When wishing for magic, it's hard not to wish for too much.

If Jane, Mark, Katharine, and Martha had stopped to think--oh, if they had only stopped to think!--they would have ordered magic by the pound, or by the day, or even by the halves as they had in Half Magic. But no, they asked for magic by the lake--and now they have to deal with a whole lakeful of enchantment!

Soon the children find themselves cavorting with mermaids, outwitting pirates, and--with the help of a cranky old turtle--granting a little magical help to the one person who needs it most.

Adventure

It is as recalled, but no more. Four siblings stay at a lakeside cottage with their mother and new step-father. They seem to feel entitled to magic and not the least bit careful of it to start. ( )

I liked the adventures the children went on in this book, particularly the one where they end up turned into turtles and have to go shopping. Humorous and creative. However, some aspects of this book have not aged well, mainly the incredibly racist illustrations and descriptions of the island natives they encounter on their pirate treasure hunt. ( )

More fun. And, of course, I accidentally am reading them out of order. ( )