Magical Books for Muggles and Wizards: Harry Potter Readalikes

Are you one of the many readers who finished the Harry Potter series and you don’t know what to read next? Good news: life goes on after you finish J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! There are many other great books out there that offer immersion into an enchanting world of magic, mystery, fantasy, and adventure. Nothing can replace the love that you have for Harry Potter, but at least you’ll have something to read while you’re waiting for your Hogwarts letter to arrive.

Magyk by Angie Sage is the first of the seven-book Septimus Heap series. Wizards, boggarts, princesses, and more lurk through the pages of this magykal book, which starts with Septimus Heap being pronounced dead at birth. If that were the truth, however, we wouldn’t have much of a story, would we? Read this book and you’ll soon find out that nothing is quite as it seems in the wizarding world of Septimus Heap.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is void of wizards, but takes readers on a magical and mythical journey to another magical school called Camp Half-Blood: a school for children of humans and mythical Greek gods. At the age of 12, Percy Jackson discovers that he is in fact a demi-god (half god and son of Poseidon), and shortly after attending Camp Half-Blood for the first time, must embark on a journey to the underworld to retrieve the god Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt.

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann follows the story of a boy named Alex, who is pronounced an “Unwanted” on his thirteenth birthday. In the land of Quill, you are either “Wanted” and are preened to become a member of the Quillitary (like Alex’s twin brother Aaron), a “Necessary” who tends to the farms of Quill, or you are an “Unwanted” and are sentenced to death. Instead of facing death, however, Alex finds that he and all of the other Unwanteds have been saved and sent to the magical land of Artimé. In Artimé, all of the other Unwanteds are being trained to use their creative talents to prepare for war.

In Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, a trip to visit their grandparent’s estate turns out to be no ordinary visit when thirteen-year-old Kendra and her eleven-year-old brother Seth enter Fablehaven, a protected area for magical creatures that is overseen by their grandfather, the Fablehaven caretaker. When Kendra and Seth break an important rule, the consequences are dire and it’s up to them to save their grandparents amidst a world of fairies, demons, witches, and imps.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud is the first book of the Bartimaeus Trilogy. Like Harry Potter, Nathaniel has a rough start in life. He doesn’t live in a cupboard under the stairs, but he is sold to the government by his parents at the age of five. In this parallel modern-day London, however, Parliament is run by a group of powerful magicians and Nathaniel is the apprentice to a cruel master. Seeking revenge against his master for being mistreated and humiliated, Nathaniel delves into learning deep and powerful magic, and unleashes a dangerous and deadly force.

Say It Again!

Early Literacy Skills are competencies that children need to develop before they begin reading and writing.*

Choosing books to read with your child that have a repetitive phrase can aid in the development of many of the early literacy skills that children need in order to be ready to read: **

Print Motivation
Print Awareness
Narrative Skills
Vocabulary
Letter Knowledge
Phonological Awareness

Hearing a repeated phrase over and over again will help children recognize sound patterns and develop phonological awareness (understanding the smaller sounds in words).

Reading books with repeated phrases also helps children develop narrative skills (the skills needed to tell stories and describe events). In telling a story, pause and let your child complete the repeated phrase. Your child will gain confidence in participating and helping to tell the story.

Print awareness (noticing the fact that printed letters and words have meaning) can be developed by running your finger along the repeated phrase in a story.

As the old adage goes, practice makes perfect! Hearing these repeated phrases is wonderful practice for learning early literacy skills. Read these books with repeated phrases and remember it’s never too soon to be ready to read!

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Shake your fists, and stamp your feet along with the peddler as he sells his caps and meets some silly and naughty monkeys along the way!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archaumbault

This classic and lively alphabet rhyme will have you chanting its memorable verses long after finishing the cheerful story. Lois Ehlert’s vibrant illustrations are not to be missed.

The Chick and the Duckling by Vladimir Suteev

This sweet mimicking tale of the newly hatched chick and duckling will delight little ones who are also exploring and discovering the world around them.

Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee

Who wants to go for a ride with Mr. Horse? Children will love being bounced on your lap as you repeat “Clip-clop, clippety clop!” in this rhythmic tale of a horseback ride with barnyard friends.

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Delight in the surprise of lifting the flaps to reveal who from the menagerie the zoo sends as a possible pet in response to a young child’s letter.

Have You Seen my Cat? By Eric Carle

Let’s help the little boy find his missing cat and meet helpful friends and other members of the cat family along the way! Children will love participating by repeating, “That is not my cat!”

I Went Walking by Sue Williams

In this repetitive question and answer book about the friends we meet when we go for a walk, children can participate by identifying each colorful animal.

It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw

The repetitive and simplistic nature of this picture book will keep children engaged and curious as they guess what each simple shape is illustrating.

The Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood

Read this gentle, cozy, cumulative rhyming story at bed time to ensure sweet dreams!

Pete the Cat: Old MacDonald Had a Farm by James Dean

Classic songs with repeated refrains are always a hit and children will enjoy seeing their cool friend Pete the Cat give an old song a new spin!

*(Source: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, www.zerotothree.org).
** (Source: Every Child Ready to Read via Saroj Ghoting)

Dear Diary

Novels that are narrated in a diary or journal format provide a raw, intimate, and honest perspective. Readers are provided confidential details of the narrators’ deepest fears, desires, and secrets. Young adult novels in diary format are particularly of interest because the process of coming of age is so personal. This unfiltered perspective is something that the reader's inner voyeur cannot resist.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Being a teenager is tough— especially when you are Arnold Spirit, better known as “Junior.” Growing up in poverty on a Native American reservation, Junior decides to create a better future for himself by attending a school outside the “rez” -- even if doing so means his friends and family feel betrayed, and he does not fit in at his new all-white school. Junior’s sense of humor will keep you smiling in spite of his honest look at the difficulties of racism, family drama, and new beginnings.

Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

A year in the life of British teenager Georgia Nicholson will have readers laughing so hard, they may want to avoid reading this book in public. Georgia must navigate the throes of adolescence betwixt a loony little sister named Libby, a violent Scottish wildcat named Angus, and absurd parents whom she resentfully refers to as Mutti and Vati. Thank goodness she has her beloved Ace Gang of girlfriends to have hilarious adventures with as she falls in love
with Robbie (aka the Sex God), the lead singer of a local band.

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

Alice has been shocking readers about the slippery slope of drug addiction since this diary's publication in 1971. What begins as a coming-of-age story about social acceptance and growing up turns into a terrifying account of the struggles of drug abuse that leads to homelessness, prostitution, an insane asylum, and eventually a fate worse than those aforementioned. Alice’s cautionary tale of addiction is not one you will soon forget.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

“Monster”: It’s the name given to Steve Harmon, a 16-year-old African-American boy, while on trial as an accomplice to murder. Steve tells his story of being in prison and on trial during in between journal entries and his own version of a screenplay— the cinematic story of his life. Watch the courtroom drama unfold to reveal the truth: Is Steve innocent? Was he framed by his so-called friends? Or was he simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Meet Jessica Darling in the first of a series of five novels. Her story begins at age 16 when her best friend moves away, and Jessica must enter her sophomore year of high school alone. Readers will relate to Jessica in one way or another — for her self-proclaimed type-A personality, her humor and wit, her insecurities; and if all else fails, her unflinching honesty as new relationships develop and blossom.

Book Review: The Day the Crayons Quit

I was finally able to get my hands on a copy of Drew Daywalt's best-selling picture book (illustrated by Oliver Jeffers).  It's been on the New York Times best-seller list for 29 weeks and counting.  After reading it, I was both very impressed (especially with the illustrations) and equal parts disappointed, but I set myself up for that by having very high expectations.  I try not to do that, but it inevitably happens, just like Christmas and birthdays.

I want to start with the fact that this book is HILARIOUS! Amongst a series of letters written by a grumpy set of crayons to a little boy named Duncan, these disenchanted crayons have a LOT to complain about.  Red is tired of being overworked, Orange and Yellow argue over whose job it is to color the sun, Purple just wants to stay in the lines, and Pink wants be be known as something other than a girl's color.  I think I've figured out why it is a best-seller: parents love reading it to their kids.  It is one of those kid's books that was written for adults just as much as children, who will find it equally entertaining.

My own personal favorite letter comes from the Peach Crayon:

<<"Hey Duncan,
It's me, PEACH CRAYON. WHY did you peel off my paper wrapping?? Now I'm NAKED and too embarrassed to leave the crayon box.  I don't even have any underwear! How would YOU like to go to school naked?  I need some clothes.  HELP!
Your naked friend, PEACH crayon." >>

The single reason I was disappointed is that this is not a book I find to be conducive to the storytime format.  It is certainly entertaining, funny, and has a very sweet ending, but I can't see myself reading it to a large audience of preschoolers.  It's a bit text heavy for storytime, does not have much opportunity for participation, and doesn't have that much of a plot.  For what it is, however, it's great.  For a large audience, I think I'll skip it; but I will be happily recommending it to parents!

Book Review: "Fall Ball" by Peter McCarty

I picked up this book off of our "New Books" shelf for a few reasons.  One, I love Peter McCarty's simplistic inky illustrations.  Two, its title is a pun (need I say more?).  Three, my favorite season is FALL and it's here!

This book makes me want to put on a cozy sweater and make hot cider over the stove.  It is sweet and simple, a story of changing seasons and playing in the leaves outside.  The sun goes down early, but that won't spoil the children's playtime, because there's pie, pajamas, and warm blankets at home.  I think that this would be a great bedtime story.  In fact I think I read it way too early in the day, because now I've got snuggling on my brain.  

Book Review: "Rump" by Liesl Shurtliff

When I saw this shiny new book on our "New Books" shelf, it caught my eye for two reasons: one, it is a fractured fairy tale and ever since I got my tattered copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales from a used book store at age ten, I have always loved immersing myself in a faraway magical land.  Two, its subtitle is "The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin".  Now here is a guy who really gets a bad rap, a true underdog.  I love underdogs.  I want to give poor little Rumpelstiltskin the benefit of the doubt.  Shurtliff's charming debut novel, published April 2013, shows readers that Rumpelstiltskin just may be a good guy after all.

All of his life, Rump has felt as though there was something missing.  Actually, he knows there is something missing because he was born with half a name.  His mother died during childbirth before she could utter the last syllables of his name.  So poor Rump becomes the "butt" of all jokes, literally.  He does have one true friend though, named Red who lives deep in the forest with her Grandmother (sound familiar? It should!).  Rump lives a dim and dreary life of being bullied and mining for what little gold his mountain village has left so that he can help his grandmother put food on the table.  Rations are slim, however, especially under the rule of a greedy king and miller.

When Rump discovers that he can magically spin straw into gold, he thinks his luck has changed.  But soon, the more gold he spins, the more trouble he gets into.  His piles of gold lead him on a quest through the mountains where he will meet pixies, gnomes, and trolls, and hopefully save a foolish princess from a terrible fate.  He may even find out his full name and destiny.  One thing is for sure; readers will never think of "Rumpelstiltskin" the same way again.  Shurtliff seamlessly weaves details from traditional fairy tales into her retelling, enchanting readers throughout each page.