Books by Margaret Mahy

Margaret Mahy writes picture books and middle grade and young adult for ages 3–18, exploring themes of curiosity & wonder, self-confidence & identity, family & siblings.

Standalone Books (Ages 8–11)

Sailor Jack and the 20 Orphans

Margaret Mahy

Sailor Jack works for pirates to raise money to adopt twenty orphans. A heartwarming and humorous adventure about findin

Ages 4–11

The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate

Margaret Mahy

For the child who feels the urge to break free from routine and find their own adventure, this story celebrates embracin

Ages 6–9

The Great Piratical Rumbustification & The Librarian and the Robbers

Margaret Mahy

For the child who loves quirky humor and wishes everyday life could be a bit more adventurous and wonderfully chaotic, t

Ages 7–11

17 Kings and 42 Elephants

Margaret Mahy

Seventeen kings and forty-two elephants embark on a joyful, rhyming journey through a wild jungle night, encountering a

Ages 4–11

The Great White Man-Eating Shark

Margaret Mahy

For children who feel overwhelmed by crowds or need personal space, this humorous cautionary tale explores a boy's trick

Ages 4–8

The Dragon of an Ordinary Family

Margaret Mahy

For the child who loves the idea of the unexpected, this whimsical tale celebrates how extraordinary things can happen t

Ages 6–9

A Lion in the Meadow

Margaret Mahy

For children who often feel misunderstood, this story beautifully validates the power of imagination and the importance

Ages 4–8

Dangerous Spaces

Margaret Mahy

For children grappling with frightening nightmares and complex family dynamics, this story explores how two difficult co

Ages 8–12

The Boy who was Followed Home

Margaret Mahy

For the child who experiences life a little differently, this whimsical tale explores the delightful absurdity of accept

Ages 6–9

The Three-Legged Cat

Margaret Mahy

Mrs. Gimble's three-legged cat, Tom, dreams of adventure, while Mrs. Gimble wishes he ate less. When her drifter brother

Ages 4–11

The Pirate Uncle

Margaret Mahy

Nicholas and Caroline are proper children, but their Uncle is a real pirate. When they visit his New Zealand beach home,

Ages 4–11

A Very Wicked Headmistress

Margaret Mahy

When a sinister headmistress with a mysterious secret takes over a school, students and staff must navigate her wicked w

Ages 4–11

The Witch in the Cherry Tree

Margaret Mahy

David and his mother use quick thinking to protect their freshly baked cakes from a crafty witch lurking in the garden c

Ages 4–8

Clancy's Cabin

Margaret Mahy

For children dreaming of a summer getaway filled with family time and a hint of unexpected excitement, this story delive

Ages 7–10

The Greatest Show Off Earth

Margaret Mahy

Delphinium's tenth birthday takes an unexpected turn when she finds herself on a vibrant space circus, tasked with fight

Ages 7–10

The Boy with Two Shadows

Margaret Mahy

For the child who delights in quirky magic and taking on big, unexpected responsibilities, this story offers a charmingl

Ages 6–9

By Age Range

Ages 0–3

2 books

Ages 4–7

17 books

Ages 8–11

16 books

Ages 12–18

3 books

If Your Family Loves Margaret Mahy, Also Try

Kate DiCamillo

The Hotel Balzaar

Eoin Colfer

Three Tasks for a Dragon

Meg Rosoff

McTavish Goes Wild

Allan Ahlberg

Half a Pig

Gregory Maguire

Egg & Spoon