Here are 15 of our very favorite books for kids that feature magic!
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Well, with the leaves falling, pumpkins adorning porches and Halloween around the corner we couldn't help but think about books that had magic in them!
Over the years we both have discovered books featuring magic that have become favorites and absolutely had to include on this list!
Have a reader who loves magic too? Here are some posts you may want to check out!
Whether your reader is into suspense, action or plenty of laughs, here's the perfect magical list with books that have it all!
Did we include your favorite magical book or series? Let us know in the comments below!
15 Kids Books That Feature Magic
by John Bellairs
Ten-year-old Lewis Barnavelt has come to live with his Uncle Johnathan in a mysterious house on High Street in New Zebedee, Michigan.
His Uncle Jonathan and the purple-haired neighbor, Florence Zimmerman, are anything but average in this modern classic first in the twelve book series!
Quirky, suspenseful and spooky enough to keep you wanting the lights on, this book will have you on edge until the last page!
A fantastic movie adaptation and follow up books make The House With a Clock in Its Walls a perfect choice for a good Halloween read!
Sound like a good read? Find out more about The House With a Clock in Its Walls along with our follow-up activities in our post here!
2. Half-Magic
by Edward Eager
Jane and her siblings find a mysterious coin that soon leads to unexpected and hilarious surprises in Half Magic; a book that gives new light to the saying "Be careful what you wish for!"
This innocent looking coin contains more power than Jane suspected, and she discovers that it grants wishes...or half-wishes, at least!
Experimenting with this unusual object brings the foursome more magic, mayhem and wishes than they bargained for in this classic tale featuring fun art to enhance the adventures!
If you enjoyed this title, check out the entire Tales of Magic series!
by Caleb Krisp
A completely delightful surprise, I loved these books and so did Cenzia!
It's such a delight to bump into a book, (and in this case, three- it's a trilogy!) that is completely fresh, you can't put down and make you desperate to read the next one!
I actually spotted Anyone But Ivy Pocket because of the amazing illustrations and was immediately drawn in! Little pun, there, did you catch it?!
12-year-old Ivy Pocket is a maid filled with self-confidence, hysterical observations and doing and saying what we all wish we could!
This trilogy weaves together Ivy Pocket's personal story with magic, ghosts and good vs. evil in an action-packed, witty and fun read!
You will love Ivy Pocket!
by Mary Pope Osborne
The Magic Treehouse series started before I (Cenzia) was born and it's still going strong!
A magic treehouse transports siblings Jack and Annie to any place or time where riddles, spells, and more await them as they travel around the world and through different eras!
Mary Pope Osborne expertly combines fantasy and history to create unforgettable adventures every time!
by C.S. Lewis
Four curious siblings discover a magical wardrobe that leads them to the fantasy land of Narnia - a place under the spell of an evil witch.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has been a favorite for years and continues to put readers of all ages under it's spell! Magical realms, epic battles and never ending adventure await the reader in this 8 book series!
6. Matilda
by Roald Dahl
Matilda is a Roald Dahl classic that is adored and sits on many a bookshelf!
Meet Matilda- a wickedly smart and sweet young girl whose parents unfortunately aren't the best at noticing her existence- other than as a pest.
When she starts school, Matilda is delighted to meet Miss Honey, her sweet new teacher, but not so pleased to encounter her hateful headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, whose awful ways provoke Matilda into discovering she's capable of an astonishing power she never guessed she had!
Miss Trunchbull is out to get Matilda, but with a little planning, Matilda decides to turn the tables!
This whimsical, witty and magical tale has delightful illustrations and a wonderful heroine to root for!
Love the book? The movie adaptation of Matilda is super fun!
by L. Frank Baum
Did you know that Dorothy's shoes weren't originally red?! It's always fun to compare a book to its movie adaptation and The Wizard of Oz is a perfect title to do just that!
I remember every year watching The Wizard of Oz with my brothers on TV back before video stores, DVDs and online streaming!
We'd gather on the floor in front of the TV in great anticipation of this classic tale that had the best lines - "I'll get you my pretty!" and "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," and of course: "There's no place like home!"
Those monkeys scared me like crazy and I thought Glinda was the prettiest witch ever! I loved the Lollipop Guild and hid my eyes whenever the Wicked Witch of the West cackled! Good times!
For those of you who didn't already know, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the first in the 14 book Oz series! Which one is your favorite?
8. The School for Good and Evil
by Soman Chainani
This is a fantastic series if you love fairy tales, and can't get enough of twists off the famous originals!
At The School for Good and Evil students are trained to become the heroes and villains of fairy tales and fables!
Best friends Sophie and Agatha, who are total and complete opposites, are sure they know which school each will be in. Glamorous Sophie has made it her lifelong mission to enter the School for Good, and negative Agatha is for certain going to the School for Evil.
The girls are more than a little shocked, however, when their fates are switched, and Sophie gets dropped in Evil's halls, while Agatha is placed in Good's hands!
Follow the girls and their adventures in this memorable, magical series, The School for Good and Evil!
9. Ella Enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine
What if you had to do whatever you were told, no matter what?
Not all fairies are kind, and given the 'gift' of obedience at birth by a mischievous one, Ella must obey any order, however outrageous!
Not willing to give up, however, Ella sets out to undo the curse, encountering fairy godmothers, ogres and princes along the way!
This spin on a classic is a spellbinding read, and Gail Carson Levine has others like it once you've finished Ella Enchanted!
10. The Seraphina Series
by Robert Beatty
This elegant series combines nature, magic and suspense with a unique voice that takes place at the Biltmore Estate and area surrounding it near Asheville, North Carolina.
The setting of this Gilded Age American palace and the mountains around it are as much a character of the stories as Seraphina and the other residents!
The Gothic feel of the writing and the setting combined with the voice that author gives to the characters in the Seraphina Series make you feel like you are walking alongside and bearing witness to every suspenseful moment as these captivating and magical stories unfold!
11. The Kane Chronicles
by Rick Riordan
Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane haven't seen much of each other ever since their mother died. Sadie lives with her grandparents in London and Carter has been traveling the world with their dad.
When their father brings them to the British Museum attempting to right a past mistake, he winds up unleashing powerful Egyptian gods, resulting in Carter and Sadie's discovery of their own powerful roots!
Join Carter and Sadie in The Kane Chronicles as they receive a crash course in Egyptian mythology and embark on a quest overflowing with action, humor and magic at every turn!
12. The Sisters Grimm
by Michael Buckley
It is so hard to pick a favorite book or series! The Sisters Grimm is definitely on both my and my daughter's Fave Book Lists!
I first bumped into it while visiting family out of town and decided to check out the local bookstore for some quiet reading time.
Well, I had picked The Sisters Grimm off of the display and could not put it down! My stamp of approval was shared by daughter and she read and reread these until she was quoting daily from the pages!
Laugh-out-loud funny, clever writing and best-ever characters will have you on a mission to read every book in The Sisters Grimm Series from beginning to end and anxious to share and recommend this unforgettable series!
Sisters Daphne and Sabrina have gone to live with their Granny Relda in Ferryport Landing and are in for the shock of their lives!
Discovering that they are the descendants of the Grimms brothers is surprising enough, but to realize that those stories and magic were based in reality is more than they bargained for!
Quirky, funny, heartwarming and unforgettable, these books are writing at its best!
13. The Magic Misfits
by Neil Patrick Harris
When runaway magician Carter finds himself in the middle of a quiet New England town, he never expects to find villains, fellow illusionists and adventure there!
Follow along on this fun-filled fantasy ride as Carter and his new-found friends set out to save the town of Mineral Wells from the hands of the greedy B.B. Bosso!
Filled with ciphers and tricks for the reader to enjoy discovering along the way, The Magic Misfits is a great start to an entertaining series perfect for budding magicians!
14. Disney's Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book
by Jennifer Donnelly
A fantastic spin-off of Belle's love of books and the enchanted castle's secrets!
Disney's Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book finds adventurous Belle discovering a mysterious, magical book hidden in the library.
The charming world Belle discovers within the pages of Nevermore offers her more opportunities than she ever imagined. But is this charming world for real?
A captivating tale for fans of fantasy and fairy tales, Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book will give you a wonderful story to enjoy til the last page!
by J.K. Rowling
And now we've arrived at the series that we all knew would be part of this post!
It is rare that we bump into someone who isn't a Harry Potter fan and it's usually the first answer we get when we ask for a fave book or recommendation!
Harry Potter is the quintessential 'rise above it all' hero that inspires every one of us!
(Be sure to check out our Harry Potter Gift Guide which has something for every Harry Potter fan!)
The Harry Potter series gives every one of us a hero to cheer for, characters that we absolutely adore (we both love Luna!) and a well-planned and detailed storyline that weaves it all together in a perfect tapestry of writing that will last for a very long time!
One thing I like almost as much as the books are all of the additional books and movies that go along with it!
Thankfully, there is an ample amount of books, movies and merchandise to satisfy every fan of the Harry Potter series!
BONUS:
16. Savvy
by Ingrid Law
When they turn 13, members of the Beaumont family develop a supernatural power - or as they call it - a 'savvy.' Moving mountains, sparking electricity and bringing on big weather are some of the powers family members possess.
Mibs is turning 13 and can't wait for her 'savvy' to be revealed! Her life becomes more complicated when her dad is in an accident and Mibs is sure her power will be what he needs to get better.
She sneaks onto a bus to get to the hospital, but ends up heading in the wrong direction on a road trip that will bring about thoughts, friendship, magical powers and more!
Savvy is the first in this fabulous trilogy by Ingrid Law that you won't be able to put down and will have you immediately seeking Scumble and Switch!
Well, there you have it!
15 absolutely fabulous books and series that are sure to entertain fans of magic and find a permanent place on your bookshelf!
Be sure to Pin this post so you can return to it for some magical inspiration!
Know someone who might like this post? We'd love it if you'd share!
Abracadabra!
April & Cenzia
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updated 10/29/2024. originally published 10/2019
The GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)
PRIZE:
A copy of the book: The House With a Clock in Its Walls
and the DVD !
Congratulations to our Giveaway WINNER!
and the WINNER is:
mcbvonha...
*Please contact us with your shipping address - send it to mykidzbookshelf@gmail.com
Thank you to all our subscribers for entering!!
Hope everyone has a wonderful Fall and Happy Halloween!
To Enter:
Subscribe to MyKidzBookshelf.com - (go to Home page to subscribe) - If you've already subscribed, you will automatically be entered.
Tell a friend about the Giveaway! (Honor system here!)
Giveaway Details:
The WINNER will be chosen by random selection on Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019
If you're already a subscriber, you will automatically be entered!
The winning book and DVD can be shipped to the United States and Canada.
The winner must contact us (mykidzbookshelf@gmail.com) and provide shipping information within 24 hours of the announcement.
Good Luck!!
April & Cenzia
P.S. Read more about the The House With a Clock In Its Walls and fun extras here!
Hi Lauren! Thank you so much for sharing and subscribing! Glad you found some new titles to check out and enjoy! Best of luck for the giveaway!! :)
I love Harry Potter, but I need to check out some of these others. Thanks for the fab giveaway. I subscribed and tweeted!!
Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net