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The Magic Shop by H. G. Wells is a famous fantasy story first published in 1903. The story takes place in London and follows a father and his young son, Gip, who enter a mysterious magic shop on Regent Street. Inside the shop, they see many strange and wonderful things. The shopkeeper performs amazing magic tricks, and soon the father begins to feel that the magic may be real.
This story is full of mystery, imagination, humor, and surprise. Readers can enjoy the magical atmosphere and feel curious about what will happen next. The story also shows how children often believe in wonder and magic more easily than adults. It teaches us to keep imagination and curiosity alive.
This rewritten version is specially prepared for English learners at A2 level. The language is simple, clear, and easy to read. The story uses short sentences and natural dialogue to help learners understand English more comfortably. Difficult words are explained through context, vocabulary sections, and exercises.
This book is also useful for students who enjoy reading elementary short stories while improving their English skills. The chapters, grammar exercises, speaking questions, vocabulary practice, and activities help learners practice reading, speaking, grammar, and comprehension step by step. The magical feeling of the original story is still kept, but the language is easier and more enjoyable for A2 learners.
This story was rewritten by LearnEnglish-new.com for English learners. The story is in the public domain, so it is free from copyright. Enjoy reading and improve your English skills!
The Magic Shop
by H.G. Wells
Contents
Chapter One: The Strange Shop in Regent Street
Chapter Two: The Shop of Impossible Things
Chapter Three: Lost in the Magic Shop
Chapter Four: The Secret of the Magic Shop
Chapter One
The Strange Shop in Regent Street
It was a cold afternoon in London. Mr. Gip walked slowly along Regent Street with his little son, Gip. The boy was quiet, but his eyes moved from one shop window to another. He loved toys, stories, and anything mysterious.
Then suddenly Gip stopped.
“Dadda!” he cried excitedly.
He pointed at a small shop between two larger stores. Above the door were the words:
THE MAGIC SHOP
The window was full of strange things. There were magic balls, disappearing eggs, funny dolls, and boxes with surprising names.
Gip pressed his face close to the glass.
“If I had money,” he said softly, “I would buy that egg.”
Then he pointed again.
“And that crying baby! And that magic bottle!”
Mr. Gip smiled. His son usually behaved very well, but now he could feel the boy pulling his hand toward the door.
“You really want to go inside, don’t you?” he asked.
Gip nodded slowly.
So they opened the door and entered the shop. A small bell rang above their heads.
Inside, the shop was narrow and dark. Strange mirrors stood on the floor. One mirror made people tall and thin. Another made them short and round. Gip laughed happily when he looked into them.
On the counter stood a large toy tiger. It moved its head slowly from side to side.
Then, without sound, a shopkeeper appeared behind the counter.
Mr. Gip jumped a little.
The man was tall and thin. One of his ears was larger than the other. His eyes were dark, but they shone with humor.
“What can I do for you, gentlemen?” he asked politely.
“I want some simple magic tricks for my son,” Mr. Gip answered.
The shopkeeper touched his chin thoughtfully.
“Something like this, perhaps?”
Suddenly he pulled a glass ball out of his mouth.
Gip’s eyes became huge.
The man smiled and handed the ball to him.
But when Gip tried to take it, the ball disappeared.
“Oh!” Gip whispered.
“It is in your pocket,” the shopkeeper said.
And it was true.
Mr. Gip laughed nervously.
“That was clever,” he said.
The man calmly pulled another ball from his elbow. Then another came from the back of his neck.
“We do not charge for glass balls,” he explained seriously. “We get them free.”
Gip carefully placed the balls into his pocket.
Then the shopkeeper leaned closer.
“You are the right kind of boy,” he said quietly.
Gip looked at him without speaking.
At that moment, someone outside pushed loudly against the shop door. A spoiled little boy was crying and shouting.
“I want to go in! I want to go in!”
But the door did not open.
The shopkeeper smiled.
“The wrong kind of child can never enter this shop,” he said.
Mr. Gip felt strange after hearing this.
Then the shopkeeper moved his fingers through the air. Bright red and blue sparks suddenly danced around his hand and disappeared into the darkness.
Gip held his father’s hand tighter.
“Would you like to see more magic?” the shopkeeper asked softly.
Gip looked up at his father with shining eyes.
“Yes,” he answered.
And slowly, the shopkeeper smiled wider.
The strange adventure was only beginning.
Chapter 1 – Vocabulary
1. Narrow – not wide.
The shop was narrow but full of magical things.
3. Clever – smart or skillful.
The shopkeeper did a clever magic trick.
5. Spark – a small flash of light.
Bright sparks flew from the shopkeeper’s fingers.
7. Adventure – an exciting experience.
The visit to the magic shop became a strange adventure.
2. Mysterious – strange and difficult to understand.
The magic shop looked mysterious and dark.
4. Spoiled – a child who always gets what they want.
The spoiled boy cried outside the shop.
6. Whisper – to speak very quietly.
Gip whispered when he saw the magic ball.
8. Genuine – real and true.
The shopkeeper said the magic was genuine.
Comprehension Questions
1. Where were Mr. Gip and Gip walking?
3. What objects did Gip see in the window?
5. What was strange about the shopkeeper?
7. Why could the spoiled boy not enter?
2. What words were above the shop door?
4. How did the mirrors change people?
6. Where did the glass ball appear?
8. Would you like to visit this shop? Why or why not?
Chapter 1 – Grammar Exercises
1. The shopkeeper pulled _ glass ball from his mouth.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. some
3. The sparks _ around the shopkeeper’s fingers.
A. dance
B. danced
C. dancing
D. dances
5. Gip is excited. _ wants to see more magic.
A. He
B. She
C. They
D. We
7. The spoiled boy could not go _ the shop.
A. under
B. into
C. behind
D. between
2. Choose the correct sentence.
A. Gip look at the shop window.
B. Gip looking at the shop window.
C. Gip looked at the shop window.
D. Gip was look at the shop window.
4. Choose the correct sentence.
A. The mirrors was funny.
B. The mirrors are funny.
C. The mirrors were funny.
D. The mirrors be funny.
6. There _ a tiger on the counter.
A. am
B. are
C. is
D. be
8. Choose the correct sentence.
A. The shopkeeper smiled kindly.
B. The shopkeeper smile kindly.
C. The shopkeeper smiling kindly.
D. The shopkeeper kind smile.
Please write your answers in the comments. The correct answers will be posted later.
Chapter Two
The Shop of Impossible Things
The shopkeeper smiled kindly at Gip.
“Come,” he said. “I will show you our special room.”
Mr. Gip was not completely comfortable now. The magic in the shop felt too real. Still, Gip looked so happy that he followed the strange man deeper into the shop.
They passed long shelves full of magical objects.
There were toy soldiers, magic hats, funny animals, and shining boxes. Some objects moved by themselves. Others made soft sounds in the darkness.
Gip looked everywhere with excitement.
“Dadda! Look at this sword!”
The shopkeeper lifted the toy sword carefully.
“This is a magic sword,” he explained. “It cannot break, and no child under eighteen can win a fight against the person who carries it.”
Gip’s mouth opened in surprise.
Then the shopkeeper showed him a box of soldiers.
“These are very special soldiers,” he whispered. “When you say the secret words, they become alive.”
Mr. Gip laughed softly.
“That sounds expensive,” he said.
“Oh no,” the shopkeeper answered quickly. “Not too expensive for real magic.”
He opened the box.
Inside were tiny soldiers in bright uniforms.
“Watch carefully,” the man said.
He whispered strange words. At once the little soldiers jumped up and began to march across the table.
Gip almost stopped breathing.
“They are alive!” he cried.
The tiny soldiers marched proudly in lines. Some carried flags. Others played drums.
Then suddenly the shopkeeper closed the box.
Everything became quiet again.
“We will take that box,” Gip said quickly.
The shopkeeper wrapped it in brown paper immediately. Almost magically, Gip’s full name and address appeared on the paper.
Mr. Gip stared at the package.
“How did you do that?” he asked.
The shopkeeper only smiled.
“This is a genuine magic shop, sir.”
As they walked farther into the room, Mr. Gip noticed something strange.
The walls seemed to move a little.
The mirrors changed shape when he was not looking directly at them.
Some of the assistants looked unusual too. One man’s nose suddenly became long like rubber before quickly becoming normal again.
Mr. Gip felt cold inside.
He did not want Gip to see such strange things.
But Gip saw only wonderful magic.
The boy laughed happily as the shopkeeper showed him toy trains without engines and invisible helmets for young knights.
The shopkeeper spoke kindly to Gip all the time.
Soon the boy stopped holding his father’s hand and began holding the shopkeeper’s finger instead.
Mr. Gip suddenly felt uncomfortable.
A strange jealousy entered his heart.
The shopkeeper and Gip disappeared behind a curtain for a moment.
Mr. Gip quickly followed them.
Then he saw Gip standing on a little stool beside a large drum.
“Hide-and-seek, Dadda!” Gip shouted happily.
Before Mr. Gip could move, the shopkeeper suddenly dropped the drum over the boy.
Mr. Gip ran forward immediately.
“Stop!” he shouted angrily. “Take it off!”
The shopkeeper lifted the drum slowly.
The stool underneath was empty.
Gip had disappeared.
And suddenly the shop did not feel funny anymore.
Chapter 2 – Vocabulary
1. Special – different and important.
The shopkeeper showed Gip a special magic sword.
3. Whisper – to speak very quietly.
The shopkeeper whispered strange magic words.
5. Genuine – real and true.
The shopkeeper said the magic was genuine.
7. Curtain – a piece of cloth that covers something.
The shopkeeper disappeared behind a dark curtain.
2. Uniform – special clothes worn by a group.
The tiny soldiers wore bright uniforms.
4. March – to walk together in lines.
The little soldiers marched across the table.
6. Jealousy – an unhappy feeling when someone gives attention to another person.
Mr. Gip felt jealousy when Gip held the shopkeeper’s hand.
8. Empty – with nothing inside.
The stool under the drum was empty.
Comprehension Questions
1. What kinds of magical objects were in the room?
3. What happened when the shopkeeper opened the soldier box?
5. What strange thing happened to the package?
7. Why did Mr. Gip begin to feel uncomfortable?
2. What was special about the sword?
4. Why was Gip excited?
6. How did the mirrors look?
8. What happened under the drum?
Chapter 2 – Grammar Exercises
1. Gip saw _ magic sword in the shop.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. some
3. The shopkeeper _ strange magic words.
A. whisper
B. whispers
C. whispered
D. whispering
5. There _ many magical objects in the room.
A. am
B. is
C. are
D. be
D. We
7. Choose the correct sentence.
A. The shopkeeper smiled kindly at Gip.
B. The shopkeeper smile kindly at Gip.
C. The shopkeeper smiling kindly at Gip.
D. The shopkeeper kind smile at Gip.
2. Choose the correct sentence.
A. The soldiers marches across the table.
B. The soldiers marching across the table.
C. The soldiers marched across the table.
D. The soldiers was march across the table.
4. Mr. Gip felt nervous. _ did not trust the shop completely.
A. He
B. She
C. They
D. We
6. Gip walked _ the curtain with the shopkeeper.
A. under
B. behind
C. between
D. across
8. There _ many magical objects in the room.
A. am
B. is
C. are
D. be
Please write your answers in the comments. The correct answers will be posted later.
Chapter Three
Lost in the Magic Shop
For one long second, Mr. Gip could not move.
His heart began to beat fast.
“Where is my son?” he shouted angrily.
The shopkeeper still smiled.
“There is no trick, sir,” he said softly.
Mr. Gip tried to catch him, but the strange man moved away quickly. Then he opened a dark door and disappeared behind it.
“Stop!” Mr. Gip cried.
Without thinking, he ran after the man.
Everything became completely dark.
Then suddenly—
THUD!
Mr. Gip hit someone hard and nearly fell down.
“Careful, sir!” a man’s voice said.
Mr. Gip blinked in surprise.
He was standing outside on Regent Street again.
The cold air touched his face. Carriages moved along the street. People walked past normally.
For a moment, he could not understand anything.
Then he saw Gip standing only a few steps away.
The boy looked calm and happy, as if nothing strange had happened.
And in his arms were four brown paper packages.
“Gip!” Mr. Gip cried with relief.
The boy quickly ran to him and held his father’s hand.
“Dadda,” Gip said cheerfully, “that was a wonderful shop!”
Mr. Gip turned around immediately.
But the magic shop was gone.
There was no door.
No window full of magical objects.
Nothing.
Only the ordinary wall between two normal shops.
Mr. Gip stared in silence.
Had everything been a dream?
But then he felt something hard in his coat pocket.
He reached inside and pulled out a small glass ball.
His face became pale.
The magic had been real.
Very quickly, Mr. Gip stopped a cab.
Gip climbed inside happily beside him.
For a short time, neither of them spoke.
Then Gip smiled.
“I liked the soldiers best,” he said.
Mr. Gip looked carefully at his son.
The boy did not seem frightened. He was not confused or sick. He simply looked excited after a wonderful adventure.
Mr. Gip slowly relaxed a little.
When they arrived home, they opened the packages together in the nursery.
Three boxes contained toy soldiers.
But the fourth package moved slightly.
Gip opened it carefully.
Inside was a small white kitten.
The kitten jumped out happily and began to walk around the room.
Gip laughed loudly.
“It’s beautiful!” he cried.
Mr. Gip watched the kitten carefully.
It looked completely normal.
Later that evening, he sat quietly beside Gip’s bed.
The strange afternoon still troubled him.
Was the magic shop real?
Or had everything been some kind of strange dream?
Weeks passed.
Then months.
The kitten remained an ordinary kitten. The soldiers stayed quiet in their boxes.
Slowly, Mr. Gip began to feel calmer.
But one day, he asked his son quietly:
“Gip… do your soldiers ever come alive?”
The boy looked surprised.
“Of course,” he answered simply. “They always march when I say the magic words.”
Mr. Gip stared at him silently.
Then Gip smiled again and continued playing.
And once more, Mr. Gip did not know what to believe.
Chapter 3 – Vocabulary
1. Relief – a happy feeling when fear or worry ends.
Mr. Gip felt relief when he saw Gip outside the shop.
3. Pale – light in color because of fear or shock.
Mr. Gip’s face became pale.
5. Cheerfully – happily and positively.
Gip spoke cheerfully in the cab.
7. Silent – quiet, without speaking.
Mr. Gip stood silent for a moment.
2. Ordinary – normal and not special.
The kitten looked like an ordinary cat.
4. Trouble – to make someone worried.
The strange adventure still troubled Mr. Gip.
6. Package – something wrapped in paper or a box.
Gip carried four brown paper packages.
8. Adventure – an exciting and unusual experience.
The visit to the magic shop became a strange adventure.
Comprehension Questions
1. What happened when Mr. Gip ran into the darkness?
3. How did Gip look outside the shop?
5. What did Mr. Gip find in his pocket?
7. Why did Mr. Gip slowly become calmer?
2. Where did Mr. Gip suddenly find himself?
4. What strange thing was missing?
6. What was inside the fourth package?
8. What did Gip say about the soldiers?
Chapter 3 – Grammar Exercises
1. Choose the correct sentence.
A. The magic shop disappear suddenly.
B. The magic shop disappeared suddenly.
C. The magic shop disappearing suddenly.
D. The magic shop was disappear suddenly.
3. Mr. Gip _ a glass ball in his pocket.
A. find
B. finds
C. found
D. finding
5. Gip was happy. _ liked the adventure very much.
A. He
B. She
C. They
D. We
7. Mr. Gip looked _ the empty street carefully.
A. at
B. under
C. between
D. behind
2. Gip carried _ brown paper packages.
A. a
B. an
C. some
D. the
4. Choose the correct sentence.
A. The kitten was small and white.
B. The kitten were small and white.
C. The kitten be small and white.
D. The kitten are small and white.
6. There _ no magic shop on the street anymore.
A. am
B. are
C. was
D. be
8. Choose the correct sentence.
A. Gip opened the package carefully.
B. Gip open the package carefully.
C. Gip opening the package carefully.
D. Gip carefully open package.
Please write your answers in the comments. The correct answers will be posted later.
Chapter Four
The Secret of the Magic Shop
After that strange adventure, life slowly returned to normal in the Gip family’s house.
The little white kitten grew bigger every week. It chased balls of string, slept near the fireplace, and followed Gip everywhere.
The toy soldiers stayed inside their boxes most of the time.
But Mr. Gip never completely forgot the magic shop.
Sometimes, while he walked alone through London, he searched for it again.
He walked up and down Regent Street many times.
But he never found the shop.
There was no sign above a door.
No strange window.
No dark shopkeeper with one large ear.
It was as if the shop had never existed.
Still, one question stayed in his mind:
Had the magic been real?
One rainy evening, Mr. Gip quietly opened the nursery door.
Gip was sitting on the floor near the fire.
The boxes of soldiers stood beside him.
Mr. Gip stopped near the doorway without making a sound.
He wanted to discover the truth.
Gip looked carefully around the room.
Then the boy whispered some strange words very softly.
At first, nothing happened.
Mr. Gip almost smiled at himself.
But then—
He heard tiny marching sounds.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Very small.
Very quiet.
Mr. Gip stared at the floor.
For one quick second, he thought he saw little moving shadows near the box.
Tiny figures.
Marching soldiers.
Then the fire suddenly moved brightly, and the shadows disappeared.
Everything looked normal again.
Gip closed the box calmly.
When he noticed his father, he smiled naturally.
“Good night, Dadda,” he said.
“Good night,” Mr. Gip answered slowly.
He wanted to ask questions.
He wanted to open the boxes and look inside.
But suddenly he felt unsure.
Perhaps some mysteries should stay mysteries.
Mr. Gip walked quietly back to his room.
Outside, the rain touched the windows softly.
And somewhere in the dark city, perhaps hidden between ordinary shops, the Magic Shop was still waiting for another child.
Another “right kind of boy.”
— THE END —
Chapter 4 – Vocabulary
1. Fireplace – a place in a room where a fire burns.
The kitten slept near the fireplace.
3. Rainy – full of rain.
One rainy evening, Mr. Gip opened the nursery door.
5. Whisper – to speak very quietly.
Gip whispered strange magic words.
7. Ordinary – normal and not special.
The shop was hidden between ordinary buildings.
2. Search – to look carefully for something.
Mr. Gip searched for the magic shop again.
4. Shadow – a dark shape made by light.
Mr. Gip saw small moving shadows on the floor.
6. Mystery – something strange or unknown.
The magic shop remained a mystery.
8. Quietly – without much sound.
Mr. Gip walked quietly back to his room.
Comprehension Questions
1. What happened to the white kitten?
3. Did he find the magic shop?
5. What did Gip whisper?
7. Why did Mr. Gip not ask questions?
2. Why did Mr. Gip walk along Regent Street again?
4. What did Mr. Gip hear in the nursery?
6. What did Mr. Gip think he saw near the box?
8. Who might visit the magic shop next?
Chapter 4 – Grammar Exercises
1. Choose the correct sentence.
A. Mr. Gip search for the shop again.
B. Mr. Gip searched for the shop again.
C. Mr. Gip searching for the shop again.
D. Mr. Gip was search for the shop again.
3. The tiny shadows _ across the floor.
A. move
B. moves
C. moved
D. moving
5. Mr. Gip saw the shadows. _ felt surprised.
A. He
B. She
C. They
D. We
7. Mr. Gip walked _ the nursery quietly.
A. into
B. under
C. between
D. behind
2. Gip whispered _ strange magic words.
A. a
B. an
C. some
D. the
4. Choose the correct sentence.
A. The rain was falling outside.
B. The rain were falling outside.
C. The rain falling outside.
D. The rain are falling outside.
6. There _ small boxes of soldiers near Gip.
A. am
B. is
C. are
D. be
8. Choose the correct sentence.
A. Gip closed the box calmly.
B. Gip close the box calmly.
C. Gip closing the box calmly.
D. Gip calmly close box.
Please write your answers in the comments. The correct answers will be posted later.
Read the original story: americanliterature.com
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