About the Books

• About the NEW books
• About the books
• Just the book covers
• Foreign editions
• Info for collectors

Ruth Chew is the author and illustrator of 29 books for children and the illustrator of 4 books for children. Happily, Random House has recently begun to re-issue Ruth Chew's 29 original stories in both electronic and paper-and-ink versions.

Books by Ruth Chew

	The Wednesday Witch first published in 1969 Mary Jane's mother has told her not to let any strangers in the house while she's away. But there's someone outside banging on the door. When Mary Jane looks through the peep hole, she sees a short, fat woman wearing a long black dress and a tall pointed hat. Mary Jane thinks she looks just like a witch. The woman outside IS a witch, and Mary Jane is about to meet her face to face! »more info
	Baked Beans for Breakfast (aka The Secret Summer) first published in 1970 "Joe, we shouldn't have run away!" Kathleen was suddenly afraid. But her brother knew there was no turning back now. Every minute the bus was taking them farther away from their home in Brooklyn. "Just think, Kath," Joe said. "We can camp out at the lake all by ourselves. It will be a lot more fun than staying in the city all summer long." "A lot more fun," thought Kathleen, "and a lot more scary!" »more info
	No Such Thing as a Witch first published in 1971 Watch out for Maggie Brown—the new next-door neighbor! And beware of Maggie's homemade fudge! Maggie is NOT an ordinary person. Her fudge is NOT ordinary fudge. One piece of the fudge makes you love animals. If you eat two pieces of fudge you will understand animal language. Three pieces make you act like an animal. And if you eat four pieces… HELP! »more info
	Magic in the Park first published in 1972 All around was a strange green glow. Mike stared hard at the trees growing upside down. "You're right, Jen," he said. "They're not branches at all. They're roots. We must be under the ground!" There is magic in the park! »more info
	The Hidden Cave (aka The Magic Cave) first published in 1973 The fluffy tip of Freckles' tail stuck out of a tangle of vines. A moment later the tail disappeared. Tom climbed the slippery bank to the place where the dog had been. He pushed aside the vines that hung down from a rocky ledge. "Al!" Tom yelled to his sister. "Guess what I found!" What Tom found led to the hidden cave… the magic tunnel… and the old magician! »more info
	What the Witch Left first published in 1973 Katy's aunt has left some very strange things locked in a drawer… Things that look ordinary but are actually magic! When Katy and her friend Louise unlock the drawer, they learn some very interesting secrets, but they also discover that magic causes a lot of trouble— especially now that Katy has lost the key! Her aunt is coming to get her stuff back, and if she's a witch, she won't be too happy. »more info
	The Secret Tree-house first published in 1974 "This is easy," Sam said. "I always thought it would be much harder than this to dig a cave. It's almost as if it's digging itself." Margaret stared at the hollow under the tree. "Sam," she whispered, "look! It IS digging itself." They couldn't see any dirt piling up, but the cave was getting bigger all the time. »more info
	The Witch's Buttons first published in 1974 Sandy put her hand into her pocket and felt the button. It seemed to twist in her hand. She pulled the button out and looked at it. It was shaped like a tiny man, and there was a grin on his face. Sandy almost dropped the button. "Janet," she whispered, "it's alive!" »more info
	Witch in the House first published in 1975 The bath mat was stuck to the ceiling. Jane poked it. The mat fell halfway to the floor. Then it stopped and floated in the air. "Laura," Jane whispered, "your nutty witch has done something to the mat. I can't get it down." It looks just like a flying carpet," Laura said. Jane slid over so that she was sitting on the bath mat. "It feels steady," she said. "Now, if we could just figure out how to work it…" »more info
	The Trouble with Magic first published in 1976 He's short and tubby. He wears a funny hat and carries a magic umbrella. He pals around with a sea serpent named George. He can make the most wonderful magic—sometimes. When the wizard sets up housekeeping in their attic, Barbara and her brother Rick discover that magic can also be a very tricky thing. »more info
	The Would-be Witch first published in 1976 "Suddenly Andy couldn't see Robin anywhere! ""Rob,"" he called. ""Where are you?"" A little person—no bigger than a bird—stood beside the dustpan. Andy got down on his hands and knees to get a better look. It was his sister, Robin! But how did she get so small?" »more info
	Summer Magic first published in 1977 Sarah looked up. Someone was leaning over Timothy. It was an Indian. And he was holding a long knife! »more info
	Witch's Broom first published in 1977 Amy's mother found the little broom in their back yard, near the peach tree. It didn't sweep very well. But Amy and her friend Jean found it could do other things—and one of the things it could do was fly! »more info
	The Witch's Garden first published in 1978 "Run, dearies! It's a dragon!" the witch said. »more info
	Earthstar Magic first published in 1979 Now that he was on the earthstar, Ben was so excited he forgot everything else. "Show me how you make it fly, Trudy." Trudy took hold of the tip of one point. She pulled it toward her. At once the earthstar flew up into the air. When Trudy moved the point to the right, the earthstar turned right. She pushed it the other way. The star turned left. They were flying! »more info
	The Wishing Tree first published in 1980 What is that CREEPY cat up to? Who is that WEIRD woman in the park? And that tree! Peggy and Brian are sure there is something SPOOKY about it. And they are right! »more info
	Second-hand Magic first published in 1981 A full moon was high in the sky. Caroline could see something floating in the air just outside her window. "Bird," she whispered. "You've come back!" She pushed up the window screen. The magic kite sailed into the room. "Now, Bird," said Caroline, "take us to a place where we can have fun." »more info
	Mostly Magic first published in 1982 A chill ran down Emily's back. Dick was right. There was something spooky going on. But Emily wasn't really scared. She had always thought magic would be fun. And now it was happening to her! »more info
	The Magic Coin first published in 1983 "I wish we were back in the days of the treasure ships!" Christopher said. Suddenly the little silver boat began to spin around as if it were caught in a whirlpool. Christopher and Meredith got down on the bottom of the boat. They held onto each other to keep from being thrown out into the water. The boat turned faster and faster… »more info
	The Witch at the Window first published in 1984 Marjorie and Nick are sure they see a witch standing on the air conditioner outside the window. Then she disappears into thin air! That's just the beginning of some strange adventures for Marjorie and her brother. They meet a talking bird and then find the witch's book of magic spells. They can't wait to try the spell that will make them invisible… Marjorie and Nick are about to learn that magic can be a very tricky business. »more info
	Trapped in Time first published in 1986 Nathan and Audrey find an old watch. It's magic! It takes them back over 200 years. There, the two children meet a drummer boy with a fancy uniform. Without meaning to, they get him in a lot of trouble. Now the soldiers are looking for him. Where will the children stay? They must escape capture! »more info
	Do-it-yourself Magic first published in 1987 Rachel lay on her stomach and looked into the castle. "I don't see Chester anywhere." "If Chester is running around loose, he might get stepped on," Scott said. "He's so tiny, I don't want anything to happen to him, Rachel." Rachel dug far down in her jeans pocket and pulled out the magic hammer. She began to tap the castle wall. "Look," Scott whispered, "the castle is getting bigger!" »more info
	The Witch and the Ring first published in 1989 The entire ring was a deep blue with little slivery flecks that twinkled in the afternoon sun. "Can I see it, Charlotte?" Walt reached for the ring. Charlotte pretended to put the tiny ring on her brother's finger. To her surprise, it went right on. A shiver went down Charlotte's back. She was sure the ring had been much too small for Walt only a minute ago.... »more info
	Magic of the Black Mirror first published in 1990 "Amanda," Will whispered to his sister, "that boy is just like the picture of an Indian I saw in my social studies book." The two children stared at each other. Suddenly Amanda remembered. "The book said this was how the Totem Pole Indians looked long ago!" Neither Will nor Amanda spoke, but now the y both knew what had happened. The black mirror had taken them into the past! »more info
	Royal Magic first published in 1991 "Everything seems so real," Cindy said. "I can feel a warm breeze," said Jack. "Is it coming from behind us?" "Jack, look, the little chimp is moving, and we're in a tree in the middle of the jungle!" There's magic going on and Cindy and Jack are into a real jungle adventure in a time long ago. Soon they will meet a man with a flute who knows and important royal secret. »more info
	Wrong Way Around Magic first published in 1993 Chip turned the field glasses back to front. Wilma stood close beside him. What would happen this time when they looked through the field glasses the wrong way? »more info
	Witch's Cat first published in 1994 Holly was sure the window was too small for them to go through, but it became bigger and bigger. The windowsill was as wide as a highway by the time they sailed over it into the open air. Everything outdoors was enormous, too. "Matt," Holly said. "How did everything become so big so fast?" "I think we became small," her brother told her. You never know what's going to happen when you meet a witch's cat! »more info
	Last Chance for Magic first published in 1996 Max and Terry are welcomed by the friendly Leni-Lenape people. But no one knows how to help them get back to their own time! »more info
	The Enchanted Book first published in 1998 The magic words are supposed to make another copy of the King Arthur book. But something goes wrong! Now Serena and Jay are back in the time of castles, knights, dragons, and magic—dangerous magic everywhere! »more info

Books illustrated by Ruth Chew

	Three Cheers for Polly first published in 1967 Polly’s determination to be the best cheerleader brings her unhappiness and failure until in her aspiration for captaincy, she realizes the responsibilities and attitudes necessary for team spirit and leadership. »more info
	The Questers first published in 1970 Peter, who is bedridden, has a telephone and a remote-control television unit on his bedside table—and if the Questers’ Master Plan works, he’ll have a walkie-talkie set that will keep him in touch with his friends’ activities. Andy and Julius are the full members of the Questers, and Peter’s sisters, Eve and Ruth, are associate and probationary members. By combining forces they hope to win the talent contest, the pet show, the ice-cream eating contest, and the all-important treasure hunt. Peter’s role in the Astonbury Park Holiday Play Scheme is strategy: "You’re the brainy one, aren’t you? You’re always saying how lying in bed all day has sharpened your wits." Peter comes up with ingenious solutions to the various problems; Andy and Julius provide the willing (if sometimes misguided) legwork; and Eve and Ruth do their best to assist. But the best-laid Master Plans sometimes misfire, and the way this one goes wrong leads from one hilarious scene to another. »more info
	The Mystery of the Ghost Bell first published in 1971 No one had heard the bell in the tower of old, abandoned Christ Church ring in over fifty years, although everyone in town knew the legend that it rang to signal the death of one of the townspeople. So when Kathy, Hallie, and Juanita did hear the bell ring, one autumn evening, they were frightened, especially as the sound was so soft and mysterious. Then the news came that old Grandmother Santiago of the Puerto Rican migrant settlement had died, and Hallie was sure that unnatural forces were at work. When orphaned Luis, who collected old papers and bottles in the town every day to sell to the junk dealer, disappeared without a trace, Juanita cried because she thought the ghost in the old church had "got" him. But Kathy pointed out that there had to be a solution, and, with varying degrees of bravery, the three girls, aided by their friend Richie, set out to find it. »more info
	Shark Lady first published in 1978 This is Eugenie Clark, a famous scientist. She has explored the underwater world of many seas. She has dived with many sharks. Once she explored an underwater sharks' cave in Mexico. "There I was," she wrote later, "face to face with one of the sea's most deadly denizens, in the most dangerous situation possible… and I'd never been more thrilled. It was an unforgettable moment in my life." »more info