Children's reads

Mr Midnight books are written in the horror genre and this never fails to entice readers. Though they are meant for children, they can be pretty scary in their plots, if timid adults read them. They are good recommendations for folks who enjoy horror reads but find adult novels of the same genre, either too thick or too complicated. There is no one particular book that is outstanding in this series. It really depends on your specific interests.

Enid Blyton has also written various detective-cum-mystery series like Five Find-outers, Famous Five and Secret Seven. They instill logical thinking and deductive reasoning in readers who are inspired to solve the mysteries together with the children, much like Sherlock Holmes's method of cracking cases. Even supposedly supernatural and inexplicable occurrences are later revealed to be part of the crooks' plans, in the process of achieving their ultimate goals. The children are elevated as characters when they manage to solve mysteries which have dumbfounded the police.

She has also come up with the Wishing Chair and Faraway Tree series. Both these series emphasise fantasy in their content, with a whole host of lovable characters from Fairyland. I think these two series are collectibles in their own right. Readers are captivated as they journey with the characters to different lands up the tree and on the chair.

Carolyn Keene, the author of the Nancy Drew series, writes similarly to Blyton in her mystery series. Nancy Drew, an amateur but excellent detective, together with her friends, solves different cases each time. She encounters dangerous criminals, bungling thieves and professional spies, sometimes placing her own life at risk in the process of solving the cases.

There is a similar series meant for younger readers too. It is called Nancy Drew Notebooks. Nancy is much younger in this series and the mysteries she solves are simpler and less jeopardizing for her. For boys, there is the Hardy Boys series. Two brothers are also placed in situations similar to the older Nancy and sometimes the four of them actually work together in the same cases.

The Rainbow Magic series focuses on different groups of fairies in Fairyland and how two girls, Rachel and Kristy, help them against the goblins of their enemy, Jack Frost. There are the Weather Fairies, Party Fairies and Rainbow Fairies as collections in this series. Magic thus revolves abundantly around the girls' adventures A book costs $10.90.

Disney Princess magazines are also another of the recommended reads. There are stories revolving around the princessses Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Snow White, Belle, Mulan and Pocahontas. However besides that, there are colouring pages, puzzles, personality tests, contests and reviews included as well. Each monthly issue costs $3.90 or one can sign up for the subscription plans on hand.