17 Spell-Binding Children’s Books about Magic
From baking spells gone wrong to cat clocks with consequences and an island with an attitude, here are 17 spell-binding books that feature magic…with a twist! Perfect for readers 8+.
1. Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble
When Leo learns her family’s biggest secret — that they’re brujas, aka witches of Mexican ancestry, and they put a little magic into everything they bake at the family bakery — she’s excited to test her own magical abilities. So, when her friend comes to her with a problem that needs solving, what could possibly go wrong if Leo does just one little spell?
2. Granted
Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets is no ordinary fairy. She’s a Granter, one of the few fairies selected to venture out into the world to grant wishes of unsuspecting humans. However, wish granting isn’t an easy job and when Ophelia gets her very first wish-granting mission, things don’t go exactly as planned.
3. The 11:11 Wish
Megan Meyers has a foolproof plan for reinventing herself at her new school. She makes a wish on a mysterious cat clock in the middle of class at exactly 11:11 and finds herself in possession of an enchanted teen magazine. But the magic of the magazine has some CATastrophic consequences.
4. Rules for Stealing Stars
Silly is used to feeling left out. Her three older sisters keep sneaking off to their rooms, returning with signs that something mysterious is afoot. But when Silly does learn her sisters’ secret, it’s more exciting than she ever imagined. The sisters have discovered magic deep inside their old house that gives them what they truly need. But there are some secrets the family would prefer to keep hidden…
5. The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price
Following the death of their mother, Charlie’s sister begins acting strange and he discovers that she’s been traveling to a parallel world where their mother is still alive. But something about this world isn’t right, and if Charlie can’t uncover the truth, he may just lose everything he holds dear.
6. The Problim Children
When the seven Problim siblings move into their Grandpa Percival’s sprawling old mansion, they discover a map that may lead to the mysterious (and possibly magical!) treasure Granddaddy Problim is rumored to have stolen from the town years ago. Now, the usual siblings must band together to find it and keep their family together.
7. The Lost Frost Girl
When Owl discovers that the dad she’s never met is in fact Jack Frost, she sets out on an adventure to meet him. The journey brings her deep into Jack’s world on wintry magic where she discovers that she has powers of her very own!
8. Sisters of Glass
Nalah is a powerful pauper in a world where magic is forbidden. Halan is a powerless princess in a world where magic is relished. When a mysterious mirror brings them face-to-face, these two girls will have to work together to save both of their worlds before everything they know gets shattered forever.
9. The Doldrums
There has always been an air of mystery surrounding the Helmsley family, and Archer B. Helmsley is no exception. Since his grandparents disappeared on an iceberg, Archer will need the help of a few memorable friends to rescue his grandparents and restore the Helmsley name!
10. Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth
Prez is still learning to fit into his new foster home when he meets Sputnik, an alien tasked with coming up with 10 reasons why the Earth should be saved from destruction. Together, they set out on a journey to compile the most important list Prez has ever made and discover what makes the world so remarkable.
11. Mr. Gedrick and Me
After the death of their dad, Stanley Darrow’s family is in need of some magic to bring them back together. Enter Mr. Gedrick! When the modern Mary Poppins shows up on their doorstep in his green felt jacket and bright red tie, he instantly begins to work his magic!
12. Joplin, Wishing
Joplin makes a wish on a beautiful platter she finds in her grandfather’s house: first, she wants to find a friend at school, and second, she wishes she could befriend the girl pictured in the platter. When both wishes come true, she learns a terrible secret and must now help save Sofie, the girl in the platter, from a sinister foe who could put them all in terrible danger.
13. Goldeline
Goldeline is on the run from an overzealous Preacher set on condemning her for being a witch like her momma. To escape him, she lives in the forest with a group of bandits; but, with the Preacher hot on her heels, she won’t be able to run forever, and embracing a touch of magic may be the only way to escape!
14. Bliss
The Bliss Cookery Booke holds the Bliss family’s culinary secrets and Rose and her siblings are supposed to keep it safely locked away while their parents are out of town. So, when mysterious “Aunt” Lily shows up with her own sort of exotic magic, the Bliss siblings decide to do some experimenting of their own. After all, a few recipes from the forbidden Cookery Booke can’t cause too much trouble… right?
15. Orphan Island
Nine orphans live all alone on an island. As long as they follow a specific set of rules, the island provides food, shelter, and safety. But every year, a boat comes. A new child arrives and the oldest on the island must leave, not knowing what will happen. When Jinny’s turn comes and she refuses to get in the boat, their lives on the island start to slip into chaos.
16. Coraline
When Coraline discovers a way to unlock a mysterious door in her new home, she finds a flat in another house just like her own where everything seems better. But the dream quickly unravels when Coraline learns of the trapped souls of other children in the house and must find a way to escape the other mother and father of this parallel universe and save them and herself!
17. Matilda
From classic children’s book author Roald Dahl, comes the story of Matilda, an exceptional young girl who loves to read and discovers she has a magical power that will let her fight back against the evil headmistress who bullies kids and teachers at Crunchem Hall Primary School.
Which magical story will you read first?
