My husband and I listened to the full cast audiobook recording of this book on a car trip years ago, but I believe I slept through some of it and therefore didn’t add it to my Goodreads shelves because I hadn’t read the full story. Their mother unwittingly has the first adventure with the coin, during which she suddenly finds herself halfway home from visiting her aunt and uncle, but soon the children are making carefully calculated wishes that take them to far-flung points in time and space. His classic Tales of Magic series started with the best-selling Half Magic, published in 1954.Mark, Katherine, Jane, and Martha, the children of a single mother, find themselves entrusted with a lot of responsibility when they discover a magic coin that works by halves. It wasn't until 1951, while he was searching for books to read to his young son, Fritz, that he began writing children's stories.

A book children will want to read at one sitting.' - Library Journal, starred review -Ībout the Author Edward Eager (1911-1964) worked primarily as a playwright and lyricist.

Satisfying variety, surprise, and laughter. Those who had it read to them then may even have an obligation to pass on the pleasure.' - The New York Times Book Review * 'Ingenious make-believe. ' Half Magic is a funny, charming, timeless book, as much a pleasure to read to a child now as it was forty years ago. For fans of such favorite series as The Penderwicks and The Vanderbeekers.Įnjoy all seven of the middle grade novels in Edward Eager's beloved Tales of Magic series! This funny and gentle classic series is an enjoyable read-aloud and also a strong choice for independent reading. What is half of twice a talking cat? Or to be half-again twice not-here? And how do you double your most heartfelt wish, the one you care about so much it has to be perfect? Wishing for two times some things is a cinch, but other doubled wishes only cause twice as much trouble. It turns out the coin grants wishes-but only by half, so that you must wish for twice as much as you want. Jane finds the coin, and because she and her siblings are having the worst, most dreadfully boring summer ever, she idly wishes something exciting would happen.Īnd something does: Her wish is granted. It all begins with a strange coin on a sun-warmed sidewalk. Bodecker.īook one in the series called 'truly magic in a reader's hands' by Jack Gantos, Newbery Medal winner for Dead End in Norvelt. About the Book Quentin Blake's charming art gets an updated look in this new edition of Edward Eager's beloved classic, featuring the original interior illustrations by N.

Half magic by edward eager