yes I agree.. the magicians nephew does give the basis to the rest of the books which helps kids understand the happenings in later books.
nancy I hadn't seen the nancy drew books until later but dkids liked them a lot. (me too)
my kids liked the american girl books when young (original series) as we used to do things in the realm that we were reading.
(ie: kirsten series ... we also read the little house on prairie books at same time). my mom made now dd20 a prairie dress and the neighbor girls would reinact being pioneers.. I had a cheap butter churn and the girls would take pancake batter and make goop... wash cloths... prentend they were farmers, etc.... as in the book. we would go to 1800 farm museums. sew, garden learn out door skills etc.
loved that time.