Books by Edward Eager - good read-alouds

[napless]

My children (ages 7 & 9) love anything by Edward Eager.

Our favourite is Half Magic. It's about a family of children who find a magic charm that lets them have anything they wish for - but only half of what they wish for!

The books were written in the 60s, I think (I don't know how I missed them as a child!) and are nice and gentle, and interesting. There's enough suspense to keep us all begging for another chapter, but nothing scary to keep the boys awake at night. The children in the books treat one another with respect. The adults are generally oblivious but not stupid.

I highly recommend them! His other books are

Seven-Day Magic, Magic or Not?, The Well Wishers, Knight's Castle, The Time Garden, and Magic by the Lake.

[ollyoxenfree]

We enjoyed these books when my dc were small. What always struck me is the limitless freedom the children in the books had to be out without adult supervision. I recall one scene where they had gone into town to the movie theatre on their own.

It's a little like the Ramona books, where Ramona walked to kindergarten on her own.

[sapphire_chan]

And there are audiobooks done by FullCast Audio for them too!

[dantesmama]

Oooh, I loved Half Magic as a child! That may be our next read-aloud; thanks for reminding me about that!