Wands Away: Spell Class

Ramona is so excited. Her second term at the Wands Away School of Magic is about to start – and she can’t wait to find out what they will be learning. She is also looking forward to meeting her friends Cleo and Enrique. Arriving at the school gates is great. There are her friends – then a new arrival, a boy called Cosmo with a very smart broom. Oh dear – Cosmo seems very stuck up and disinclined to follow instructions. After a near accident involving a forest fire, Ramona and her friends discover Cosmo is not an enemy – he just wants to be a friend. Spell Class becomes even more enjoyable.

This is a really cosy story for young readers who are developing reading stamina. The prose does not underestimate their skills – no talking down – and there is a wide variety of vocabulary, plenty of contemporary dialogue and just enough description to colour the prose. This is an Early Years setting, just in a Magic School – and readers will instantly relate to the young protagonists. Adding atmosphere and movement to the narrative are the lively illustrations and extensive page decorations by Emma Farrarons. The design is cheerful, the font accessible even on the spreads which have a coloured background (purple). Some may wonder if this works – but white letters stand out well and another layer of fun is brought to the text.