The Missing Magic

The Magical Animal Adoption Agency #3

by Kallie George, Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator)

A new volunteer has joined the Magical Animal Adoption Agency, and Clover's not too happy about it! Oliver Von Hoof is supposed to be an expert on magical animals, but he's barely older than Clover. How can he be an expert on anything? And it doesn't help that Mr. Jams keeps turning to Oliver instead of Clover for help with the animals. When Mr. Jams is called away from the Agency on a secret mission, Clover and Oliver are put in charge of the Agency once again. But when Picnic the invisible puppy starts turning visible, and the Agency's green cat, Dipity, begins to look white, Clover and Oliver realize that all of the amazing creatures are becoming ordinary. Even Oliver's trusty magical wands aren't enough to cure them! Will Oliver and Clover learn to work together in time to restore the animals' magical powers? Alexandra Boiger's delightful illustrations shine in the third book of Kallie George's The Magical Animal Adoption Agency series where an open heart can best the nastiest of spells.

Genres: Fantasy, Animals, Chapter Books, Childrens, Middle Grade, Magic, Fiction

145 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 2, 2016

About the author

I’m an author, editor, and speaker living in Vancouver, BC, near the sea. When I’m not writing or editing, I’m teaching creative writing workshops.

I have my Masters of Children's Literature from the University of British Columbia.

I love picture books, fairy tales, beautiful art and music, and baking cookies.

Reviews

[Fi's Journey · Rating 3 out of 5]

'This was the Agency, and anything was possible - as long as the door was open and your heart was too.'

I enjoyed the first two books in the Magical Animal Adoption Agency and this one was just as enjoyable. Only this time a character became a bit annoying but I saw why it was like that and it helped the plot but it was SO obvious. Anyway, it definitely helped to distract me for a while, which is good.

[Kate Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good, cute ending to this series. 🤍🤍 I'm so glad I read these!

CW: magic.

[Ariel Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet series about a girl who feels very ordinary and ignored, but finds that her niche is taking care of animals at the Magical Animal Adoption Agency. They are great little transitional chapter books for kids who are finished with early readers but not quite ready for longer chapter books.

[Sabine Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Als Feli eines Morgens in die Vila der Zaubertiere kommt, verlieren alle Tiere ihre magischen Fähigkeiten und Eigenschaften, statt der winzigen Feenpferde entdeckt sie ganz normale Ponys. Und dann ist da noch der Phönix, der auf seinen Asche-Tag wartet.

Als die Sommerferien nahten, war Felicitas unglücklich, weil sie nicht mit ihrer Freundin zusammen auf dem Ponyhof Urlaub machen kann. Dann flog auch noch ihr Kanarienvogel davon. Sie lief ihm nach, um in wieder einzufangen und gelangte so in einen ihr unbekannten Teil des Waldes.
Es handelt sich um die Villa der Zaubertiere, die von einem seltsamen Herrn geleitet wird, der Feli herein bittet und ihr eine Stelle als Hilfe anbietet. In dieser Villa werden Zaubertiere aufgepäppelt, gepflegt und betreut, bis sie an eine passende Familie als Haustier vermittelt werden können.
Staunend begleitet Feli Herrn Jams durch das Gebäude und lernt schnell die Einhörner, eine verfluchte Kröte, Zwergpferde, Feuersalamander, Hexenkatzen und einen Drachen kennen. Alle Tiere wurden von ihren vorherigen Besitzern (bei den Einhörnern zumeist ungezogene Prinzessinnen) schlecht behandelt und warten nun auf neue Besitzer, die gut zu ihnen sind.
Feli ist überglücklich und gern bereit, den Ferienjob anzunehmen, doch womit sie nicht gerechnet hat, ist, dass Herr Jams sie allein lassen muss. Nach einer kurzen Einweisung ist sie plötzlich für alle Tiere verantwortlich.
Auch in diesem Band muss Herr Jams ganz plötzlich weg und Feli ist wieder auf sich allein gestellt, allerdings ist dafür ein „Fachmann“ angereist, mit dem hat Feli jedoch ein Problem.

Sehr viele Details sorgen dafür, dass diese Geschichte, die komplett aus Felis Sicht erzählt wird, so richtig ans Herz geht. Feli glaubt von sich selbst, dass sie eben immer Pech hat, weswegen alles schief geht, was sie anpackt. Doch sie lernt im Laufe der Geschichte, dass sie sich da wohl irrt. Sie ist sehr verantwortungsbewusst, liebevoll, zuverlässig und einfallsreich. Sie ist beharrlich und hilfsbereit.
So wird die Geschichte, die mit so viel Leichtigkeit und fantasievollen Kreaturen daherkommt, zu einem Text, der sowohl beim selber Lesen als auch beim Vorlesen seinen Charme entfaltet und die Leser/Zuhörer schnell dazu bringt, Felis eigene Einstellung zu sich selbst in Frage zu stellen.
Ganz nebenbei wird auch noch ein spannendes Abenteuer erzählt. Es geht um jede Menge mythologische Tiere (und einige neu erfundene), die alle ihre Probleme haben und ganz besondere Pflege brauchen.
Viele Details lassen den ersten Band der Reihe fast überquellen, eine skurrile Idee folgt der nächsten.
Jedes Buch ist liebevoll in Schwarz-Weiß illustriert, manchmal großformatig (bis zu einer Seite), manchmal nur mit einem Detail am Rand.
Inzwischen sind drei Bände erschienen. Immer steht eines der Tiere und seine Vermittlung im Mittelpunkt. Dabei entwickelt Feli sich jedes Mal ein Stückchen weiter.
1. Einhörner suchen ein Zuhause
2. Ein in Nest voller Überraschungen
3. Rettung für den Babyphönix
Fazit: Liebevoll gestaltete Bücher zum Träumen für alle tierliebenden Mädchen.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so cute!
In this third installment, Clover is in fear of being replaced as the M.A.A.A.'s volunteer when Oliver, the young Magical Animal Expert comes along. When Mr. Jams is called away on knightly duties, Clover and Oliver must work together to keep the magical animals safe and happy, but suddenly, the magic starts to go missing!

We've loved all of Kallie George's stories so far so it's no wonder we loved this series as well.
her characters are sweet and relatable and the 'drama' in the stories is always age-appropriate and easy to learn life lessons from. These books are magical and calming and my kiddo loves them!

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver was annoying 90% of the time, which was a pity because I felt he and Clover could have worked together earlier on in the story. I love the problem, and I like the effect it had on the magical animals. Wonderful trilogy and beautiful website. A huge part of why I love this story is the soft, dream-like illustrations. I will definitely recommend this to newly independent readers or anyone who had ever dreamt of adopting magical animals...

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time there is a young wizard living at the agency. He and Clover are supposed to take of the animals together. I like that this book is about friendship and trust. It was told in an interesting way. The animals and what happens to them are also interesting, and there are some new ones in this book, too.

[Alice Davidson · Rating 2 out of 5]

My 7-year-old daughter enjoyed this book when we read it together, but I constantly found my mind wandering. I thought Clover was too harsh towards Oliver from the beginning and she was described as being ridiculously helpless throughout. I also was annoyed that there was a creature called a hippocampus, which is a brain structure: That was confusing and odd.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

predictable

I knew the necklace would be a problem as soon as she took it and put it on. Why would you put on a necklace you stole?

Stealing is wrong and then hiding the evidence is sad. I do wish she had more consequences for her poor choice in actions but at least they were able to get it off finally.

[M.L.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a tad more predictable than the first two, but my kiddo still loves it. This one wrapped up in such a way that I'm not sure if there will be more in the series. A shame, since the series is quite charming.

[Ellen Rosenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one by Kallie George. My girls have loved this series and are so sad there is not a 4th book. Creative, engaging, magical, even a bit suspenseful. Beautiful language that was entertaining for the adult reading as well!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from my seven-year-old: It was a very good book. I really liked how it was set in the summer. I liked Picnic as an un-invisible dog because he was very cute and his wings were pretty. I really like the author’s books because they’re very creative.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only disappointed that it appears it was only a three book series. (Now I don't always need or want a 20+ book series length, but at three books , there seems that there could have been more stories to tell about the Agency). My 4 year old enjoyed it.

[Tweller83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute installment in the series. I really like the magical animals. The parents are still a mystery, but you can't really have a book like this with a young protagonist if the parents are actually paying attention so I get it. Good book, especially for the younger set.

[Thuy · Rating 5 out of 5]

my poor DD. getting to know the feeling of longing for the next book in the series

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming. Not quite as engrossing as the previous two, but it was still fun to read aloud with my 7-year-old.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 5 year old loves this series and can't wait for the next one. We're going to try Kallie George's other series, Heartwood Hotel, in the meantime.

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clover does not like having Oliver at the Agency. But when the animals start losing their magic, she will need his help to save them.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My girls enjoyed hearing this 3rd book in the series.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG CUTE

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book! It's as good as the past 3

[John R. Roby · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-year old loves this series. he would read again immediately.

[Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy sad sad sad sad mad mad sorry sorry sad 😊😃

[Sierra Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books were really charming, I'm sorry the series ends here

[Marlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute and fun story. Simple and generic, but also sweet.

[Hiver Koehle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel happy. I liked the part where they found the mermaid in a wheelbarrow and she had a pet named Neptune.

[Huxy Pie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this, it got 5 stars because when I was a kid, this was perfect.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was charmed by this little chapter book about a girl who volunteers in a magic pet adoption agency. Clover does something she shouldn't and this action causes near disaster for all the magical animals and people. To resolve the problem she has to learn to work collaboratively with Oliver, a fellow volunteer.

[Cassie Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment of this series was just as cute as the first two. Enjoyable to read and listen to for all the ages, and one we will read again!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

George, Kallie, ill. by Alexandra Bolger. Missing Magic(Magical Animal Adoption Agency, #3). pgs. 139. Disney Hyperion, 2016. $14.99. Language: G, Mature Content; G, Violence: G

When Mr. Jams leaves the agency to go help a friend, Clover and Olive van Hoof, the new guy, are left in charge. The problem is neither one can agree with how to run the agency and take care of the animals. As magic starts leaving the magical animals in the agency, however, the two must put their differences aside to figure out how to save the animals and the agency. Will they succeed?

The illustrations in this book are detailed and eye-catching. The descriptions in the book are fun and easy to get wrapped up in. The plot is simple, but engaging. The characters are well-developed and likable for an early chapter book. Fans of magic, adventure, mythology, and fantasy will enjoy reading this book. Although you can read it out of order, it is recommended that you read the first 2 in the series first.

EL (K-3). ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.
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