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Matter-of-Fact Magic
The Trouble with Magic
When Barbara and Rick Benton find a wizard named Harrison Peabody in an old bottle, they quickly discover that magic isn't as simple as it looks. But even tricky magic is better than no magic, and soon the Bentons are flying around Prospect Park with a large black umbrella and befriending a sea serpent in the lake. How can they keep Harrison a secret, though, when he's living in their attic?
Delightful stories that deal with matter-of-fact magic, Ruth Chew's books have been engaging young readers for over 40 years. Now a new generation can discover the timelessness of these marvelous tales.
Delightful stories that deal with matter-of-fact magic, Ruth Chew's books have been engaging young readers for over 40 years. Now a new generation can discover the timelessness of these marvelous tales.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
11 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Chew
47 books132 followersRuth Chew is the author of a number of popular books for young readers, including Secondhand Magic and The Wednesday Witch. She was born in Minneapolis and grew up in Washington, D.C. She studied art at the Corcoran School of Art and worked as a fashion artist. She was the mother of five children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 8, 2022
Rounded up to 4 stars. I think these are really special, even though they're light & easy. I love the attention to detail, for example; in this one we learn which movies Mrs. Cunningham watches, including *Naughty Marietta.* And I love that Chew illustrated them herself... that would have made such an impression on me when I was a child, too; the author really does love creating these adventures for children.
May 28, 2021
I didn't love it, so didn't finish it. It's not that I'm too old for these books exactly ... I'm 55, but I do read a lot of children's fantasy ... it's just that I'm too old for books that don't fire on all cylinders for me. The characters aren't particularly interested, the plot isn't particularly novel, and the style isn't particularly evocative. (It sure puts the "matter of fact" in matter=of-fact Magic!) And with the years sweeping by with increasing speed, if I don't love something, I move on, lest I miss out on a book that could have been a favourite.
(And I can't help but compare most children's fantasy to Diana Wynne Jones, which is particularly unfair, but in this case the quality gap is especially large.)
In her favour? It seems simple and easy to read. Not confusing. A child who dislikes complexity, subtext, big words, or long sentences, would have no trouble with this author.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful.)
(And I can't help but compare most children's fantasy to Diana Wynne Jones, which is particularly unfair, but in this case the quality gap is especially large.)
In her favour? It seems simple and easy to read. Not confusing. A child who dislikes complexity, subtext, big words, or long sentences, would have no trouble with this author.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful.)
January 14, 2023
The Trouble with Magic (1976) written and illustrated by Ruth Chew is a fun mix of reality and fantasy. Chew's stories usually take place in Brooklyn, New York, with a lot of magic happening within the real setting. Having lived in NYC I can tell you Manhattan gets a lot of interest, but Brooklyn is pretty magical too in its own way. This story is about two children named Barb and Rick who open a bottle and discover a wizard named Harry Peabody who they decide to house in their attic. While staying with them, he tells them of his magic black umbrella whose magic only works whenever it's raining. Soon the two children discover the trouble magic can do when they swap out the umbrella and go on a magical adventure that includes sea serpents in Prospect Park Lake, letting the animals out of the zoo, etc. It's a fun light fantasy read that started off very slow but picked up somewhere in the middle. Great chapter book for young readers who don't want a long drawn-out story. Like The Boxcar Children series, but for fantasy fans. My rating - 3/5
February 25, 2019
I consumed a lot of Ruth Chew’s books as a child, so these were definitely a nostalgia read for me. The writing is nothing spectacular, but I always enjoyed the mix of magic and mundane life that she specialized in.
April 21, 2019
Notable Content: Very clean; zoo animals escape their cages and some are frightened, but there are no injuries.
Pretty cute story of children encountering magic, though, annoyingly, adults never get involved and seem generally clueless.
Pretty cute story of children encountering magic, though, annoyingly, adults never get involved and seem generally clueless.
October 25, 2021
I used to really enjoy Ruth Chew books as a kid. Even though the story and characters fall a bit flat, there is something delightfully mystical about this one, as well as her others. The illustrations are wonderful and help create this mood.
March 24, 2018
Perfect if you are looking for a light, fun, let's-go-back-to-childhood children's story!
April 26, 2018
A book I read in childhood that still holds up today. I always wondered what happened to George the Serpent.
January 19, 2019
Decent story, but ultimately forgettable. We had no interest in continuing the series.
November 10, 2019
Great children's book. It was fun reading to the kids.
February 2, 2020
Very cute book!
January 27, 2021
This one was kinda meh. Although George was a nice touch, the rest of the book was just okay. Satisfying ending. Not a 1 star read, but also not a 5 star.
January 22, 2022
Was a bit slow at times. I thought this would be more for older children (around 5th grade or so) but I found it to be a pretty easy read. Could be a great read aloud option. It was a slow but clean read.
April 6, 2022
I read this book as a child, and wanted to read it again with my 10 year old daughter. We both loved it! It hadn't lost any of its magic.
January 1, 2023
A magic umbrella and a fool hardy wizard make for interesting adventures.
August 3, 2016
Solid, Engaging Magical Fantasy for Newer Readers
Ruth Chew, who passed away in 2010 at the age of ninety, wrote 29 early reader fantasy/magic chapter books between 1969 and 1998. This book, number 11, was first published in 1976 and represents Chew's work when she was at the height of her powers.
The book is reminiscent in style to books like "Tom's Midnight Garden", or to a less edgy Mary Poppins, with touches of E. Nesbit or Edward Eager. And boy, there's nothing wrong with that.
Here, we have two siblings, Rick and Barbara, who work well together as a team and who display great resourcefulness and common sense as well as a sense of adventure. Barb buys a little perfume bottle at a jumble sale and when she opens it a little chubby wizard pops out. Unlike the vaguely threatening genies from some classic tales this wizard is charming in a musty old-fashioned sort of way. He can do magic, but only sometimes, (there's a secret here), and often with unexpected results. The kids have to hide the wizard and get him settled in their attic, and then they get to go off on a few neighborhood adventures with him.
This is all handled in a matter-of-fact sort of way with the kids taking everything in stride and coping with the twists and turns of the plot and of their adventures. Nothing scary happens, but there is a lot of dashing about and some farcical scenes involving hiding the wizard in the attic and hiding the signs that he is about the house. The kids are almost always good humored about what's happening.
This is cheerful stuff. The writing is crisp and clean and so is very manageable for a young reader. There is no snark or drama, and no ironic detachment on the part of the author. The magic is fun and there are a number of suspenseful scenes. The over all feeling is a bit old school but the material isn't dated in any way that detracts from the fun of reading the story. And get this, the illustrations are also by Chew and they add a lot of drama and detail to the story and complement it very well.
Skimming the "Ruth Chew" Amazon page it looks like Random House has re-issued at least four of the Chew books in their new "Stepping Stone" series. That's a great development because these aren't that easy to find used.
So, a mellow, entertaining, upbeat and gentle magical fantasy adventure, that isn't part of some licensed movie-tie in franchise - a nice little find.
Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
Ruth Chew, who passed away in 2010 at the age of ninety, wrote 29 early reader fantasy/magic chapter books between 1969 and 1998. This book, number 11, was first published in 1976 and represents Chew's work when she was at the height of her powers.
The book is reminiscent in style to books like "Tom's Midnight Garden", or to a less edgy Mary Poppins, with touches of E. Nesbit or Edward Eager. And boy, there's nothing wrong with that.
Here, we have two siblings, Rick and Barbara, who work well together as a team and who display great resourcefulness and common sense as well as a sense of adventure. Barb buys a little perfume bottle at a jumble sale and when she opens it a little chubby wizard pops out. Unlike the vaguely threatening genies from some classic tales this wizard is charming in a musty old-fashioned sort of way. He can do magic, but only sometimes, (there's a secret here), and often with unexpected results. The kids have to hide the wizard and get him settled in their attic, and then they get to go off on a few neighborhood adventures with him.
This is all handled in a matter-of-fact sort of way with the kids taking everything in stride and coping with the twists and turns of the plot and of their adventures. Nothing scary happens, but there is a lot of dashing about and some farcical scenes involving hiding the wizard in the attic and hiding the signs that he is about the house. The kids are almost always good humored about what's happening.
This is cheerful stuff. The writing is crisp and clean and so is very manageable for a young reader. There is no snark or drama, and no ironic detachment on the part of the author. The magic is fun and there are a number of suspenseful scenes. The over all feeling is a bit old school but the material isn't dated in any way that detracts from the fun of reading the story. And get this, the illustrations are also by Chew and they add a lot of drama and detail to the story and complement it very well.
Skimming the "Ruth Chew" Amazon page it looks like Random House has re-issued at least four of the Chew books in their new "Stepping Stone" series. That's a great development because these aren't that easy to find used.
So, a mellow, entertaining, upbeat and gentle magical fantasy adventure, that isn't part of some licensed movie-tie in franchise - a nice little find.
Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
February 22, 2014
I may not have loved Ruth Chew's Magic in the Park, but, I definitely LOVED her fantasy novel The Trouble with Magic. To think this little fantasy novel starts with a big stink! Barbara and Rick have sensitive noses, I suppose. They are so overwhelmed with disgust at the smell of cooking cabbage, that Rick easily persuades Barbara to spend her allowance money (fifty cents!) on air freshener. She doesn't have enough money for scented spray (that would cost sixty-nine cents), but, she does have enough for a bottle of something--something with a wick?--that will get the job done, or so they think. They take the bottle home...and that's when the adventure begins. For INSIDE the can is a wizard with a magical umbrella! This poor wizard has been TRAPPED. Harrison Peabody is more than happy to grant wishes (via the umbrella, though they don't know that at the beginning) to those lovely children who freed him. Barbara wishes for her room to be covered in roses! Rick wishes for his room to be covered in pine trees. Still the children are thinking of those noses and that CABBAGE. The children spend a few minutes quite pleased with themselves until they realize how impractical magic can be when it comes time to do homework and go to bed! It isn't long before they want the magic undone...
I thought this one was delightful. It definitely reminded me of other wish-related fantasy novels like Five Children and It and Half Magic. I love seeing WHAT these two children wish for and how it almost always goes wrong. I thought it was a fun twist that the wishes can only work IF the umbrella is used when it's raining.
I thought this one was delightful. It definitely reminded me of other wish-related fantasy novels like Five Children and It and Half Magic. I love seeing WHAT these two children wish for and how it almost always goes wrong. I thought it was a fun twist that the wishes can only work IF the umbrella is used when it's raining.
April 5, 2015
This book was really cute so I feel bad for only giving it a 3! The problem is that I thought this was a middle grade book, so I was surprised when it turned out to be more of an early reader. This would be great for a 7 or 8-year-old who's just starting to read chapter books. It's definitely a precursor to authors like Edith Nesbit and Edward Eager. But since I was reading this as a grown person without a child, I found it too simple to enjoy much. Since I never read this in childhood, I don't even have any nostalgia to bump up the rating.
Conclusion: This is a cute, early reader. If that's what you're looking for, this will be great! If you're looking for something more complex, you may be disappointed.
Conclusion: This is a cute, early reader. If that's what you're looking for, this will be great! If you're looking for something more complex, you may be disappointed.
July 1, 2016
My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.
http://spreadthewordnevada.org/
Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.
I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.
December 19, 2014
I don't remember if this is one of the Ruth Chew books I read as a child, but I found it an amusing little piece (re)reading as an adult.
A charming little story, like most of Ruth Chew's magic stories. The central child characters are only lightly sketched, thus lending themselves to MarySue/MartyStu-ishness, and the theme of magic that doesn't always go as you expect is standard. But the tubby little magician, his umbrella, and his sea-serpent friend are memorable characters, and it's a nice comfortable book.
(Pointed sidelight on the littering around ponds in Brooklyn parks. Also note that only the most free-range of free-range children would be allowed to behave this way today, and probably today's children would worry that the magician was a pervert of some kind.)
A charming little story, like most of Ruth Chew's magic stories. The central child characters are only lightly sketched, thus lending themselves to MarySue/MartyStu-ishness, and the theme of magic that doesn't always go as you expect is standard. But the tubby little magician, his umbrella, and his sea-serpent friend are memorable characters, and it's a nice comfortable book.
(Pointed sidelight on the littering around ponds in Brooklyn parks. Also note that only the most free-range of free-range children would be allowed to behave this way today, and probably today's children would worry that the magician was a pervert of some kind.)
October 6, 2014
Barbara and Rick discover a wizard in an old bottle Barbara bought. His name is Harrison Peabody, but his magical powers leave much to be desired. His old black umbrella is the source of his magic and the brother and sister soon realize that magic is not all that it’s cracked up to be. They hide the wizard in the attic and embark on a series of adventures that include a sea serpent and Harry’s lost umbrella. This reprint of the 1976 original contains gentle humor, thoughtful characters and a plot many youngsters dream of. The easy text is interspersed with black-and-white illustrations. The title is reminiscent of Mary Poppins and is a precursor to the lengthy, more difficult Harry Potter series. Order if you have patrons that want simpler, gentler sorcery.
June 20, 2016
Just finished reading this with my 7-year old. I loved Ruth Chew books when I was her age and was excited to see them on the shelf at the library. I was hoping they would capture her imagination like they did mine.
My daughter has already read 20 or more of the Magic Treehouse books which kind of have a similar feel. But she still enjoyed reading the book together with me and once we finished requested that I show her where the other Practical Magic books are at the library.
I love sharing childhood memories with my daughter and am glad these books have been republished.
My daughter has already read 20 or more of the Magic Treehouse books which kind of have a similar feel. But she still enjoyed reading the book together with me and once we finished requested that I show her where the other Practical Magic books are at the library.
I love sharing childhood memories with my daughter and am glad these books have been republished.
November 17, 2016
early reader - about second grade level. written in the 70's so pretty dated. A brother and a sister buy a bottle of what they think is air freshener at a local supermarket. When they open it, they discover a wizard trapped inside. The wizard isn't very good with magic. This magic umbrella only works when it is raining.
There are many loose ends in this book... the ending isn't very defined.
There are many loose ends in this book... the ending isn't very defined.
April 4, 2007
Harrison Peabody is a wizard who can't seem to perfect his craft - goofy things happen to him.
July 26, 2020
Two kids hide a homeless man in their attic while their parents are away. Magical!
June 20, 2012
I remember loving Ruth Chew books as a child. This book didn't do my memory justice, but there may have been others that I liked better. I'll try another one by her.
August 14, 2013
Ruth Chew was one of my favorite authors during my childhood. I have fond memories of reading her Witch books. They fostered my love for children's literature.
September 10, 2016
A good recommendation for those early readers who are ready for more story but not for older content. Two siblings find a wizard whose magic only works during rainstorms.
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August 28, 2014JF CHEW, R. An OK story about a wizard who came out of a bottle. He can only use his umbrella to work magic when it rains.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews