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 title: Secrets of the Crown |
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. |
EDW |
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles
(age 8-11) by Julie Andrews Edwards adventure ... humor ... magic ... fantasy Publisher comments: The Whangdoodle was once the wisest, the kindest, and the most extraordinary creature in the world. Then he disappeared and created a wonderful land for himself and all the other remarkable animals — the ten-legged Sidewinders, the little furry Flukes, the friendly Whiffle Bird, and the treacherous, "oily" Prock. It was an almost perfect place where the last of the really great Whangdoodles could rule his kingdom with "peace, love and a sense of fun" — apart from and forgotten by people. But not completely forgotten. Professor Savant believed in the Whangdoodle. And when he told the three Potter children of his search for the spectacular creature, Lindy, Tom, and Ben were eager to reach Whangdoodleland. With the Professor's help, they discovered the secret way. But waiting for them was the scheming Prock, who would use almost any means to keep them away from his beloved king. Only by skill and determination were the four travelers able to discover the last of the really great Whangdoodles and grant him his heart's desire. |
DIC |
The Magician's Elephant
(age 8-11) by Kate Dicamillo fantasy ... magic Publisher comments: When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe its true. With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be narrated by Kate DiCamillo. In this timeless fable, she evokes the largest of themes hope and belonging, desire and compassion with the lightness of a magicians touch. |
CRE |
Time Out
(age 8-11) by Helen Cresswell science fiction ... adventure ... magic Twelve-year-old Tweeny and her parents, servants in a London house in 1887, use a book of magic spells to travel forward in time 100 years and find the England of 1987 to be an astonishing place. |
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. |
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 Disappearing Dog Trick |
ALE |
The Wizard in the Tree
(age 8-11) by Lloyd Alexander fantasy ... magic ... folklore When Mallory notices that there's something funny about an old oak tree, she takes a closer look and breaks a magical spell. Arbican the wizard has been trapped in the oak for thousands of years and his powers are gone. Will he get them back in time to save Mallory's village from greedy Squire Scrupner? |
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. |
BEL |
The Johnny Dixon Mysteries (age 8-11) by John Bellairs magic ... spooky ... mystery Thirteen-year-old Johnny Dixon joins Professor Childermass to take on the forces of evil...both natural and supernatural. title: Secret of the Underground Room title: The Eyes of the Killer Robot title: The Mummy, the Will, and the Crypt title: The Revenge of the Wizard's Ghost title: The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull |
BAU |
Touch the Moon
(age 8-11) by Marion Dane Bauer animals ... fantasy ... magic Jennifer is disappointed on her birthday when her father gives her a little china horse and the promise of riding lessons instead of the real horse she's been expecting. |
BAR |
The Never Land Series (age 8-11) by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson princesses ... war ... adventure ... magic ... humor Little Scallop should be happy. She's a princess of the Mollusk tribe, rulers of beautiful Mollusk Island. And she has two fun friends, Aqua and Surf, who just happen to be mermaids. But Little Scallop is bored. Her warrior brothers are allowed to do exciting things, and Little Scallop longs to have a real adventure, too. So late one night, she sneaks off into forbidden waters with Aqua and Surf. That's when the trouble starts. The question is: can she and her friends get out of it? title: Escape From the Carnivale: a Never Land Book title: Cave of the Dark Wind: a Never Land Book title: The Bridge to Never Land |
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. |
ROD |
The Rondo Series (age 8-11) by Emily Rodda action ... adventure ... fantasy ... magic There are three rules to the old painted, music box: Wind the box three times only. Never shut the box when the music is playing. Never move the box before the music stops. Leo wouldn't dream of breaking these rules, but does his stubborn cousin Mimi listen? She winds the box four times, and suddenly the paintings on its side come to life and a powerful witch is released. Now its up to Leo and Mimi to stop the witch, if only they can find the key to the music box, and the magical world it controls. title: The Key to Rondo |
LET |
The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff (age 8-11) by Jason Lethcoe adventure ... fantasy ... magic On his eleventh birthday, sad, orphaned Benjamin Bartholomew Piff accidentally adheres to all of the wishing rules - and, in placing his limitless wishes, he unknowingly sets into a motion a chain of events that threatens to disrupt the balance between the magical realm of wishes and curses. Before long, Benjamin has been recruited by the Wishworks Factory to fight the evil henchmen of the Curseworks Factory. In the process, Benjamin will reclaim his original wish, giving new credence to the old adage: "Be careful what you wish for... " title: You Wish title: Wishful Thinking |
KRU |
Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo Series (age 8-11) by Nancy Krulik humor ... magic A magic wind turns Katie into other people, helping her see things from a different perspective, in these hilarious escapades. title: Anyone But Me title: Girls Don't Have Cooties title: I Hate Rules! title: Major League Mess-Up title: Oh, Baby! title: Out To Lunch |
CHE |
Witch's Cat
(age 8-11) by Ruth Chew fantasy ... magic A witch's cat takes Matthew and Holly on a magical adventure...to save the witch. |
CHE |
Witch's Broom
(age 8-11) by Ruth Chew fantasy ... magic A new broom and an unusual blue jay involve Amy and her friend in magical adventures. |
CHE |
Witch in the House
(age 8-11) by Ruth Chew fantasy ... magic A witch in the house has to bring with it the unexpected. |
CHE |
What the Witch Left
(age 8-11) by Ruth Chew fantasy ... magic Two little girls have magical adventures with a strange assortment of items they find in a locked drawer. |
CHE |
The Witch's Buttons
(age 8-11) by Ruth Chew fantasy ... magic A talking button in the shape of a man leads two young girls into a series of magical adventures. |
CHE |
The Magic Series (age 8-11) by Ruth Chew adventure ... magic ... fantasy A great deal of trouble often accompanies a little bit of magic. title: Summer Magic title: The Trouble with Magic title: Last Chance for Magic title: The Magic Cave |
CAM |
Julia's Magic
(age 8-11) by Eleanor Cameron magic ... family A broken perfume bottle and the threat of losing their home cause a crisis in the Redfern family that shakes Julia's belief in magic. |
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. |
BAK |
The Tales of the Frog Princess (age 8-11) by E. D. Baker princesses ... humor ... folklore ... magic ... fantasy ... action After reluctantly kissing a frog, an awkward, fourteen-year-old princess suddenly finds herself a frog, too, and sets off with the prince to seek the means--and the self-confidence--to become human again. title: The Frog Princess title: Dragon's Breath title: No Place for Magic title: Once Upon a Curse title: The Salamander Spell: A Prequel to the Tales of the Frog Princess title: The Dragon Princess |
WAL |
The Trouble With Miss Switch
(age 8-11) by Barbara Brooks Wallace school ... science fiction ... magic Rupert Brown can tell from day one that Miss Switch is no ordinary fifth-grade teacher. Her whole look is about as comfortable as a steel knitting needle! Plus, she's in some serious trouble. It seems that Miss Switch has been condemned by a crazy contraption called a computowitch, and she must come up with some original witchcraft ... or she will be doomed to sweep Witch's Mountain for l50 years. Can great scientist Rupert Brown and his friend Amelia Daley face the computowitch and the Witches' Council, and get their favorite teacher of all time out of this mess? |
WOO |
Awfully Short for the Fourth Grade
(age 8-11) by Elvira Woodruff magic ... fantasy ... adventure ... school Noah Murphy carries his plastic "little guys" everywhere. One day, while sitting on the school bus with his younger brother, Jess, Noah makes a wish using magic powder from the toy machine. Noah looks at his little guys--Commander Falcon and Sergeant Gordy and three headless green aliens. "Let them all come to life, all my guys. And let me be their size, so I can have an adventure with them." That's when the bus hits a bump and strange things start to happen. Will the fourth grade at Roosevelt School ever be the same again? |
GRI |
Fortune Cookie Castle
(age 8-11) by Lee Grimes mystery ... magic Cap and Lisa encounter monsters, ghosts, and secret passageways when they try to help Duke Lothrio free his castle from an evil spell. |
GRE |
Eating Ice Cream With a Werewolf
(age 8-11) by Phyllis Green humor ... fantasy ... magic A wacky baby sitter and her book of spells keep a twelve-year-old and his little sister guessing while their parents are away. |
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? |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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 |
CUY |
Invisible in the Third Grade
(age 8-11) by Margery Cuyler traditions ... humor ... magic Alex has fun fooling his family and his fellow third graders when he finds a brand of bubble gum that turns him invisible, but his pranks get out of hand on Halloween night. |
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 |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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: City of the Rats title: The Shifting Sands title: Dread Mountain title: The Maze of the Beast title: The Valley of the Lost title: Return to Del |
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. |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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 |
EAG |
Knight's Castle
(age 8-11) by Edgar Eager magic ... fantasy ... adventure Four cousins, Roger, Ann, Eliza, and Jack, have an extraordinary summer when, after an old toy soldier comes to life, they find themselves transported back to the days of Robin and Ivanhoe. sequel: The Time Garden |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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 |
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 sequel: The Key to the Indian |
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. |