BETHEL — The Collective Book Studio proudly announces the reissuing of Magic Elizabeth, a middle-grade fantasy novel by Norma Kassirer, publishing October 6, 2026 in a refreshed paperback edition featuring brand-new full-color illustrations by the acclaimed Newtown artist Mark Richardson.

Two years ago the same publisher published The Knitting Witch: A Spellbinding Tale of Magic and Mischief, another work by the late Kassirer. Newtown resident Susan Kassirer found the long-lost work while going through stacks of manuscripts in her late mother’s apartment. She shared it with Richardson, a trusted friend and illustrator, and the two began collaborating.

Richardson brought the elder Kassirer’s story to life through his art while the younger Kassirer, who has a background as a children’s book editor, told The Newtown Bee she “thoughtfully edited” her mother’s work. The Knitting Witch was published in autumn 2024.

Decades earlier, Magic Elizabeth captured the hearts of young readers and became a staple of childhood reading following its publication in 1966. The book earned a place in The New York Times Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children and sold nearly one million copies in its Scholastic edition. The book was subsequently published by Knopf and HarperCollins.

Despite being out of print for more than 25 years, the novel has continued to resonate across generations, with readers seeking secondhand copies to share with their children and grandchildren.

Susan Kassirer and Richardson will celebrate the relaunch of Magic Elizabeth with an event at Byrd’s Books, 178 Greenwood Avenue in Bethel, on Sunday, October 4, at 4 pm.

Both plan to sign copies of the book. Kassirer also plans to talk about why she feels the book continues to enchant children today, she told The Newtown Bee September 20.

Registration is required due to space; visit byrdsbooks.com.

Light refreshments will be served.

At the heart of Magic Elizabeth is Sally, an 8-year-old girl sent to spend a lonely summer in a creaky old house with her Aunt Sarah and an unfriendly cat. Her world changes when she discovers a mysterious painting of a girl and her missing doll — and an attic mirror that opens a doorway into another time. What follows is a gentle, enchanting journey that blends mystery, imagination, and emotional warmth, exploring themes of friendship, empathy, determination, and the enduring power of care across time.

This new edition, still perfect for readers ages 8-12, revives this classic story with 18 full-color illustrations that enhance the story’s magic and emotional depth, inviting today’s readers to discover — or rediscover — its timeless charm.

Angela Engel, founder and publisher of The Collective Book Studio, said Magic Elizabeth “is exactly the kind of story we’re passionate about bringing back into the world.

“It’s a beautiful example of storytelling that spans generations and one parents remember fondly. With this new illustrated edition, we’re honoring its legacy while introducing the book to a whole new audience,” she added.

Susan Kassirer is “deeply grateful,” she said, “that The Collective Book Studio has brought my mother’s beloved classic back to life. Magic Elizabeth meant so much to generations of readers, and it’s incredibly moving to know that a whole new generation will now discover and cherish her story just as we did.”

Author and artist Norma Kassirer also wrote the middle-grade novel The Doll Snatchers, published by Viking. She was also the author of numerous books and short stories for adults and a beloved mentor for young writers and artists in her native city of Buffalo, N.Y., where she created dozens of innovative artists’ books and striking acrylic paintings and was often referred to as a local celebrity.

Norma died in 2013 at age 89.

Richardson is a freelance illustrator who works primarily in watercolor and ink, picturing fictional subjects within children’s literature. He also draws inspiration from the natural world and is engaged in an ongoing series of portraits of the birds that pass through his own property in Sandy Hook, where he maintains a studio and shares a home and garden with his wife.

A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, Richardson is also a bookbinder. Many of his works find their way into the hand-bound books he produces in limited quantities from his studio.

Magic Elizabeth will be available as a 224-page paperback ($15.99 US/$21.99 Canada) and as an e-book ($7.99). Preorders can be placed through Byrd’s Books and other vendors.