Maggie is a fun, imaginative, but impatient little girl who manages to get into predicaments by using magic when she’s not supposed to.

My 4 and 6 year old girls love the Maggie Sparks books, and this one did not disappoint. They are equal parts silly and emotion filled. The characters are lovable and relatable.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Maggie Sparks and the Swimming Pool Sharks is the second book in this new children's middle grade book for children aged 5+. Maggie is up to more funny magical mischief in this book. When Maggie goes to the park with her best friend Charlie and changes the weather from rain to snow, the pair are having lots of fun until Maggie ends up getting them both soaked in the fountain. Not wanting to tell her mum she's used magic outside of the house, she ends up being signed up for swimming lessons by her mum, which she is not looking forward to. When she attends her first lesson (with the tadpoles - beginners group) , Arthur is there and Maggie is mortified that the rest of the group are all little kids and to top it off her super annoying cousin is there showing off in the sharks group.
This was another fun read that is sure to make the reader/audience giggle and will be very relatable to most children with a fear of swimming, navigating emotions such as embarrassment and jealousy. The illustrations are so fun and engaging, and Maggie is just so relatable for little ones in so many ways.

Now this is coming out in a North American imprint, I can catch up with the second adventure in this series of quick reads for light readers. Maggie the magician is able to do pretty strong magic, but she is not supposed to as it always goes wrong, and she always tries to do it out in the open and never secretly and in private. We see her turn her park into a winter wonderland when it was just bleak with rain, and as a result of that has been lumbered with swimming lessons. Sure, she can give a helping wand-wave for her best friend, but what might happen if she turns the magic on herself to be able to swim?

All told this story is a very slight one, revolving around a kind of joke when something is taken too literally. But it's still a breezy affair – and a lot better than a certain volume in this series I just didn't take to at all. Maggie can still sound a bit annoying and needy, but generally the hearts of this and everyone in it are in the right place, and it's all over in a few short (and well-illustrated) chapters. Like the bulk of these books, I'd recommend it, even if for me this was not the best example of its kind.

Maggie Sparks and the Swimming Pool Sharks is an absolutely charming second installment in Steve Smallman’s Maggie Sparks series, bringing young readers an enchanting, laugh-out-loud adventure packed with heart and humor.

From the very beginning, Maggie Sparks is immediately relatable. Her feelings about the weather and her wonderfully moody yet endearing attitude are sure to resonate with children—and perhaps even with the adults reading alongside them. Maggie’s imperfections make her all the more lovable; she is impatient but well-meaning, mischievous but never malicious, and full of curiosity about the world and her magical powers.

The story’s pacing is perfect, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. The text’s sizing and spacing are ideal for young readers transitioning to chapter books, and the humor throughout is bound to have kids giggling. The image of Maggie, stuck in a ducky swimsuit while swimming with three-year-olds, is just one of many laugh-out-loud moments that capture the lighthearted tone of this delightful tale.

What truly makes Maggie a captivating character is her relatability. She’s much like most kids—figuring out who she is, testing boundaries, and learning from her mistakes. The only difference? She’s a witch with magical powers she’s eager to master. Her actions don’t define her; instead, they illustrate her growth as she learns and loves along the way.

Adding to the book’s charm is Maggie’s loyal friend Arthur. His line—“I would rather be a good Tadpole than a bad Duckling. So I’ll stay and be a Tadpole, with you.”—is such a touching moment of friendship that it might bring a tear to your eye. Arthur embodies the values of kindness and support, making him a perfect companion for Maggie on her journey of self-discovery.

Maggie Sparks and the Swimming Pool Sharks is an engaging, laugh-filled story with a strong heart at its core. It’s perfect for readers aged 6-9 who enjoy a mix of magic, humor, and relatable life lessons. It’s definitely worth adding to your school or class library, as kids will absolutely love this series. Maggie Sparks is a young witch worth following, and I can’t wait to see what trouble and growth her next adventure brings!

I received a digital ARC copy of this book. After using her Magic, Maggie’s mother quickly realizes Maggie needs to learn how to swim. When Maggie runs into her cousin at swim lessons, who swims at a higher level than she does, Maggie will do anything, including magic, to help herself become a better swimmer. This was another cute story with Maggie, but I feel like it was missing a moral. #NetGalley #MaggieSparksandtheSwimmingPoolSharks

I received an electronic ARC from North Star Editions through NetGalley.
Maggie's adventures continue in book 2. This time she and Arthur are taking swimming lessons. It's amusing to watch how this unfolds and how Maggie interacts with her cousin Ella. Family dynamics can be interesting and Smallman uses a light touch on this less than loving cousin relationship. Mid-elementary readers will appreciate the humor and the way Maggie uses and misuses her magic.

Quick Summary: A funny, ha-ha, "Oh, Maggie!" installment

My Review: Maggie Sparks and the Swimming Pool Sharks by Steve Smallman is book #2 in the Maggie Sparks series.

About the Book: "...when Mom decides to sign her up for swimming lessons, Maggie is not happy. Thankfully, Maggie is a super powerful, super smart, super talented witch. She is determined to use her powers to get into the elite Sharks swimming group and help her best friend, Arthur, along the way."

Maggie, a young witch in training...who is not supposed to do magic outside of home, is at it again. What started out as a spell gone wrong ends up as a number of swimming lessons gone haywire. Soon, all of the good intentions by this naughty but nice girlie end with a splash.

My Favorite Line: "'Oh dear,' sighed Arthur."

My Favorite Illustrations (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):

Soggy Maggie
The Tidal Wave
Tummy Toot Time

My Favorite Support Character: Arthur (I genuinely adore him.)

About the Illustrations: This book was illustrated by Esther Hernando. Her illustrations joyfully communicated the story. I quickly found myself looking forward to seeing how the story content would be expressed in art form.

My Final Say: I 💗 Maggie Sparks!

Maggie is charming. She is imperfect but relatable. She is impatient but well meaning. She is moody but ever evolving. She is mischievous but not in a malicious way. She simply thinks outside of the box. She is a young witch who is learning to be who she is going to be.

Other: I think what makes this character so captivating is the fact that she is like most kiddos. She just happens to have special powers that she is intrigued by, that she is interested in using for good, and that she is desirous to master. Her actions in the moment don't define her. She is learning as she goes and loving as she goes. That is how we all develop.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Children
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Special Note: This book would be ideal as part of an elementary classroom and/or library read aloud series. It is also a great family read & discuss recommendation.

Heartfelt appreciation is extended to the author, to the illustrator, to the publisher (North Star Editions | Jolly Fish Press), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review a digital ARC of this title. It was a pleasure.

Learning to swim can be challenging, but these two friends sign up for swimming classes, and with a hint of magic, Maggie gets to have some fun annoying a bully. I like the names they give to the different levels of the swimmers. Arthur is a great friend and is very supportive and helps Maggie from being too naughty.

In this second book in the Maggie Sparks series, we learn that Maggie doesn’t know how to swim after she freezes the fountain so she can skate, and doesn’t realize that the ice is melting, and she gets scared of drowning, even though it is only a foot of water.
So, her mother decides to send her to swim lessons, a place that both her cousin, who we get to meet, and Arthur, her best friend, both go to. There are various levels of skills, and the highest is a shark. Maggie is in tadpoles, which she hates.


Another book, that non-magical kids can relate to. Because, who wouldn’t want to make it snow when you are bored, and want to skate in the fountain. And who woldn’t want to be a shark, instead of a tadpole.


The story is funny, and totally relatable, with just a touch of Maggie magic.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out in North America the 1st of January 2025 (It has been out in the UK for a few years).

Maggie Sparks doesn’t like swimming, and she hates that she can’t do it well. So, she’s not very happy when her mom signs her up for lessons but, with her best friend and her magic, she may just find a way to appreciate the water.

As an aficionado of books about spunky, witchy girls, I think Maggie is a fantastic character who would’ve found friendship with earlier personalities like Junie B. Jones. I like the friendship with Arthur and appreciate that the author doesn’t try to push any romance but instead crafts a true, loyal, and supportive friendship between the two. Bat is also a fun sidekick, and I hope to see more of what he can do as a familiar.

What I don’t like in the story is the way the adults talk to and about the kids, especially in the first half. After our opening scene, Maggie’s mom praises Arthur for his bravery but proceeds to talk about how fearful Maggie is. Books that acknowledge feelings are so important, but the gender bias feels strong. It’s made worse when Maggie’s mom, aunt, and swim instructor all proceed to comment on her appearance, telling her that she looks “very sweet” in her swimsuit. Maggie clearly doesn’t appreciate it, but the book provides no change in the adult behavior and there’s not an example of an adult that comments primarily on Maggie’s vibrant personality, strength, or character. I wouldn’t give a book to my nieces that normalizes girls being objects of observation, so this content took away from the book for me a bit.

3.5/5⭐️ rounded down

Thank you so much to Jolly Fish Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Maggie Sparks doesn’t know how to swim and whilst playing with her friend Arthur she falls down into the water of melted ice. Soon her mom is taking her to swim lessons but it’s embarrassing and not fun.

This was adorable, Maggie didn’t even want to be in swim class, her teacher wasn’t a very good teacher, her cousin was a shark in swimming and learning to swim was so hard for her and her friend Arthur. I liked that she used her magic even though she shouldn’t have, but by using it she found the courage she needed to actually learn to swim. Bat was also hilarious watching the whole thing, he such a funny pet.

Another great book in the series, the things she does with her magic are always so funny and unexpected, it never works out correctly and that’s what really adds so much charm to the stories. The illustrations in the books are always so much fun to look at too capturing all the things he’s up too, and the book itself is so much fun to read.