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Five children in an old Victorian house become involved in some extraordinary adventures when they begin dabbling with a found book of magic spells.

220 pages

First published January 1, 1964

2 people are currently reading
36 people want to read

About the author

Elaine Horseman

8 books4 followers

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5 stars
24 (54%)
4 stars
10 (22%)
3 stars
8 (18%)
2 stars
2 (4%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for Charlotte.
1,474 reviews41 followers
September 15, 2025
I almost enjoyed this one lots, but I didn't like the two Hubble children enough to relax into the magical adventures; they were being rather awful to the three visiting children....(I read the second in the series first, and in that book the tensions that made the Hubble's less likeable had been resolved) Will read the third book if it falls into my lap, the way this one did (10 cents at the last day of a hugh library sale....)
Profile Image for Debbie Ladeby.
7 reviews
July 28, 2017
I read this book as a child, and will always remember it as a favorite.
100 reviews
March 21, 2019
Giving this book 5 stars based on my childhood self reading it multiple times.
4 reviews
July 26, 2025
My favorite book, hasn’t changed since I was seven years old.
Profile Image for Tuatara.
281 reviews4 followers
November 9, 2020
Vanha loitsukirja toimeliaiden lasten käsissä, eli toisin sanottuna hauska ja kevyt lastenkirja.
Profile Image for Cynthia L'Hirondelle.
117 reviews4 followers
October 29, 2016
One of the first kids' books that I vividly remember reading. Along with the usual Bobbsey Twins (vaguely), Nancy Drew (had own copies), Hardy Boys (a few) and lots of Alfred Hitchcock collections of stories from the public library (but no Dahl, never came across his books in the school nor public library).

From a 1964 review in the Chicago Tribune (since I can't remember the plot): "A book of spells is un-earthed by a group of the kind of children who live in British storybooks and nowhere else. They turn themselves into cats and mice; they transform as snoopy neighbor into a toad; they fly thru the air with ease and aplomb; they nibble at time travel. But the sorcery is not from Alaric's cauldron. It is in the beautiful, quiet writing, the old cathedral close, the people who need no spells to be enchanted."

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/19...
Profile Image for Kristiina.
338 reviews
June 1, 2021
Lapsuudenkoti suosikkeja. Yllättävän ihana edellleen.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews

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