Primary (ages 6-9)

Material appropriate for primary age groups

The Loathsome Dragon

A lovely princess, a brave prince, a wicked stepmother, evil enchantments, magic rowan wood, and an immense, scaly dragon. . . . Favorite fairytale elements sparkle in The Loathsome Dragon, a traditional English tale. Majestic, romantic paintings by two-time Caldecott medalist David Wiesner display the remarkable artistry and dizzying perspectives his work is known for. Now available once again—with several new illustrations, revised text, and a brief source note—this picture-book classic will delight David Wiesner’s many fans, and win him a generation of new ones.

Tricycle

Margarita lives in a mansion. When she climbs her favorite tree, she can look down into the beautiful garden below. She can also see the small house next door where her friend Rosario and her family live. One day she sees Rosario and her brother dragging her tricycle into their yard and hiding it under a pile of boxes. Margarita decides to lie and protect her friends — but is she really helping them? This sensitive story illustrated in magic realist style powerfully presents complex issues of friendship, maturity, and social standing.

This book has been included in WOW’s Kids Taking Action Booklist. For our current list, visit our Boolist page under Resources in the green navigation bar.

The Mightiest Heart

Who can resist a story about a dog who so loved his master that he gave up his life? This exquisitely illustrated tale, based on the legend of Llywelyn, a thirteenth-century Welsh prince, and his loyal hound, Gelert, will keep young readers and listeners spellbound. Laurel Long joins the ranks of today’s premier illustrators in her debut, adding incredible power to Lynn Cullen’s spare but emotionally charged text. Each picture is like a precious treasure, revealing painstaking attention to detail, breathtaking color, and characters whose mutual love transcends the pages of this marvelous book. The Mightiest Heart is sure to be one of the best gifts to give young readers this fall. Lynn Cullen, author of several popular middle-grade novels, researched this story in Wales, where a monument to Gelert still stands. Laurel Long makes an outstanding debut as a picture book illustrator.

The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog: A Folktale From Great Britain

A rich man is rescued from harm by a smelly, slobbery dog. As a reward, he asks for the man’s beautiful daughter. In this tale from England, Margaret Read MacDonald puts a new spin on the classic story, Beauty and the Beast.

Pirate Treasure Map: A Fairytale Adventure

The creators of FAIRYTALE NEWS mix up favorite tales in a comical quest with a pull-out treasure map.Little Jack Hubbard can’t wait to set sail with Cap’n Horatio Hubbard on a hunt for long-lost treasure. But the ship’s wolfish crew are suspiciously big and bad, and soon Jack is diving into the waves to rescue a valuable treasure map. All seems lost until Jack is saved by the Owl and the Pussycat (in a beautiful pea-green boat) and passes a witch’s gingerbread cottage, where two kids are caught in a culinary plot. . . . With the help of a handy removable map, readers will happily follow Jack’s path to the treasure through a fractured-fairytale land.

The Squirrel Wife

A kind young man is rewarded with a bride who is kin to the wild in this beautiful, original fairy tale.The green people in the woods are feared by all — all except swineherd Jack, who dares to venture into the forest to answer a cry for help. Jack’s heroism unveils the true nature of the green people and earns him an idyllic life with a woman he loves. But can they survive the ignorance around them? Magical storytelling and luminous woodland scenes easily transport readers to another time and place.