Dory Fantasmagory written and illustrated by Abby Hanlon. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2014. ISBN 978-0-8037-4088-4
Summary: Six-year-old Dory, known as Rascal to her family, only wants to play with her older brother and sister, but they refuse, saying that she is too much of a baby. Left to her own devices, she finds companionship in her imaginary friend, Mary (a horned monster), and the other monsters she has spotted in her house, such as the Upstairs Hallway Monster.
Exasperated with Dory's antics, her brother and sister tell her that a baby-stealing witch, Mrs. Gobble Gracker, is coming to visit, in the hopes of scaring her into acting more mature. When Dory hears the doorbell ring the next morning, she knows exactly who it is. As she and Mary battle Mrs. Gobble Gracker with sleeping darts and banana peels, and with the added assistance of her fairy godmother, the gnomelike Mr. Nuggy, Dory's imagination grows ever wilder.
Will she defeat Mrs. Gobble Gracker? Will she end up in a dreaded time out? Will she ever convince her brother and sister that she is not a baby? Imagination is a powerful thing, and Dory seems to have unlimited resources when it comes to this type of creativity.
Critical Evaluation: For children with younger siblings that drive them crazy, or younger children whose older brothers and sisters treat them like babies, the characters in Dory Fantasmagory will be instantly recognizable. Hanlon explores family dynamics with insight and humor. The development of Dory's character is top-notch, and readers will easily identify with her feelings as they change throughout the story. From rejection, jealousy, fear, anger, jubilation, and triumph, Dory experiences a range of emotions that mirror every child's inner life.
Hanlon's artwork reinforces the narrative, and adds a humorous visual accompaniment to the story. By using black and white pencil drawings which are cartoon-like and rather two-dimensional, Hanlon has created a world that is represented from a childlike perspective.
Age or Interest Level: Ages 6 to 8
Lexile Level: 550L
Awards: ALA/ALSC/YALSA 2015 Notable Children’s Book; A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2014; A Kirkus Best Book of 2014; One of Parent’s Magazine one of the “10 Best Children’s Books” of 2014; An ALSC 2015 Summer Reading List pick
Why Included? Hanlon defines Fantasmagory as "a dream-like state where real life and imagination are blurred together". Dory's Fantasmagory is a truly unique and wonderful state where there are no limits to what is possible.