Early chapter books aren’t my specialty. I don’t read them often, but my son was in need of a new series, so I read The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet, the first book of The Secrets of Droon. I was impressed. The story was very simplistic, of course, but what takes me twenty minutes to breeze through takes him several hours. That’s enough time for a child to be thoroughly immersed in a magical adventure.
Eric Hinkle and his friends Neil and Julie are regular soccer-playing kids who stumble onto a stairway that leads to Droon. But Droon is an unhappy land, terrorized by the evil Lord Sparr. Princess Keeah charges Eric with delivering an important message to Galen Longbeard, the five hundred-year-old wizard. Shortly after, she’s captured by Ninns (Lord Sparr’s red, fat-faced minnions) who ride groggles (flying lizards). Even worse, Lord Sparr is close to finding the first of Three Powers that would give him dominion over the whole world. It’s up to Eric and friends to set things right.
This is a well-done story for only eighty pages of large type. Sentences and chapters are short and manageable. Words and names are mostly phonetic, easy to sound out, like “Sparr” and “Zorfendorf.” It does include some more challenging vocabulary words like “invisible” and “petrified,” but I like to see a few stretchers. I’d call it an easy third grade read and a real kid-pleaser. And there are FORTY books in this series to keep them reading.
The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet (The Secrets of Droon, book one), by Tony Abbott, 1999, Book Review
I read one of the books in this series in 3rd grade (not #1). I really liked it. I need to read this one too! 🙂
You must have jumped in in the middle of the series then, because I believe all forty are a continuing story line. They’re a little too simplistic for my personal taste, but great for beginning readers.
Great review, Michelle. Would you say that even with the “stretchers” this is a good book for reluctant readers?
Definitely! It’s very similar to The Magic Treehouse books. Easy fantasy, only without the Treehouse history lessons.
Thanks for the endorsement! I hear a lot of positive comments from reading specialists indicating that the high interest level and simple storytelling makes these books appealing to older reluctant readers, too.
Hi Tony! Thanks for dropping by! Always great to meet an author.
I wouldn’t call myself a reading specialist, just an enthusiast, but my son is one of those older struggling readers. These are perfect for him.
Very good review, Michelle. Makes me wish I had readers still in my house. 😉
I love my little readers. 🙂
Great review. Haven’t read an early chapter books. Is this series compare to the Magic Tree House? I have forgotten. Should check one out.
Very comparable, Pat.