Learn the secrets to becoming a Disney fairy godmother in the first book of this new illustrated chapter book series for young readers!
Rory Spellington is fluttering with excitement as she begins her first year at the prestigious Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy! But fairy godmothering might not be as easy as she thought, especially because Rory has always struggled with spelling― magic spelling that is. During her first week at the academy, Rory discovers there is more to being a good fairy godmother than magic, and she will learn she has her own set of talents that set her apart.
"An effervescent, adorable series opener." –Kirkus
Add these other magical titles to your collection:
Very cute, practically had me squealing with how much I love the premise and execution of ideas. But it's super short, like even for an early chapter book, and it leaves you feeling like you're missing something.
One of the 2023-2024 Sunshine State books for K-2nd grade at the elementary school I work at. I thought it was a great beginner chapter book. It teaches spelling, friendship, and confidence in oneself. It was really cute, and I loved the rhyming, illustrations, and Disney references.
A cute story of friendship and magic. The illustrations were beautiful which is why I even chose to rate this book. We love some good racial diversity illustrations and this book did a great job at that. A great read a loud to my kids.
This is adorable! I love the setting, the story, the illustrations - all of it! A good story, too - this would be great for kids that struggle to spell or if they feel like they can’t do anything right in school. It doesn’t take much to know how to be a good friend!
I’m an elementary school librarian and saw this while organizing my early chapter books. It was very cute, but very very short. I wish it was longer! I will be putting it on my recommendation shelf so my students see it and hopefully check it out!
10/11/2022 Great start to the series! Full review of this and the companion in my galley tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
10/13/2022 It's time for fairy godmothers (and fathers), or at least ones in training, to take center stage!
In the first book of this charming series, Rory And The Magical Mix-Ups, Rory Spellington is super excited to attend the Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy, the boarding school for fairy godparents in training. Unfortunately, she's a little behind on her spelling, having spent her childhood amidst regular children, as her fairy parents chose to live incognito among humans as booksellers instead of living with their magical brethren. As such, her peers have already been to preschools and summer camps that taught them basic spells, instead of the mundane stuff Rory knows.
Rory really wants to impress her new classmates and teachers but everything seems to go wrong almost upon arrival. She works hard and is slowly getting better, but still feels totally unprepared when it comes time for her first big magical assignment. Will her spellwork be up to the task of granting a child's dearest wish? Better yet, will she discover hidden strengths in her quest to become a fairy godmother?
The second book, Mai And The Tricky Transformation, features Rory's best friend Mai Magicwhisp, who is a maximalist after my own heart. Mai, however, is even more extra than I am, insisting on more more more when casting her magic spells. When it comes time for the second big assignment of her stay at Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy, she finds herself accidentally pairing up with snooty fellow fairy Tatia. Tatia always wants to be first and best, so the girls are originally in sync when it comes to completing their assignment. But when Mai's thirst for more accidentally transforms Tatia into a unicorn, will the girls be able to set aside their differences and find a cure, before Tatia's dream of being a fairy godmother is lost forever?
These were a terrific take on the Disney canon, tho I likely enjoyed the first book a smidge more than the second. Rory's introduction to the Academy also set the scene for new readers, initiating us into the wonders of the setting. I thought the play on the word "spell" was inspired, and likely endearing to kids who have trouble with the subject as well. The second book was very cute but lacked that little bit of fish-out-of-water relatability for us non-magical readers that sets the first book apart.
Both books, however, enjoyed cleverly subverting tropes. Whether it was Mr Frog's disgruntlement at meeting wizards to Ms Ebony's disdain for curse-breakers, the books hilariously and gently poke fun at the fairy stories we already know.
Lorena Alvarez Garcia illustrates Kallie George's words with plenty of verve and wit. Her artwork is both incredibly cute and stylish, and colorful if the covers are anything to go by. Alas, I was only sent black and white interiors, which I can only imagine are even more captivating in full color. I know that the blurry interiors of my advanced proofs didn't hold a candle to the glorious art of the cover!
These are great books for young readers looking to expand their horizons from the standard fairy tales, while still enjoying that tried-and-true Disney magic. My very first beloved book was Disney's Cinderella, and I can totally see these becoming the first favorite books of others. Bonus that they're less about being a magical princess whom things happen to than a magical fairy who helps good things happen to others.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy 1: Rory And The Magical Mix-Ups by Kallie George & Lorena Alvarez Gomez was published October 11 2022 by Disney-Hyperion and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy is an effervescent and exciting new illustrated series by author Kallie George and with illustrations by Lorena Alvarez Gomez.
Geared toward readers aged 5 to 8 years (or Kindergarten to grade 3), this all-new chapter book series teaches young readers the secrets to becoming a Disney fairy godmother and wielding creative and useful magic through fun-loving characters.
Book One: Rory and the Magical Mix-Ups
Rory Spellington is fluttering with excitement as she begins her first year at the prestigious Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy! But fairy godmothering might not be as easy as she thought, especially because Rory has always struggled with spelling―magic spelling that is. During her first week at the academy, Rory discovers there is more to being a good fairy godmother than magic, and she will learn she has her own set of talents that set her apart.
Book Two: Mai and the Tricky Transformation
Determined to earn her wand twinkles at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Ball, Mai Magicwhisp decides to do all of her spells at once. But her plan to perform the most magical transformation ever is put on hold when she accidentally turns one of her classmates, Tatia Shine, into a unicorn! Now Mai has to work together with Tatia to reverse the transformation before Tatia is stuck as a unicorn forever.
Book Three: Ophelia and the Fairy Field Trip
Ophelia is excited to go on the fairy field trip to Atlantica so she can visit the Wishing Whirlpool. There is only one problem: Ophelia can’t help being helpful! Every time she is about to go off on her own, she gets distracted by someone who needs her assistance. But when she runs into her sea witch cousin, Octavia, Ophelia might learn what true help means.
At first glance, these books undeniably contain adorable illustrations and enchanting colors. Once readers embark on the stories, they will discover that they are broken down into chapters, much like any novel. I thought this was an inspiring layout for young readers who are bridging the gap between very early reading material and moving toward lengthier books. The chapters are not daunting, as the language and story still provide for easy reading and the books are not too lengthy. Rory’s story also includes opportunities to learn how to spell certain key words, which, again, assists in bridging the gap.
In addition to the aesthetic and practical aspects of the books, the characters discover that there is more to being a good fairy godmother than magic, and they learn that their own set of talents set them apart (even if that means they can’t be good at everything). Each tale provides great lessons in developing your own unique skills and learning what is, and what is not, for you. The importance of trying is key, and if you don’t initially succeed, it doesn’t matter – you will learn from it and are always encouraged to just try again.
Brimming with beauty pleasing to eye, heart and developing young brains, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy stories belong in schools, homes and along for the ride in every aspiring fairy godmother’s backpack.
This book is actually two early chapter books bundled together. The first is about Rory Spellington, a young fairy, who is great at spelling (words) but struggles with spelling (casting spells). Over the course of the story she discovers her own unique talents and learns that she is very special! The second book is about Mai Magicwhisp who is also learning to cast spells. She really wants her own magic wand, so when she starts casting lots of spells at the same time to get things done faster, she ends up causing some problems!
Both stories are short, beginner chapter books with fairly large, accessible text and full colour illustrations. The words are fairly easy to decode and the story is easy to follow. I can definitely see young disney fans getting into this series. I always love when early chapter books come in a series because as a grade 3 teacher, sometimes getting the right books into the hands of the right kids is a huge part of my job and once a reluctant or struggling reader finds the right series for them, it is great to have more than one book to offer them another similar book. I would recommend this book to parents and teachers of children in the age 6-10 range who are ready to transition from picture books to chapterbooks. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review these books!
For the intended audience this is a cute book. I would place it around 2nd/3rd grade interest level. Once kids outgrow a love for Disney princesses, this book will no longer have relevance. Since it's a short book with excellent illustrations, it will serve the Hi-Lo community into 4th/5th grade if, as I mentioned, there is still an interest in princesses. I particularly like this series because of the moral lessons.
Book 1 introduces us to Rory who is going to Biddidi Bobbidi Academy to train to be a fairy godmother. She goes in at a disadvantage because she's not good at spelling. There's a double meaning in that, both in how to spell a word and how to cast a spell. Her spells all go wrong. For example, when she tries to give her heavy suitcase wings, it sings. When trying again later, she causes it to make strings.
In the end, her messed-up wand spells don't matter. As the other fairies are granting wishes like cupcakes and parities for a sad boy, Rory is able to discern what he really wants: a friend. She is able to coach him on how to win over a friend, which requires no magic.
From Disney-Hyperion, this early chapter book series is perfect for those who love magic, especially the magic of Cinderella’s fairy godmother character. Rory’s dream is to become a fairy godmother and to help children with her magic, but fears that her “spelling” may not be good enough to get the job done. Sure enough, as she begins her studies at Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy, she makes mistakes, however, she also makes friends and learns some valuable lessons on what is really important and that her talents, while not perfect, are just right. Likely geared for grades 1-3, the simple text and plot line are ideal for early readers in grades 1 and 2 and those who may still be struggling a bit in 3rd. All will enjoy the illustrations and larger than usual font.
Note: Arc from Disney-Hyperion was in black & white, but it was easy to see how wonderful the final edition will be. Every spread has illustrations, borders and/or extra large onomatopoeia splashed onto page, providing great context clues and adding to the overall entertainment value.
I am a fan of the illustrator Lorena Alvarez Gómez, of Disney, and chapter books and early readers, so when I saw this stunning book on the shelf, I had to grab it. It is the first in a series of books which twist and expand the world the Disney princesses live in. In this series, Cinderella's fairy godmother teaches at a school for fairies. There are nods to other films, but generally the setting, characters, and world-building are unique. I wanted to like this very much, but it felt like there were many pieces missing from the narrative. There's in medias res and then there's —what? But I still enjoyed it. And like Hogwarts, I can't imagine there are many young readers who won't want to visit Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy. The MC, Rory, is quite sympathetic. I loved her solution to the ending dilemma which was both perfect for her character and celebrated her flaws. And the last page was charming (pun intended). I'll definitely give the sequels a try and hope that the target age is able to follow the storyline better than I did.
This is book one in the Bibbidi-Bobbidi academy and it is darling. It is a beginning chapter book on the lines of magic treehouse, except with fairies, and it’s the very first day at school. Roy is different from her classmates because she was raised in the human world so she didn’t go to magic preschool. That means she has a problem with spelling. Not spelling with letters but spelling with her wand. She really tries. Everything comes out just a little off. But practice and experience at school can help her become one of the best fairy godmother‘s. This book was adorable. Boys would like it as well as girls because there are some fairy godfathers. The illustrations are Disney magic on a page. They’re soft and dreamy, but bright and colorful and altogether it just works and I can’t wait to continue the series.
For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle
Such a sweet story! Rory dreams of being a fairy godmother, but she's having trouble with her magical spelling. It's her first week at Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy and no matter how hard she tries, her spells aren't going as planned. Will she be ready for her first magical assignment?
A wonderfully told story. Nice themes of friendship, creative problem solving, and helping others. Also has nice messages about listening to what others need instead of making assumptions.
The illustrations are absolutely stunning. Beautiful use of color. The artwork is interspersed throughout, helping to break up the text and flesh out the world.
A really fun start to a series. Great early chapter book for fans of fantasy and magic.
Thank you to Disney Books for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book was absolutely adorable, and I loved every second of it! The illustrations were gorgeous, the story were really cute, and it had a great message. Overall, it’s a really fun take on fairy godmothers from fairytales.
This book centers around Rory and her inability to properly cast magic spells. At first she really doubts herself, but then she’s given an assignment that she’s able to complete without even using spells. Rory teaches kids that you may not be good at something right away, but practicing will make you better, and maybe there’s a different way to do something that works better for you.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy, a place aspiring fairy godmothers and the occasional fairy godfather go to train.
Rory Spellington is nervous about her first day. Her spelling for magic spells just isn't up to snuff and many of her spells go awry. Along the way she learns more than just the correct magic spell - she learns about friendship, happiness, listening to others. Will all this help her become a better fairy godmother?
An early chapter book, probably first-third grades. It might also work for special classes, as there are lots of good picture clues to go with the text.
I received an e-ARC from Disney Publishing Worldwide, in exchange for a review.
The story and illustrations are absolutely stunning. The perfect book for young readers who are somewhere between still loving picture books and hoping for a little more plot. It’s hard to find books that fit this group of readers who are growing a love for longer stories but are still such visual creatures. My little is 5 and loves this series. Not too short for its demographic, perfect amount of story line, love the character building, illustrations are dreamy, story is a wonderful play on a classic fairytale idea.
Perfect for Disney fans who want to introduce their littles to the world of fairy godmothers, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy series is a must-read. From fairy godmother candidates who struggle with simple spells to those who have to make every spell extra, this is a beautiful step into the magical world of Disney for young readers. From fun and fanciful illustrations to storylines that promote friendship and diversity. This is a series worth putting on your children's shelves for years.
I LOVED this little book!!! This is a kids first chapter book series about a fairy going to the Bibbidi-Bobbidi Academy! It was such cute artistry and done in such Disney style! I loved that they brought in a familiar Disney character and made the main character so relatable even though she was a fairy! Such an amazing series for first time readers!! Cannot wait to read the next in the series!
This just published short chapter book is filled with colourful illustrations and magical fairy godmothers and fathers in training doing their best to fulfill the wishes of young children. Rory has some bumps in the road but its her humanity that helps her pass the test. I think the book will pass the test of young chapter book readers.
Cute easy to, R-E-A-D, read story inspired by Disney classics but with a fresh set of characters. I liked all the color of this book and all the illustrations. It was broken down into short, easy to read chapters, and with simple words. This would be a great early chapter book for those just breaking into chapter books. Very fun book that I would absolutely recommend for kids.
I found this surprisingly adorable, sweet and creative. Had I seen the cover without noting the author, I might have worried it would be merely derivative but I have enjoyed many of Kallie George's other books and this is no exception. I'm impressed that she was able to build characters and a magical world that felt three-dimensional despite the shortness of the chapters (this is a heavily illustrated "chapter book" with some pages more full-spread illustrations and just a few lines of text). Those who love the classic Disney animated feature will find some fun nods (especially with Fairy Godmother) but I think it could be enjoyed by children who like magical school stories or fairy stories even if they've not seen the movie. I also want to add that I appreciate that there are a few boy students and male teachers at the academy -- it's not just for fairy godmothers but for fairygodfathers, too!
This was such a good book for young readers. Rory can spell lots of words, but struggles with magic spells. She’s worried about succeeding at Bibbidi Boppiti Academy. This was such a sweet book and the illustrations are just gorgeous. If you love Kallie George’s other books, you’ll love this one!
I received an arc of this story from Netgalley. While my copy was formatted strange, I still was able to see how adorable this story is! I loved meeting Rory and following her as she joined the Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy for the first time.
First of all, the artwork in this book is just stunning. It is fun and colorful with just the right amount of whimsy mixed in that gives you that childish fairy world vibe. Children are just going to love exploring the world of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy. Both Mai and Rory’s stories are just inspirational and so great at showing kids that sometimes things that others might see as flaws don’t always have to be such. More importantly it shows kids that just being themselves and embracing who they are sometimes can help them solve problems in a way they never imagined. Thank you for showing kids being themselves is magical. Thank you Disney Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
Very cute and well written stories about young fairy godmothers-in-training. The conflicts were relatable to human kids, and I loved the creative solutions to their problems. Fans of Princess in Black, fairy tales, and Disney will love these books.
Rory Spellington is off to begin her first year at Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy as a Fairy God-Mother in training. Rory soon discovers that not being an apt pupil in casting spells, and other magical tasks doesn't mean her other special talents are to be overlooked.
how is this a series?? and how does the magic in it work bc I get that there’s spelling but Rory seems to be good at spelling so idk what the magical mix ups going on are from. yay for making friends tho! also books that say thingamabob seriously are on top
This book is a sunshine state young reader, junior (K-2) book this year. I read it with my two kids (ages 5 & 6) & they loved it. I found it to be ok, good but not great. I’m not sure I would invest in the series. The illustrations were nice.
amazing children's book! i was drawn to it because of the artwork. i loved the message of letting kids know it's okay to be a bit behind other kids academically, and that practice makes perfect. the author also made a a few references to cinderella since it's the same universe, which i enjoyed