Magic School

Chapter Books:

Jill Murphy, The Worst Witch (1974)

The Worst Witch #1

Book Blurb:

Mildred Hubble is the worst witch at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches – she’s always getting her spells wrong. But she manages to get by until she turns Ethel, the teacher’s pet, into her deadly enemy…”

Reading Order:

1. The Worst Witch (1974)
2. The Worst Witch Strikes Again (1982)
3. A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch (1987)
4. The Worst Witch All at Sea (1995)
5. The Worst Witch Saves the Day (1999)
6. The Worst Witch to the Rescue (2007)
7. The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star (2013)
8. First Prize for the Worst Witch (2018)

Middle-Grade Books:

J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997)

Harry Potter #1

Harry Potter’s life is miserable. His parents are dead and he’s stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he’s a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.

Though Harry’s first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it’s his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.”

Reading Order:

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997)
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
3. Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban (1999)
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)

Holly Black and Cassandra Clare, The Iron Trial (2014)

Magisterium #1

Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial. Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail. All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him. So he tries his best to do his worst – and fails at failing. Now the Magisterium awaits him. It’s a place that’s both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future. The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . .”

Reading Order:

1. The Iron Trial (2014)
2. The Copper Gauntlet (2015)
3. The Bronze Key (2016)
4. The Silver Mask (2017)
5. The Golden Tower (2018)

Dystopian

Young Adult Books:

Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games (2008)

The Hunger Games #1.

Could you survive on your own in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don’t live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weight survival against humanity and life against love.”

Rachel Caine, Ink and Bone (2015)

The Great Library #1

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When his friend inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn…”

Reading Order:

1. Ink and Bone (2015)
2. Paper and Fire (2016)
3. Ash and Quill (2017)
4. Smoke and Iron (2018)
5. Sword and Pen (2019)

Around the Globe

Picture Books:

Sophie Blackall, If You Come to Earth (2020)

If You Come to Earth  is a glorious guide to our home planet, and a call for us to take care of both Earth and each other.

This beautiful book is inspired by the thousands of children Sophie Blackall has met during her travels around the world in support of UNICEF and Save the Children.

If you come to Earth, there are a few things you need to know . . .
We live in all kinds of places.
In all kinds of homes.
In all kinds of families.
Each of us is different. But all of us are amazing.
And, together, we share one beautiful planet.
​
This masterful and moving picture book is a visually comprehensive guide to the earth, imbued with warmth and humor, that celebrates the magic of ordinary days on our beloved home planet.”

Nonfiction Chapter Books:

Jill Esbaum, Little Kids First Big Book of Where (2020)

Preschoolers are full of “Where?” questions, and this next book in the best-selling Little Kids First Big Book series is full of fascinating and often surprising answers for them.

This charming reference book zeroes in on location, location, location. More than 200 colourful photos are paired with age-appropriate text featuring answers to questions like “Where does the sky end?”, “Where is the highest mountain?”, and “Where was ice cream invented?” Containing several kid-friendly maps designed to expand the learning experience, this book inspires kids to be curious, ask questions, and explore the world around them.”

Middle-Grade Graphic Novels:

Rick Riordan and Ethan Young, The Maze of Bones (2023)

The 39 Clues #1

The graphic novel adaptation of the mega-bestseller that launched a global phenomenon! Minutes before she died Grace Cahill changed her will, leaving her decendants an impossible “You have a choice – one million dollars or a clue.” Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world’s most powerful family. Everyone from Marie Curie to Harry Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 Clues hidden around the world will reveal the family’s secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and young Amy and Dan must decide what’s hunting clues or uncovering what REALLY happened to their parents.

Ethan Young

Middle-Grade Graphic Novels:

Rick Riordan and Ethan Young, The Maze of Bones (2023)

The 39 Clues #1

The graphic novel adaptation of the mega-bestseller that launched a global phenomenon! Minutes before she died Grace Cahill changed her will, leaving her decendants an impossible “You have a choice – one million dollars or a clue.” Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world’s most powerful family. Everyone from Marie Curie to Harry Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 Clues hidden around the world will reveal the family’s secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and young Amy and Dan must decide what’s hunting clues or uncovering what REALLY happened to their parents.

Soft-Spoken Strong Heroine

Young Adult Books:

Brandon Sanderson, Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?”

Seafaring

Animated Movies:

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)

Goddess Eris frames Sinbad in the robbery of the Book of Peace. Sinbad must travel to the end of the world to recover the book to save the life of his friend Prince Proteus.”

Directors: Patrick Gilmore, Tim Johnson.

Writer: John Logan.

Young Adult Books:

Brandon Sanderson, Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?”

Ship Stowaway

Young Adult Books:

Brandon Sanderson, Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?”

Girl Saves Boy

Young Adult Books:

Brandon Sanderson, Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?”

Brandon Sanderson

Young Adult Books:

 Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?”

Pirates

Animated Movies:

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)

Goddess Eris frames Sinbad in the robbery of the Book of Peace. Sinbad must travel to the end of the world to recover the book to save the life of his friend Prince Proteus.”

Directors: Patrick Gilmore, Tim Johnson.

Writer: John Logan.

Young Adult Books:

Brandon Sanderson, Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?”

Whales

Picture Books:

Nick Bland, Walk of the Whales (2022)

When all of the whales in the ocean leave their home to walk around on land, people don’t quite know what to think.

But soon shopkeepers go out of business, farms are flooded with water and salt, and people shout horrible, anti-whale words.

That is, until, a smart little girl decides to ask the whales what everyone can do to help.”

New City

TV Series:

Ted Lasso (2020-2023)

An American football coach is hired to manage a British soccer team; what he lacks in knowledge, he makes up for in optimism, determination and biscuits.”

Cast: Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Anthony Head.