Perrywinkle's Magic Match

Perrywinkle's Magic Match (Easy-to-Read, Puffin) Boys vs. girls is the theme of this sequel in which two young wizards struggle to prove who has the better magic. In Ross Martin Madsen's Perrywinkle's Magic Match, the crow steals the show with his commentary as the two children try to get themselves out of the trouble that started when they attempted to make a new pet for Perrywinkle's dad. The quirky ink and watercolor drawings by Dirk Zimmer dominate the pages of this book for youngsters who are almost ready to transition out of easy readers. This book is broken into four chapters, but the large text and amount of white space make it easy for younger readers. Sounding out the spells is fun, especially when the results are disastrous. The illustrations are quite expressive and colorful and complement the drama of the text without being too scary. The story, both dramatic and humorous, provides a good ending when the children learn that the magic is in working together.

This really is an entertaining book for little kids to read. It is simple enough for them to read without too much trouble and the storyline, with its fascinating twists, make them feel like they've read a classic novel. Very well done.