Magic Animal Friends Series
Novel Studies That Build Empathy, Vocabulary, and a Love for Reading
Books matter. Kids need real, physical books—ones they can hold in their hands, flip through, and feel proud to finish. But reading alone isn’t enough.
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Kids need to think about what they’re reading. They need to engage with it, reflect on it, and create something meaningful.
Why? Because we’re seeing problems in this generation—problems parents, teachers, and coaches talk about all the time. Kids are struggling with:
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Low vocabulary
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Poor reading comprehension
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A lack of empathy
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Difficulty tracking what they read
We need to fix this. And that starts by giving kids the right tools—not just books to read, but ways to think deeply about what they’re reading.
That’s where the Magic Animal Friends series comes in, paired with my Workbook Novel Studies.
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Before I dive into the details, if you’re ready to jump in, here’s where you can find the workbooks (samples are on Teachers Pay Teachers to see if these are a good fit for your kid):
Browse Homeschool Workbooks
Why Choose Magic Animal Friends?
The Magic Animal Friends series is a delightful starting point for younger readers. Written by the same team behind the popular Rainbow Magic Fairy series, these books are charming, imaginative, and fun. If your kids enjoyed Rainbow Magic, they’ll love Magic Animal Friends.
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The stories follow two best friends, Lily and Jess. When they’re not helping animals at Lily’s family Wildlife Hospital, they’re off on adventures in the magical Friendship Forest. In the forest, they work together to solve problems, help their animal friends, and stand up to troublemakers.
It’s a feel-good series with:
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Adorable animal characters
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Light magical elements
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Strong themes of kindness and teamwork
Think of it as a modern take on Winnie the Pooh or Beatrix Potter. It’s British, sweet, and cozy—perfect for kids who need stories full of heart.
Are These Books Educational?
Not every book needs to be packed with facts to be educational. The Magic Animal Friends series shines because it builds the core skills kids need for a lifetime of learning:
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1. Vocabulary Building
Each book introduces kids to new words in a natural, engaging way. Kids are learning without even realizing it.
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2. Reading Comprehension
The stories are perfect for early readers who are building confidence and learning to track what they read.
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3. Empathy
Helping animals. Solving problems. Working as a team. These stories help kids connect with others and understand what it means to care.
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4. Critical Thinking
The characters’ clear motivations—good guys vs. bad guys—make it easy for kids to analyze decisions, solve problems, and think creatively.
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While these aren’t history-heavy books like Magic Tree House, they do sprinkle in interesting animal facts. Each book ends with a section about the primary animal character, which adds a little extra learning.
Why Use the Workbooks?
Let’s be honest: not all reading comprehension tools are created equal. Many are boring, rigid, and focused on just getting the “right” answer. That’s not what we’re doing here.
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These novel studies are different. They’re no-prep printable workbooks that encourage kids to:
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Journal their thoughts
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Put themselves into the story
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Explore new vocabulary in a meaningful way
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Synthesize ideas and think deeply about characters
The prompts are open-ended and creative. Instead of just filling out worksheets, kids get to reflect on the story and make it their own.
By the time they’re done, they’ll have a keepsake of their learning journey—something they’ll feel proud to look back on.
Empathy, Creativity, and Life Skills
Empathy is one of the most important things we can teach our kids. These books help lay that foundation through stories of kindness, problem-solving, and teamwork.
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Jess and Lily model creative thinking and compassion as they solve problems in the Friendship Forest.
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The magical animals live in a whimsical society with cafes, shops, and homes that show teamwork and generosity in action.
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The clear distinction between “good guys” and “bad guys” helps kids analyze character motivations and make connections to their own lives.
Plus, kids get a taste of social studies through the animals’ little world—a great way to explore how different communities work together.
What’s Included?
I’ve created novel studies for the first 16 books in the Magic Animal Friends series. Each one is packed with prompts and activities designed to:
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Help kids slow down and think deeply about what they’ve read.
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Strengthen reading comprehension and vocabulary.
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Build empathy and creative problem-solving skills.
And best of all? These workbooks are easy for parents. Just print and go—no prep required.
Why It Matters
We don’t want kids rushing through books just to check them off a list. We want them to savor the experience, reflect on the story, and create something meaningful.
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There’s already too much content being thrown at kids today. This is their chance to slow down, take their time, and truly connect with what they’re reading.
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If you want your kids to think creatively, build empathy, and strengthen their reading and writing skills, the Magic Animal Friends Workbook Novel Studies are for you.
Start Exploring!
Below, you’ll find links to the Magic Animal Friends books and my unofficial companion workbooks.
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Magic Tree House Workbooks on Gumroad, Etsy, and Teachers Pay Teachers
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Magic Animal Friends box set (this is the best deal I've found)