An imaginative, if not particularly original, YA adventure.
The fast-paced first installment of a magical YA fantasy series.
Eleven-year-old Wizdom isn’t like the other kids in his grade. Sure, he likes hanging out with his best friend, Chris, dissecting frogs in biology class and solving riddles. But Wizdom’s unusual name is just the tip of oddness: His ethereal-looking adoptive mother is evasive about his birth parents, his equally beautiful and ethereal-looking aunt seems to be able to appear and disappear at will, he can see auras, and two school bullies find themselves at the mercy of mysterious forces when they mess with Wizdom and Chris. Lately, Wizdom has also been having an especially vivid dream in which he finds himself in a dark, cavernous throne room ornamented with jewels, gold and sculptures of dragons. Hiding from the bullies one afternoon, Wizdom discovers a hidden passage—accessible only by solving a riddle—that leads to the throne room from his dream. This time, however, Lord Rilien of the Land of Maldor is there to greet him. Far from being a normal kid, Wizdom turns out to be Wizdom Winthrop III, the “third son of the third son” of Maldor, and he has a great, dangerous quest ahead of him. When he meets Pandora, Lord Rilien’s pretty and smart granddaughter, things get even more confusing and complicated for Wizdom, even without the addition of magic. In blending adventure with emotional growth, author Woodard captures the moment when the wonder of childhood meets the complexities of adulthood. The props here are nothing new—dragons, ancient symbols, magical jewels, goblins—but YA readers will delight in both the wit and gravity displayed by the two protagonists. Dialogue is a bit stilted, yet the packed plot, myriad characters and classic fantasy tropes will keep younger readers engaged and inspired.
An imaginative, if not particularly original, YA adventure.Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2013
ISBN: 978-1468538014
Page Count: 306
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Review Posted Online: April 30, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves
A young child explores the unlimited potential inherent in all humans.
“Have you ever wondered why you are here?” asks the second-person narration. There is no one like you. Maybe you’re here to make a difference with your uniqueness; maybe you will speak for those who can’t or use your gifts to shine a light into the darkness. The no-frills, unrhymed narrative encourages readers to follow their hearts and tap into their limitless potential to be anything and do anything. The precisely inked and colored artwork plays with perspective from the first double-page spread, in which the child contemplates a mountain (or maybe an iceberg) in their hands. Later, they stand on a ladder to place white spots on tall, red mushrooms. The oversized flora and fauna seem to symbolize the presumptively insurmountable, reinforcing the book’s message that anything is possible. This quiet read, with its sophisticated central question, encourages children to reach for their untapped potential while reminding them it won’t be easy—they will make messes and mistakes—but the magic within can help overcome falls and failures. It’s unlikely that members of the intended audience have begun to wonder about their life’s purpose, but this life-affirming mood piece has honorable intentions. The child, accompanied by an adorable piglet and sporting overalls and a bird-beaked cap made of leaves, presents white.
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves . (Picture book. 2-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-946873-75-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: May 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
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