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Book by Debbie Dadey

88 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1996

16 people are currently reading
417 people want to read

About the author

Debbie Dadey

234 books328 followers
Debbie Dadey is the author and co-author of 162 books for children, including the Mermaid Tales series from Simon and Schuster and the beloved Adventures of The Bailey School Kids from Scholastic. Ms. Dadey is a former teacher and librarian. Please like her at Facebook.com/debbiedadey.

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5 stars
240 (30%)
4 stars
187 (23%)
3 stars
284 (36%)
2 stars
64 (8%)
1 star
11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for J.B. Mathias.
943 reviews3 followers
October 19, 2022
the kids kind of were not involved in this story at all, there was vaguely a sort of but not really problem that resolved itself sort of. Not the best.
Profile Image for paige turner ♡.
292 reviews9 followers
July 25, 2018
I have always had a thing for wizards and magic. When I was a kid I used to watch the Pagemaster, it was my all time favourite movie. This book reminds me a lot of the page master...except there's no Richard Tyler, and the Pagemaster went to Bailey City instead.

The only thing I didn't like was how they wanted to stop Mr. Merle. Everyone was reading, and it was a good thing, but it didn't mean he was trying to take over the city. He was just getting kids to read, and if there's a reward involved then of course kids would want it.

But I do believe in magic. I do believe that reading is magical. This is one character that I wish would have stayed in Bailey City.
219 reviews1 follower
July 1, 2025
I love this series. This book is mostly good. I love this take on Merlin as a librarian who starts a kids reading program. It's a great take on the legend. The only thing I dislike is the resolution of the book. It's sudden and doesn't really make sense (even by kids' fantasy standards). It felt like Dadey wasn't sure where to take this. It wasn't quite bad enough to ruin the rest of the book though, so still worth it.
Profile Image for Hannah Belyea.
2,784 reviews40 followers
May 3, 2018
While doing research for their reports on England and Camelot, the Bailey School Kids find that there could be magic in the library air, and the librarian could actually be Merlin! Dadey delivers another charming adventure with this wondrous entry!
851 reviews7 followers
June 18, 2019
Maybe the new librarian is the wizard Merlin? And maybe his goldfish is King Arthur?

This is cute in places, but I feel like the message is mixed. Mr. Merle's reading campaign is so successful that the kids stop playing outside, and the soccer camp is almost cancelled. LOL
Profile Image for Frankie.
9 reviews
June 6, 2025
I really love wizards and series so this is a good book for both enjoyed reading this a lot. If you’re looking for a type of a book to read about kids and wizards this is the book for you. I enjoyed learning about the kids journey. It was really fun.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
576 reviews
May 16, 2023
A timeless little story. Great for sons not very interested in reading! In fact, it was he who told me I 'had to read it'! 3rd grade
Profile Image for Alexa.
70 reviews2 followers
December 31, 2024
It’s been such a joy to reread this series. One of my favorites growing up. And I always love the illustrations.
Profile Image for Josh Epp.
689 reviews
April 20, 2025
Oh wizards don’t need computers. This makes me think of real life right now haha. So fun!
1 review
March 10, 2020
Please help me to write a review on wizards don't need computer this story.... please.....😑
Profile Image for Izlinda.
607 reviews12 followers
November 1, 2010
Yay for continuity! This is another book centered around the library, but now it's not about saving it, but the new librarian. There's a definite pattern with Howie thinking the adult is a fantastical/mystical creature while Eddie guffaws at him. I also like the importance on reading the book espouses, though, yes, too much of a good thing, even reading, is bad. (My parents have been trying for years to get me to read less fiction and more general knowledge/non-fiction/informative books/newspapers/magazines...) Points for the Camelot references.
Profile Image for BookeryBliss.
337 reviews36 followers
September 16, 2014
The collection of "The adventures of the Bailey School Kids" stories are among my all-time favorite children's books. Witty, mischievous and fun, these short and silly books continue to bring giggles to the young and old. Just as I have enjoyed them as a kid, my own children also love them today. I even catch myself re-reading them (alone) from time to time. What can I say? I guess I'll always be a BSK kid at heart.
Profile Image for Catherine Woodman.
5,931 reviews118 followers
July 29, 2011
The Bailey School Kids is a best-selling children's book series by Marcia Thornton Jones and Debbie Dadey. Its main characters are a group of four children (Eddie, Howie, Liza, Melody) who suspect some persons in the stories are popular folk lore or fairy tale characters. They are appealing because they mix a familiar story in with this group of kids. Mid-grammar school
Profile Image for Ashley-Anne.
304 reviews47 followers
May 13, 2018
it wasn`t as good as the others because I didn`t feel that it had any real resolution. rather than the wizard going away, which usually happens, he was offered a higher up position, where he could continue his work. I wonder if this is because the authors have a soft spot for librarians and didnt want to villify them
196 reviews2 followers
April 1, 2016
When a new librarian comes to town and has a fish named Arthur and a friend, Mrs Queen, the Bailey School Kids become convinced that he is Merlin the magician. When the library's new summer reading program is the Kingdom of Reading they become even more certain.
Profile Image for Annie.
103 reviews7 followers
August 31, 2011
it was funny and it had a lot of good wizard words.
Profile Image for Logan.
119 reviews
March 7, 2015
Read these all in while I was in middle school and loved them, giving them a 3.5-4.0 for my past 12 year old self.
Profile Image for Seth.
379 reviews
January 14, 2015
they got a new library assistant. his name was mr. menie. they thought he was a wizard. he had a fish named arthur. he had a wand.
Profile Image for Jerome Otte.
1,916 reviews
April 24, 2015
Mr. Merle is the new school librarian. He looks like a wizard, his goldfish’s name is Arthur, and he owns a wand and a crystal ball. Interesting and well-paced.
Profile Image for Twyla.
1,766 reviews61 followers
December 30, 2015
my favourite part was when everyone was reading because reading is fun! the worst part was when Merle left. I don't remember much, I should read it again. Auryn 12 years old, 2015
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Maximilian Lee.
450 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2017
I liked this book because I like wizards. I also liked this book because I like camalot.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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