A Little Magic Goes a Long Way

Take a pinch of magic, wish hard and get transported to a far away land where children stay young forever. That is the spirit behind a book that is a sure-fire fave designed to win the hearts of kids, especially girls aged six to ten. The Never Girls: A Pinch of Magic is the seventh entry and newest in the blockbuster series by writer Kiki Thorpe who has already rocked the pre-teen world with the earlier Never Girls books including The Space Between, A Dandelion Wish and The Space Beyond.

Getting to Never Land takes some doing and a big dose of believing. Some girls find the island themselves, while others get lucky and have the island find them. Once in a while, a special few who have given their hearts to magic are the beneficiaries of good luck and Never Land reveals itself to them. This charismatic book series tells the story of four special girls who arrive at their destination in different ways.

Each of the girls has her own particular characteristics, so that every pre-teen can find relatable attributes. The foursome is made up of energetic, athletic Kate, the leader of the pack who has a Peter Pan-like quality; Mia, a lover of all things beautiful, including flowers and, of course, fairies; Gabby, Mia’s little sister who loses herself in the world of make-believe; and Laney, a go-along type who sometimes surprises the others when she takes a strong stand.

In addition to the four heroines who offer a fairy-dusted sprinkle of diversity as they represent different ethnicities, young readers are charmed to re-meet Tinker Bell and other denizens of fairyland, including Fawn who truly “talks to the animals” and Terrance, a boy member of the Disney fairies who has a lot to do with the sprinkling of fairy dust.

Thorpe, who grew up in Idaho and now lives with her husband and kids in San Francisco, spent much of her childhood lost in daydreams. She has since taken this passion and turned it into well-received children’s books including several Disney Fairy Chapter Book Series, among them, The Trouble with Tink.

In this entirely likable book, winningly illustrated by Jana Christy, Thorpe sets the stage for wishing, dreaming and, most of all, reading — an activity parents are beyond thrilled to have their daughters pursue. The book is published by Random House Children’s Books, the world’s largest English-language trade book publisher for kids and long regarded as a top-quality bookseller.

Girls who fall big for this book can pursue their interest with related activities like an Outdoor Fun Checklist, easy-to-make recipes, a Fairy Friendship Quiz and an inventive guide to throwing a Fairy Party, complete with dress-up tips, games and an invitation. All activities are downloadable at the book’s site. The Never Girls are incredibly popular with ardent fans following them on social media.

Reviewers rave about the Never Girls books, pointing out that they are a great stepping stone to longer works. Readers get a bang out of the plot that includes some action, a bit of adventure and plenty of common sense decision-making… all qualities those buying books for young girls find appropriate.

Savvy merchants should take advantage of the Never Girl craze by stocking the book and thereby opening up a world of repeat shopping opportunities for customers.

Enchantment awaits: www.randomhousekids.com/brand/the-never-girls