This is the book store of my dreams! Why can't one like this exist in my world? This book is about incredible friendship that has to endure separation. Can their friendship make it? Read this magical book to find out!

I love a good magic themed story and this one didn't disappoint. My daughter and I really enjoyed reading it and we will be adding it to our ever expanding book collection upon release

This is a very sweet little book. I loved the touches of whimsy and magic woven throughout the story. Friendship is the focal point in this book, and also the message of not judging others.

It is set in a magical book shop where there is a talking Mirror called Mr King and other talking animals and objects. Mrs Owl owns the shop and brings the joy of books to the people who come in. Clara is a young girl who has found the wonders of this shop and when one of her new friends is in trouble she helps to make things right. I love the characters in this book, fun storyline shows kids how to care about friends and be there when they need help.

Overall a really fun read, and one I would recommend to young readers.

The Magic Story Shop is a charming children's book about the magic of stories, friendship, loneliness and hope. Clara's favourite place in the world is Mrs Owl's bookshop, complete with a talking cat Gustav, and Mr King, a talking mirror. Her favourite person is her best friend Lottie. But after Lottie's parents split up, Lottie has to move away and Clara is bereft. She finds solace in the bookshop, and discovers that distance cannot come between those who are true friends. She also makes a new friend, Leo, and discovers that life is not as black and white as she once thought. When her beloved bookshop is at threat of closure due to the villainous Mr Schwartz, the community come together to save it, and Lottie and Clara are reunited. Illustrated beautifully, this is a gorgeous book that will inspire children everywhere to delve into their favourite stories and find the magic within their pages.

The children's book The Magic Story Shop by Katja Frixe is a delightful story about best friends, a magical book shop and a talking cat. How can you go wrong with that, right?

Description: This is Clara’s favourite place in the whole world. Here, Clara can settle down and get lost in one of the many books, joke around with Gustaf the rhyming cat, and get advice from Mr King the talking mirror. Not only does Mrs Owl love to give out chocolate cake, she also has a book tip for every mood. But when an antiques dealer claims the mirror is actually his and tries to take it back, Mrs Owl is distraught. Clara and her new friends must find a way to save the bookshop – and Mr King..

The story begins with Clara along with the rhyming cat (Gustaf) and the talking mirror (Mr. King) devising a plan to prevent Lottie from getting on that train that will take her away to a new town. The plan was to hide Lottie in Owls, the magical story shop. In the end Lottie needs to move way far from her father and his new girlfriend.

The school has started and Clara finds herself sitting next to a new classmate, Leo. Will she forget Lottie? Will Lottie come back, Will Clara accept Leo as a new friend?

This cute children's book is about friendship and I give it a 5 Star.

I was provided this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.

The illustrations are very well done. Would have liked to see a bit of color, but still a great job.

This was so cute for a middle grade chapter book! Fantastic themes of best friends and dealing with changes and making more friends. Of course the best part is all the bits of magic in the bookstore and I hope there will be more stories to find out more about the magic!

Fantastic middle grade story about books, magic, and friendship. This book will appeal to many young readers.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely book which would be perfect for independent readers or for shared reading . There are elements of wonder and magic throughout the story but it doesn't feel that it is purely fantasy. Friendship is at the heart of this book, and has some positive messages woven through the text . Overall a really fun read, and one I would recommend to my students and colleagues.

I really enjoyed this gentle story which has at its heart themes of friendship and family. This would be a perfect read for children of 7+.
The story is written in the wonderfully talkative style of Clara who must say goodbye to her best friend, Lottie as she is moving to another town with her mum due to a difficult family situation. Of course, the best friends do not want to be parted and where better to hide out than their favourite place: Mrs Owl’s Story Shop. The bookshop is a special and magical place to Clara, who is a real bookworm, and this is where she goes to try to help her come to terms with her best friend’s absence.
"Having to say goodbye to your best friend feels like a broken heart."
The owner of the bookshop, Mrs Owl, is just wonderful: she is full of wise advice, has a kind heart and is nurturing. She is ably assisted by her rather unusual companions: a rhyming cat called Gustaf and a very grand mirror called Mr King who is incredibly perceptive. Both can be understood by Mrs Owl and Clara, and they offer plenty of humour throughout.
Clara’s family really look out for her, trying to cheer her up and involving themselves in events at the bookshop. Of course, no matter how much they try, Clara can’t help missing Lottie. Things get worse when she goes back to school: will she ever be able to accept that not having her best friend doesn’t mean that she can’t give others a chance?
As well as having to come to terms with Lottie’s move, Clara also needs to help Mrs Owl who is having some problems of her own at the bookshop, problems that could result in its closure. I loved both the use of the bookshop as a location through which a lot of the action occurs, and its importance to the community. I also enjoyed how some reading stereotypes are overturned.
This is a perfect read for any child coming to terms with a best friend moving away, any child who enjoys the magic of books, or any child who just wants to read a wonderfully feel-good, uplifting story with heart-warming character.

A quick wee read of this children's fiction book. It was a very good story about friendship, family and magic. Children would love this book as it had little illustrations every so often and the story was easy to read

Clara's best friend has to move away. She has a new classmate sitting next to her. Her only refuge seems to be Mrs Owl's magical bookshop - and magical truly means magical. There's a rhyming cat, a talking mirror, cookery books smell to attract new readers, for example. Clara loves to hide here and explore new worlds between the covers of books.

The story, however, is about friendship and family. About how to keep in contact with people who are important to us and how to make new friends.

I've read the German edition some years back. The English edition doesn't have to hide between the original version. The translator has done a very good job and kept the magic of Frixe's writing.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!
awesome kids book.

the story was unique & easy to read!

So magical! I enjoyed this middle grade book (3rd-5th, maybe 6th) Not many illustrations, just enough to make it entertaining for younger reader. The story itself was cute; best buds are soon to be parted as one is moving far away with her mother, as her mother is upset at having always running into her ex with his new squeeze (small town). A talking cat, magic mirror and a most amazing bookstore (why, oh, why can't places like this really exist!) and it's owners figure in this really fun tale of two young girls trying to preserve their friendship.

The German author Katja Frixe wrote in 2016 the childrensbook Der Zauberhafte Wunschbuchladen, wich recently has been translated into the English book: The Magic Story Shop.

At first the book seems to have a promissing character. Especially for those who love books and books about books. this shall apear to be magical. Because Mrs. Owls bookshop is a very special one, with the cat that makes rhymes and a talking mirror. That propably is the reason for Clara and her best friend to spend as much of their time there as possible. But Clara's best ffriend has to move and that changes everything. And as if that's not enough, there's something threatening Mr. Owl's lovely bookshop. Shall Clara be able to make new friends and to help Mrs Owl?

When you open up the book The Magic Story Shop you can't miss the beautifull illustrations that light up the pages and the start of the chapters. They are beautiful and magical. Something that I who adores books love very much. There are also lots of beautiful bigger illustrations. They are a perfect addition to the book. They help this book gain character and power.

To bad that these beautiful, magical illustrations miss a story that - when you follow the title - misses the magic you would expect. It's positive to see how this book tells a story about moving and the impact this can have on children. About how hard it can be to make new friendships after such an experience. This - in my opinion - is the basic storyline in this book. But the book is missing the action and adventure that you would expect when you read the summary. It also misses the magical character you would expect.

What's left is an easy reading story that fits in with the agegroup, the book is ment for. The story itself isn't bad at all but doesn't meet the expectiations. To bad, because this way you might not be able to get the same credits for a well-written childrenstory about moving.

The Magical Story Shop reads like a middle grade novel and as the name suggests has some magical element to it. We have a bookshop that has cookbooks that give out delicious fragrances along with a talking cat Gustaf that loves to rhyme and eat Swedish rolls, along with Mr King – the mirror that can look into people’s souls. Honestly, I loved the setting and would love to sit and read in this shop the whole day. It also hosts such cool events and stuff. I mean that is literally Awesome!
Mrs. Owl reminded me of my School Librarian that always suggested the books I should read and introduced me to a lot of books that are still my favorites. We all need more Mrs. Owls in our life, She was such a warm and cheerful character, it would be sad to see anything happening to her or the shop.
The plot in this book is not one of its best aspects, but does have a rather straight forward approach. Even though it focused on this old guy who wanted his mirror back, I was not really bothered about that! I was rather more invested in Clara and her best friend Lottie!
Clara and Lottie are best friends! Lottie moves out , and their friendship is strained. However, I enjoyed her scenes continuing life without her best friend and how she manages to make a new friend in the process.
Overall, this book is a fun read and also sends out an underlying message to young readers about friendship.

Such a cute and magical middle grade story. Loved it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This is a very sweet middle grade book. I loved the touches of whimsy and magic woven throughout the story. Friendship is the focal point in this book, and also the message of not judging others. I felt the characters really come to life, but I think the book could have done without the "bad guy"/mirror storyline. Overall a really fun read, and one I would recommend to young readers.

This is a delightful story of best friends, new friends and a magical book shop. Not to mention a talking cat with a fondness for cinnamon swirls and a mirror who can see into your soul. The setting of a book shop is perfect and somehow the books manage to find their new owners as if by magic!
Lottie and Clara are best friends but Lottie needs to move away from her Dad and his new girlfriend. They sadly say their goodbyes just before a new school year begins. There are surprises waiting for Clara as she faces school without her best friend.
There is a new boy, Leo, who sits in Lottie’s chair and a new teacher who Clara recognises instantly! I can’t give any more away about that!
Can their friendship survive the separation?
There are ups and downs and bumps along the way but true friends always find a way to work things out!

I would highly recommend this book. It has all the elements of a perfect story. Well developed characters, funny moments, endearing moments and times when it all looked sad. I love a happy ending though so was pleased the sadness was short lived.