The Sorcerer's Apprentice [Hardcover]

Sally Grindley (Author), Thomas Taylor (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

A sorcerer's young apprentice attempts to practice magic in his master's absence, with disastrous results.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Grindley's (A New Room for William) version of the disobedient apprentice's story adds a warm and fuzzy conclusion. British artist Taylor's friendly, animated artwork also maintains an optimistic tone, as the wide-eyed boy toils day after day for the long-bearded wizard. Throughout, the artwork shows the boy and an affectionate cat amidst the clutter of the sorcerer's laboratory, including equipment embellished with gargoyle heads and secret symbols. Even as things spin out of control when the boy tries his hand at magic, the sherbet-colored spreads retain a reassuring mood. When the wizard returns to discover the havoc caused by the boy and his overeager broomstick, the man reacts sternly, but with restraint. " `I trusted you,' " he says, and then, when the little apprentice apologizes, the man puts his arm around the boy's shoulders: " `Perhaps I have held you back for too long.... I will give you one chance, but be sure you reach out and grab it with both hands.' " The wizard gives the boy a wand and the young fellow is last seen stirring a cauldron with a wild-eyed look. But readers remain in the dark as to whether or not the boy feels any consequence to his irresponsible actions. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-This classic cautionary tale of the imprudent apprentice has had many incarnations, from its origins in ancient Greece to its inclusion in Disney's Fantasia. The most recent picture-book versions have been revisionist, with Nancy Willard's (Scholastic, 1993) sewing machine run amok, and Ted Dewan's (Doubleday, 1998) rampant robots. Grindley sticks with a traditional telling. Her prose is clear and flows logically and smoothly. It is, however, sparse on imagery. Taylor's cartoon illustrations, while colorful and competently executed, do little to extend or amplify the text. The biggest problem is the depiction of the apprentice himself; he has the same facial expression page after page. When Grindley says, "The sorcerer looked at his apprentice and saw the eagerness in his eyes," readers will not share in the experience. Also, the lad frequently becomes lost on some of the overly busy pages. This is an appropriate choice for libraries in which the story is not represented, but otherwise it's an additional purchase.
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial (May 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803727267
• ISBN-13: 978-0803727267
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,605,568 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Oversized and fabulous, November 9, 2010

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Hardcover)

It is hard to pick just one favorite thing about this story. The oversized format is wonderful, literally pulling your eyeballs into the page, which is twice as big as your child's head. The illustrations are excellent, and the apprentice looks as though he could be a modern child. (Plus, he's a redhead.) The work the apprentice has to do is wonderfully gross-out: digging worms, catching beetles, and grinding it all up on the workbench. Yuck! The front gate of the sorcerer's castle sports a couple of gargoyles and a pentagram. Creepy! The text tells the story without a lot of extras, and coordinates perfectly with the illustrations.

In the end, I think this book is a winner due to Thomas Taylor's illustrations. It is simply the best version of this story we have ever read. Don't miss reading this one with your kids.