Magical stories for 5- to 8-year-olds

Can twins Austin and Alanna find the treasure chest before the sneaky pirates do? A fun young series sprinkled with magic.

In a wonderful allegorical story highlighting a crucial part of Black history, superstar children’s author Trish Cooke tells a tale inspired by the real stories of enslaved Africans who made patterns in their cornrowed hair, using them as maps to escape their enslavers.

Norman has always been normal, perfectly normal… So he is very surprised to have wings suddenly one day! This is a sweet and truly uplifting story that celebrates diversity in a subtle but unique way.

This stunningly illustrated collection of stories has its roots in oral storytelling and features giants, demons and wicked stepmothers, with a good dose of magic, cruelty and gentle humour.

Eight inspirational stories plucked from the storytelling traditions of eight different countries, bring the fascinatingly diverse culture of the African continent alive.

Magic, sparkle and unicorns are sprinkled throughout this book, but it’s essentially about what many primary school children struggle with: jealousy, bullying and friendships. A bite-sized chapter book that’s ideal for a quick read. 

The BFG stands for Big Friendly Giant, who unexpectedly spirits a little girl named Sophie out of bed, and into the land of the child-eating giants.

Long before Harry Potter first went to Hogwarts, trainee witch Mildred Hubble embarked on life at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches…

Aziza and her brother Otis visit fairyland, where a mischievous puppy steals the magical hands of the town clock. The siblings must fix the clock before sunset, or time will stand still. An enchanting adventure which features Black main characters.

When Maya receives a colouring book called The Magical Kingdom of Birds, she is transported to a beautiful realm filled with magnificent birds. A magical adventure story that is great for nature-lovers and those advancing to chapter books.

When Joe, Beth and Frannie move into a new home, they discover a mysterious wood on their very doorstep.

A totally surreal story that puts a new spin on a magical faraway tree – Pitzorno’s story is full of surprises and delightfully silly scenes.

Maia meets an unusual little fox who can hear talk: Bracken is a Star Animal who’s been sent to the human world because fewer and fewer children believe in magic. A gentle adventure story with themes of friendship and kindness. 

When Pippin discovers she possesses magical powers, she uses her newfound skills to investigate the mysterious water shortage in Funsprings. This hilarious fantasy adventure will have readers rolling around with laughter.