knew before I read the first page what the moonlight secret was.  I still enjoyed this book.

Allie Jo Jackson works with her parents at a run-down but historic hotel.  She forms friendships with two of the guests her age.  They meet another girl who has runaway.  She begs Allie Jo to keep her secret.


This book is now a part of my classroom library. 

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Dragonbreath Series by Ursula Vernon

The Dragonbreath series by Ursula Vernon was not written for me.  The reluctant readers -- typically boys -- love it.  I have very little trouble convincing them to try this series.

Dragonbreath has all sorts of adventures and the books are presented with sections that read more like graphic novels than traditional text.  Since my reluctant readers are often my most reluctant writers, I created a story board for them to plan their stories.  Click here for the free printable story board.

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Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist

About a year ago I reviewed Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. LaFevers.  At the time, I looked forward to reading more books in the series. As I have been collecting more titles for my fourth grade students, I got caught up with Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist.  In each episode, he learns more about the mythological creatures he is destined to take care of.  He also learns more about his family -- his missing parents and an evil cousin.

 

Update June 2014: I made blank printable "trading cards" so students can pretend to be Beastologists.

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Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. LaFevers

Nathaniel Fludd is alone in the world.  His parents are lost at sea and his governess leaves him for a Tidy Sum.  His only living relative is a beastologist.  This first book in the series leaves me ready for the next one.

December 2012 update:  I have read and reviewed more books in the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist Series, here.

June 2014 update: Here is a link to a free printable trading card blank that students can use to pretend they are Beastologists.

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