Little Legends: The Spell Thief

by Tom Percival

Interest age: 7 to 9
Reading age: 7 to 9

Published by Pan Macmillan, 2016

  • Adventure
  • Funny
  • Picture books

About this book

When new boy Anansi arrives in Tale Town, everyone welcomes him to his new home, except for Jack. Upset that his dad hasn't arrived back from working away, and suspicious of the new boy, Jack decides to keep an eye on Anansi.

After seeing him talking to an imp, Jack visits Lily the Mermaid and starts selling his precious memories in return for spells to reveal Anansi's true identity. Everything keeps going wrong, and Jack risks losing all his friends - but he just can't stop trying to solve the mystery of the town's newest resident!

This book includes all the classic fairy tale characters but tackles issues that children will deal with today. Missing a parent and feeling unease about a new friend joining the group are handled in an interesting, engaging way that doesn't feel like the moral at the end is being pushed.

About the author

Tom Percival is well known for his Big Bright Feelings series of picture books, such as Ruby’s Worry and Ravi’s Roar. He’s written over 35 books, ranging from picture books to middle-grade novels, and illustrated more than he can remember. Tom is known for his uplifting stories and emotionally expressive illustrations.

More books like this

Share this page Twitter Facebook LinkedIn