Paula Harrison spent many years teaching in primary schools before becoming an author of children’s books. Here are her favourite five magical books for kids.
Dragon Storm: Tomas and Ironskin by Alastair Chisholm
This is the first book in the series where each main character is striving to bond with a dragon and become a dragon rider. Best for readers aged 7+ and full of fantasy and adventure.
Isadora Moon Goes to School by Harriet Muncaster
Isadora Moon is half-fairy and half-vampire which makes her totally unique! In this first book in the series, Isadora is trying to work out where she fits in. Best suited to readers aged 5+. Isadora is a very relatable character and there are plenty of illustrations here for younger readers.
Read more:
- Top 5 children’s books about animals, selected by Oscar’s Lion author Adam Baron
- Top 5 books on wood, trees and forests, chosen by woodworker and writer Callum Robinson
- Top 5 books about children and nature, chosen by CC Harrington
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
This is a classic story that has stood the test of time. Three children find a magic tree with mysterious revolving lands at the top. I’ve always wanted to eat Silky’s pop cakes and use the slide that coils around inside the tree trunk.
The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo
This is set in Wales and draws on Welsh legends. Gwyn’s family have been broken apart by tragedy, but when Gwyn gets the snow spider he realises that there’s magic all around him and he’s part of it. Nimmo is a great fantasy writer and this is best suited for 9+ readers.
