Books like Melisande
By E. Nesbit
For the kid who loves a good curse-and-wish fairy tale, this one turns a classic christening spell into a story about being careful what you wish for. Witty, old-fashioned fairy-tale storytelling with a knowing sense of humor, brought to life with rich, classical illustration.
A rich king who prizes gold above all else is granted his wish that everything he touches turns to gold — until he accidentally touches his own daughter.
A younger boy follows a strange, ever-growing list of rules set by his older brother over one long summer, until breaking one plunges him into real danger only his brother can pull him back from.
A beautiful girl is locked away in a lonely tower by a witch, growing up with only her impossibly long hair for company — until a prince finds his way to her window.
A witch famous throughout Russia for eating children is secretly a lonely old woman who longs for a grandchild, so she disguises herself as a village babushka to find one.
A mistreated girl endures her stepmother's and stepsisters' cruelty until a fairy godmother steps in with magical help, leading her to a meeting with the prince.
After spotting three dazzling mermaids on the subway, a boy transforms his home into a lagoon of imagination, fashioning his own mermaid costume from a curtain and some ferns.
A young girl with skin the color of midnight longs to be lighter like her mother and sister, until a shooting star's story about the sisters Night and Day changes how she sees herself.
A girl and her house full of rescued, misfit creatures grow restless and decide to move on — but when every one of her careful plans falls apart, she has to find another way forward.
A foreign exchange student named Eric moves in with a suburban family, asking curious questions his hosts can't always answer, until his farewell leaves behind an unforgettable surprise.
A book-loving man's whole life is scattered by a tornado, leaving him stranded in a gray, joyless place — until a single colorful book leads him to a library that needs him as much as he needs it.
A friendly ghost named Leo loves drawing and making snacks, but when a new family misunderstands his attempts to help, he leaves home to find where he truly belongs.
A janitor and his loyal dog, cramped and weary of their crowded one-room life, accept a mysterious bird's offer of paradise on a floating island — only to discover the price of that easy life.
