The Little Wizard

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for children not old enough to read Harry Potter!
Review: During a time of shadows, the young and fledgling wizard Kevin embarks on a perilous, mystical journey in search of a cure for his dying mother. Together with his companions, Greystone the dragon and Tomas the cat, Kevin unravels a curious prophecy in an enchanting adventure of self-discovery. Learning to trust his inner wisdom, the little wizard saves not only his mother, but the entire kingdom as well. Jody Bergsma's completely entertaining picturebook story for young readers is beautifully illustrated throughout with gorgeous, full color artwork.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for young children
Review: If your young child likes wizards, dragons, etc., this is a wonderful fairytale to read aloud- I read it to my 4-year-old daughter in sections at night. It is not too scary and has a inspiring message to all children. The vocabulary is rich- my daughter asks me what some of the words mean. The only setback for young readers is the way the dragon speaks (i.e., By ancient words, thou hast called me forth to be thy servant.)- which may be hard for them to understand so I usually paraphase it. The illustrations are beautiful! If you like unique books, this one is at the top of the list.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for children not old enough to read Harry Potter!
Review: In reading advertisment for this book, I've seen it refered to as a good book for those not old enough to read Harry Potter. As a true "Muggle for Harry Potter," I would whole-heartedly agree with that statement. This is a wonderful story with beautiful illustrations and a great message. It is the perfect sequel to Bergsma's Dragon, while still being a unique and wholly enjoyable story on its own. I highly recommend this to old and young alike!

Rating:
Summary: a dramatic fairy tale
Review: This dramatic new fairy tale, in which a gentle prince and an angry fire-breathing dragon are born on the same day and share a unique destiny, shows that a powerful belief in yourself and your purpose can help to overcome life challenges.

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous New Children's Story
Review: Young Arianna has recently been crowned the Queen of Lugin, and has inherited the kingdom, which is currently in great turmoil. Her only hope is from an ancient prophecy which speaks of a young wizard. In a remote area of Lugin, young Kevin is grieving at his ill mother's bedside. He is told that the healing water from the well belonging to Queen Arianna can bring his mother back to good health. So he, along with his brave cat Tomas, set out on an adventure to the Royal City. Along the way, Kevin and Tomas are joined by a small dragon named Greystone, who becomes not only their friend, but their guide as well. Kevin soon finds a wizard's cloak, and enters the Royal City as just that, a wizard, and is quickly placed before Queen Arianna.

Once again, Jody Bergsma has created a lovely new tale of magic and morals. Her lyrical writing is lovely, as are her gorgeous full-color illustrations. Children who read THE LITTLE WIZARD at a young age, are sure to grow up to become fans of both the HARRY POTTER series, and THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper