Still waiting for the next edition of "Harry Potter"? "Half Magic", by Edward Eager is filled with magic and wonder. Four children are looking for adventure when they find what they think is a magic coin on the sidewalk in front of their house.
Not sure what it is, the oldest sister wishes for some kind of excitement in their boring town. She wishes for a fire. The next moment, the children hear a siren. Not realizing that their wish made this small fire happen is a back yard across town, they wish they were on a deserted island. They suddenly find themselves in a desert. The coin must give them just half of what they wish for. So, instead fo the deserted island, they just get the desert.
While holding their cat, they wish that the cat could talk . But the cat makes gibberish, along with real words, so they can sort of understand it. As they look across the desert, pondering how to get back with the "half-magic" coin, thy see an Arab nomad coin toward them on some tired looking camels. As he approaches them, he demands that they get on his camels, and they begin riding away. They can't understand him very well, and by the look on his face, his intentions don't look promising. But as luck would have it, the cat tells them, through her gibberish way, that by talking to the camels, she has found out that the Arab is kidnapping them and using them ransom.
Mark, the only brother, has figured out a way to make this miserable=-looking Arab receive what he deserves and makes his wish. He says "I wish that Achmed the Arab may have twice as much as he deserves of whatever it is that he would wish for with this charm!" And immediately, the Arab has young, healthy looking camels with a wife and six children as well as packs that are bulging with many items to trade. He then wishes for his sisters and himself to go home only twice as far--which, of course, takes them home.
This is only one of many adventures these children go on throughout the summer. And the amazing fact is that this well0written book was first published in l954!The book is wonderful read aloud, and there are picture by N.M. Bodecker throughout.
There are other magical adventures by the same author: "Knight's Castle," "Magic by the Lake," Magic or Not", "Seven-Day Magic," The Time Garden" and "The Well-Wishers". These books are perfect for ages 9 through 12 and are great for younger children if read aloud to them.
Looking for a lively ABC book. Well, get ready to rock with "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom", by Bill ma4Martin and John Archambault. This book is full of colorful letters that will take a youngster all of the way from "A to Z" while moving to the feel of great rap rhythm.
Martin is a master at writing books that beg to be read aloud with zeal and great fun. In fact, his books beg to not only be read, but sung or-at the least-read like a rap. One of my favorite books of his is "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see"? He has collaborated with Archambault for the past six years. Louis Ehlert's colorful pictures go perfectly with the text in this outstanding picture book.
As a beginning reading teacher, I especially like the way she has illustrated
the lower-case letters slowly going up a coconut tree in the order of the
alphabet. Furthermore, the text has the capital letters written above
these small letters, giving the child a visual of both types of letters in a
very inventive way. I also love the way the brightly colored lower case
letters become intertwined with each other as they fall from the tree.
Children ages 4 to 7 will love this book. And for children who are
beginning to learn the alphabet, this is a must.