The best children’s books where ordinary items become magical

Why am I passionate about this?

Anushka is an avid reader and reads thousands of books every year. She loves fantasy stories. She has been inspired by many of these stories before she planned to write one of her own. As a young reader and writer, she also understands what her peers will enjoy.


I wrote...

My Magic Mirror

By Anushka Bhattacharjee,

Book cover of My Magic Mirror

What is my book about?

When Ara moves to a new country, she does not know what could make things worse, when suddenly she does. Or not? Maybe her life will get interesting now! She and her brother Felice are slurped up by their basement mirror. They soon find out where they are. They’re in the story of The Three Little Pigs! How did they get here? Why are they here? How do they get home? Find out in the book: My Magic Mirror.

The 8-year-old author, with unleashed imagination, portrays how child authors can have a completely different take on a plot.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Chronicles of Narnia

Anushka Bhattacharjee Why did I love this book?

I was really inspired by this book series. I love how the kids go into the adventure, and at times while reading this book I felt as if it was me experiencing this amazing adventure. Also, this book portrays how kids can show their bravery when needed. So it’s a great motivation for the readers.

By C. S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

12 authors picked The Chronicles of Narnia as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Don’t miss one of America’s top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS’s The Great American Read.

Experience all seven tales of C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia, in one impressive paperback volume!

Epic battles between good and evil, fantastic creatures, betrayals, heroic deeds, and friendships won and lost all come together in this unforgettable world, which has been enchanting readers of all ages for over sixty years.

This edition presents the seven books—The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The…


Book cover of Dinosaurs Before Dark

Anushka Bhattacharjee Why did I love this book?

The best part about this story is that the siblings get teleported into different historical moments. That’s a moment that every kid would love to experience, and I wished for the same. I also had a lot of fun learning about the ancient times that the siblings were teleported into.

By Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Dinosaurs Before Dark as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, 8, and 9.

What is this book about?

Eight-year-old Jack and his little sister, Annie, are playing in the woods during their summer holiday, when they find a mysterious tree house full of books. But these are no ordinary books . . . And this is no ordinary tree house . . .

Jack and Annie get more than they had bargined for when Jack opens a book about dinosaurs and wishes he could see them for real. They end up in prehistoric times with Pteranodons, Triceratops and a huge Tyrannosaurus Rex! How will they get home again? The race is on . . . !


Book cover of Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales

Anushka Bhattacharjee Why did I love this book?

I started reading pretty early and the Complete Fairy Tales has been one of my favorites ever since I was a little girl. This book has definitely led to widening my imagination and helped me write my own stories even when I was as little as 8. Many of my writings are inspired by different fairy tales, and this book is definitely one of those. 

By Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Brothers Grimm: The Complete Fairy Tales is a collection of more than 200 tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

FREE AUDIOBOOKS INCLUDED.

The Brothers Grimm, Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Carl Grimm (1786–1859), were Hessian academics, philologists, cultural researchers, lexicographers and authors who together collected and published folklore during the 19th century. They were among the first and best-known collectors of German and European folk tales.

Among the most popular tales: "Cinderella" ("Aschenputtel"), "The Frog Prince" ("Der Froschkönig"), "The Goose-Girl" ("Die Gänsemagd"), "Hansel and Gretel" ("Hänsel und Gretel"), "Rapunzel", "Little Red Riding Hood" ("Rotkäppchen"), "The Wolf and…


Book cover of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Anushka Bhattacharjee Why did I love this book?

I love stories with magic, and the Harry Potter series has been one of my favorites. This book (and actually the entire series) has magical elements throughout the episodes. I have read the entire series not once, not twice, but an unlimited number of times, but I never get bored of it.  

By J.K. Rowling,

Why should I read it?

39 authors picked Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Galloping gargoyles ... 2022 is the silver anniversary of J.K. Rowling's magical classic Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone!

The boy wizard Harry Potter has been casting a spell over young readers and their families ever since 1997. Now the first book in this unmissable series celebrates 25 years in print! The paperback edition of the tale that introduced us to Harry, Ron and Hermione has been updated and dressed in silver to mark the occasion. It's time to take the magical journey of a lifetime ...

Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping…


Book cover of The Dragonet Prophecy

Anushka Bhattacharjee Why did I love this book?

The entire Wings of Fire series has stories full of mystery and adventure. And the best part is that the main characters are dragons. This is an animal-based fantasy where the dragons have to end a war. Dragons are definitely one of my favorites! I highly recommend this series to my peers (around my age, 10+). 

By Tui T. Sutherland,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Dragonet Prophecy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

The beginning of a thrilling new dragon saga-- now in paperback!

Clay and his friends have grown up under a mountain, secretly raised by the Talons of Peace to fulfill a mysterious prophecy. The five young dragons are destined to end the war that's been raging between the tribes of Pyrrhia -- but how they'll do this, none of them knows.But not every dragonet wants a destiny. When one of their own is threatened, Clay and his friends decide to escape. Maybe they can break free and end the war at the same time -- or maybe they'll risk everything…


You might also like...

Return to Hope Creek

By Alyssa J. Montgomery,

Book cover of Return to Hope Creek

Alyssa J. Montgomery Author Of A Spanish Seduction

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an Australian USA Today bestselling romance author who writes contemporary romance and uses the pen name Alyssa James to write medieval romance. I think the makeover trope resonates with me because although I’m no beauty queen now, I was definitely an ugly duckling in my teens. For reasons best known to him, my father insisted on close-cropped hair, and financial circumstances dictated out-of-style hand-me-down clothing. After university, I found my own style, but it wasn’t until I was accepted as an international flight attendant that I believed that I couldn’t be all that ugly if Qantas employed me!

Alyssa's book list on makeover romances

What is my book about?

Return to Hope Creek is a second-chance rural romance set in Australia.

Stella Simpson's career and engagement are over. She returns to the rural community of Hope Creek to heal, unaware her high school and college sweetheart, Mitchell Scott, has also moved back to town to do some healing of his own.

Mitchell, a former NFL quarterback, doesn't need the complication of encountering Stella again so long after the messy end to their relationship, but as each tries to build a new life, they are drawn together and find their chemistry is just as strong as ever.

Will their love be stronger the second time around?

Return to Hope Creek

By Alyssa J. Montgomery,

What is this book about?

When two old flames come back to their home town, sparks are bound to ignite. A rural romance from USA Today bestselling author Alyssa J. Montgomery.


A horrific car accident ended former world number-one Stella Simpson’s tennis career, and a betrayal ended her relationship with her fiancé/coach. When a family friend offers to sell her half of a property in the rural community where she grew up, it seems like the perfect place to escape, heal and begin the next phase of her life. Until she discovers that the man who broke her heart ten years ago has bought the…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in wizards, Germany, and prophecy?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about wizards, Germany, and prophecy.

Wizards Explore 95 books about wizards
Germany Explore 470 books about Germany
Prophecy Explore 42 books about prophecy