Maggie and the flying horse

Gr 1-4-In Flying Horse, Maggie's father has remarried and her new siblings just don't seem to like her. She has a particularly hard time getting along with stepbrother Peter. He is often short-tempered, and everything she does annoys him. Plus, her stepmother gives her chore after chore, and Maggie can't keep up. Thankfully she lives by the enchanted forest with all its magical creatures-including a kindly unicorn and whimsical fairies. Maggie comes across a tiny flying horse who needs her help. Fortunately, she remembers her grandmother's tales of a man who takes care of magical creatures, and Maggie is determined to find him. Braving mischievous goblins and angry trolls, the girl sets out to save this wee creature, even if it means angering her stepfamily. In Wish Fish, Maggie continues to struggle to be accepted by her unloving stepfamily. Things often go awry with her tasks, and Maggie's punishment usually involves bed without supper. Maggie soon happens upon a talking fish in the enchanted forest who grants her one wish. VERDICT With charming illustrations and short chapters, this new fantasy series will appeal to youngsters who enjoy fairy tales.-Mary Jennings, Camano Island Library, WA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A lonely, misunderstood girl who pays enough attention to notice magical creatures must help a tiny, winged horse.While Maggie's father chops wood across the forest, she's left with her wicked stepmother, Zelia, and stepsiblings, including awful Peter. Her steps, new to the Enchanted Forest, don't believe Maggie when she tells them about the magical creatures and accuse her of lying to cover up laziness. Zelia threatens to give Maggie's bed to Peter unless Maggie stops with the stories and sticks to chores, then sends Maggie to help Peter tend his sheep. But Maggie falls asleep on the job, and Peter ditches her, leaving her to awaken to goblins! When a tiny flying horse tickles her while she's hiding, Maggie brushes it awaybut accidentally damages its delicate wing. Maggie takes it to Bob the Stableman, a person her grandmother had told her helped magical creatures, but only after cleverly evading a dangerous troll. Bob's a kindred soul and supportive adulta good thing since Maggie's decision to do right by the horse instead of doing chores gives Zelia an excuse to make good on threats. Kids will relate to the injustice and to not feeling heard. The simultaneously publishing sequel, Maggie and the Wish Fish, continues the familial storyline through an encounter with an allegedly wish-granting fish rather than resetting to status quo. All illustrated human characters appear to be white. A strong series opener for sensitive readers. (Fantasy. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.