“The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell” is the first book in a popular children’s book series. It was written by Chris Colfer, who you might know as an actor from the TV show “Glee.” This book is like a magic doorway that takes you to a world where fairy tales are real.
The story is about 12-year-old twins named Alex and Conner Bailey. They are very sad because their father died in a car accident. Their lives have become hard. Their mom works all the time to pay the bills. Alex is very smart and loves school. Conner has trouble in school and often falls asleep in class.
One day, their grandmother gives them a very special book for their birthday. It is called “The Land of Stories.” This is not an ordinary book. It is a magical book! The book starts to glow and hum. One day, the twins fall into the book! Yes, they actually fall right into the pages of the book!
They land in a magical world called the Land of Stories. Here, all the fairy tale characters they read about are real people! They meet Cinderella, Goldilocks, Red Riding Hood, and many others. But this is not the happy “happily ever after” world they expected. Many of the characters have problems. The fairy tale world is in trouble.
Alex and Conner learn about something called the Wishing Spell. This is a special magic that can grant one wish to whoever collects all its items. The twins want to use the spell to go back home to their mother. But an evil queen named the Evil Queen (from Snow White) also wants the spell. She wants to use it for her own dark plans.
The book is their exciting race to find all the items for the Wishing Spell before the Evil Queen does!
Meet the Main Characters
Alex Bailey:
- The sister twin
- Very smart and loves to read
- Gets straight A’s in school
- Believes in magic easily
- Wears glasses and is more careful
Conner Bailey:
- The brother twin
- Funny and tells great jokes
- Has trouble in school
- Does not believe in magic at first
- More brave and risky
Grandma (aka the Fairy Godmother):
- The twins’ grandmother
- Has a big secret—she is actually the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella!
- She watches over the Land of Stories
- Gave the twins the magic book
The Evil Queen:
- The main villain
- Wants the Wishing Spell for revenge
- Very powerful with dark magic
- Will do anything to get what she wants
Other Fairy Tale Characters You’ll Meet:
- Cinderella – Now a queen, but has royal problems
- Goldilocks – A wanted fugitive living in the woods
- Red Riding Hood – Now queen of her kingdom, but very spoiled
- Jack – From Jack and the Beanstalk, now a hero
- Froggy – A kind man who was once a frog prince
The Exciting Quest for the Wishing Spell Items
To make the Wishing Spell work, Alex and Conner must find eight special items. Their journey takes them all across the Land of Stories. Here is what they need to find:
- Cinderella’s glass slipper – The one she left at the ball
- Red Riding Hood’s basket – The one she took to her grandmother’s house
- Rapunzel’s hair – A lock of her long, magical hair
- A chunk of Snow White’s coffin – From when she was in a deep sleep
- The Saber of the Empire State – A special sword
- A lock of the Evil Queen’s hair – Very dangerous to get!
- Fairy Godmother’s wand – Their own grandmother’s wand!
- A tear from a fairy – A very rare and precious thing
Each item is in a different kingdom. The twins face many dangers as they travel. They meet friends and enemies. They learn that fairy tale characters are more complicated than they seem in stories.
Important Lessons the Book Teaches
“The Wishing Spell” is not just an adventure story. It teaches important lessons:
1. Brothers and Sisters Can Work Together
Alex and Conner are very different. But they learn to use their different skills to help each other. Alex is smart and knows the fairy tales. Conner is brave and funny. Together, they make a great team.
2. Things Are Not Always What They Seem
The fairy tale characters are not exactly like in the books. Goldilocks is not just a little girl who ate porridge. She is a strong woman living in the woods. Red Riding Hood is not sweet—she is spoiled and selfish. The book teaches us that people (even storybook people) are complex.
3. Grief and Healing
The twins miss their father very much. Their sadness is a big part of the story. The book shows that it’s okay to be sad when you lose someone you love. It also shows that family love can help you heal.
4. Believing in Yourself
Conner thinks he is not smart because school is hard for him. But during the adventure, he discovers he has other kinds of smart. He is brave, funny, and good at thinking quickly. The book teaches that everyone has special gifts.
5. Reading Is Magical
The twins love stories. Their knowledge of fairy tales helps them in the Land of Stories. The book shows that reading is not just for school—it can be an adventure!
Why Kids and Adults Love This Book
For Kids:
- Exciting adventure – Every chapter has something new
- Funny jokes – Conner makes everyone laugh
- Familiar characters – It’s fun to see what happens to fairy tale characters
- Easy to read – The writing is clear and fun
- Great pictures – The book has beautiful illustrations
For Parents and Teachers:
- Teaches good values – Teamwork, courage, family love
- Encourages reading – Kids want to read more after this book
- Smart references – The book plays with fairy tales in clever ways
- Deals with real issues – Like grief, school problems, and sibling relationships
- Safe content – No inappropriate material
The Land of Stories Series – What Comes Next?
“The Wishing Spell” is just the beginning! There are six books in the main series:
- The Wishing Spell (Book 1)
- The Enchantress Returns (Book 2)
- A Grimm Warning (Book 3)
- Beyond the Kingdoms (Book 4)
- An Author’s Odyssey (Book 5)
- Worlds Collide (Book 6)
There are also companion books and coloring books. Each book continues the adventures of Alex and Conner. They face new villains and visit new magical worlds. The series gets more exciting with each book!
Fun Activities to Do After Reading
If you love “The Wishing Spell,” try these fun activities:
1. Make Your Own Wishing Spell List
What eight items would you need for your own wishing spell? They could be from your favorite stories or from your own life! Draw pictures of each item.
2. Create a Fairy Tale Map
Draw a map of the Land of Stories. Include all the places Alex and Conner visit: Red Riding Hood’s kingdom, Cinderella’s castle, the Dwarf Forests, etc.
3. Write a Different Ending
What if the twins made a different choice? Write your own ending to the story.
4. Character Dress-Up Day
Dress up as your favorite character from the book. You could be Alex, Conner, Goldilocks, or even the Evil Queen!
5. Twin Interview
With a friend, pretend one of you is Alex and one is Conner. Interview each other about your adventure in the Land of Stories.
Chris Colfer – The Author Behind the Magic
Chris Colfer is not just an author. He is also an actor, singer, and filmmaker. He played Kurt Hummel on “Glee.” He started writing stories when he was very young. He wrote “The Wishing Spell” because he loved fairy tales as a child.
Fun facts about Chris Colfer:
- He was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people
- He has won a Golden Globe award for acting
- He was bullied in school for liking theater and reading
- He wants his books to help kids who feel different
- He writes all his books by hand first, then types them
How This Book Helps Young Readers
For Reluctant Readers (Kids who don’t like reading):
- Short chapters that end with excitement
- Funny parts that make reading fun
- Familiar characters from fairy tales
- Lots of action and adventure
For Advanced Readers:
- Clever twists on classic stories
- Rich vocabulary to learn new words
- Complex characters with depth
- Themes that make you think
For All Readers:
- A story you can’t put down
- Characters you care about
- A perfect mix of fantasy and real-life feelings
- An ending that makes you want to read Book 2 right away!
What Makes This Book Special?
“The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell” is special because:
- It respects fairy tales but makes them new – You recognize the characters, but their stories continue in surprising ways.
- The brother-sister team – Many adventure books have only boys or only girls as heroes. This book shows a brother and sister working together as equals.
- Magic with meaning – The magic in the book is fun, but it also helps the characters learn about themselves and their family.
- It makes reading an adventure – When you read this book, you feel like you’re falling into the Land of Stories too!
- Heart and humor mixed together – One minute you might be crying about the twins’ father, the next minute you’re laughing at Conner’s joke.
Final Thoughts: Should You Read This Book?
Yes! “The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell” is perfect for:
- Kids ages 8-12 (but younger kids will enjoy it being read to them, and older readers will like it too!)
- Families who want to read together
- Teachers looking for a great class read-aloud
- Anyone who loves fairy tales, magic, and adventure
- Kids who feel different or are going through hard times
The book is like a warm hug and an exciting roller coaster at the same time. It takes you to a magical world but always brings you back to what’s important: family, courage, and believing in yourself.
So open the cover, turn to page one, and get ready to fall into your own adventure. The Land of Stories is waiting for you!
