Magic Shop (series) facts for kids

Magic Shop is a series of amazing fantasy novels for young readers by Bruce Coville. These books are all about a mysterious magic store. An old man named S.H. Elives runs this special shop. In each story, a different child finds the store by accident. They end up getting a magical creature or an object with incredible powers.

The famous author Christopher Paolini, who wrote the Inheritance Cycle (like Eragon), said that Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher inspired him. He wondered where a dragon would come from and who would find its egg. These questions helped him write his own long books!

Discover the Magic Shop Books

The Monster's Ring (1989)

This book is about a boy named Russell Crannaker. He runs into Elives' Magic Supplies store to escape a bully. Mr. Elives gives him a magic ring. This ring can turn Russell into a monster and back again. This story was later made into an episode of CBS Storybreak.

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (1992)

Jeremy Thatcher is trying to get away from some bullies and a girl who wants to kiss him. He finds the Magic Shop and leaves with a strange, glowing orb. This orb turns out to be a dragon egg! A baby female dragon hatches from it. Jeremy names her Tiamat. He forms a very strong mind-to-mind connection with her.

Jennifer Murdley's Toad (1993)

Jennifer Murdley feels plain and not very pretty. She discovers the Magic Shop and buys a talking toad named Bufo. Bufo is quite funny and tells jokes. He slowly shares his complicated past. This past is connected to a growing danger in the present. Bufo also knows secrets about a magical item called the Jewel of Perfect Happiness, which is in his forehead.

The Skull of Truth (1999)

Charlie Eggleston often tells lies. He visits the Magic Shop and accidentally takes the Skull of Truth. This skull is the talking head of a jester named Yorick. It carries a dark curse. Anyone near it is forced to tell only the absolute truth.

Juliet Dove, Queen of Love (2003)

The Greek goddess of arguments, Eris, breaks into the Magic Shop when Mr. Elives is away. She gives a shy girl named Juliet Dove a crystal amulet. This amulet contains Cupid. It makes every boy Juliet meets fall deeply in love with her. Mr. Elives isn't sure how to fix this problem. Juliet has to work with two rats, Jerome and Roxanne. They must stop Eris from causing arguments and chaos all over the world.

Short Stories from the Magic Shop

Bruce Coville has also written short stories about Elives' Magic Supplies store. These stories can be found in his Oddities anthology books. They include:

• The Metamorphosis of Justin Jones
• The Mask of Eamonn Tiyado

Main Characters

Mr. Elives (S.H. Elives)

Mr. Elives is a mysterious and sometimes grumpy old man. He runs the magic supplies store. The books hint that he has great magical powers. However, his true background and abilities are never fully explained.

Roxanne and Jerome

These are two talking, immortal rats. They first appear at the end of Jennifer Murdley's Toad. A witch, who was under a curse, spits them out. They often act as messengers for Mr. Elives throughout the rest of the series. Jerome is usually more serious and easily annoyed. Roxanne is shown to be kinder, more caring, and like a mother figure.

Hyacinth Priest

Hyacinth Priest is a librarian and a great storyteller. She appears in four of the books. It seems she is a close friend and helper to Mr. Elives. She often gives the children important information about their magical purchases. She also helps balance Mr. Elives' grumpy mood with her calm nature.

Russel Crannaker

Russel is a boy who loves Halloween. He receives a powerful magic ring. This ring can turn him into a fierce monster every full moon.

Jeremy Thatcher

Jeremy is an artistic boy whose talents are often overlooked. He hatches a dragon egg and develops a mind-to-mind connection with his pet dragon.

Tiamat

Tiamat is Jeremy's female pet dragon. She is named after a chaos monster from old Babylonian stories. She has a very strong psychic connection with Jeremy. Almost no one else can see her. Tiamat is mostly innocent and childlike. But she can be a bit mischievous when Jeremy is uncomfortable.

Mr. Kravitz

Mr. Kravitz is Jeremy's art teacher. He often seems unfriendly toward Jeremy and doesn't appreciate his art skills. However, he once admitted that Jeremy is his most talented student. He felt Jeremy just needed more discipline. It's suggested that Mr. Kravitz might actually be jealous of Jeremy's talent.

Charlie Eggleston

Charlie is a boy who always had a habit of lying. He steals the Skull of Truth from the Magic Shop. This causes him and everyone around him to only be able to speak the truth.

Jennifer Murdley

Jennifer is a plain girl who wishes she was beautiful. She buys a talking toad from the Magic Shop.

Juliet Dove

Juliet is a very shy girl from Venus Harbor. She has a sharp tongue when she does speak. She is given a locket that makes all the boys at her school fall in love with her.