Books like 'Wondrous Rex'
Readers who enjoyed Wondrous Rex by Patricia MacLachlan also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary fantasy animals dogs magical-realism children friendship coming-of-age family magic
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The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsSchool is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester's fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary... -
Exile by Shannon Messenger
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 45 ratingsSophie Foster thought she was safe. Settled into her home at Havenfield, surrounded by friends, and using her unique telepathic abilities to train Silveny--the first female alicorn ever seen in the Lost Cities--her life finally seems to be coming together. But Sophie's kidnappers are still out there... -
October, October by Katya Balen
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA classic in the making for anyone who ever longed to be WILD.October and her dad live in the woods. They sleep in the house Dad built for them and eat the food they grow in the vegetable patches. They know the trees and the rocks and the lake and stars like best friends. They read the books they buy in town again and again until the pages are soft and yellow - until next year's town visit... -
The Last Present by Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsDon't miss the latest entry in the incredible Willow Falls series by Wendy Mass!Amanda and Leo have a history with birthdays. Now their friend's little sister, Grace, has fallen into a strange frozen state on her birthday, and Amanda and Leo must travel in time in order to fix whatever's wrong. As they journey back to each of Grace's birthdays, they start seeing all sorts of patterns . .Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism action-adventure -
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Owen by Kevin Henkes
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratings“Fuzzy goes where I go.”Owen’s fuzzy yellow blanket is his favorite possession. Everywhere Owen goes, his blanket goes with him. Upstairs, downstairs, in-between. Inside, outside, upside down. Everywhere! Owen’s parents are in despair—soon Owen will begin school, and he can’t take Fuzzy with him then...Categorized as:
animals children coming-of-age family friendship anthropomorphism book children-books -
Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian, Tim Bowers
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWith his bowl to himself, Goldfish loves his life...until one day... A personal account from a goldfish on life in his bowl as other intruders crowd him...Categorized as:
animals children family friendship anthropomorphism book children-books contemporary -
If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 26 ratings"If you give a pig a party, she's going to ask for some balloons..." If you give a pig a party, she's going to ask for some balloons. When you give her the balloons, she'll want to decorate the house. When she's finished, she'll put on her favorite dress. Then she'll call all her friends—Mouse, Moose, and more... -
This Book Is Not Good for You by Pseudonymous Bosch
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsBetween the pages of this book lies the secret to the best-tasting chocolate in all the world. I promise, your taste buds will tingle. Your palette will sing! Oh no, have I accidentally tempted you to read this book? I will warn you, however, the most delicious things are never good for you.. -
All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA middle-grade novel about a young girl navigating the foster care system in search of where she belongs.Red’s inexplicable power over the wind comes from her mother. Whenever Ruby “Red” Byrd is scared or angry, the wind picks up. And being placed in foster care, moving from family to family, tends to keep her skies stormy. Red knows she has to learn to control it, but can’t figure out how... -
Imagine a Day by Sarah L. Thomson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsImagine a day when your swing swings you higher than the highest treetops. Imagine a day when you can ride your bike up a path of falling leaves into the very tree they are falling from. Imagine a day when you release a handful of blue balloons into a cloudy, gray sky to create a postcard-perfect day. Imagine a day when the ordinary becomes the extraordinary...a day when anything is possible...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism book children-books contemporary female-author fiction -
Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsThis is the diary . . . of a worm. Surprisingly, a worm not that different from you or me: He lives with his parents, plays with his friends, and even goes to school. But unlike you or me, he never has to take a bath, he gets to eat his homework, and because he doesn't have legs, he just can't do the hokey pokey -- no matter how hard he tries. Oh, and his head looks a lot like his rear end... -
Eleven Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsGROUNDHOG DAY meets FLIPPED in this tale of a girl stuck in her birthday.It's Amanda's 11th birthday and she is super excited -- after all, 11 is so different from 10. But from the start, everything goes wrong. The worst part of it all is that she and her best friend, Leo, with whom she's shared every birthday, are on the outs and this will be the first birthday they haven't shared together...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family female-mc friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism -
The Wild Book by Juan Villoro, Lawrence Schimel
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom one of Mexico’s foremost authors comes a wondrous adventure story of a boy who goes to live with his kooky, book-obsessed uncle in a library where books have supernatural powers."We walked toward the part of the library where the air smelled as if it had been interred for years….Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family low-fantasy magic magical-realism action-adventure audiobook -
Chalk by Bill Thomson
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThree children discover a magical bag of chalk on a rainy... -
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A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsCheery persistence wears down a curmudgeonly bear in a wry comedy of manners that ends in a most unlikely friendship.Bear is quite sure he doesn't like visitors. He even has a sign. So when a mouse taps on his door one day, Bear tells him to leave. But when Bear goes to the cupboard to get a bowl, there is the mouse -- small and gray and bright-eyed...Categorized as:
animals children family friendship anthropomorphism book children-books contemporary -
The King with Six Friends by Jay Williams, Imero Gobbato
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThere are many nice things about being a king. But there is one very bad thing. It's hard to find a job if you're out of work. All that a king can do is rule, and if you have no kingdom then you are out of work. That's what happened to young King Zar.He was a good king, but young and without much experience. A bold, strong king with many soliders had attacked his kingdom... -
Joe Nuthin's Guide to Life by Helen Fisher
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA thoroughly uplifting novel about a neurodivergent young man who unexpectedly builds a community and saves a friend in need by following—in a way only he can—his mother’s words of wisdom.Joe-Nathan likes the two parts of his name separate, just like dinner and dessert. Mean Charlie at work sometimes calls him Joe-Nuthin. But Joe is far from nothing...Categorized as:
friendship female-mc magical-realism low-fantasy fiction contemporary audiobook fantasy -
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsYears ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel.“Clever, dark, and hopeful . . -
Leila and the Blue Fox by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe was very tired.She lay down, her soft head on her soft paws.The sunset licked her face.The snow covered her like a blanket. Fox wakes, and begins to walk. She crosses ice and snow, over mountains and across frozen oceans, encountering bears and birds beneath the endless daylight of an Arctic summer, navigating a world that is vast, wild and wondrous... -
The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery, Laura Catalan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA heartwarming story about family, friendship and finding your inner fire.Between bullies at school and changes at home, Charlie Challinor finds life a bit scary. And when he's made guardian of a furry fox cub called Cadno, things get a whole lot scarier.Because Cadno isn't just any fox: he's a firefox - the only one of his kind - and a sinister hunter from another world is on his trail... -
Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsThe riotously funny Lilly, last seen in Chester's Way (Greenwillow), thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting -- if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world."Julius is the baby of the world," said his parents. But Lilly, his older sister, disagreed... -
Witch Hazel by Molly Idle
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSomething magical happens when Hazel and Hilda are together. As the seasons pass, Hazel’s broom whisks the dust off many years of joyful memories, and young Hilda watches them come to life. But is it magic making memories.. -
When the Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEverybody thinks Tara Doucet has the perfect life. But in reality, Tara’s life is anything but perfect: Her dear Grammy Claire has just passed away, her mother is depressed and distant, and she and her sister Riley can’t seem to agree on anything... -
Philippa Fisher And The Fairy's Promise by Liz Kessler
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsPhilippa is looking forward to spending New Year in the village where her new friend Robyn lives... -
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Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones by Judy Schachner
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAnother fun read-along from Skippyjon Jones and Puffin Storytime book-and-CD library The "New York Times" bestselling Skippyjon Jones books were made to be read aloud, and so we're adding a fourth title, "Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones," to the Puffin Storytime collection. The Puffin picture book is accompanied by a compact disc that features an animated reading of the story by the author... -
The Sweetest Fig by Chris Van Allsburg
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"These figs are very special," the woman whispered. "They can make your dreams come true." -- Thus Monsieur Bibot, the cold-hearted dentist, was given two ordinary-looking figs as payment for extracting a tooth from an old woman's mouth. Monsieur Bibot refused to believe such nonsense and proceeded to eat one of the figs for a bedtime snack... -
The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsCharlie feels like she's always coming in last. From her Mom's new job to her sister's life at college, everything seems more important than Charlie. Then one day while ice fishing, Charlie makes a discovery that will change everything . . . in the form of a floppy fish offering to grant a wish in exchange for freedom... -
Gorilla by Anthony Browne
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAnthony Browne’s incomparable artwork illuminates the deeply satisfying story of a lonely girl, a friendly gorilla, and their enchanted night out.Hannah spends all of her time reading gorilla books, watching gorilla TV shows, and drawing gorilla pictures. She has gorillas on her bedside lamp and even on her box of cereal... -
The Winter Wolf by Holly Webb
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAmelia is exploring the huge, old house where her family are spending Christmas when she finds a diary hidden in the attic. It was written by a boy struggling to look after an abandoned wolf pup. Before she knows it, Amelia is transported into the wintry world of the diary... -
Imagine a Place by Sarah L. Thomson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIf you can imagine a place, you can go there. Imagine a place that makes you feel as free as a bird. Imagine a place where getting there is worth whatever it takes. Imagine a place that makes you feel like it's always been your destination. Imagine a place made out of pure imagination...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism book children-books contemporary fiction fantasy -
Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling authors Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins comes the hilarious and heartfelt story of a group of magical misfits. Nory Horace is nine years old. She's resourceful, she's brave, she likes peanut butter cookies. Also, she's able to transform into many different animals. Unfortunately, Nory's shape-shifting talent is a bit wonky... -
Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins? by Liz Kessler
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJessica Jenkins has always been a perfectly ordinary girl—until one day part of her arm vanishes in the middle of geography class! Jessica’s friends Izzy and Tom are determined to help her develop her newfound invisibility, though Jessica is more concerned with discovering where the ability came from...Categorized as:
children friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism action-adventure book children-books -
Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin, Kate Messner
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom Caldecott and Newbery Honoree Grace Lin and bestselling author Kate Messner comes a modern folktale about the joy of reading.Once upon a time, there was a girl. She went to a place alive with colors, where even the morning dew was warm. Alice loves to imagine herself in the magical pages of her favorite book...Categorized as:
family children animals magical-realism low-fantasy fantasy children-books action-adventure -
Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsUSA Today bestselling author and Agatha Award winner Amanda Flower turns the charm up to ten in her fourth Magical Bookshop mystery. With the help of Walt Whitman's works, magical bookshop owner Violet Waverly puts her pedal to the metal to sleuth a bicycle-race murder that tests her mettle. A bicycle race is not Charming Books proprietor Violet Waverly's idea of a pleasant pastime... -
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Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTuesday McGillycuddy and her beloved dog, Baxterr, discover that Tuesday's mother—the famous author Serendipity Smith—has gone missing, they set out on a magical adventure. In their quest to find Serendipity, they discover the mysterious and unpredictable place that stories come from... -
Imagine a Night by Sarah L. Thomson
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsImagine a night when you can ride your bike right up the stairs to your bed. Imagine a night when your toy train rumbles on its tracks out of your room and roars back in, full sized, ready for you to hop on for a nighttime adventure. Imagine a night when a farmer plays a lullaby on his fiddle, and his field of sunflowers begins to dip and sway to the rhythm...Categorized as:
children family low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure book children-books contemporary -
The Runaway Dolls by Ann M. Martin, Laura Godwin
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBest friends Annabelle Doll and Tiffany Funcraft are back, and this time they've got an unexpected visitor, a new doll named Tilly May. She's arrived in a mysterious package from London, but her face looks so familiar... . Could she be Annabelle's long lost baby sister? Annabelle is convinced it absolutely must be so-but her parents refuse to believe her... -
Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFroggy's mother knows that everyone's nervous on the first day of school. "Not me!" says Froggy, and together they leapfrog to the bus stop -- flop flop flop. Froggy's exuberant antics, complete with sound effects, will delight his many fans and reassure them that school can be fun."This is a great read-aloud with sounds and words that encourage active participation...Categorized as:
animals children family friendship action-adventure book children-books contemporary -
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsAuthor(s): Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen ISBN: 9781406352481 Binding: Paperback Published: 2014-01-01 On a cold, dark day in a dull, grey town, little Annabelle discovers a box of brightly coloured yarn. She knits a cosy jumper to keep herself nice and toasty warm and finds, to her surprise, that she still has yarn left over...Categorized as:
animals children family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism action-adventure -
Olivia Saves the Circus: With Audio Recording by Ian Falconer, Dame Edna Everage
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsStep into the ring with Olivia, where the lights are dim, the color soft, and a little girl's imagination is the main attraction.Olivia remembers her trip to the circus very well. The performers were out sick, so she had to do everything. She... -rode on a unicycle -jumped on a trampoline -juggled five balls! -tamed lions -and flew through the air... -
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA rural island community steeped in the mystical superstitions of its founders and haunted by an unsolved murder is upended by the return of the suspected killer in this deeply atmospheric novel.Emery Blackwood’s life was forever changed on the eve of her high school graduation, when the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her best friend, Lily...Categorized as:
coming-of-age female-mc friendship magical-realism book contemporary fiction mystery -
Ghost of a Chance by Lauren Barnholdt
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKendall takes drastic action when she encounters ghostly overwhelm in this third book in a tween series that Kirkus Reviews calls “bright, bubbly fun.”Kendall feels like she’s losing at life. The only people who will talk to her are ghosts, and she’s exhausted from trying to fix their problems... -
The Stars of Whistling Ridge by Cindy Baldwin
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIvy Mae Bloom, whose name is one letter away from a complete sentence, has lived her entire life on the road. Her mama is a fallen star who travels near and far to tend to the magic that underpins our world... -
The Glitter Trap by Barbara Brauner, James Iver Mattson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMiddle school is far from a fairytale for adorkable misfit Lacey Unger-Ware. When Lacey ends up with popular girl Paige Harrington's smart-mouthed fairy godmother, Katarina, trapped in her hair, life gets more magical--just not in a 'prince charming' kind of way. Katarina's wings are too damaged to continue her fairy duties, and Lacey must take over as Paige's fairy godmother... -
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The Infinity Year of Avalon James by Dana Middleton
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAvalon James and Atticus Brightwell have a secret--one that they aren't allowed to discuss with anyone. This secret is shared between two best friends. When you and your best friend turn ten years old magical things are said to happen. You both will receive some kind of magical power. It can be a power you can call on time and time again. Or it can be a power that comes once when you need it most... -
This Is Not a Werewolf Story by Sandra Evans
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThis is the story of Raul, a boy of few words, fewer friends, and almost no family. He is a loner—but he isn’t lonely. All week long he looks after the younger boys at One Of Our Kind Boarding School while dodging the barbs of terrible Tuffman, the mean gym teacher.Like every other kid in the world, he longs for Fridays, but not for the usual reasons. The woods have secrets...and so does Raul...Categorized as:
animals children family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism action-adventure -
The Snow Rabbit by Camille Garoche
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTwo sisters look longingly through their window at the snowy sky. One goes out and sculpts a little rabbit, but when she brings it back inside to her wheelchair-bound sister, it begins to melt. So they take it outside and into the forest where enchanted things begin to happen. A follow up to her hauntingly beautiful Fox’s Garden, Camille Garoche (a.k.a... -
The Lamb Who Came for Dinner by Steve Smallman
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWolf is really hungry for his favorite meal--lamb stew! To his great luck, a cold, shivering lamb knocks on his door looking for shelter from the winter storm outside. So begins a funny tale of friendship with a wonderful twist at the end... -
Double Vision by Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom actresses Tia and Tamera Mowry comes the story of tween twins Cassie and Caitlyn and their discovery that they have the ability to see things before they occur! This is the first book in the popular Twintuition series... -
Willa and the Whale by Chad Morris, Shelly and Brown
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter losing her mom, Willa is grieving and having a hard time living with her dad and his new family on an island off the coast of Washington State. Her dad tries to cheer her up by taking her whale watching, something Willa's mom used to do.While all the passengers are on one side of the boat, Willa encounters a humpback whale on the opposite side...Categorized as:
animals children coming-of-age family friendship low-fantasy magical-realism anthropomorphism
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