Knight's Castle

If you could have a magic adventure with some of your toys, which toys would you choose?

Julia (6): "I would choose to be with my Polly Pockets because I would like to be with princesses."

Gabe (4): "I would choose the firemen and policemen guys Matt gave me. I would play with them to be knights and they would fight the bad guys."


Mom's notes: Edward Eager often alludes to stories by other authors that he admires. (E. Nesbit specifically and often.) It would have been extremely helpful to be familiar with the story of Ivanhoe (which I am not!). Robin Hood is also a main character in this one, and luckily the kids know him (as a fox from a Disney movie at this point...). Either way though, this book is packed with close calls and excitement that kept the kids asking for another chapter every time we read. (I will note that Eager's chapters are not short, so I often split them up and didn't finish an entire one in a sitting.)

The BFG

Sophie's plan to stop the giants was to tell the Queen and get her to help. What would your plan be?

Julia (6): "I would put them up stuck in a giant tree and put huge gates all around and feed them grass."

Gabe (4): "I would trap them in a booby trap and feed them snozzcumbers."


Mom's notes: This was a first time read for me and the first Roald Dahl book for the kids. Fun! Roald Dahl has a very distinctive style that lends itself to easily and playfully be read aloud. (The short chapters are much appreciated!)

Magic by the Lake

What watery adventure did you like best? 

Julia: "I liked the mermaid one, but not the pirates."

Gabe: "I liked the parts with the pirates... because they are boys!"


Mom's notes: Lucky Martha, Jane, Mark, and Katherine have stumbled upon magic again! Julia and Gabe were taken up with the adventure, danger, and fun of this second Eager book.

I will note that these books are not especially easy to read aloud, with the extensive vocabulary and references to events and times that the kids are unfamiliar with. But I think this just provides for more learning opportunities! We don't breeze through Eager's books, but rather take our time to enjoy the quality writing and intricate stories. And just as my kids surprised me with their attentiveness during Five Children and It, they follow Eager's dated tales with great interest and without difficulty. I believe we should give children the benefit of the doubt when reading aloud, and assume they can follow a story even if it isn't as fast-paced as some they are used to from today's culture. Why not fill their minds and hearts with wonderful, powerful, memorable stories while we have the chance? 

Half Magic

If you had a magic charm and you knew the magic was all used up,
what would you do with it?

Julia (6): "I would test it a couple of times to see if it would work and then I would leave it at the door and when one of my friends comes they would put it in their pocket and be surprised when they made a wish."

Gabe (4): "I would be-stroy it!"


Mom's notes: My mom made sure to introduce us kids to all her favorite "E" authors: E. Nesbit, E.B. White, Edward Eager, and Elizabeth Enright. I have a mission to to the same! I remember her saying she loved when magic happened to ordinary kids in their ordinary world. I love it too. It makes you believe anything can happen. And that's exactly what Edward Eager's magic series suggests. I vividly remembered some specific elements of this story, even reading it 20+ years later. I hope my kids do too!

Dinosaurs Before Dark

What kind of book would you choose from a magic tree house?

Julia (6): "I would choose a princess book because I would love to see Cinderella."

Gabe (4): "I would choose a vampire book. Because it's Halloweenish!"

Mom's notes: A friend suggested this series, and it is simple and fun. But it's really one the kids should read on their own. We like more meat to our read-alouds!

Pippi Longstocking

What is the silliest thing Pippi did in this story?

Julia (6): "That she put on the sponges and skated the sponges onto the floor."

Gabe (4): "Ruin all the pie at the party! And she did naughty things like at the coffee party."


Mom's notes: That Pippi is naughty! But her story is a fun, quirky one that the kids just ate up. Luckily it's ridiculous enough that they know it's not to be taken seriously.

The Doll's House

Which doll was your favorite? 

Julia (6): "Tottie, the wooden doll ... because she's the person all about this book. And Apple because he's so cute. And I like the mom because she saved Apple's life."

Gabe (4): "Darner. Because he's a dog!"


Mom's notes: We borrowed this treasure from Nana's library. Of course it was especially appealing to me, given my love of dolls as a child and still today. The kids were invested in Tottie and all the dolls as well. When Birdie gave her life to save Apple, we all shed tears and reflected on the symbolic nature of her sacrifice.