Reviews

While Hogwarts wannabes await Harry Potter V, they can pass the time with The Book of Wizard Craft by Janice Eaton Kilby, Deborah Morgenthal and Terry Taylor, illus. by Lindy Burnett. Narrated by a 600-year-old wizard, this collection of 50 crafts goes beyond glitter and tissue paper projects, to include sewing a wizard's robe, making crystal candy and learning to read tea leaves. Between projects, kids can read stories of Celtic Shape Shifters and of King Arthur. ( Apr.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Gr 4-6-Using the text as a guide, budding wizards can cook up potions and lotions of every sort. Apprentices are guided through eight chapters of projects dedicated to furthering various arts, such as horticulture, animal husbandry, and alchemy. Written as though an old wizard dictated the projects to his scribes, the book will delight readers. The "Shrunken Mandrake Heads" and "Kraken Slime" are sure to become favorites. In an introduction, readers are cautioned to use common sense and told not to drink or eat the potions. A black-and-red spider graphic indicates projects that require adult supervision. Instructions are clearly written and easy to follow. However, supplies may require a shopping trip ahead of time-not everything needed is necessarily a pantry item. Burnett does a fantastic job of bringing these projects to life with colorful illustrations-most decorative, some instructive-on every page. Fans of all that is wizardly will love this one.-Elaine Baran Black, Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.