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Spell #1
Frogspell
The first in a four-book series for younger readers set in the time of King Arthur. The adventures revisit Camelot, Merlin and Arthur but with a fresh touch, great characterisation and dialogue, and humour. The stories are well plotted, funny and perfectly pitched for the younger reader. Would-be wizard Max, his sister (who wants to be a knight), two humorous pet animal characters - Ferocious, a world-weary rat and Adolphus, an over-enthusiastic young dragon, encounter magic, double-dealing, Morgan le Fay's schemes to win the throne from Arthur, magical quests and more. Other titles coming in 2012: Cauldron Spells, Ice Spell and Sword Spell.
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Busby
9 books14 followersI wanted to be a children's writer from the age of about 10, but got distracted and became an anthropologist instead. I did fieldwork research in south India and then worked for ten years as an academic. I wrote my first children's book, Frogspell, while taking a break between jobs. The sequels, Cauldron Spells, Ice Spell and Swordspell are all now out and I'm working on a new trilogy, starting with Deep Amber which is out in March 2014. My books are fantasies, aimed at ages 7-10, with lots of humour and adventure. They are equally aimed at girls and boys - and grown-ups seem to quite enjoy them too!
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 14, 2014
The first three books in this quartet came into the library where I work as transfer items from another branch. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I was immediately attracted by the cute colourful pictures on the front, which intrigued me enough to read the blurbs on the back. I've always loved the Arthurian legends and tales of Merlin's magic, so I was further attracted to them. I'm always on the lookout for quick reads for my 8-12 year olds in my Chatterbooks group, so I decided to check them out [both literally and figuratively!]
Being such slim volumes, I put the first one in my bag, so I had it with me when we went to get the engine management warning light checked on our car. While the mechanic ran the diagnostic and fixed the problem, I read Frogspell from start to finish.
It is a rare treat for me to get to read a book in one sitting, even a relatively short easy read like this. It definitely added to my enjoyment. A delightful little tale, beautifully written, with charming characters and a cute, bumbling dragon. This story has it all! I'm a long way from the target audience, but I loved it. I'm sure young children who have become independent readers will love it too, as will those still sharing stories with their parents. It is easy to follow and sweeps the reader along on a whirlwind of adventure.
I've tracked down book four in another branch and reserved it, since I'm convinced I'll love the other titles too.
Being such slim volumes, I put the first one in my bag, so I had it with me when we went to get the engine management warning light checked on our car. While the mechanic ran the diagnostic and fixed the problem, I read Frogspell from start to finish.
It is a rare treat for me to get to read a book in one sitting, even a relatively short easy read like this. It definitely added to my enjoyment. A delightful little tale, beautifully written, with charming characters and a cute, bumbling dragon. This story has it all! I'm a long way from the target audience, but I loved it. I'm sure young children who have become independent readers will love it too, as will those still sharing stories with their parents. It is easy to follow and sweeps the reader along on a whirlwind of adventure.
I've tracked down book four in another branch and reserved it, since I'm convinced I'll love the other titles too.
June 19, 2018
A story about a school for witches and wizards set in Camelot in the days of King Arthur’s rule. A young squire accidentally creates a potion to turn a person into a frog and helps Merlin fight an evil sorceress.
A fun story with all the magic and charm of Camelot. The added bonus of weird potions and spells and how they can go awry make this a great adventure. It reminds me a bit of the TV show “Gummi Bears”.
The cover is gorgeous too!
A must-read for young fans of Camelot and the Arthurian legends attached to it.
A fun story with all the magic and charm of Camelot. The added bonus of weird potions and spells and how they can go awry make this a great adventure. It reminds me a bit of the TV show “Gummi Bears”.
The cover is gorgeous too!
A must-read for young fans of Camelot and the Arthurian legends attached to it.
March 16, 2018
I bought this to read with my daughter, who has recently started the Accelerated Reading Programme. She's a reluctant reader, so I wasn't sure how it would go! However, I was delighted to find that she engaged with the characters almost immediately. The idea of a young lad turning himself into a frog really appealed to her and for once, she was more than happy to sit with me, drink hot chocolate and read. Max, the main protagonist, is 11 and my daughter is 10. She clearly related to Max and his sister Olivia straight away and, as a result, we read the book, taking a chapter each in turn, in 2 sittings. She absolutely loved the story and wants to read books 2 and 3! Result! There is adventure, magic, a dopey dragon, a sarcastic rat, a nasty bully, a feisty sister, a reluctant hero...It's well-written and the language spot on - my daughter only had to check a handful of words throughout (eg dilemma). I found it really entertaining and greatly enjoyable and I thought the ending was well done - as soon as we'd finished, my daughter enthusiastically asked about reading the next book so she can see what happens next. So I am extremely grateful to CJ Busby, not just for writing such an engaging and entertaining book, but for giving me two lovely afternoons where my daughter and I shared a book we both greatly enjoyed and made each other laugh by giving Adolphus the dragon and Ferocious the rat silly voices as we read.
March 5, 2024
A mean-spirited book littered with fatphobia and “villains are ugly that’s how you can tell they’re the bad guys!” style descriptions.
Even the protagonists are unnecessarily mean to each other, and not in a natural sibling way. It took 94 pages for the main characters to show each other any sort of genuine-feeling affection.
The POV switches from paragraph to paragraph, making it hard to know who the scene is supposed to be focusing on. 2-4 different character’s internal thoughts in a single scene, when these thoughts could have been shown just as well with actions, without the distraction of randomly switching character POV.
There are some good writing flourishes in it. Some nice descriptors of actions that are done in an interesting way. I like some of the similes and the narrator has an interesting voice that is easy to read, even if it jumps to and fro.
The concept of the book is solid and age appropriate. The pacing is good and it doesn’t sit on things it doesn’t need to for too long.
The lead up to the 2nd book was done well, though I doubt I will be reading it.
Overall I think I might have liked it, if the characters gave me more reason to root for them other than being told “this is the protagonist, he should win. Because he is the protagonist.”
Even the protagonists are unnecessarily mean to each other, and not in a natural sibling way. It took 94 pages for the main characters to show each other any sort of genuine-feeling affection.
The POV switches from paragraph to paragraph, making it hard to know who the scene is supposed to be focusing on. 2-4 different character’s internal thoughts in a single scene, when these thoughts could have been shown just as well with actions, without the distraction of randomly switching character POV.
There are some good writing flourishes in it. Some nice descriptors of actions that are done in an interesting way. I like some of the similes and the narrator has an interesting voice that is easy to read, even if it jumps to and fro.
The concept of the book is solid and age appropriate. The pacing is good and it doesn’t sit on things it doesn’t need to for too long.
The lead up to the 2nd book was done well, though I doubt I will be reading it.
Overall I think I might have liked it, if the characters gave me more reason to root for them other than being told “this is the protagonist, he should win. Because he is the protagonist.”
December 31, 2021
Now that I work in a library, I need to know what books I have and I decided this would be one of the first books I would read. I wonder why?
It's an enchanting little tale and the opening story to many more exciting adventures for Max and his sister. Max is a wannabe wizard, but his father wants him to be a knight. Wasn't Merlin both? Max is only at the beginning of his exciting journey where he is trying to create a new spell for a competition, and by accident he stumbles on a spell which is unique and lands him into a pickle of his own, or should I say peppercorns?
A swift read, easy to understand or should I say comprehensive and provides plenty of imagery. Allow your imagination to run wild with this one.
I give this book four stars and recommend it to the early reader, to open up their world to the enchantment of a story filled with magic.
A lovely tale.
It's an enchanting little tale and the opening story to many more exciting adventures for Max and his sister. Max is a wannabe wizard, but his father wants him to be a knight. Wasn't Merlin both? Max is only at the beginning of his exciting journey where he is trying to create a new spell for a competition, and by accident he stumbles on a spell which is unique and lands him into a pickle of his own, or should I say peppercorns?
A swift read, easy to understand or should I say comprehensive and provides plenty of imagery. Allow your imagination to run wild with this one.
I give this book four stars and recommend it to the early reader, to open up their world to the enchantment of a story filled with magic.
A lovely tale.
April 14, 2018
A fun story for wannabe magicians. AKA all of us. This is a great kids book for a child to adventure off with on their own or have a family adventure reading it together. A good collection of fun magic, a setting in King Arthur’s court and some great characters!
July 8, 2018
This is such a cute kids book. We listened to the audiobook TWICE during our travels over the last two weeks. Max and Olivia plus their pets are really lovable characters and I loved the setting...welcome to the kids version of Camelot!
December 30, 2020
I read this because I had a Merlin (the TV show) hangover. :D It was a fun adventure, and I appreciated the way aspects of the Arthurian legends were woven into what started as an accidental adventure for the main characters. I was a little distracted though, because I simply couldn't stop myself from seeing Lady Morgana as Katie McGrath. My bad though.
April 7, 2019
A Charming Story. Some great comedy - I cracked up at the carrots and parsnips :)
March 9, 2014
I should have waited to finish writing a review of this book before giving it stars. Ultimately I started out giving it 3.5 stars, but when I started to contemplate who the audience was, I changed it to 4.
Before I started reading this book I had just finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman (a book for grown ups). I was afraid to read anything because, seriously, when you finish a book that stunning, nothing in the world will compare.
On account of this, I decided to go for a book where I had few expectations. Frogspell is a novel for students just into reading chapter books. I figured it probably wouldn't be overly complicated or rich, but hoped I could recommend it to boys and girls who are just moving into reading this kind of book on their own. The best thing about having no, or negative expectations, is that you can be pleasantly surprised. And I was!
It's a simple tale set at the time of King Arthur. It begins with Max Pendragon working out a new spell for the Novice's Spell-Making Competition. Right off the bat we learn a few important things about family dynamics at the Pendragon household. First, although his wife, Lady Griselda, is a witch, Max's father, Sir Bertram, does not much like magic. Second, Sir Bertram has traditional gender expectations for his children. Third, Max has a bothersome little sister, Olivia. Fourth, accidents seem to happen when Max is around magic.
It is a fun read. Accidentally, the potion Max was trying to create ends up turning Olivia, Max's pet rat, Ferocious, and himself into frogs. After some hilarious and nearly disastrous moments, they figure out how to reverse the spell.
When the family heads off to Castle Camelot for a festival and 'The Competition,' the children soon discover that mischief is afoot. They uncover a plot to kidnap King Arthur's son and set Lady Morgana le Fay in control of the kingdom. Max and the rest of them have to come up with a plan to save the prince before disaster strikes.
What I liked:
I liked that there was lots of action in the plot. I liked the humor. I liked that both the children felt constricted by the expectations their father has for them. The many kinds of characters are developed enough to be interesting, and make the reader want to find out more about them. I like that the ending, while satisfying, sets the reader up to anticipate the next book in the series. This is good because then all I have to do is get them started on the first!
I worry a bit that kids won't get all the historical nuances referenced here, but I don't really think it will matter in the long run. If they liked these, then I can introduce them to move complicated Arthurian legends all in good time.
I plan to pick up the next two in the series, Cauldron Spells and IceSpell at the Scholastic Book fair in the library this week.
This review is from my blog at
http://dickenslibrary.blogspot.ca/201...
Before I started reading this book I had just finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman (a book for grown ups). I was afraid to read anything because, seriously, when you finish a book that stunning, nothing in the world will compare.
On account of this, I decided to go for a book where I had few expectations. Frogspell is a novel for students just into reading chapter books. I figured it probably wouldn't be overly complicated or rich, but hoped I could recommend it to boys and girls who are just moving into reading this kind of book on their own. The best thing about having no, or negative expectations, is that you can be pleasantly surprised. And I was!
It's a simple tale set at the time of King Arthur. It begins with Max Pendragon working out a new spell for the Novice's Spell-Making Competition. Right off the bat we learn a few important things about family dynamics at the Pendragon household. First, although his wife, Lady Griselda, is a witch, Max's father, Sir Bertram, does not much like magic. Second, Sir Bertram has traditional gender expectations for his children. Third, Max has a bothersome little sister, Olivia. Fourth, accidents seem to happen when Max is around magic.
It is a fun read. Accidentally, the potion Max was trying to create ends up turning Olivia, Max's pet rat, Ferocious, and himself into frogs. After some hilarious and nearly disastrous moments, they figure out how to reverse the spell.
When the family heads off to Castle Camelot for a festival and 'The Competition,' the children soon discover that mischief is afoot. They uncover a plot to kidnap King Arthur's son and set Lady Morgana le Fay in control of the kingdom. Max and the rest of them have to come up with a plan to save the prince before disaster strikes.
What I liked:
I liked that there was lots of action in the plot. I liked the humor. I liked that both the children felt constricted by the expectations their father has for them. The many kinds of characters are developed enough to be interesting, and make the reader want to find out more about them. I like that the ending, while satisfying, sets the reader up to anticipate the next book in the series. This is good because then all I have to do is get them started on the first!
I worry a bit that kids won't get all the historical nuances referenced here, but I don't really think it will matter in the long run. If they liked these, then I can introduce them to move complicated Arthurian legends all in good time.
I plan to pick up the next two in the series, Cauldron Spells and IceSpell at the Scholastic Book fair in the library this week.
This review is from my blog at
http://dickenslibrary.blogspot.ca/201...
July 23, 2014
Frogspell is a fun little read about a boy called Max who is lousy with anything resembling a weapon and would much prefer to be a wizard. He sets out to create a spell so impressive that it will win him the Novices' Spell-Making Competition and finally get him noticed. This is how he accidentally invented the frogspell during a fight with his sister and how they end up helping Merlin to stop the Lady Morgana in her tracks.
This book is absolutely adorable. Written for the younger reader, there is a lot of humour geared towards kids. Of course, as adults we might not always 'get' it, however even in my foulest mood while reading this I found myself chuckling along. At only 158 pages, Frogspell is a very quick read which is great for the younger generation who don't want to sit through 400 page novels but also for the rest of us. Sometimes a quick easy read is exactly what you need.
David Wyatt's illustrations are delightful and add to the story nicely. Children's books don't tend to have a lot of description so pictures are always a bonus and Frogspell has chosen its' artist well. Not only do they help you to form an accurate picture of the environment and characters but they themselves bring a little humour, as well as making the book more appealing to its' target audience. And I'm just a little bit in love with the cover art.
The story itself isn't anything new. It's an Arthurian retelling featuring the young awkward kid who doesn't get along with his sister who manages to accidentally create a powerful spell and save the day. The thing that makes it truly unique is all down to Busby. Her writing style is at once succinct and absorbing and thus easily, and most probably, read in one sitting. The characters are lively and varied. From Max and Olivia to their caring parents, the evil and deceitful sorceress with her lackeys who are more like very mean bullies, and of course the talking animals, my absolute favourite being Adolphus, Olivia's pet dragon who is most definitely two sandwiches short of a picnic and afraid of heights. It's all quite Disneyesque which is fantastic when you happen to love Disney.
If you're looking for a fun and quick read, perhaps aimed towards young kids, I would definitely recommend Frogspell. It is a fantastic read for kids but just as enjoyable for older readers. It has bursts of humour which will have you giggling, adventure, magic, and a very silly pet dragon. What's not to love?
This book is absolutely adorable. Written for the younger reader, there is a lot of humour geared towards kids. Of course, as adults we might not always 'get' it, however even in my foulest mood while reading this I found myself chuckling along. At only 158 pages, Frogspell is a very quick read which is great for the younger generation who don't want to sit through 400 page novels but also for the rest of us. Sometimes a quick easy read is exactly what you need.
David Wyatt's illustrations are delightful and add to the story nicely. Children's books don't tend to have a lot of description so pictures are always a bonus and Frogspell has chosen its' artist well. Not only do they help you to form an accurate picture of the environment and characters but they themselves bring a little humour, as well as making the book more appealing to its' target audience. And I'm just a little bit in love with the cover art.
The story itself isn't anything new. It's an Arthurian retelling featuring the young awkward kid who doesn't get along with his sister who manages to accidentally create a powerful spell and save the day. The thing that makes it truly unique is all down to Busby. Her writing style is at once succinct and absorbing and thus easily, and most probably, read in one sitting. The characters are lively and varied. From Max and Olivia to their caring parents, the evil and deceitful sorceress with her lackeys who are more like very mean bullies, and of course the talking animals, my absolute favourite being Adolphus, Olivia's pet dragon who is most definitely two sandwiches short of a picnic and afraid of heights. It's all quite Disneyesque which is fantastic when you happen to love Disney.
If you're looking for a fun and quick read, perhaps aimed towards young kids, I would definitely recommend Frogspell. It is a fantastic read for kids but just as enjoyable for older readers. It has bursts of humour which will have you giggling, adventure, magic, and a very silly pet dragon. What's not to love?
June 29, 2014
I have seen these books on the shelf and often thought they looked quite fun but never got round to picking them up, then my mum read them for her book group at the library i think and passed them to me. As they are so short I thought why not!
Frogspell follows Max, a young boy living in King Arthur's times. His father wants him to train to be a knight, but Max wants to be a wizard, he has heard of the great Merlin and wants to be just like him. If only he could win the annual spell competition, but to do that he will have to beat Adrian Hogsbottom who has beat him the last two years (although there is suspected cheating involved).
Max accidentally creates a spell to turn people into frogs, but accident or not it's a good piece of magic, but when he gets involved in a dangerous plot involving Morgana Le Fay and Arthur's capture Max has to use all of his skills to save him. With the help of his sister Olivia and her accident-prone forgetful dragon Adolphus and Max's pet Rat Ferocious who has more attitude that useful help, it's not going to be easy.
This book is only 158 pages long and is really easy to read, the story is quite simple but it is aimed at slightly younger readers. There isn't an awful lot of detail and the story isn't particularly detailed but it is perfect for it's intended audience and a fun read. I really enjoyed it and would definitely read the rest of the series.
I think this book would be ideal for children looking for a fun action packed adventure but don't feel ready for anything too big.
I may try it with my book group too. I've always loved anything to do with King Arthur anyway so I was bound to enjoy it. This gives a fresh and interesting twist to the world
Frogspell follows Max, a young boy living in King Arthur's times. His father wants him to train to be a knight, but Max wants to be a wizard, he has heard of the great Merlin and wants to be just like him. If only he could win the annual spell competition, but to do that he will have to beat Adrian Hogsbottom who has beat him the last two years (although there is suspected cheating involved).
Max accidentally creates a spell to turn people into frogs, but accident or not it's a good piece of magic, but when he gets involved in a dangerous plot involving Morgana Le Fay and Arthur's capture Max has to use all of his skills to save him. With the help of his sister Olivia and her accident-prone forgetful dragon Adolphus and Max's pet Rat Ferocious who has more attitude that useful help, it's not going to be easy.
This book is only 158 pages long and is really easy to read, the story is quite simple but it is aimed at slightly younger readers. There isn't an awful lot of detail and the story isn't particularly detailed but it is perfect for it's intended audience and a fun read. I really enjoyed it and would definitely read the rest of the series.
I think this book would be ideal for children looking for a fun action packed adventure but don't feel ready for anything too big.
I may try it with my book group too. I've always loved anything to do with King Arthur anyway so I was bound to enjoy it. This gives a fresh and interesting twist to the world
November 19, 2014
It is time to take yet another canter around King Arthur's court. And the protagonist here is eleven year old Max Pendragon. Max is a reluctant squire. His real talent lies in magic and he hopes to be a legitimate wizard one day. But familial pressures, snotty competitors and awry spells combine to make him one very frustrated and hapless little boy.
Events suddenly take a dangerous turn when King Arthur's son is kidnapped by the nefarious and powerful Lady Morgana le Fay. It is up to Max, his accidentally brewed batch of Frogspell, his feisty sister Olivia (who wants to be a knight), his world-weary pet rat Ferocious and Olivia's overenthusiastic but slightly dim baby dragon Adolphus to save the day.
A well-etched cast of characters (including a stern Merlin and a dark Morgana), quick plotting, humorous happenings and a story that flows effortlessly makes Frogspell an engaging read. The action begins from the start with hardly any dilly-dallying and this works for the young reader. It is also a good way to pique the kiddie-brigade's interest in the Arthurian Legend.
Littered with beautiful illustrations, Frogspell sets the path for a fun medieval ride.
Events suddenly take a dangerous turn when King Arthur's son is kidnapped by the nefarious and powerful Lady Morgana le Fay. It is up to Max, his accidentally brewed batch of Frogspell, his feisty sister Olivia (who wants to be a knight), his world-weary pet rat Ferocious and Olivia's overenthusiastic but slightly dim baby dragon Adolphus to save the day.
A well-etched cast of characters (including a stern Merlin and a dark Morgana), quick plotting, humorous happenings and a story that flows effortlessly makes Frogspell an engaging read. The action begins from the start with hardly any dilly-dallying and this works for the young reader. It is also a good way to pique the kiddie-brigade's interest in the Arthurian Legend.
Littered with beautiful illustrations, Frogspell sets the path for a fun medieval ride.
October 1, 2014
Really enjoyed this story about a boy who wants to become a Wizard even though his father wants him to become a Knight. The whole story is based on a spell he has created for the Novices' Spell-Making Competition.
At the start of each chapter there is an illustration by David Wyatt - these are a very beautiful addition to the book, and work really well with the story although do tend to give away what is going to happen before you have read it.
I had borrowed this book from the library, and have part 2 & 3 as well which I look forward to also reading. Unfortunately I do not think I will be able to get my hands on the last part, part 4 for quite a while yet even though it is published already.
At the start of each chapter there is an illustration by David Wyatt - these are a very beautiful addition to the book, and work really well with the story although do tend to give away what is going to happen before you have read it.
I had borrowed this book from the library, and have part 2 & 3 as well which I look forward to also reading. Unfortunately I do not think I will be able to get my hands on the last part, part 4 for quite a while yet even though it is published already.
March 27, 2015
From the very first moment that this book I started, I found myself hooked. Straight away you are thrust into the action as a spell that Max is brewing goes completely wrong due to his pet dragon and he accidentally turns himself into a frog! Just from this, it is clear to see how much fun and adventure is hidden within this book and I think that it is the perfect book for younger children. It has all the qualities needed to entertain you, as well as keeping you interested enough to continue on the series.
January 18, 2014
I read this book with aim to teach it to my younger students in my creative writing class; it's a good fit with themes of magic, mythology, and monsters, as it includes transformations and is set in the kingdom of Camelot and draws on classic characters such as Merlin and King Arthur. It's cleanly written and had a straightforward story that I'm sure my students will love. Myself, I wanted a bit more magic in the writing and in the characters. There are some delightful illustrations to begin each chapter.
February 7, 2017
I'm in love with this book. I've always been fascinated by Merlin's story. To have the world of Camelot around the story if the young wizard apprentice, Max Pendragon, his sister, Olivia Pendragon and their pets, Ferocious and Adolphus is just delightful. I've found another gem in the children's fantasy genre. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Will recommend this book to my students for sure.
September 9, 2016
These books are fun and short. Perfect for kids that are just starting to read novels.
Final Verdict: funny and short, definitely not one of those books you can read as an adult and enjoy as much as you would as a kid (like Harry Potter)
Review by Rebecca Chamberlain, all opinions, ratings, reviews and thoughts are entirely my own
Final Verdict: funny and short, definitely not one of those books you can read as an adult and enjoy as much as you would as a kid (like Harry Potter)
Review by Rebecca Chamberlain, all opinions, ratings, reviews and thoughts are entirely my own
December 19, 2011
For readers aged 5-10. One of the best features are the illustrations and cover. Looks exciting and pretty. The story is not very new or original, but kids probably will not care and like it anyway.
August 3, 2013
I just love this book, such a good story, read it in a day
January 29, 2013
Fun magical read for primary age children, first in a series too I think.
January 26, 2016
Super cute! Absolutely loved it & that it draws on tales of Arthur, Merlin & Morgana Le Fay.
March 17, 2015
This was a fun read with my kids. We will definitely be reading the second one.
May 9, 2014
Very cute book. Nice easy read for kids with enough humor to keep them interested.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews