Magic World

E. Nesbit had a genius for children's fiction that never condescended. THE MAGIC WORLD proves it: twelve stories where cats speak, bells ring with purpose, and princesses get uglified as punishment. There's wicked fairies, enchanted kingdoms, and enough cleverness to make adult readers just as delighted as the children they're reading to. These aren't your sanitized fairy tales. Nesbit's ironic, arch voice threads through every page, giving young readers credit for having brains. A talking cat might matter-of-factly explain the rules of magic. A girl might escape a curse through sheer practical sense. The magic here has teeth and logic and often a sense of humor about itself. First published in 1912, these stories have not aged a day. The tone is warm, the adventures are swift, and there's always a satisfying snap at the end. For readers who loved The Railway Children and want more of Nesbit's particular magic, or for anyone who believes children's literature should be as witty as it is wondrous.