Magic in the Park

Gr 2–4—Fantasy author Chew knew how to tempt kids: spells, witches, wizards, and sea serpents were all to be found in her burgeoning bag of tricks. Starting in 2013, with No Such Thing as a Witch, and Three Witch Tales, and What the Witch Left, Random House has been rereleasing her books, jazzed up with new jacket art, under the series title "A Matter-of-Fact Magic Book." These offerings all retain Chew's classic black-and-white illustrations, and there's even an Easter egg for readers with a love of all things vintage (removing the dust jacket reveals the old covers by Chew, still intact). Each of these latest rereleases follows a different boy-girl pair through an exhilarating adventure, packed with whimsical details and kid-friendly thrills. In Magic in the Park, Jennifer, a newcomer to Brooklyn, explores Prospect Park with her friend Mike, discovering a strange—and possibly magical—old man who feeds the birds, while in The Would-be Witch, siblings Andy and Robin shrink down to the size of mice and ride a magical flying dustpan, only to find themselves in the company of witches. These titles will attract a new generation of budding fantasy fans. Look for new editions of Chew's other books, still to come.