(3) 4-6 This book offers nine different magic-oriented ideas for fantastic parties: an Alchemists' Gathering, a Fairy Frolic, a Druid Halloween party, and more. For each party, the text suggests costumes, crafts, decorations, food, and games. Much care has gone into the look of the book (purportedly written by a 600-year-old wizard): thick, padded covers; sepia-toned pages; and fanciful illustrations. Ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Kids who like "pottering" around with crafts may enjoy this illustrated volume of wizard-themed projects, which includes instructions for making a sorcerer's hat, a crystal ball, and a patterned lampshade. Most require a lot of materials and are complicated to make, while the potion recipes warn readers that they must not be consumed. Information on poltergeists, the zodiac, and other mystical subjects is featured between projects. Ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Purporting to be written by a six-hundred-year-old wizard, this tome offers novices instructions for creating their own props and performing sleight-of-hand illusions; the nine chapters include "Transfiguration and Shape-Shifting" and "Flying, Levitation, and Escapology." Considerable work went into this production, which features spot and full-page art. Unfortunately, the book's small print sometimes hampers legibility. Ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(2) 4-6 Wizards of Once series. Xar and Wish (The Wizards of Once) track ample evidence of the demonic Kingwitch's return. Their parents from feuding kingdoms eventually heed their children's urgent warnings and rethink their groups' traditional animosity. This fast-paced sequel is full of the same humor, sketchlike illustrations, and unique companions as the previous entry. The ending is completely satisfying but also leaves plenty of openings for a projected third book.

Reviewer: Monica Edinger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(4) 4-6 Snared series. Orphan "trapsmith" Wily Snare maintains the underground traps guarding a wizard's treasure until eccentric adventurers spring Wily from his dungeon. The group of marauders wants help plundering other protected riches, but instead Wily convinces his new friends to help defeat the Infernal King and his mechanical soldiers. Despite an abrupt resolution, earnest heroism and some entertainingly sinister booby traps elevate this fantasy series-starter.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) YA Jack guards the crossroad between the ordinary world and the Otherworld, but his fondness for young witch Ember leads to irresponsibility. When Ember slips into the Otherworld in the company of a debonair vampire, Jack chases after her. Barton effectively mixes fantasy and steampunk to generate a story about friendship, family, love, and reunion, the whole powered more by wit than by narrative tension.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) 4-6 When magic disappeared from Talhaven, children with magical talents were forced into hiding. But two of these outcasts, girls Rook and Drift, band together to try to find their way home and are joined by a shape-shifting boy and a wizard with questionable motives. Magical doorways, giant spiders, and the like add suspense, but the deep bond of friendship between the girls sets this stirring fantasy apart.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 Magic is Lennie's favorite thing, and she's thrilled to visit her grandfather in the enchanted land of Netherly. She's instantly devastated, however, when she learns that her silly little brother will be her family's representative in the competition to replace their grandpa, who's retiring as Prime Wizard of Pomporromp. Magaziner touches on themes of inequality in this otherwise frothy tale of magical competition.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Marty Pants series. Aspiring artist Marty Pants is convinced that his classmate and nemesis Simon is using magic powers to charm everyone from hapless teachers to unsuspecting parents. Readers will chuckle at the many misunderstandings in the madcap plot, which is enhanced by cartoon drawings on every page and lots of physical humor and silliness. This third installment should satisfy series fans and win new ones.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(2) 4-6 In this lighthearted fantasy series-opener set in a medieval-like world, the invading Warriors maintain a fierce feud with the indigenous Wizards; both are terrified of the villainous Witches. Two misfits--brash thirteen-year-old Wizard Xar and introspective, similarly aged Warrior Wish--reluctantly join forces to face those Witches, magic, and more. Snarky narration and the spirited commentary in Cowell's scratchy pen-and-ink drawings keep everything moving briskly along.

Reviewer: Monica Edinger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2018

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Dave Phillips. Nosewise, wizard Merlin's eager dog, narrates this tale about magic, Fae, and the legendary Sword in the Stone. Nosewise loyally attends Merlin's magic lessons for apprentice Morgana, so this dog knows more than the usual canine tricks. When Merlin is kidnapped by Fae, Nosewise leaps to the rescue (with help from young Arthur). Humor and action dominate this lively middle-grade take on the legend.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 Rebels of the Lamp series. At the end of Rebels of the Lamp, Parker and his friends unleashed a new threat: the powerful sorcerer Vesiroth, who's now trying to take over the world. They must prevent Vesiroth from using an ancient helmet to complete his goal. Surprising twists keep the action moving forward. Unfortunately, the protagonists haven't developed much since the first book and Vesiroth's characterization is quite flat.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Iryna Bodnaruk. Dragon siblings Ella and Owen embark on a quest to find a mystical wizard dragon who can cure Owen's fire-sneezing cold. Along the way, the dragons encounter obstacles, including a hungry ogre and a giant Wicked Wizard Waffle. The silly if formulaic fantasy romp ends with a sequel-hinting cliffhanger. Cartoonish line drawings add humor and provide visual pauses for new chapter-book readers.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) 4-6 Monster Mania series. A wide-range of legendary "monsters" are discussed in this series. Each volume focuses on a specific category and details stories from ancient times up through modern pop culture. Color illustrations and photographs feature various depictions of the creatures. The occasionally crammed paragraphs and hurried texts still provide lots of information for curious readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Monster Mania titles: Sea Monsters, Beastly Monsters, Magic Monsters, and Undead Monsters.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(2) YA Princess Anya sets out to acquire ingredients for an anti-transmogrification lip balm to turn a frog back into a prince. Serious concerns underlie this quest's silliness--after learning of the kingdom's corruption and class inequality, Anya vows to oust evil Duke Rikard and reinstate the democratic "Bill of Rights and Wrongs." Nix smartly subverts fairy-tale and fantasy-genre tropes while exploring timely social justice issues.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jim Kay. This substantial and strikingly illustrated new edition invites readers into Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts. From spot art of a rat to an impressive spread of hippogriffs to a giant werewolf spanning three spreads, Kay's full-color paintings particularly focus on the fantastic beasts in this entry, while also illuminating its darker aspects for both newcomers and returning fans.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill. Wizard Harry Potter's marked-up copy of magizoologist Newt Scamander's compendium of magical creatures was first published in 2001. This larger-size, fully illustrated version (minus the handwritten notes) is beautifully crafted; the sketchbook-like illustrations aid in visualizing these beasts. Six creatures native to North America have been added to this edition. It also features an impressive gatefold for the Ukrainian Ironbelly (dragon). Ind.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 4-6 Map to Everywhere series. Illustrated by Todd Harris. In this third series entry (Map to Everywhere; City of Thirst), the crew of the Enterprising Kraken sails the Pirate Stream, intent on stopping the prophesied destruction of the magical waterway. Full of intricate world-building, complex characters, and rip-roaring adventure, the story moves quickly, but the action-packed cliffhanger ending is a bit unwieldy. Lively grayscale illustrations add to the fun.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(4) 1-3 Dragon Masters series. Illustrated by Damien Jones. Picking up right where book six (Flight of the Moon Dragon) left off, the Dragon Masters must find the newly hatched Lightning Dragon; its destined Dragon Master, Carlos, is key--but where is Carlos? As usual, a brisk if formulaic plot ends in a cliffhanger. This heavily illustrated chapter-book series is suited to emerging readers interested in fantasy.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 4-6 J. K. Rowling's Wizarding World series. Text by Felicity Baker. Each book's present-tense text summarizes one character's trajectory through the Harry Potter film series--a tall order for a few sentences per page, resulting in a somewhat haphazard narrative. Quotes and plentiful photos from the movies should make these books of high interest to Potter fans, though spoilers mean they're best suited for those who already know the whole story. Review covers the following Harry Potter titles: Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax