Anderson, M. T. Elf Dog and Owl Head. Junyi Wu, Illus. Candlewick, 04/2023. 240pp. Fiction. GRADES 3 – 6. $18.99. 978-1-5362-2281-4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Clay’s summer, stuck at home with bickering siblings and stressed parents during the global sickness, is transformed when an unusual lost dog comes to his aid in the woods. Elphinor is able to open paths between human and magical realms, and adventures unfurl. But can Clay think of a way to save his family, pet, and newfound friend when the angry elves come looking for their missing hound? Told mostly from Clay’s point of view, with the help of an omniscient narrator, the straightforward prose explains all. Each chapter includes at least one atmospheric, cross-hatched, graphite illustration, making this a good choice for entry-level fantasy readers or family readalouds. The majority of human characters read as white.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired