Only the narrator recognizes Mr. Myers as a wizard; only he can see that the new neighbor is not grilling hot dogs but cooking up a magic potion, that he has huge, fantastic pets, can summon up a tornado to rid himself of unwelcome visitors, and--as substitute teacher--presides over a wonderfully magical day. Finally, it's suggested that the magic is in the books Myers shares with the boy; but kids will be most interested in Kellogg's imaginative rendition of his extravagant fantasies about his neighbor--which run from pirates and the Cheshire Cat to dinosaurs and spacecraft. Lightweight, but fun. (Picture book. 5-9)
