120,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Overnight NZ-wide delivery 🚀 Auckland Bookstore • Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

Howl’s Moving Castle

By Diana Wynne Jones
0.0 (0 reviews)
4.29 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 431,693 ratings, 37,710 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is a whimsical fantasy adventure about a young woman named Sophie who, after being cursed by a wicked witch, encounters the enigmatic wizard Howl and his magical, ever-moving castle. As Sophie navigates this enchanting world, she discovers her hidden strengths and the true nature of those around her, leading to unexpected transformations and friendships. The story blends humour, romance, and magic, making it a delightful read for both children and adults.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
Save 18% Off
Savings are calculated from our regular price of $17.00 compared to the current price of $14.00.
$1400
Elsewhere:
$1999
On Sale
in School Holiday Sale until 12 Oct or while stocks last
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this imaginative tale if you love stories filled with magic, quirky characters, and whimsical adventures. The narrative follows a young woman navigating an enchanting world where nothing is quite as it seems, delivering a delightful mix of humour, heart, and fantasy. It is perfect for those who enjoy a touch of the mystical and a plot rich with charm and unexpected twists.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

‘Quite simply the best writer of magic there is’ Neil Gaiman

‘Truly magical … Guaranteed to leave you gasping’ The Bookseller

‘She is the best writer of magical fantasy for children’ Evening Standard

The beloved modern classic fantasy book for children ages 9+

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Quite simply the best writer of magic there is – Neil Gaiman

Truly magical … Guaranteed to leave you gasping – The Bookseller

She is the best writer of magical fantasy for children – Evening Standard

In this beloved modern classic, young Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and is put under a spell...

Deciding she has nothing more to lose, Sophie makes her way to the moving castle that hovers on the hills above her town, Market Chipping. But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl, whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the souls of young girls...

There Sophie meets Michael, Howl’s apprentice, and Calcifer the fire demon, with whom she agrees a pact. Her entanglements with Calcifer, Howl, and Michael and her quest to break her curse come alive with Diana Wynne Jones’s unique combination of magic, humour, and imagination.

From one of the most beloved, bestselling and award-winning fantasy writers of all time.

Lists

Lizzy's Cozy Fantasy Reads

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is celebrated for its imaginative storytelling and humour, with critics praising the author as a master of magical fantasy for children. The book is noted for its wit, abundant magic, and intriguing alternate worlds, while also touching on serious themes that resonate with readers. It's considered one of the essential reads for children, often recognised for its clever narrative and charm.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780007299263

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 March 2009

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: HarperCollins

Audience: Children, Teenage

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 230g

Pages: 320

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Best Selling Books Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Diana Wynne Jones In Stock Books In stock Children's Books In Stock Kid's Books Kevin's Books New Zealand's Best Selling Books School Holiday Sale School Holiday Sale: Books School Holiday Sale: Fiction School Holiday Sale: YA Fantasy Studio Ghibliverse Young Adult

About the Author

Diana Wynne Jones (1934–2011) spent her childhood in Essex and began writing fantasy novels for children in the 1970s. With her unique combination of magic, humour and imagination, she enthralled generations of children and adults with her work. She won the Guardian Award in 1977 with Charmed Life, was runner-up for the Children's Book Award in 1981 and was twice runner-up for the Carnegie Medal.

Also by Diana Wynne Jones

View all
  • Howl’s Moving Castle 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
    ‘One of the greatest ever writers for children’ – Garth Nix ‘A true original’ – Katherine Rundell ‘Truly magical … Guaranteed to leave you gasping’ The Bookseller ‘She is the best writer of magical fantasy for children’ Evening Standard In this beloved modern classic, young Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Hardback
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Charmed Life
    One of the wittiest, sharpest children’s fantasies ever written – Katherine Rundell Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones classic award-winning favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! Everybody says that Gwendolyn Chant is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, so it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • House of Many Ways
    A chaotically magical sequel to Howl’s Moving Castle. ‘One of the greatest ever writers for children’ – Garth Nix ‘A true original’ – Katherine Rundell ‘She is the best writer of magical fantasy for children’ – Evening Standard Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great Uncle William's tiny cottage while he's ill should have been easy, but...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Ogre Downstairs
    Diana Wynne Jones at her finest—family feuds and chaos, magic with hilarious results, and some of the most original ideas ever to appear between the covers of a book. Casper, Johnny, and Gwinny get a big shock when their mother Sally marries the Ogre. He is large, stern, and not at all interested in children. His first wife left him...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Charmed Life
    "One of the wittiest, sharpest children’s fantasies ever written" – Katherine Rundell Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones classic award-winning favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! Everybody says that Gwendolyn Chant is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, so it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Howl’s Moving Castle Trilogy Box Set
    ‘Quite simply the best writer of magic there is’ Neil Gaiman ‘Truly magical … Guaranteed to leave you gasping’ The Bookseller ‘She is the best writer of magical fantasy for children’ Evening Standard Howl's Moving Castle In this beloved modern classic, young Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Box Set
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Conrad’s Fate
    Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones Chrestomanci novel – now a book with extra bits! Conrad’s Fate follows the story of Conrad, a young boy with a good heart, who is seemingly plagued by bad karma. So much so, that his future appears to hold nothing but terrible things. In order to change his fate, Conrad must alter...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Fire and Hemlock
    In the mind of a lonely, imaginative girl, who can tell where fiction ends and reality begins? An epic fantasy, spanning nine years... The fire and hemlock photograph above Polly’s bed sparks memories in her that don’t seem to exist anymore. Halloween; nine years ago; she gatecrashed a funeral party at the big house and met Thomas Lynn for the...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Mixed Magics
    Glorious rejacket of the story collection set in the worlds of Chrestomanci. The stories featured in this collection are: Warlock at the Wheel Stealer of Souls Carol Oneir’s Hundredth Dream The Sage of Theare Everybody’s favourite nine-lifed enchanter makes a guest appearance in each tale. Plus many favourites from the Chrestomanci novels – and a cast of thousands! With illustrations...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Magicians of Caprona
    Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! The Dukedom of Caprona is a place where music is enchantment and spells are as slippery as spaghetti. The magical business is run by two families – the Montanas and the Petrocchis – and they are deadly rivals. So when all the...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Lives of Christopher Chant
    Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones favourite, exploring the childhood of Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! Discovering that he has nine lives and is destined to be the next Chrestomanci is not part of Christopher’s plans for the future: he’d much rather play cricket and wander around his secret dream worlds. But he soon finds...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Pinhoe Egg
    Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! Spells always have consequences, and it's Chrestomanci's job to make sure everything is safely under control. Even so, in the village around Chrestomanci Castle, all sorts of secret magical misuse is going on. And when Cat Chant finds The Pinhoe Egg, chaos...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks

More from Children's Books

View all
  • Wahine
    New Release
    Wahine
    From a majestic mermaid to a clay woman, the creator of glaciers to the mother of gardening, discover powerful wahine and how their stories shaped the world around us. Wahine introduces readers to twelve purakau of brave, bold, and inspiring women of Aotearoa. A beautifully illustrated collection that will delight the whole whanau, from award-winning illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White....
    By Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Sweet As Looky Book
    New Release
    The Sweet As Looky Book
    Can you find all the chocolate fish? Is it possible for kiwi to fly? Can you spot the difference? See Aotearoa New Zealand through the eyes of award-winning artist Donovan Bixley in The Sweet As Looky Book. Use your finest skills to seek out pirates in the Bay of Islands and birds in Rakiura Stewart Island. Get in a car...
    By Donovan Bixley
    Hardback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Day of the Dinosaur Disaster
    Angry anacondas, blizzarding blobs, carnivorous cactuses ... what kind of twisted curse will Glam-Evil think up this time?!Only it's not just Glam-Evil's curse the gang needs to worry about; they've got a few other problems, too. Swooping Pteranodons, a hungry T-Rex, a missing mother, and ... is that ... an ASTEROID?!Join MILES AND JONES as they face their biggest challenge...
    By Sam Smith
    Paperback
    $1400
    Elsewhere:
    $1499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Neverfear
    A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...
    By Katherine Rundell
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Mari the Unwonderful Witch
    A charming, cosy and thought-provoking tale about a wonderfully unconventional little witch, by bestselling author of BUTTER, Asako Yuzuki. Perfect for fans of WICKED, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE, and THE HATMAKERS series by Tamzin Merchant - and anyone who likes an enchanting adventure with just a hint of mischief. Mari the Unwonderful Witch introduces us to Mari, an eleven-year-old witch who...
    By Asako Yuzuki
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Gruffalo Granny
    The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...
    By Julia Donaldson
    Hardback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    Backorder
    Ships early October
  • New Release
    Animalia 40th Anniversary Edition
    A beautiful, foiled collector's edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Graeme Base's classic and bestselling Australian picture book, Animalia. Embark on a fantastical alphabetic adventure where each turn of the page unveils a rich tapestry of intricate illustrations tied to a unique letter of the alphabet. More than 5 million copies sold worldwide Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)...
    By Graeme Base
    Hardback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Comeback Kid
    Charlie Boy might be just an ordinary kid, but he's about to get into some EXTRA-ordinary trouble... Get ready for this funny, fast-paced, friendship adventure with lots of kick. Meet Charlie Boy: skinny, small, looks like a strand of spaghetti. He and his best friend, Rocky the Lower Hutt Chief, are good at getting into trouble together. But when Charlie...
    By Airana Ngarewa
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Millie from Milford
    New Release
    Millie from Milford
    Based on the true story of Ruth Shaw and her husband Lance looking after a baby seal that had been shot between the eyes. Millie from Milford lives in Milford Sound, the number one tourist destination in Aotearoa New Zealand. After Millie was checked by a vet, she was taken to Ruth and Lance's home to be looked after until...
    By Ruth Shaw
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Case of the Tall Stranger: Violet and the Velvets 4
    New Release
    The Case of the Tall Stranger: Violet and the Velvets 4
    But disaster strikes when guitarist Jack breaks his wrist and can no longer play. On top of that, all their hard work fundraising has fallen short! When help comes from unexpected channels, the Velvets make it to the Big Apple just in time to compete against the best kid bands in the whole world, including their new rivals the Blazer...
    By Rachael King
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Pocket Observology
    New Release
    Pocket Observology
    Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature. This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with...
    By Giselle Clarkson
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Minecraft Annual 2027
    New Release
    Minecraft Annual 2027
    The official Minecraft Annual 2027, full of updates, builds, activities, and more! Discover all there is to know about the past year of Minecraft in this exciting annual. Stuffed to the brim with updates, activities, step-by-step builds, and tips and tricks for the game, this book is a must-have for any minecrafter. This year’s annual includes: Mob guides on happy...
    By Mojang AB
    Hardback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Children's Books lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all