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The Witches of Benevento Series

Sophie Blackall and John Bemelmans Marciano
Five children conspire to outwit the legendary witches of Benevento, supernatural beings who cause mischief in a small Italian town.
The All-Powerful Ring by John Bemelmans Marciano; Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Runaway Rosa by John Bemelmans Marciano; Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
The Secret Janara by John Bemelmans Marciano; Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

The Witches of Benevento Series : Titles in Order

Book 6
The exciting adventures of the Benevento cousins continue, as Primo discovers the identity of the secret Janara.

Primo has been given a tantalizing clue about the secret Janara: the Janara lives with him! How can he discover who it is? Only that success will console him for his humiliating defeat at the boar hunt, where Rosa was the winner. Rosa!! Girls are not even supposed to compete.

One night Primo finds a clue. Behind the head of the goddess Diana, the ancient statue in his kitchen, he discovers a bottle of the oil that a Janara needs to transform him or herself before flying off for a night of mischiefs. If he can stay awake one night, surely the Janara will be revealed. But what will he do with the knowledge?

The Benevento children continue to encounter and outwit witches in the sixth and most suspenseful adventure yet of the Witches of Benevento series.
Book 5
The Benevento cousins return for more adventures in the ancient town that’s famous for its witches!

The Benevento children are excitedly preparing for the annual Boar Hunt, where the prize of the Golden Tusk is given to the ten-year old who catches the boar. No girl has ever competed, but Rosa is determined to take part — and win! She refuses to stay home and help take care of the new baby and cook and clean. She will just have to run away.

Life was very different in Benevento of the 1800s, and John Marciano’s clever story and Sophie Blackall’s charming illustrations bring the town, its people, and its past to vivid life.
Book 4
The fourth book in an exciting new chapter book series by John Bemelmans Marciano and Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall. 

Welcome to Benevento, an ancient town famous for its witches!

The children of Benevento have to be careful and clever to evade the clutches of such witches as the Manalonga, the Janara, and the Clopper, who hide in wells and under bridges, fly at midnight, and play tricks during Mischief Season.

Five cousins – Primo, Emilio, Rosa, Maria Beppina, and Sergio – share adventures and narrow escapes, and discover astonishing secrets as they outwit the witches in each exciting story.
 
Book #4
Respect Your Ghosts: a Sergio Story
It’s Sergio’s job to take care of Bis Bis, the ancestor spirit who lives upstairs. Unfortunately, it’s hard to satisfy all the ghost’s demands and still keep Sergio’s mother happy.
Book 3
The third book in an exciting new chapter book series by John Bemelmans Marciano and Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall. 

Welcome to Benevento, an ancient town famous for its witches!

The children of Benevento have to be careful and clever to evade the clutches of such witches as the Manalonga, the Janara, and the Clopper, who hide in wells and under bridges, fly at midnight, and play tricks during Mischief Season.

Five cousins – Primo, Emilio, Rosa, Maria Beppina, and Sergio – share adventures and narrow escapes, and discover astonishing secrets as they outwit the witches in each exciting story.
 
Book #3
Beware the Clopper!: a Maria Beppina Story
Maria Beppina, the timid tag-along cousin, is always afraid that the Clopper, the old witch who chases the children, will catch her. And then one day she decides to stop—just stop—and see what the Clopper will do.
Book 2
The second book in an exciting new chapter book series by John Bemelmans Marciano and Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall. 

Welcome to Benevento, an ancient town famous for its witches!

The children of Benevento have to be careful and clever to evade the clutches of such witches as the Manalonga, the Janara, and the Clopper, who hide in wells and under bridges, fly at midnight, and play tricks during Mischief Season.

Five cousins – Primo, Emilio, Rosa, Maria Beppina, and Sergio – share adventures and narrow escapes, and discover astonishing secrets as they outwit the witches in each exciting story.
 
Book #2
The All-Powerful Ring: a Primo Story
Wanting to stop the springtime mischiefs—and overcome his own fear of Manalonga—Primo seeks an advantage. He finds one when he discovers a mysterious ring in the belly of a fish. Is the ring just a pretty trinket or is it magic?
Book 1
The first book in an exciting new chapter book series by John Bemelmans Marciano and Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall. 

Welcome to Benevento, an ancient town famous for its witches!

The children of Benevento have to be careful and clever to evade the clutches of such witches as the Manalonga, the Janara, and the Clopper, who hide in wells and under bridges, fly at midnight, and play tricks during Mischief Season.

Five cousins – Primo, Emilio, Rosa, Maria Beppina, and Sergio – share adventures and narrow escapes, and discover astonishing secrets as they outwit the witches in each exciting story.
 
Book #1   
Mischief Season: a Twins Story
The Janara are wrecking the farm with their nightly mischiefs. Father blames Rosa for everything that goes wrong, and it’s up to the Twins and their friends to find a way to stop the Janara. Will some mysterious advice from an unexpected source be the solution to their problems?