Magical reads (5-8)

The Peppers and the International Magic Guys

Author: Sian Pattenden

Interest level: 7+

Reading age: 8+

Monty and Esmé's parents have left them for a week in the care of their magician uncle, Potty.

Monty has been happily draw…

Magical Kingdom of Birds: The Sleepy Hummingbirds

Author: Anne Booth Illustrator: Rosie Butcher

Interest level: 6-8

Reading age: 6+

When Maya receives a colouring book called The Magical Kingdom of Birds, she is transported to a beautiful realm filled with magni…

Shiny Pippin and the Broken Forest

Author: Harry Heape Illustrator: Rebecca Bagley

Interest level: 7-9

Reading age: 7+

When Pippin discovers she possesses magical powers, she uses her newfound skills to investigate the mysterious water shortage in F…

The Enchanted Wood

Author: Enid Blyton

Interest level: 6+

Reading age: 7+

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

The House in the Tree

Author: Bianca Pitzorno Illustrator: Quentin Blake Translator: Stephen Parkin from Italian

Interest level: 7+

Reading age: 9+

A totally surreal story that puts a new spin on a magical faraway tree – Pitzorno’s story is full of surprises and delightful…

Tales from Old Ireland

Author: Malachy Doyle Illustrator: Niamh Sharkey

Interest level: 6-12

Reading age: 8+

This stunningly illustrated collection of stories has its roots in oral storytelling and features giants, demons and wicked stepmo…

The BFG

Author: Roald Dahl Illustrator: Quentin Blake

Interest level: 6-10

Reading age: 7+

The BFG stands for Big Friendly Giant, who unexpectedly spirits a little girl named Sophie out of bed, and into the land of the ch…

Unicorn Academy: Isabel and Cloud

Author: Julie Sykes Illustrator: Lucy Truman

Interest level: 6-11

Reading age: 8+

Magic, sparkle and unicorns are sprinkled throughout this book, but it’s essentially about what many primary school children strug…

Magic Faces Heroes of the Pirate Ship

Author: Esi Merleh Illustrator: Abeeha Tariq

Interest level: 4-5

Reading age: 5+

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

Dyma'r…

Mirror Magic

Author: Linda Chapman Illustrator: Lucy Fleming

Interest level: 7-9

Reading age: 7-9

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 …

Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door and the Magic Puppy

Author: Lola Morayo Illustrator: Cory Reid

Interest level: 6-8

Reading age: 7+

Aziza and her brother Otis visit fairyland, where a mischievous puppy steals the magical hands of the town clock. The siblings mus…

Midnight Magic

Author: Michelle Harrison Illustrator: Elissa Elwick

Interest level: 5-8

Reading age: 6+

A fabulous and fully illustrated rhyming story about a magical kitten and the family who adopt her. Ideal for newly independent re…

The Worst Witch

Author: Jill Murphy

Interest level: 6+

Reading age: 7+

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

African Tales: A Barefoot Collection

Author: Gcina Mhlophe Illustrator: Rachel Griffin

Interest level: 6-11

Reading age: 8+

Eight inspirational stories plucked from the storytelling traditions of eight different countries, bring the fascinatingly diverse…

Perfectly Norman

Author: Tom Percival

Interest level: 4-6

Reading age: 5+

Norman has always been normal, perfectly normal… So he is very surprised to have wings suddenly one day! This is a sweet and truly…

The Magic Callaloo

Author: Trish Cooke Illustrator: Sophie Bass

Interest level: 4-5

Reading age: 6-8

In a wonderful allegorical story highlighting a crucial part of Black history, superstar children’s author Trish Cooke tells a tal…