Natalie Babbitt

Phoebe Euphemia Brandon Brown has a very specific problem. The year is 1904, and every girl is expected to wear stiff dresses covered in frills, bows, and giant sashes. Phoebe absolutely despises them. She would rather spend all day sitting in the bathtub than put on another fancy, scratchy outfit. You know exactly how it feels when your clothes just do not feel right, and Phoebe decides she has finally had enough. She stages a one girl revolution against her proper wardrobe. Her first idea is to borrow her father's clothes, but that does not quite solve the problem either. You will cheer for Phoebe as she stands her ground and works with her family to find a brilliant, sensible solution. It turns out that a simple navy sailor dress might be exactly what she needs to feel like herself. This charming tale proves that staying true to your own style is the best fashion choice.

The dark can play tricks on your eyes. For Mylo, the shadows in his bedroom are not just regular shadows. He is absolutely certain that a frightening Something is hiding right there in the dark, waiting for him to fall asleep. It is hard to be brave when you cannot even see what you are afraid of. You have probably felt that same familiar tickle of fear when the lights go out. Mylo is tired of being scared every single night, and with a little bit of gentle help from his mother, he decides it is time to face the shadows. Together, they come up with a brilliant plan to figure out exactly what the Something actually is. As Mylo learns to look closer and use his imagination, you will see how the scariest monsters often turn out to be nothing at all. This comforting story shows you exactly how to conquer your biggest bedtime worries.

Having a fairy godmother sounds like a dream come true, until she makes a colossal mistake. Elsie is an ordinary girl, but her fairy godmother has a terrible habit of setting things very, very wrong. During a magical mix up, one single Elsie is accidentally multiplied into eight identical little girls. Suddenly, the house is completely packed. Imagine trying to coordinate eight girls doing exactly the same thing at the exact same time. It is an absolute disaster for everyone involved. Elsie's poor cat does not know which way to look, and the confusion quickly spills out of the house, causing a massive uproar for the town Mayor. You will laugh out loud as the chaos grows bigger and bigger. Someone is going to have to figure out how to put things back to normal before the whole town is completely overrun. This hilarious magical mishap is a wildly fun adventure from start to finish.

Dick Foote has absolutely no interest in following his father to sea. Living in a coastal town, everyone expects him to become a brave fisherman, but Dick would much rather stay safe on land and write poetry. He finds the ocean terrifying, especially the thought of encountering a massive, hungry shark. But sometimes, the thing you are avoiding is exactly what you are meant to face. When Dick finally agrees to go out on the fishing boat, his absolute worst nightmare rises from the watery depths. A gigantic, terrifying shark begins to circle their small vessel. You will hold your breath as the gentle poet realizes that standard fishing tools will not save them now. Dick must use his own unique talents and quick thinking to outsmart the terrible beast. This funny, thrilling tale shows that true courage comes in many surprising forms, and sometimes words are more powerful than weapons.

The King and Queen love their little Prince very much, and they want to give him the absolute best life possible. But there is a big problem: nobody can agree on what "the one and only very best thing" actually is. Determined to find the answer, the royal parents begin asking everyone inside the grand castle for their opinions. The King's knights, the Queen's ladies, and all the royal advisors offer terribly complicated and completely different suggestions. None of their grand ideas seem quite right for a small boy. The entire castle is in a state of serious confusion until the cook's clever young daughter steps forward with a brilliantly simple idea. Why not just ask the Prince what he actually wants? You will love watching the adults realize that they have been making things far too difficult. This warm, beautiful story reminds us that the best answers are often the simplest ones.

Nellie is not an ordinary cat. She is a beautiful wooden marionette who loves nothing more than to dance. Strung on delicate strings, she spends her days gracefully performing, but she constantly dreams of moving completely on her own. One magical night, the moon shines brightly over a lonely hilltop, calling out to her. Nellie decides it is finally time to seek true freedom. Leaving her strings behind, she steps out into the wide, wonderful world to find an adventure of her very own. You will be swept away as Nellie explores the moonlit hills, discovering the absolute joy of independence and the thrill of moving without anyone pulling her strings. This tender, beautifully illustrated story captures the quiet magic of finding your own way. With every page you turn, you will cheer for the brave little wooden cat who dared to dance completely free.