From the renowned author, Jess Kidd comes her first children’s book, and what a fun, exciting children’s book it is. Meet Alfie Blackstack. After his parents tragically die in separate strange and unusual incidents he is sent to live with his aunts in Little Snoddington. He barely knows his aunts, the only thing he can remember involves a dancing turkey and his mum calling them a pair of witches. He had presumed that she was just being nasty and not that they were actual witches. Just after he arrives to stay with his aunts, the circus arrives in town, bringing with it Calypso and her little sister Nova who Alfie becomes friendly with. It isn’t easy though being the newcomer to town, having witches for aunts, and a new best friend who is adventurous and daring, whilst you are most definitely not. But Alfie must learn to be brave when Nova goes missing in a cloud of green smoke, surely magic must be involved and anything to do with magic is scary!! Everyday Magic is a complete adventure. It is filled with joyous moments surrounded by what sounds like it is going to be a sad story, ‘orphan child’, ‘little kid goes missing’. But it is anything but sad, it is fun, energetic, and riveting. Alfie is such an adorable child with his too-short shorts, too-big shoes, and bright orange jacket he wears all the time. With his parents being exceptionally adventurous you would have expected him to be too, but Alfie hates most things, fast things, high things, scary things, animals, etc. He’d much rather sit quietly and read a book. The bringing together of Alfie and Calypso was pure genius as they are complete opposites and yet they work perfectly together. They hit it off from the moment they meet. As well as Nova going missing, the pair are also trying to work out what the imp in a snowglobe (go with it) is trying to tell them. Though he does like to cause a lot of destruction too. This is a wonderful book, entertaining from the first page to the last and I hope that Jess Kidd writes more children’s books as she has a real knack for it.

“’She doesn’t really pickle boys, does she?’ Gertrude laughed nervously. ‘Zita can get a bit grumpy. Perhaps avoid talking to her, or looking at her, or drawing her attention in any way.’ That didn’t sound too good. ‘What about her bat?’ asked Alfie. ‘Magnus? Oh, he prefers tomato juice to blood these days, so you should be all right. Just watch your eyes.’ ‘My eyes?’ ‘It’s probably best to keep your glasses on,’ warned Gertrude. ‘Eyes are a favourite snack of bats.’” Everyday Magic is a book for younger readers by award-winning British author, Jess Kidd. When each of his parents perishes in unfortunate (and stupid) accidents, nine-year-old Alfie Blackstack is sent to live with his father’s younger sisters. Gertrude and Zitalina Blackstack live in Switherbroom Hall, a large old house in the woods near Little Snoddington, where Gertrude runs the Chemist’s Shop and Zita concocts the remedies. Alfie has already heard the rumours that his aunts are witches, and Gertrude (the friendly aunt) confirms it with a bit of magic when she takes Alfie to Mrs Mention’s Tea Room. She warns Alfie about Zita (the scary aunt) and her Familiar. Gertrude is pleased to see Calypso Fagan pass by the tearoom: it means that Fagan’s Family Circus is in town, and Calypso is Alfie’s age, so perhaps the friendless boy will finally have a friend. Even if things get off to s slightly rocky start, after Alfie helps Calypso find her missing little sister, Nova, their friendship is sealed. Then, in the village where nothing happens, Nova is kidnapped and imprisoned in a snow-globe by an imp and Aunt Zita falls foul of the Head Witch and is put into witch prison. With their meagre knowledge of magic and spells, Alfie and Calypso need to find Zita and release Nova. This is a tale that will certainly entertain younger readers who will delight in the witches and their Familiars, the magic, the scary bits, the nastiness and the ultimate triumph of the good guys. What could be more fun than witches who have upgraded from brooms to vacuum cleaners? What could be scarier than Snakes and Ladders over a crocodile pool? A fun read.