#19 The Wizard Next Door

The Wizard Next Door
Author: Peter Glassman
Illustrator: Steven Kellogg
Publisher: Morrow Junior Books   1993 (didn't realize year until after I checked it out)
37 Pages

Fantasy

          After reading this book about a boy and a wizard, I knew that it would be approprate storyline for the fantasy genre. It is a bit off the wall, which is something I have come to enjoy. This genre opens my mind and imagination.
          The main character (narrator) in this story in convinced that his neighbor is a wizard. He sees all sorts of strange things happening when Mr. Myers is around, but no one else does. No one believes what the little boy tells them about his neighbor. After a day of having Mr. Myers as a substitute teacher at school, the boy is told by his neighbor that he really is a wizard. Mr. Myers teaches the boy lots of magic.
           In this book, the illustrator used colored inks, water colors, and acrylics. The illustrations are great as far as the magical elements of the drawing of magic, potions, and the dragon.
           This book would be excellent for grades kindergarten through 3. The elements of magic would intrigue them and the pictures would capture their attention and spark imagination.
          This book would be good for a language arts lesson. I would start with a read aloud and then have the students write a story about what they would do if they had a wizard living next door to them. They would use a graphic organizer to organize their ideas.
          There are no awards attached to this book.