“I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.” – J.K. Rowling
We’ve all wished for and needed a little magic these past few months.
My first Book Scouts of the summer, inspired by our “Imagine Your Story” Summer Reading Program, is a tribute to all things magical. The books listed here are targeted toward middle grade children, but can be enjoyed by readers and listeners of all ages. If you love the magical spells of Harry Potter, the magical creatures of Fablehaven, the magical objects of the Amulet series, or the fairy-tale based adventures of The Land of Stories, you will love digging into these titles.
Since all of our programming is digital this summer, I’m also linking to my short book talk video where I highlight some of my favorites from this list. There are also magical activities to do at home included at the end of the post.
Picture Books
Cat Wishes by Calista Brill
Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow by Michelle Cuevas
Ta-Da! by Kathy Davis
The Night Lion by Sanne Dufft
Wee Sister Strange by Holly Grant
Nobody Likes a Goblin by Ben Hatke
The Green Umbrella by Jackie Kramer
Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden
Super Happy Magic Forest by Matty Long
Super Slug of Doom by Matty Long
Magic Spell by Julie Paschkis
Kings of the Castle by Victoria Turnbull
Backyard Fairies by Phoebe Wahl
Graphic Novels
Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani
Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP
Rutabaga the Adventure Chef (series) by Eric Colossal
Hereville (series) by Barry Deutsch
Cucumber Quest (series) by D.G. Gigi
The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer
Adventure Time (series) by Ryan North
Bera the One-Headed Troll by Eric Orchard
The Witch Boy (series) by Molly Ostertag
Cat’s Cradle by Jo-Anne Rioux
5 Worlds (series) by Mark Siegel
The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner
Mega Princess by Kelly Thompson
The Runaway Princess by Johan Troianowski
Little Witch Academia (series) by Yoh Yoshinari
Chapter Books
The Chronicles of Prydain (series) by Lloyd Alexander
Twinchantment (series) by Elise Allen
A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying (series) by Kelley Armstrong
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Marabel and the Book of Fate by Tracey Barrett
Miss Ellicott’s School for the Magically Minded by Sage Blackwood
Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella (series) by Cerrie Burnell
Wicked Nix by Lena Coakley
The Wizards of Once (series) by Cressida Cowell
Grayling’s Song by Karen Cushman
The Cats of Tanglewood Forest by Charles de Lint
The Castle in the Mist by Amy Ephron
The Unicorn Rescue Society (series) by Adam Gidwitz
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Horwitz
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Midsummer’s Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca
Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
Voyage of the Frostheart by Jamie Littler
A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano
Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison
The Wizard of Dark Street by Shawn Odyssey
The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street by Lauren Oliver
Wing & Claw (series) by Linda Sue Park
Half Upon a Time by James Riley
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin (series) by Liesl Shurtliff
Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo (series) by Obert Skye
Wizard for Hire by Obert Skye
Willow Moss and the Lost Day by Dominique Valente
Frogged by Vivian Vande Velde
City of Islands by Kali Wallace
The Thickety: A Path Begins (series) by J.A. White
Pay the Piper by Jane Yolen
Baker’s Magic by Diane Zahler
Activities
Brew up some kitchen magic by creating your own potions at home!
Make your own magic wand! If you don’t have clay at home, use yarn, ribbon, or whatever you have to add color and magic!
Design the castle of your dreams with everyone’s favorite craft item – cardboard tubes!
Much Hamsters 