Customer Reviews

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is burned into my memory as one of my few early childhood memories. It's been 20 years since I last saw this book, but I could describe many of the vivid illustrations for you. Mystical and magical. Abdul Gasazi's garden exists in every town. All it needs is a child's imagination to bring it to life.

This children's book is about a dog named Fritz who runs off from the boy who is watching over him. The dog enters the garden of a retired magician who hates dogs. Yet, the boy has to get the dog back. Alan is shocked to discover that the dog may have been turned into a duck. The book was a 1980 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children. A book greatly enjoyed by children of all ages.

If there were a so-much-more-than-a-book category, this title would head the list. The Garden of Abdul Gasazi written and gloriously illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, and read by Jason Robards is a standout.

Threats are more menacing; adventures are higher when recounted in Robards' inimitable voice.

This, Van Allsburg's first book, winner of the Caldecott Award and deemed Best Illustrated Book of the Year by the New York Times, is the imaginative story of a little boy and a very mean magician.

Spectacular reading and listening!

I have had this book for years and still enjoy readig it.I can not even edge the divinity of this magnificent work. To say the least, Gasazi is Allsburg's magnum opus. A wonderful read for all generations, especially children. I mean, the artwork is far better than regular children's litterary works. Then, a very rare story-line: A boy must venture far into the garden of a wealthy magician to retrieve his neighbor's canine. Far better than The Polar Express, in my oppinion. Now, don't get me wrong, the story-line is no Harry Potter, but still a good read.

Brilliant full-bodied pencil drawings (no sketches here) combine with a magical story with an O. Henry twist on the last page to make another stunning triumph for the best in the business. Here is the true heir of N.C. Wyeth as supreme illustrator of children's books. You don't have to be a kid to fall under Van Allsburg's spell.

Very intriguing plot with excellent pencil drawings! A young boy is minding a dog for the day. Did a magician really turn the dog into a duck? Read this engaging book to find out. This is another fine product from VanAllsburg. Very entertaining and children love it. Don't miss another good one from Van Allsburg: The Sweetest Fig.

I was completely enchanted by this book when I first read it in 1983 (never had I seen such appealing black and white drawings in a children's book before), and I sent it this Christmas (2008) to my five year old niece. Chris Van Allsburg was just beginning his illustrious career with this book, but he hit the ball out of the park on his first try. Besides his skillful illustrations, Van Allsburg gave the public their first glimpse of his talent for mysterious stories that intrigue adults as much as children.

I am a children's magician who bought this book after seeing it on Reading Rainbow. I buy a book for every one of my library shows, and after reading it to the children as part of the show (with the help of my trusty side kick, a sheep dog puppet), we donate the book to the library. This book featured the three most important things relating to the show I was performing at the time : A dog, and child, and a mysterious old retired magician. Chirs Van Allsburg writes such incredible stuff, but this was a real find. Th kids loved it, the librarian loved, it, and it now has a new home at the Golden Gate Library in Naples, FL ! HIGHLY recommended....

When it comes to children's literature, Chris Van Allsburg is most certainly my favorite author and artist. As far as I can tell, he has written and illustrated over twenty books at this time. The Garden of Abdul Gasazi was the first. For me to select my favorite among his collection of stunning work would be quite impossible. I will say that not one book the man has written has not touched me in one way or another.

The Garden of Abdul Gaszzi is a rather simple story at first glance. A young boy is left in charge of watching Miss Hester's dog Fritz. It seems that Fritz is a bit of a naughty dog and had bitten dear cousin Eunice and was not longer welcome at her house.

After a nap, and a spell of guarding the parlor furniture from Fritz's chewing and biting tendencies, our young Alan took a nap and then takes Fritz the dog for a walk. They encounter, after crossing a white bridge, a sign in front of a think hedge which read: "ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO DOGS ALLOWED IN THIS GARDEN" and at the bottom of this warning it was signed "ABDUL GASAZI, RETIRED MAGICIAN."

Well of course Fritz immediately broke his leash and dashed through the gates of the hedge. Our young lad follows him!

This is the story of an encounter by our young boy with the strange magician, Abdul Gasazi who truly does not like dogs...no, no, not one bit!

From cover to cover, the reader enters an enchanted world through the words, but most importantly, the art of Chris Van Allsburg. There is not one picture in this entire work that is not completely captivating...we are in this world, yet we are not. We are in our time, yet we are not. Reality and fantasy blend and it becomes difficult, if not impossible to separate the two.

One of my all time favorites here...no doubt.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

I've loved this book ever since it first was published. I teach kids from first to fifth grade and there's nothing so much fun as reading Abdul Gasazi to a group for the first time. Their delight with the gorgeous art and the great story is a sight to behold. I use Chris Van Allsburg's books often with my classes. They're terrific.