Edward Eager facts for kids
Edward McMaken Eager (born June 20, 1911 – died October 23, 1964) was an American writer who created songs, plays, and especially children's books. He is famous for his children's novels where magic appears in the everyday lives of kids. Most of his Magic series are fantasy stories set in the real world.
Contents
About Edward Eager
Edward Eager grew up in Toledo, Ohio. He later went to Harvard University. After college, he lived in New York City for 14 years. Then he moved to Connecticut. He married Jane Eberly in 1938. They had a son named Fritz.
As a child, Eager loved L. Frank Baum's Oz books. He started writing his own children's stories when he couldn't find enough new books to read to his son. Eager often said that E. Nesbit was his favorite children's author. He learned a lot from her writing. Edward Eager was also a well-known writer for plays and musicals. He passed away in 1964 at age 53.
His Writings
Edward Eager wrote several kinds of books. He created standalone picture books for younger children. He also wrote articles about children's literature. But he is best known for his "Tales of Magic" series.
- Standalone Picture Books
- Red Head (1951)
- Mouse Manor (1952)
- Playing Possum (1955)
Mouse Manor tells the story from the view of a mouse named Miss Myrtilla. She lives alone in a big house. She takes care of it and enjoys her quiet life.
Tales of Magic Series
Edward Eager wrote seven books in his "Tales of Magic" series. All of them were illustrated by N. M. Bodecker. These books are about ordinary children who discover amazing magic.
- Half Magic (1954)
- Knight's Castle (1956)
- Magic by the Lake (1957)
- The Time Garden (1958)
- Magic or Not? (1959)
- The Well-Wishers (1960)
- Seven-Day Magic (1962)
The first book, Half Magic, happens earliest in the story timeline. Magic by the Lake is a direct follow-up. It features the same children on new adventures. Knight's Castle is set later, with the next generation of children. The Time Garden continues their story. Magic or Not? introduces different children. The Well-Wishers is its sequel. Seven-Day Magic features a fourth group of children.
Half Magic
A boring summer turns exciting for Katharine, Mark, Jane, and Martha. They find a magical coin that grants half of any wish. If they wish to be on a desert island, they end up in the Sahara desert. This "half magic" is tricky and funny. The children learn to double their wishes to get what they want. This book was very popular in America.
Magic by the Lake
This book continues the adventures of Martha, Jane, Mark, and Katharine. Their summer vacation gets exciting when they find a magic lake. The magic comes through a talking, grumpy box turtle. They get stuck on a desert island and visit Ali-Baba's cave. Half Magic and Magic by the Lake are set in the 1920s.
Knight's Castle
Martha's children, Roger and Ann, and their cousins, Eliza and Jack, find a toy castle. When they combine it with the book Ivanhoe and a little magic, they have amazing adventures. This book mentions other famous children's books by E. Nesbit.
The Time Garden
Eliza, Jack, Roger, and Ann discover an herb garden. Thyme grows there, which lets them travel through time. They get help from a Natterjack toad. In one adventure, they rescue their Aunt Jane, Uncle Mark, and their mothers. This shows a different side of an adventure from Magic by the Lake.
Magic or Not?
Laura, James, and their new friends, Kip and Lydia, wish for summer adventures. They find a well in their new yard that might be magical. In this book and its sequel, it's not always clear if the events are truly magic or if there's a normal explanation.
The Well-Wishers
The children from Magic or Not? return to the possibly magical wishing well. They have more unpredictable adventures. Again, it's up to the reader to decide if magic is real or not.
Seven-Day Magic
Barnaby, John, Susan, Abbie, and Fredericka borrow a special book from the library. It's only for seven days. Strangely, the book records everything they say. Soon, they find it not only records events but also creates new magical adventures.
This book is the only one in the series where the children don't appear in other books. However, it does mention Half Magic. The children even visit the end of Half Magic in their adventures. They also visit a time when Laura Ingalls Wilder was a girl. Seven-Day Magic was Edward Eager's last book.
