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You are here: Home / Culture / Edward Eager books – magic and wit

Edward Eager books – magic and wit

June 25, 2018 by Lisa Grable 7 Comments

Edward Eager was a playwright and songwriter in the New York world. Starting in the 1950s he wrote a series of magic adventure books featuring fun brothers and sisters. They find magic tokens and beings operating under rules that have to be discovered. Harry Potter has captured the hearts and imaginations of many but these magic stories are worth a look.Edward Eager wrote seven novels for children about magic that happens to ordinary children. N.M. Bodecker provided unforgettable illustrations.

The 7 novels take place in the 20th century with children as the heroes. The books are memorably illustrated by N.M. Bodecker. Magic in the books tends to be grumpy: it doesn’t want to be disturbed or it doesn’t want to explain the rules. The magic is part of daily life. The children go to the library, get sent to bed, play with their toys, but find magic (or magic finds them). A coin, a turtle, a library book, a toad, a toy castle, and a well are sources of magic.magic-eager - 4

Katharine, Mark, Jane, and Martha are the adventurers in Half Magic and Magic by Lake, taking place in the 1920s. Their children in the 1950s have adventures in Knight’s Castle and The Time Garden. Magic or Not? and The Well-Wishers are the adventures of Laura, James, Kip, and Lydia. And another 5 children find magic at the library in Seven-Day Magic.magic-eager - 2

Eager was inspired by Frank Baum’s Oz stories and Edith Nesbit’s children’s novels. Have you read Five Children and It or The Railway Children?

Resource links for Edward Eager magic series

  • http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/24/top-100-childrens-novels-54-half-magic-by-edward-eager/#_
    • Half Magic entry in School Library Journal’s Top 100 Children’s Novels
  • http://www.rmichelson.com/illustration/n-m-bodecker/original-artwork/
    • Artwork by N.M. Bodecker
  • http://wondrouswonder.blogspot.com/2010/04/magic-of-nm-bodecker.html
    • The magic of N.M. Bodecker by Amanda Crawford

Let’s talk story

I started collecting children’s literature in high school. I’ve always loved the stories of Edward Eager because there is a reality about how the siblings interact. And the idea of being able to time travel and watch your parents when they are awkward preteens!magic-eager - 3

horizontal bar with plumeriaThis post contains affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

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Filed Under: Culture Tagged With: children's literature, Edward Eager, Half Magic, N.M. Bodecker, Tales of Magic

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Comments

  1. marilyn1998

    May 25, 2020 at 9:10 pm

    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn

    Reply
  2. Katherines Corner

    June 28, 2018 at 10:21 pm

    I think our younger grandchildren would enjoy these xo

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      June 30, 2018 at 12:09 pm

      Magic is always fun, and these books are more humorous than Harry Potter. I think they are a great addition to children’s reading list!

      Reply
  3. Clearissa Coward

    February 14, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    I had never heard of this series Lisa. Thanks for sharing and Thank you for sharing with The Blogging Grandmothers. I have shared on social media.

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      February 16, 2018 at 9:09 am

      Hey Clearissa, Thanks for reading and sharing. These books have magic and a great sense of humor!

      Reply
  4. bloggerlovestheking

    August 18, 2016 at 7:32 am

    Never read any of those books. Thanks for sharing. Visiting as a neighbor from Catherine’s Corner.

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      August 18, 2016 at 3:40 pm

      Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll try these books, they are smart and funny.

      Reply

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Lisa Grable, Casa BouquetI’m an educator, grandmother, classic movie fan, sewer and crafter, and I love Hawaii. Read more about me …

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