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Published by The Collective Book Studio
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About the Book
A beloved middle-grade fantasy classic returns in a newly illustrated edition full of magic, mystery, and a doorway into the past.
When eight-year-old Sally is sent to spend the summer in a creaky old house with her elderly Aunt Sarah and a decidedly unfriendly cat, she expects weeks of boredom and loneliness. But everything changes when she discovers a mysterious painting of a little girl holding a doll—and learns that the doll, Elizabeth, vanished long ago.
Drawn by curiosity, Sally ventures into the attic, where an old mirror seems to open a doorway into another time. As she searches for the missing doll and the truth behind the painting, Sally discovers a story of friendship, empathy, and love that reaches across generations.
First published in 1966 and now back in print with brand-new full-color illustrations by Mark Richardson, Magic Elizabeth invites today’s readers into its timeless world of mystery, warmth, and wonder.
Here’s what makes Magic Elizabeth a classic fantasy for a new generation:
• A Beloved Children’s Classic Returns: A long-out-of-print favorite is available again for parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, and new readers.
• A Magical Journey into the Past: A mysterious attic mirror, a lost doll named Elizabeth, and a long-ago friendship create a classic children’s fantasy for ages 8–12.
• Brand-New Full-Color Artwork: New illustrations by Mark Richardson bring fresh visual life to Norma Kassirer’s timeless story.
• Perfect for Independent Reading or Sharing Aloud: A nostalgic favorite for adults and a moving story of imagination, kindness, and love for young readers.
Magic Elizabeth is a classic middle-grade fantasy novel about a magic mirror, a missing doll named Elizabeth, and a mystery that reaches into the past. This beloved children’s classic remains a moving reminder that imagination, kindness, and love can travel across time.
When eight-year-old Sally is sent to spend the summer in a creaky old house with her elderly Aunt Sarah and a decidedly unfriendly cat, she expects weeks of boredom and loneliness. But everything changes when she discovers a mysterious painting of a little girl holding a doll—and learns that the doll, Elizabeth, vanished long ago.
Drawn by curiosity, Sally ventures into the attic, where an old mirror seems to open a doorway into another time. As she searches for the missing doll and the truth behind the painting, Sally discovers a story of friendship, empathy, and love that reaches across generations.
First published in 1966 and now back in print with brand-new full-color illustrations by Mark Richardson, Magic Elizabeth invites today’s readers into its timeless world of mystery, warmth, and wonder.
Here’s what makes Magic Elizabeth a classic fantasy for a new generation:
• A Beloved Children’s Classic Returns: A long-out-of-print favorite is available again for parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, and new readers.
• A Magical Journey into the Past: A mysterious attic mirror, a lost doll named Elizabeth, and a long-ago friendship create a classic children’s fantasy for ages 8–12.
• Brand-New Full-Color Artwork: New illustrations by Mark Richardson bring fresh visual life to Norma Kassirer’s timeless story.
• Perfect for Independent Reading or Sharing Aloud: A nostalgic favorite for adults and a moving story of imagination, kindness, and love for young readers.
Magic Elizabeth is a classic middle-grade fantasy novel about a magic mirror, a missing doll named Elizabeth, and a mystery that reaches into the past. This beloved children’s classic remains a moving reminder that imagination, kindness, and love can travel across time.
Appearances
OCT 4
12:00AM
In Person
Book Launch and signing event: Author presentation of history of book, childhood experience of its publication, why the book endures, and readings from author's writings on the writing and creative experience.
Learn MoreByrd's Books
178 Greenwood Avenue
Bethel, CT 06801
OCT 17
10:00AM
In Person
Book signing and reading to children
Hickory Stick Books
2 Greenhill Road
Washington Depot, CT 06794
NOV 21
2:00PM
In Person
Storytime event
Talking Leaves
951 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
About the Author
Norma Kassirer, writer and artist, became best known for her middle-grade children’s classic Magic Elizabeth, first published in 1966 and featured in Eden Ross Lipson’s New York Times Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children. Another middle-grade novel, The Doll Snatchers, was published in 1969. In addition, Norma was the author of numerous books and short stories for adults. Norma’s daughter Sue Kassirer was thrilled to recently rediscover the original manuscript for The Knitting Witch, a story she had loved as a child. Wanting to share it with today’s children, Sue proceeded to edit and gently update the story, drawing on her many years of experience as a children’s book editor at Simon & Schuster, The Viking Press, Random House, and Harper Collins.
About the Illustrator
Mark Richardson is a freelance illustrator working primarily in watercolor and ink. His illustrations mostly focus on picturing fictional subjects within children’s literature. He also draws inspiration from the natural world and is engaged in an ongoing series of portraits of the birds that pass through his own property in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, where he maintains a studio and shares a home and garden with his wife, Barbara. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Mark enjoys painting large landscapes that reflect upon his travels. He is also a bookbinder. Many of his artworks find their way into the hand-bound books that he produces in limited quantities from his studio.
Product Details
- Publisher: The Collective Book Studio (October 6, 2026)
- Length: 224 pages
- ISBN13: 9781685558017
- Grades: 3 - 6
- Ages: 8 - 12
- Lexile ® 820L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
- Fountas & Pinnell™ V These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System
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Raves and Reviews
"Delightful blending of the true and fanciful."
– Parents’ Magazine
"Few children's books possess the timeless charm and quiet enchantment of Magic Elizabeth. Norma Kassirer created a story that continues to captivate readers with its warmth, imagination, and gentle sense of wonder. As a librarian, I have long treasured books that invite children into worlds they never want to leave, and Magic Elizabeth does exactly that. This beautiful new edition will introduce a beloved classic to a new generation of readers while delighting those who remember its magic from years ago."
– Donna White, director of Brighton Place Library
"Magic Elizabeth is one of those rare books that stays with a reader long after childhood. Norma Kassirer created a world filled with wonder, mystery, and heart, inviting young readers to discover the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary. This is a homemade kind of magic, one found in loss, recovery, and rediscovery. A magic every reader will readily understand and adore. This beautiful new edition ensures"
– Geoffrey Gatza, author of When the Book is Over and The Albatross Around the Neck of Albert Ross
"Read this book and be transported by Norma Kassirer’s enduring tale of magic and mystery . . . for Magic Elizabeth is a story full of half-remembered whispers and long-forgotten clues . . ."
– Edric Mesmer, Poetry Cataloger, University at Buffalo
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
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Book Cover Image (jpg): Magic Elizabeth
Trade Paperback 9781685558017
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Author Photo (jpg): Norma Kassirer
(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
