Authors

Bacon, Peggy. The Ghost of Opalina; Or Nine Lives. 1967. 243p. A ghost cat tells three children, the latest inhabitants of an old house, all about the people who passed through and the events which took place in the house during her previous eight lives.

Baehr, Patricia Goehner. The Way to Windra. 1980. 119p. Holly and Edward go through a mysterious door that appears in Holly's room and find themselves in the valley of Windra which is inhabited by elves and where their eccentric great-aunt is queen.

Belden, Wilanne Schneider. Frankie! 1987. 163p. The O'Riley family is far from normal, since it includes a wizard, a magician, and an apprentice witch, and they are delighted when Mother's next baby turns out to be a griffin.

Berger, Barbara Helen. Gwinna. 1990. 126p. Having grown a pair of wings and felt the longing for the freedom of the skies, twelve-year-old Gwinna goes to the Mother of the Owls, who sends her on a quest to find the songs of the wind.

Boston, L.M. The Children of Green Knowe. 1955. 157p. Young Tolly, recently orphaned, goes to Green Knowe to live with his great-grandmother, who tells stories of the children that have lived there in past centuries.

Brock, Betty. No Flying in the House. 1970. 139p. A tiny talking dog arrives at the home of the rich Mrs. Vancourt and asks for shelter for herself and her companion, a little girl.

Buchwald, Emilie. Gildaen; The Heroic Adventures of a Most Unusual Rabbit. 1973. 189p. Having lost his memory, a boy with magical powers teams up with the rabbit, Gildaen, to search for his true identity.

Bulla, Clyde Robert. My Friend the Monster. 1980. 75p. A lonely prince forms a satisfying though dangerous friendship with a monster.

Byfield, Barbara Ninde. Andrew and the Alchemist. 1977. 103p. Andrew, an elevn-year-old orphan, becomes apprenticed to an alchemist and begins a life of adventure.

Campbell, Hope. Peter's Angel: a Story About Monsters. 1976. 151p. When his favorite monsters come alive to taunt him, Peter constructs an angel in hopes of counteracting them.

Clarke, Pauline. The Return of the Twelves. 1963. 251p. Eight-year-old Max, and his siblings help tewlve tiny wooden soldiers, who once belonged to the famous Bronte children, make their determined journey to their former home, Haworth.

Coblenz, Catherine Cate. The Blue Cat of Castletown. 1949. 123p. A special blue cat helps the citizens of a small Vermont town of the early 1800's lie theri lives devoted to beauty, peace & contentent, rather than gold & power. Although the story is fictional, the townspeople and the town really existed.

Coville, Bruce. Jennifer Murdley's Toad. 1992. 156p. When an ordinary-looking fifth-grader purchases a talking toad, she embarks on a series of extraordinary adventures.

Cresswell, Helen. The Piemakers. 1968. 114p. A "Grand Contest" gives the pie-making Roller Family of Danby Dale a chance to reclaim the family honor after their pie for the king had failed.

Cresswell, Helen. Time Out. 1990. 74p. 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.

Curry, Jane Louise. Mindy's Mysterious Miniature. 1970. 157p. A young girl finds an old dollhouse with unsuspected magic powers.

Cunningham, Julia. The Treasure is the Rose. 1973. 99p. Though Ariane lives in poverty, her castle is invaded by three strangers determined to find a treasure.

Curry, Jane Louise. Mindy's Mysterious Miniature. 1970. 157p. A young girl finds an old dollhouse with unsuspected magic powers.

Dawson. Mary. Tecwyn, the Last of the Welsh Dragons. 1967. 72p. The last of the fire breathing dragons hatches out in Pennyben, Wales, placing a serious drain on the town's coal supply.

Day. David. The Emperor's Panda. 1987. 111p. Relates how the poor young shepherd boy Kung became the Emperor of all China withe the help of the Master panda, the most magical and wisest creature in all the world.

Dexter, Catherine. Gertie's Green Thumb. 1983. 118p. Eleven-year-old Gertie, lover of plants and animals, finds a working wishbone in the park and turns her family's home into a magical House of Nature.

Dillon, Barbara. A Mom By Magic. 1990. 133p. Jessica's wish for a mother for the holiday season results in some wacky, yet enduring adventures with a mannequin mom brought alive by the powers of magic.

Donehower, Bruce. Miko, Little Hunter of the North. 1990. 89p. Grandfather tells Miko the tale of King Winter kidnapping the daughter of the Sun and Moon, and little Miko decides that he must venture out into the snowy night to investigate the endless darkness.

Eager, Edward. Half-Magic. 1954. 217p. Four children looking forward to an ordinary summer enjoy a series a fantastic adventures by doube-wishing on an ancient coin.

Eager, Edward. Knight's Castle. 1956. 183p. Four children find a magic way to go back into the time of Ivanhoe.

Elwell, Peter. The King of the Pipers. 1984. 32p. Known far and wide for his terrible playing of the bagpipes, a young piper uses his music to defeat the devil himself.

Embry, Margaret. The Blue-Nosed Witch. 1956. 45p. Blanche, a real witch, though a young one, had a nose that glowed a marvelous blue in the dark. One Halloween, cruising on her broom with her black cat, Brockett, she finds a band of children and joins them on their trick-or-treat forage.

Enright, Elizabeth. Tatsinda. 1990. 64p. When a giant invades the peaceful kingdom of the Tatrajanni and takes the different- looking girl prisoner, it takes the combined efforts of the Wise Woman of the Mountain, the Prince, and the girl herself to rid the kingdom of the invader.

Ford, Ford Madox. The Brown Owl; A Fairy Tale. [1892], 102p. Young Ismara promises her dying father to "cherish the owl." Through many sinister schemes & wicked wizards, the owl proves to be the greatest among magicians and the best friend the queen could ever have.

Gormley, Beatrice. Fifth Grade Magic. 1982. 131p. Devastated at not getting a part in the fifth-grade play, Gretchen is surprised when her desperation conjures up a well-meaning but not very efficient fairy godmother.

Hauff, Wilhelm. Dwarf Long-Nose. [1826], 157p. Young Jacob angers a witch and is turned into asquirrel, and then a hideous dwarf. After many years of servitude, he is eventually reunited with his parents.

Hill, Douglas. Penelope's Pendant. c1990. 94p. Eleven-year-old Penny finds a slightly damaged pendant on the beach and discovers that it gives her the power to move herself and others through space.

Hunter, Mollie. The Knight of the Golden Plain. 1983. 47p. In a young boy's dream, he becomes a strong and fearless knight and rides off to do good deeds and find great adventure.

Johnson, Elizabeth. Break a Magic Circle. 1971. 70p. When they discover an invisible boy living in their house, a brother and sister try to help him become visible again.

Kisling, Lee. The Fool's War. 1992. 166p. A boy must try to save a kingdom when the king, preoccupied by unrequited love, ignores the threat of war.

Langton, Jane. The Diamond in the Window. 1962. 242p. This fantasy, the first of a well-written series set in Concord, Massachusetts, is about a old, diamond-shaped piece of glass with which Eddy & Eleanor Hall can envision adventures. This series is liberally sprinkled with quotes from Emerson & Thoreau, is full of mythic adventures, and irreverent satire. This series should not be missed.

Löfgren, Ulf. Felix Forgetful. 1965. 134p. A boy and his friend from another planet find themselves on a magic island and have many adventures with elves, river spirits, bears, and an evil wizard.

MacDonald, George. The Light Princess. [1864], 110p. At the christening of a princess, her witch-aunt, spiteful at not being invited, curses the baby with weightlessness. This amusing story is filled with puns.

Maiden, Cecil. The Molliwumps. 1966. 111p. Fairy Headquarters has assigned Mr. & Mrs. Molliwump, two fairies, the task of reuniting two good friends, Roberta, who lives in New York, and Jane, who lives in London.

McGinley, Phyllis. The Plain Princess. 1945. 64p. A sweet story about how plain Princess Esmeralda becomes beautiful.

McKenzie, Ellen Kindt. The King, the Princess and the Tinker. 1992. 69p. A good-hearted tinker and a young princess, show a narrow-minded king that there are more important things in the world than his treasure.

Murphy, Jill. Jeffrey Strangeways. 1992, 140p. Jeffrey Strangeways achieves his dream of being a knight when he joins Sir Walter of Winterhood in a wild adventure.

Nash, Mary. Mrs. Coverlet's Magicians. 1961. 189p. While the housekeeper is away participating in a baking contest, Toad Persever resorts to his magic kit to get rid of the babysitter, Miss Penalty.

Nesbit, E. The Enchanted Castle. [1902], 292p. Four English children find a wonderful world of magic through an enchanted wishing ring.

Norton, Mary. The Borrowers. 1952. 180p. Miniature people who live in an old country house by borrowing things from the humans are forced to emigrate from their home under the clock.

Ormondroyd, Edward. All in Good Time. 1975. 206p. Sequel to Time at the Top. A young girl is granted three rides in a magic elevator that transports her to the nineteenth century.

Paley, Claudia. Benjamin the True. 1969. 88p. The witch Benjamin finds in a neighbor's cellar is neither good nor bad, just powerful. One day, her power is not enough and she must ask Benjamin for help.

Palmer, Mary B. The Magic Knight. 1967. 92p. A practical boy named Quist becomes page to inept Prince Gilliam, and helps the prince acquire the skills needed to become a knight.

Pomerantz, Charlotte. The Downtown Fairy Godmother. 1978. 45p. When Olivia wishes for a fairy godmother, she encounters a Fairy Godmother Grade C, still in training and limited inpowers, who takes her on her rounds in New York City.

Price, Susan. The Ghost Drum: A Cat's Tale. 1987. 167p. This fairy tale, retold by a cat, is about the witch-girl Chingis, and how she rescues Safa from his father, the evil Czar Guidon.

Reid Banks, Lynne. The Fairy Rebel. 1985. 125p. A rebellious fairy, already in trouble for breaking the rule against wearing jeans, risks the further wrath of the Fairy Queen by trying to fulfill a human's special request for help.

Ruskin, John. The King of the Golden River. [1851], 112p. In the tradition of Grimm & Andersen, this is a classic tale of a young man who suffers at the hands of his brothers and successfully meets the challenge issued by the king of the Golden River.

Sawyer, Ruth. The Enchanted Schoolhouse. 1956. 128p. An Irish lad catches a leprechaun to take with him on a trip to America, where he impresses his new friends with the splendors of his homeland and helps bring a new schoolhouse to the town.

Selfridge, Oliver G. Trouble with dragons. 1978. 86p. Three sisters take turns at slaying a dragon in order to win the hand of the prince.

Sendak, Jack. The Second Witch. 1965. 94p. A group of ordinarily unpleasant and uncooperative villagers combine their efforts to rid the town of a witch who has been playing tricks on them.

Sleigh, Barbara. Carbonel: the King of the Cats. 1955. 253p. Ten-year-old Rosemary has an exciting summer when she acquires a retiring witch's broom and cat.

St. George, Judith. The Mysterious Girl in the Garden. 1981. 64p. During daily visits to Kew Gardens, a ten-year-old American girl finds herself transported back to Kew Palace in 1805 where she meets Princess Charlotte Augusta, future queen of England.

Thurber, James. Many Moons. 1943. 47p. Though many try, only the court jester is able to fulfill Princess Lenore's one wish.

Vande Velde, Vivian. A Hidden Magic. 1985. 117p. Lost in a magic forest and separated from her prince, Princess Jennifer solicits assistance from a kindly sorcerer in battling an evil witch.

Winthrop, Elizabeth. The Castle in the Attic. 1985. 179p. A gift of a toy castle complete with silver knights introduces William to an adventure involving magic and a personal quest.

Wrede, Patricia. Dealing with Dragons. 1990. 212p. Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to live with a group of dragons and soon becomes involved with fighting against some disreputable wizards who want to steal away the dragons' kingdom.

Aiken, Joan. The Whispering Mountain. 1968. 237p. With the help of some unusual friends, a young boy tries to restore the Golden Harp of Teirtu to its rightful owner.

Alexander, Lloyd. The Book of Three. 1964. Taran, an assistant pig keeper, joins the fight against the evil which threatens the kingdom.

Buchwald, Emilie. Gildaen; the Heroic Adventures of a Most Unusual Rabbit. 1973. 189p. Having lost his memory, a boy with magical powers teams up with the rabbit, Gildaen, to search for his true identity. This book is no longer in print, but well worth tracking down.

Chetwin, Grace. Gom on Windy Mountain. 1986. 206p. Gom, the son or a poor woodcutter and his wife, grows up with is father after his mother leaves home and his siblings go to stay with townsfolk and discovers he has unusual abilities which bring him trouble, yet lead him to envision a different sort of life for himself.

Cooper, Susan. Over Sea, Under Stone. 1966. 252p. Three children on a holiday in Cornwall find an ancient manuscript which sends them on a dangerous quest for a grail that would reveal the true story of King Arthur.

Dexter, Catherine. Mazemaker. 1989. Playing in a maze, twelve-year-old Winnie is hurled back in time and marooned on a nineteenth-century estate until she can solve the maze and return to the present.

Dickinson, Peter. Merlin Dreams. 1988. 166p. Nine stories of blood, magic, and fabulous creature, set in the framing device of dreams coming to the enchanted wizard Merlin as he lies imprisoned under a great stone.

Duane, Diane. So You Want to Be a Wizard. 1983. 226p. Thirteen-year-old Nita, tormented by a gang of bullies because she won't fight back, finds the help she need in a library book on wizardry which guides her into another dimension.

Duel, John. Wide Awake in Dreamland. 1992. 239p. When nine-year-old Eddie catches Sandy, the sandman, Sandy takes him on an adventure in Dreamland where the search for a wizard named Beni who is the only one who can save Eddie from Mortimer, an evil warlock who wants to steal Eddie's imagination.

Fletcher, Susan. Dragon's Milk. 1989. 242p. Kaeldra, an ousider adopted by an Elythian family as a baby, possesses the power to understand dragons and uses this power to try to save her younger sister who need dragon's milk to recover from an illness. This is the first of a series.

Garner, Alan. The Owl Service. 1967. 156p. Three young people spend the summer in a Welsh valley haunted by mythical spirits and finding themselves reenacting an old tragedy. This is a well-written novel, that is intense and disturbing. Recommended for mature readers 7th grade and up.

Jacques, Brian. Redwall. 1986. 351p. When the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior which, he is convinced, will help Redwall's inhabitants to destroy the enemy. This is the first of a series. If you can handle the dialects, this might be a wonderful read aloud for the entire family. Harry Potter fans will probably enjoy this series, too.

Kendall, Carol. The Whisper of Glocken. 1965. 256p. Prompted by a terrible flood, a seemingly unheroic group of little people sets out on a quest to restore an ancient treasure and make the valley of the Watercress safe again.

LeGuin, Ursula K. A Wizard of Earthsea. 1968. 205p. A boy grows to manhood while attempting to subdue the evil he unleashed on the world as an apprentice to the Master Wizard. First of a trilogy.

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. Meg and Charles Wallace search for their scientist father, who is lost in the fifth dimension. First of a series.

McGowen, Tom. The Shadow of Fomor. 1990. 119p. Twelve-year-old Rick, visiting his cousin Moira in Ireland, is transported with her into the middle Kingdom, last haven of the Old Magic, where powerful evil creatures plan to seize total control of both the Kingdom and the real world of Ireland.

McGowen, Tom. The Magical Fellowship. 1991. 132p. In 30,000 B.C., Lithim, an apprentice magician, and his father set out to unite the races of wizards, humans, Little People, and dragons in an effort to save the earth from being destroyed by creatures from beyond the sky. First book in the Age of Magic Trilogy.

McKillip, Patricia A. The Riddle-Master of Hed. 1976. 228p. In seeking the answer to the riddle of the three stars on his forehead and the three stars on the enchanted harp and sword, Morgon, Prince of Hed, goes ultimately to the High One, himself. This is the first of a trilogy. Librarian's note: Due to the complexity of the plot, this series is recommended for mature readers, at least 12 years old. Many of the themes and subplots may be too abstract for younger readers to comprehend.

McKinley, Robin. The Blue Sword (YA). 1982. 272p. Harry, bored with her sheltered life in the remote orange-growing colony of Daria, discovers magic in herself when she is kidnapped by a native king with mysterious powers. Don't forget the companion novel The Hero and the Crown.

McKinley, Robin. The Hero and the Crown.

Osborne, Mary Pope. Haunted Waters. 1994. 152p. After meeting the mysterious sea maid Undine on a bleak promontory and making her his wife, Lord Huldbrand tries to defend her from the faceless demon that haunts her, while he probes her strange ties to the aquatic world.

Pattou, Edith. Fire Arrow. 1998. 332p. While on the trail of her father's murderer's, the young archer from Hero's Song discovers her birthright-- a magical arrow-- and the sinister doings of an evil sorcerer. Best for 5th grade and up.

Pierce, Tamora. Alanna: the First Adventure. 1983. 241p. Eleven-year-old Alanna, who aspires to be a knight even though she is a girl, disguises herself as a boy to become a royal page, learning many hard lessons along her path to high adventure. This is the first of a series. Librarian's note: This book is a fine adventure for 4th-6th graders. The others in the series, In the hand of the goddess, The woman who rides like a man, and Lioness Rampant , may be better suited for older readers.

Pierce, Tamora. Circle of Magic: Sandry's Book. 1997. 252p. Four young misfits find themselves in a strictly disciplined temple community where they become friends while learning to do crafts and use their powers, especially magic.

Pierce, Tamora. Wild Magic. 1992. 260p. The mage Numair, the knight Alanna, and Queen Thayet enlist thirteen-year-old Daine's help to battle the dreadful immortal creatures that have recently begun to attack the kingdom of Tortall. This is the first of a great series. Unlike the Book of the Lioness series, this entire series is suitable for 4th grade and up.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. 1998. 309p. Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogworts School For Wizards and Witches. First of a series.

Service, Pamela. Storm at the Edge of Time. 1994. 179p. Jamie has come to the Orkney Islands, secretly longing for magic and adventure, never guessing that she is a long-dead wizard's descendant--or that his spirit still survives.

Sherman, Josepha. Windleaf. 1993. 121p. In 1510, eighteen-year-old Thierry, orphaned Count of Foretterre, undertakes a series of difficlut challenges in order to free the half-human, half-fairy girl he loves from the hold of her cold hearted father, Lord of Faerie. Best for ages 10 and up.

Smith, L.J. The Night of the Solstice. 1987. 231p. Four children set out to rescue a sorceress held captive in a parallel world.

Smith, Sherwood. Wren to the Rescue. 1990. 216p. With the help of a prince and an apprentice wizard, Wren strives to rescue her best friend, a princess named Tess, from the fortress of a wicked king. First of a trilogy. Harry Potter fans will love this series.

Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit; or There and Back Again. 317p. The adventures of the well-to-do hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, who lived happily in his comfortable home until a wandering wizard granted his wish.

Vande Velde, Vivian. A Hidden Magic. 1985. 117p. Lost in a magic forest and separated from her prince, Princess Jennifer seeks help from a kindly young sorcerer in battling an evil witch.

Wrede, Patricia C. Dealing With Dragons. 1990. 212p. Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to live with a group of dragons and soon becomes involved with fighting against some disreputable wizard who want to steal away the dragons' kingdom. This very funny book is the first of a great series. Wonderful as a read aloud for the entire family.

Yolen, Jane. Wizard's Hall. 1991. 133p. A young apprentice wizard saves the wizard's training hall by trusting and believing in himself. Harry Potter fans will enjoy this story.

Yolen, Jane. The Wizard's Map. 1999. 132p.