Books to Keep Harry Potter Fans Busy
By Holly E. Newton

First, Witch Catcher, by Mary Downing Hahn, will grab you from the beginning.  Twelve-year-old Jen and her widowed father have just inherited a large house from Uncle Thaddeus.  When she discovers a crystal glass globe, she soon finds that there are others who want this unusual object.  An antique dealer, Moura, has her eye on this globe — as well as on Jen's dad.  Jen detects there is something very sinister about Moura when she is willed to give her the precious globe.  But just as she approaches her closet where she's hidden it, her pet cat breaks it to tiny pieces.  Soon Jen meets what was kept captive inside it.  You'll have a great time reading this book as you find out what Jen is about to discover.
Click to Buy	And while we're on the subject of searching through large old estates, Ulysses Moore's The Door to Time has a similar premise, but three eleven-year-olds discover hiding places, secret coded messages and a hidden door that won't open.  When they finally open it, their discovery takes them on a time travel trip that will make you turn pages faster than you thought possible!  Thankfully, this is the first book in a series!
Horns & Wrinkles, by Joseph Helgerson, is a delightful and winsome tale full of magic and charm.  After Claire's mean cousin, Duke, throws her off a bridge along with her pet turtle, Claire is rescued by a most interesting old woman.  She learns that Duke is now enchanted with a large horn in place of his nose.  The only way to be rid of this awful pointy thing is to perform a genuine act of kindness.  The story is so well written, and so rich in characters, that it would be a perfect read-aloud!
Click to Buy	Little Fur:  The Legend Begins, by Isabelle Carmody, is a sweet tale about a small and smart elfish troll who is about to find a way to stop the bulldozers from knocking over the forests where she and all of the other little creatures live.  This well told story will enlighten readers to the fragile balance of nature and how everything plays an important role.  This an excellent chapter book for ages 6 though 10.
Click to Buy	The last two books are geared for children with better reading abilities because of the longer length and more complex vocabulary.  Fly by Night, by Frances Hardinge, is a beautifully written fantasy by a first-time author.  Twelve-year-old Mosca Mye is about to escape her mean uncle who has locked her up each night.  Books have been banned throughout her country, and she misses them. “Since the burning of her father's books, Mosca had been starved of words.”
She relished words and soon met Eponymous Clent who had a way of talking with such veracity and eloquence that she was mesmerized.   However, Mosca is about to begin an adventure, along with Clent, that will take the reader beyond anything ever experienced before.  The story is full of imagination, and with wondrous and descriptive language.  It brings to mind other favorite fantasy writers that include one of my all time favorite authors — Lloyd Alexander.

Holly Evans Newton has taught kindergarten through 7th grades for 25 years. She received her B.S. from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and her M.A. from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. She has three sons who have served full time missions, two younger daughters, plus four adorable grandchildren. She has been married to Dale Karl Newton for 34 years. She is currently serving as ward organist and Relief Society pianist in Phoenix, Arizona.

Holly is the recent recipient of the prestigious Literacy Award presented to her by the International Reading Association. She writes a weekly children's book review for the largest distributed newspaper throughout mid-Missouri. She was seen for eight years on the NBC affiliate in Missouri and now is on the NBC affiliate in Phoenix for her weekly children’s book reviews. She presents book presentations to schools where her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm are valued by educators, students and parents. What sets her apart from other reviewers is her goal to find the best books for kids by reading books cover to cover and making sure there is no inappropriate language or sexual content. You can find her past book reviews on her website: www.newtonsbook.com

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