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EPS
The Familiars (age 8-11)
by Adam Jay Epstein
animals ... adventure ... fantasy ... magic
Publisher comments: When Aldwyn, a young alley cat on the run, ducks into a mysterious pet shop, he doesn't expect his life to change. But that's exactly what happens when Jack, a young wizard, picks Aldwyn to be his magical familiar. Finally off the tough streets, Aldwyn thinks he's got it made. He just has to convince the other familiars—the know-it-all blue jay Skylar and the friendly tree frog Gilbert—that he's the telekinetic cat he claims to be. But when Jack and two other wizards in training are captured by a terrible evil, it will take all of Aldwyn's street smarts, a few good friends, and a nose for adventure to save the day!
title: The Familiars
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GAI
Odd and the Frost Giants (age 8-11)
by Neil Gaiman
magic ... adventure ... folklore ... traditions
Publisher comments: In this inventive, short, yet perfectly formed novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back. In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he's had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy. Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle—three creatures with a strange story to tell. Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined—a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.
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BAN
The Adventures of King Midas (age 8-11)
by Lynne Reid Banks
adventure ... humor ... folklore ... magic
King Midas' obsession with gold takes some unexpected turns in this fun retelling of the classic Greek myth.
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COR
The Trick Series (age 8-11)
by Scott Corbett
humor ... fantasy ... magic
A mysterious potion from Kerby's chemistry set yields surprising results for Kerby and his friends.
title: The Lemonade Trick
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ALE
The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man (age 8-11)
by Lloyd Alexander
identity ... magic
When he begins dealing with humanity, Lionel the cat begins to understand why his wizard master was reluctant to change him into a man.
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BEC
The Magical Ms. Plum (age 8-11)
by Bonny Becker
school ... magic ... fantasy ... humor
Publisher comments: Ms. Plum is the magical teacher every schoolkid wishes for. Everybody wants to be in Ms. Plum's class. It's not just that she teaches the usual things in unusual ways. There's something more, something about Ms. Plum herself, and her mysterious supply closet. Whenever she asks her students to get her an eraser or a pencil or some paper clips, they come back with something . . . unusual. Who'd have thought a pinky-sized alligator, a big-mouth parrot, or a tiny wolf could teach kids a thing or two about life? Each year, Ms. Plum is certain she's had her best class ever. And it looks like this year . . . she's right.
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SEL
To Catch a Mermaid (age 8-11)
by Suzanne Selfors
humor ... illness/loss ... family ... fantasy ... magic
When Boom Broom's mother is swept away by a twister, he doesn't think his life can get any worse. But when he and his sister Mertyle find a baby mermaid who grants unlimited wishes, he thinks his luck has turned--until his sister is hit by the curse of the merfolk.
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BAR
The Magic Half (age 8-11)
by Annie Barrows
adventure ... magic ... family
Magic is just a way of setting things right... Miri is the non-twin child in a family with two sets of them ... older brothers and younger sisters. The family has just moved to an old farmhouse in a new town, where the only good thing seems to be Miri's ten-sided attic bedroom. But when Miri gets sent to her room after accidentally bashing her big brother on the head with a shovel, she finds herself in the same room...only not quite. Without meaning to, she has found a way to travel back in time to 1935 where she discovers Molly, a girl her own age very much in need of a loving family.
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DAY
The Emperor's Panda (age 8-11)
by David Day
magic ... adventure ... fantasy
Relates how the poor young shepherd boy Kung became the Emperor of all China with the help of the Master Panda, the most magical and wisest creature in all the world.
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ENR
Thimble Summer (age 8-11)
by Elizabeth Enright
historical ... adventure ... magic ... animals
When Garnet finds a silver thimble in the sand by the river, she is sure it's magical. But is it magical enough to help her pig, Timmy, win a blue ribbon on Fair Day?
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GRA
The Ugly Princess and the Wise Fool (age 8-11)
by Margaret Gray
princesses ... growing up ... magic ... humor ... folklore
Can a seafaring fairy godmother, a wise fool, and an enchanted hairstyle keep Princess Rose out of trouble? "A very long time ago, when all the countries you've ever heard of were in different places on the map, a princess was born who was not beautiful. She wasn't even remotely pretty, and the whole kingdom was in deep shock about it." Princess Rose doesn't get any prettier as she grows up, but the kingdom does get over its shock. Everyone adores the skinny, buck-toothed princess, and she doesn't mind her appearance-until the handsomest prince in the world comes looking for a bride. Despite warnings from her seafaring fairy godmother and a wise fool named Jasper, reckless Rose wishes for beauty. She gets her wish, and the prince, but finds neither is as nice as she had expected.
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LEW
Winnie Mae (age 8-11)
by H. B. Lewis
magic ... enterprise
A boy discovers the power of dreaming as he brings a model of the famous plane the Winnie Mae to life.
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LIS
Investigators of the Unknown Series (age 8-11)
by Janet Taylor Lisle
family ... magic ... mystery ... fantasy
Angela, Georgina, and Poco are on the lookout for magic in everyday life, and in each volume these three friends find themselves facing the inexplicable.
title: The Gold Dust Letters
title: Looking for Juliette
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PEA
The Little Gentleman (age 8-11)
by Philippa Pearce
humor ... friendship ... magic
A young girl's dull life is transformed when she meets and befriends an extraordinary talking mole that likes to be read to and tell of his own past exploits throughout the centuries.
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IBB
Not Just a Witch (age 8-11)
by Eva Ibbotson
fantasy ... humor ... magic
Heckie, a graduate of one of the best witch schools, settles in the town of Wellbridge, determined to find evildoers and turn them into animals. But Heckie's do-gooding lands her in big trouble.
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YOL
The Young Merlin Trilogy (age 8-11)
by Jane Yolen
magic ... growing up ... fantasy ... folklore
A boy is abandoned in the woods of medieval England. A year passes--a year of terror and hunger, of sleeping in trees and foraging for food, of outrunning packs of wild dogs--until one day a falconer captures and tames the boy as he would any passager, a young bird caught in the wild and trained. The falconer adopts the boy and teaches him all of the things he's forgotten, including the boy's true name--and the legacy of magic that will be his when he comes of age.
title: Passager: the Young Merlin Trilogy, Book One
title: Hobby: the Young Merlin Trilogy
title: Merlin: the Young Merlin Trilogy, Book Three
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TRA
Mary Poppins Series (age 8-11)
by P. L. Travers
growing up ... magic ... humor ... fantasy
An extraordinary English nanny blows in on the East Wind with her parrot-headed umbrella and magic carpetbag and introduces her charges, Jane and Michael, to some delightful people and experiences.
title: Mary Poppins
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WIL
The Velveteen Rabbit: or, How Toys Become Real (age 8-11)
by Margery Williams
friendship ... magic
By the time the velveteen rabbit is dirty, worn out, and about to be burned, he has almost given up hope of ever finding the magic called Real.
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JOH
The Spoon in the Bathroom Wall (age 8-11)
by Tony Johnston
humor ... family ... fantasy ... magic ... school
Living in the Bloggins School boiler room isn't glamorous, but that's life for Martha Snapdragon, daughter of the beleaguered janitor. Life only gets weirder when Martha realizes bizarre events are afoot at the school. There's the dastardly dealings of evil principal Dr. Klunk and school bully Rufus. There's the dozen dancing eggs and the misbehaving dragons, property of the mysterious science teacher. And then there's the strangest thing of all: a giant golden spoon that simply appears one day, stuck in the wall of the school bathroom. Although everyone tries, only Martha is able to extract the spoon from the wall--an act that leads her to a destiny far beyond her meager life in the boiler room.
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GRA
Falcon's Egg (age 8-11)
by Luli Gray
growing up ... family ... magic ... knights/castles/dragons
Eleven-year-old Falcon has just found a mysterious egg in Central Park--a dragon's egg, though she doesn't know it yet. And when the egg hatches, magic will hatch with it. Falcon will begin to see her hectic life and eccentric family in a different and altogether more joyous way. After all, when magic comes into someone's life, it comes for a reason.
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JON
Stopping For a Spell (age 8-11)
by Diana Wynne Jones
fantasy ... humor ... magic ... short stories
How do you get rid of an unwelcome guest? When magic is underfoot, the possibilities are hilariously endless.
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FLE
Mr. Mysterious and Company (age 8-11)
by Sid Fleischman
humor ... family ... voyages/journeys ... magic
The adventures of a family of magicians traveling across the western deserts and plains in the 1880s.
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ROD
Deltora Quest Series (age 8-11)
by Emily Rodda
action ... adventure ... fantasy ... magic
In the first book of this series, Forest of Silence, the evil Shadow Lord is plotting to invade the land of Deltora and enslave its people. All that stands against him is the magic Belt of Deltora with its seven stones of great and mysterious power. In secrecy, with only a hand-drawn map to guide them, two unlikely companions set out on a dangerous quest. Determined to find the lost stones and rid their land of the Shadow Lord, they struggle toward their first goal--the sinister Forests of Silence.
title: The Forests of Silence
title: The Lake of Tears
title: The Shifting Sands
title: The Maze of the Beast
title: The Valley of the Lost
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LIV
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe (age 8-11)
by Penelope Lively
historical ... fantasy ... magic ... spooky
A 17th-century sorcerer materalizes and tries to make a modern boy his apprentice, and this troublesome spirit has to be exorcised from James' ancient cottage.
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KEN
Circle of Doom (age 8-11)
by Tim Kennemore
family ... humor ... magic
One day, Lizzie Sharp decides to concoct a potion to cast a spell on her family's only neighbors, the unbearable, ancient Potwards. The very next day, Mrs. Potward breaks her hip and the couple disappear forever. It could be just a coincidence, but Lizzie is convinced of her own magical powers, and the temptation to involve both her younger brothers in her ambitious spellmaking plans is irresistible. As one potion leads to another, all three Sharp children become ridiculously entangled in a web of secrets, conspiracies, and misunderstandings.
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COV
Magic Shop Series (age 8-11)
by Bruce Coville
fantasy ... friendship ... magic ... humor
Problems of the real world are nothing compared to the problems stirred up in Mr. Elives' Magic Shop, where young customers leave with more than they bargained for.
title: Juliet Dove, Queen of Love
title: Jennifer Murdley's Toad
title: The Skull of Truth
title: Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher
title: The Monster's Ring
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STA
The Unicorns of Balinor Series (age 8-11)
by Mary Stanton
princesses ... magic ... fantasy
In the first book, The Road to Balinor, the magical world of Balinor has been threatened by darkness, and the Princess Arianna and her unicorn, Sunchaser, are the only ones who can save the world.
title: Road to Balinor
title: Sunchaser's Quest
title: Valley of Fear
title: By Fire, By Moonlight
title: Search for the Star
title: Secrets of the Scepter
title: Shadows Over Balinor
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RYL
The Van Gogh Cafe (age 8-11)
by Cynthia Rylant
fantasy ... magic
The Van Gogh Cafe, located in Flowers, Kansas, has magic in its walls, causing strange and mysterious events to occur.
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ROD
The Rowan Series (age 8-11)
by Emily Rodda
magic ... fantasy ... adventure ... knights/castles/dragons
Because only he can read the magical map, young, weak and timid Rowan joins six other villagers to climb a mountain and try to restore their water supply, as fears of a dragon and other horrors threaten to drive them back.
title: Rowan of Rin
title: Rowan and the Ice Creepers
title: Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal
title: Rowan and the Travelers
title: Rowan and the Zebak
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FLE
The Midnight Horse (age 8-11)
by Sid Fleischman
adventure ... spooky ... magic
On a coach bound for Cricklewood, the orphan boy Touch caught his first glimpse of the haunt named The Great Chaffalo. According to rumor, he was once a famous magician who could turn a pile of straw into a horse. Now, Touch needs the ghost's help in order to escape his wicked great-uncle. So, with an armload of straw and a determined spirit, Touch makes his plea to The Great Chaffalo, and, magically, a horse appears! But can magic save Touch when his great-uncle's schemes grow even more villainous?
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EAG
Magic or Not? (age 8-11)
by Edgar Eager
magic ... fantasy ... adventure
When the family moves to Connecticut, twins James and Laura make new friends and begin a series of unusual adventures after discovering an old well that seems to be magic in their backyard.
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EAG
The Well-Wishers (age 8-11)
by Edgar Eager
magic ... fantasy ... adventure
Six children relate their experiences with an unpredictable old wishing well that involves them in some magical adventures during an eventful autumn.
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EAG
Seven-day Magic (age 8-11)
by Edgar Eager
magic ... fantasy ... adventure
A seven-day book of magic proves to be fractious for five children, who must learn the book's rules and tame its magic.
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EAG
Half Magic (age 8-11)
by Edgar Eager
knights/castles/dragons ... magic ... fantasy ... adventure
Four children looking forward to an ordinary summer enjoy a series of fantastic adventures by double-wishing on an ancient coin.
sequel: Magic by the Lake
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BAN
The Indian in the Cupboard (age 8-11)
by Lynne Reid Banks
adventure ... magic
Publisher comments: It all starts with a birthday present Omri doesn't even want; a small plastic Indian of no use to him at all. But when an old wooden cupboard and a special key bring the unusual toy to life, Omri's Indian becomes his most important secret: precious, dangerous, wonderful, and above all, magical.
sequel: The Return of the Indian
sequel: The Secret of the Indian
sequel: The Mystery of the Cupboard
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AMA
The Word Eater (age 8-11)
by Mary Amato
fantasy ... magic ... school
Catalog: Lerner Chanse, a new student at Cleveland Park Middle School, finds a worm that magically makes things disappear, and she hopes it will help her fit in, or get revenge, at her hated school.

Barron Park Elementary School, Sat Aug 25 11:55:26 2012
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