Category Archives: Chapter Book

Seeing Double: A Review of Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Fairy Double

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Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Fairy Double
Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Lenny Wen
Candlewick Press
Ages 6-9
Available September 15, 2026

When she’s struck with a case of the hiccups that just won’t go away, Eliza realizes she’s being sent a unique message by the elves of Elfindor. Something bad is happening to the elf Zelia, and only her human double can save her. Can Eliza help her fairy twin before it’s too late?

McDonald’s Fairy Door Diaries allow readers a peek into a world full of magic and fantastical creatures, underscored by Lenny Wen’s gorgeous gouache illustrations of flowers and fairy folk. The story is engaging and fast paced, keeping readers hooked as Eliza puzzles through how to save her newfound double.

This read is sure to appeal to young readers who love all things magical and fairy-filled. With multiple chapters, it’s a step up from easy readers, but is easy to tackle for those who are ready to move on to chapter books.

Come Find Me: A Review of Frankie and Friends: The Lost Tooth

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Frankie and Friends: The Lost Tooth
Christine Platt
Illustrated by Alea Marley
Walker Books/Candlewick
March 18, 2025
Age 5-8

If Frankie loses a tooth while she’s away from home, how will the tooth fairy ever find her? Excitement over the very first loose tooth, and anxiety over its timing, inspire imaginative problem-solving by thoughtful and determined Frankie and her friends—a group of sentient toys—to ensure a visit from the tooth fairy. The group brainstorms solutions as they prepare for a long-awaited trip to accompany Mama to a journalism conference. When Frankie loses her tooth at the conference, she is joined by other aspiring young journalists to find her tooth and guarantee it makes it to her pillow.

With gentle prose and the excitement of her young protagonist, Platt centers the joys and concerns of a young elementary schooler and the importance of friendship in this third installment of the Frankie and Friends series. Introducing potentially new vocabulary in all caps, calls out the opportunity to decode the word based on clear context clues in the text. Though there is a definition list included in the backmatter. Themes of teamwork and communicating worries are spot on for the social-emotional learning of the target age group. Digital illustrations in a hand-drawn, colored-pencil style are vibrantly hued and full of pattern. Full page, full bleed images sit alongside smaller inset drawing to break up the text into manageable chunks, and closely mirror the text to aid in decoding. Depicting sweetly expressive faces and a loving bond in the African American family, Marley’s illustrations help place the series as one to depict an ordinary, happy childhood versus struggle and strife.

The latest Frankie and Friends offers newly independent readers a spunky heroine growing into her own with the loving support of her family and friends.