Magical Mayhem
A Mini-Bibliography for Children in Primary Grades
To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through our OPAC. Happy Reading!
Cassette Books
Devil’s Donkey by Bill Brittain.
RC 19708.
Dan'l Pitt doesn't believe in magic until he comes up against a furious witch who works her most evil spell on him. A hair-raising tale for grades 3-6.
Disney’s Aladdin by A.L. Singer.
RC 36373.
Retelling of the folktale Aladdin or the Wonderful Lamp. Evil Jafar, the sultan's key adviser, is determined to own the magic lamp that is hidden deep in the Cave of Wonder, into which only a Diamond in the Rough--a common person with shining qualities--may enter. Aladdin is such a person, and his kindness, honesty, intelligence, and sense of humor prove attractive to beautiful Princess Jasmine as well. For grades 2-4 and older readers.
Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve by Mary Pope Osborne.
RC 57233.
In their magic tree house, Jack and Annie are again transported to King Arthur's realm, where invisible beings, giant ravens, and mistaken magic spells have a duke's castle in an uproar on Halloween night. For grades 2-4.
I Had a Lot of Wishes by James Stevenson.
RC 42663.
When I was young, I had lots of wishes. I wished for something to happen, I wished for something not to happen, or I wished I could get something I didn't have—or at least borrow it. Some wishes were big, and some were small. Then one summer, I wished I could go to camp, and I finally got my wish! But when I got to camp, I had another wish. For grades K-3.
The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl.
RC 40827.
An old woman, a magic whistle, and a rabbit with wanderlust help a peasant boy earn a place in the king's palace. For grades 2-4.
The Magic Meadow by Ingri D’Aulaire.
RC 10048.
A little Swiss boy dreams of a magic meadow and how it might bring good fortune to him and his grandfather. It does, but in a way that he never even imagined. For grades 2-4.
The Moon’s Revenge by Joan Aiken.
RC 30172.
Long ago when women wore shawls and men wore hoods, there lived a boy called Seppy. Seppy wanted to be the best fiddler in the world. He was told to throw seven shoes at the moon and his wish would be granted. But at what price? For grades 2-4 and older readers.
Past Eight O’Clock : Goodnight Stories by Joan Aiken.
RC 29499.
Eight bedtime stories that mix folklore and magic with modern attitudes and problems. The title story, "Past Eight O'Clock," tells of a society where the ominous Child Warden will punish any child he catches out after eight. Each story is based on a familiar lullaby or bedtime song. For grades 2-4 and older readers.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig.
RC 50353.
Frightened by an approaching lion, Sylvester the donkey asks his magic pebble to turn him into a rock. But, then, Sylvester is unable to grasp the pebble and wish himself back to normal. For grades K-3. Caldecott Medal.
Summer of the Sea Serpent by Mary Pope Osborne.
RC 58226.
The magician Merlin sends Jack and Annie back into time where they are reunited with boy sorcerer Teddy. The children are transformed into selkies, or seal people, then dive into a cave and discover an old sword. For grades 2-4.
The Three and Many Wishes of Jason Reid by Hazel Hutchins.
RC 35441.
On a hot day in June, in the back alley of Fourth Street, eleven-year-old Jason Reid meets Quicksilver, Elster of the Third Order, who grants him three wishes. Remembering the unhappy endings of all the stories he's ever heard about magical beings and wishes, Jason is determined to be wise and clever, with humorous consequences. For grades 2-4 and older readers.
The Trouble with Wishes by Susan Beth Pfeffer.
RC 44706.
Third-grader Katie Logan finds a magic lamp after school and is granted three wishes. But, as her brother warns her, wishes can be tricky. Will wishing forthe lead in the class play mean something bad will happen to the girl who has the part now? For grades 2-4.
Two Hundred Rabbits by Lonzo Anderson.
RC 10398.
An old woman, a magic whistle, and a rabbit with wanderlust help a peasant boy earn a place in the king's palace. For grades 2-4.
William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream retold by Bruce Coville.
RC 44926.
A retelling of the classic comedy in which several couples, spending the night in a forest, find themselves bewitched by the fairy king's young servant—Puck. For grades 2-4 and older readers.
The Witches by Roald Dahl.
RC 46021.
A young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who is an expert on witches, together foil a witches' plot to destroy the world's children by turning them into mice. For grades 3-6.
Braille Books
The Amazing Magic Show by P.J. Petersen.
BR 10769.
There is a magic show in town, and Hal and his big brother, Chuck, want to go. They earn the money and have a great time at the show—Chuck even disappears for a while and Hal gets scared. But when Hal tries to do some tricks at home, he wishes Chuck would disappear again. For grades 2-4.
Burnt Toast on Davenport Street by Tim Egan.
BR 11039.
Arthur Crandall, a dog, is always burning the toast, but somehow his wife, Stella, has come to like the smell. One morning a fly enters the house and offers Arthur three wishes if he'll just let the fly live. Arthur's wishes are granted, but he and Stella soon long to be back home. Print/braille. For grades K-3.
The Cat and the Wizard by Dennis Lee.
BR 50015.
A lonesome wizard and a coal-black cat party until dawn with candlelight, wine and tuna fish! For grades K-3.
Devil’s Donkey by Bill Brittain.
BR 5172.
Dan'l Pitt doesn't believe in magic until he comes up against a furious witch who works her most evil spell on him. A hair-raising tale for grades 3-6.
Disney’s Aladdin by A.L. Singer.
BR 9208.
Retelling of the folktale Aladdin or the Wonderful Lamp. Evil Jafar, the sultan's key adviser, is determined to own the magic lamp that is hidden deep in the Cave of Wonder, into which only a Diamond in the Rough--a common person with shining qualities--may enter. Aladdin is such a person, and his kindness, honesty, intelligence, and sense of humor prove attractive to beautiful Princess Jasmine as well. For grades 2-4 and older readers.
The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl.
BR 10055.
An old woman, a magic whistle, and a rabbit with wanderlust help a peasant boy earn a place in the king's palace. For grades 2-4.
Magic Secrets by Rose Wyler and Gerald Ames.
BR 1806.
A book of magic tricks that look hard but are easy to do. Young magicians will learn how to make a pencil disappear, how to stick pins in a balloon without breaking it, and how to perform many other magic secrets. For grades 2-4.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Robin Muller.
BR 51292.
A sorcerer's apprentice learns his master's spells on the sly and finds they come in handy when he is in danger. Print/Braille. For grades 2-4.
Summer of the Sea Serpent by Mary Pope Osborne.
BR 15397.
The magician Merlin sends Jack and Annie back into time where they are reunited with boy sorcerer Teddy. The children are transformed into selkies, or seal people, then dive into a cave and discover an old sword. For grades 2-4.
Large Print Books
Jethro Byrd Fairy Child by Bob Graham.
LP 1377.
Anabelle finds a family of fairies in the cement and weeds, and they sing and dance for her when she gives them tea. For grades K-3.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig.
LP 1187.
Frightened by an approaching lion, Sylvester the donkey asks his magic pebble to turn him into a rock. But, then, Sylvester is unable to grasp the pebble and wish himself back to normal. For grades K-3. Caldecott Medal.
The Witches by Roald Dahl.
LP 698.
A young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who is an expert on witches, together foil a witches' plot to destroy the world's children by turning them into mice. For grades 3-6.
Wizard and Wart at Sea by Janice Lee Smith.
LP 1030.
While trying to relax on the beach with his dog Wart, Wizard uses his magic to get rid of pesky seagulls but finds his solution to be just as bad as the original problem. For grades K-3.
Wizard and Wart in Trouble by Janice Lee Smith.
LP 761.
Although they misunderstand when Zounds says that trouble is coming, Wizard and his dog Wart manage to handle the spark ants, flood and cold weather that ensue. For grades K-3.
Wizard’s Hall by Jane Yolen.
LP 791.
Henry was sent away from home to learn magic. The only talent he shows at Wizard's Hall is the ability to make messes of even the simplest spells. Now, when Wizard's Hall is threatened by a cruel sorcerer's fearsome beast, it is up to Henry to figure out how to save not only his new friends, but also the school for wizards and all the lands beyond. For grades 3-6.