Before Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movie arrives, fans can get this gorgeous collector’s edition for $25

It’s been more than 20 years since Lucy Pevensie first stepped through the wardrobe on the big screen, and I’m more than ready for another trip to Narnia. Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew is taking us somewhere different, though. This time, we’re going back to the very beginning to discover how Narnia was created, long before the Pevensie children ever found the wardrobe.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew arrives in theaters on February 12, 2027, before heading to Netflix on April 2. In the meantime, Barnes & Noble is releasing a gorgeous collector’s edition of the original novel for just $24.99. It arrives November 17, giving fans a few months to revisit the story before Gerwig’s adaptation hits theaters.

If you only know Narnia from the movies, there’s a lot you haven’t seen yet. And with Gerwig taking us back to the very beginning, now seems like a good time to find out what you’ve been missing.

The Magician’s Nephew tells the story we’ve never seen on screen

One of my favorite things about The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is how Lucy stumbles upon Narnia completely by accident. She hides in a regular wardrobe and somehow ends up in a snowy forest, where there’s a lamppost standing in the middle of nowhere. The movie never tells us how either of those things got there, but The Magician’s Nephew does.

The Magician’s Nephew introduces Digory and Polly, two children who discover a set of magical rings that can take them to other worlds. They end up in the Wood Between the Worlds, a quiet forest filled with pools that each lead somewhere different. Unfortunately, curiosity gets the better of them when they visit the ruined city of Charn and wake up Jadis, who will eventually become the White Witch. Unfortunately for Digory and Polly, waking her up is only the beginning of their problems. She follows them all the way back to London.

What I’m most curious about is how Gerwig will handle Aslan creating Narnia. In the book, he sings an entire world into existence, from the first stars appearing in the sky to the grass and trees growing out of the ground. I have a hard time imagining what that will look like on screen, especially with Aslan’s song being such an important part of the scene. Lewis actually published The Magician’s Nephew after five other Narnia books, even though it’s set before all of them. Gerwig’s movie will finally show us the Narnia that existed long before Lucy ever stepped through the wardrobe.

This $25 collector’s edition is worth a spot on the bookshelf

I have a weakness for beautiful hardcovers, especially when the artwork has something to do with the story instead of just looking pretty. Barnes & Noble’s exclusive edition of The Magician’s Nephew features a jacket illustrated by Vance Kovacs, with shimmering foil that makes the artwork stand out. Take off the jacket, and there’s a green hardcover underneath with a holographic illustration of Digory, Polly, and Fledge. Even the endpapers and page edges have custom designs.

I’m glad Fledge made it onto the cover, too. He might not be as recognizable as Aslan or the White Witch, but the winged horse is a big part of Digory and Polly’s journey. It’s nice to see him getting some attention.

The $24.99 Barnes & Noble exclusive edition is available to preorder now, ahead of its November 17 release. Barnes & Noble says it’ll only be available while supplies last. With Gerwig’s movie coming next year, I can’t think of a better excuse to revisit The Magician’s Nephew, especially in a hardcover this pretty.

We may earn a commission if you purchase from certain links. Learn more here.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]