THE WIZARD NEXT DOOR
by Peter Glassman & illustrated by Steven Kellogg
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)