Tomorrow's Wizard [Paperback]

Patricia Maclachlan (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Harper & Row (1982)
• ASIN: B000OA68Y8
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Patricia MacLachlan was born on the prairie, and to this day carries a small bag of prairie dirt with her wherever she goes to remind her of what she knew first. She is the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb's Story; and Three Names, illustrated by Mike Wimmer. She lives in western Massachusetts.

In Her Own Words..."One thing I've learned with age and parenting is that life comes in circles. Recently, I was having a bad time writing. I felt disconnected. I had moved to a new home and didn't feel grounded. The house, the land was unfamiliar to me. There was no garden yet. Why had I sold my old comfortable 1793 home? The one with the snakes in the basement, mice everywhere, no closets. I would miss the cold winter air that came in through the electrical sockets."

"I had to go this day to talk to a fourth-grade class, and I banged around the house, complaining. Hard to believe, since I am so mild mannered and pleasant, isn't it? What did I have to say to them? I thought what I always think when I enter a room of children. What do I know?"

"I plunged down the hillside and into town, where a group of fourth-grade children waited for me in the library, freshly scrubbed, expectant. Should I be surprised that what usually happens did so? We began to talk about place, our living landscapes. And I showed them my little bag of prairie dirt from where I was born. Quite simply, we never got off the subject of place. Should I have been so surprised that these young children were so concerned with place, or with the lack of it, their displacement? Five children were foster children, disconnected from their homes. One little boy's house had burned down, everything gone. 'Photographs, too,' he said sadly. Another told me that he was moving the next day to place he'd never been. I turned and saw the librarian, tears coming down her face."

"'You know,' I said. 'Maybe I should take this bag of prairie dirt and toss it into my new yard. I'll never live on the prairie again. I live here now. The two places could mix together that way!' 'No!' cried a boy from the back. 'Maybe the prairie dirt will blow away!' And then a little girl raised her hand. 'I think you should put that prairie dirt in a glass bowl in your window so that when you write you can see it all the time. So you can always see what you knew first.'"

"When I left the library, I went home to write. What You Know First owes much to the children of the Jackson Street School: the ones who love place and will never leave it, the ones who lost everything and have to begin again. I hope for them life comes in circles, too."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful little tale, September 21, 2000

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tomorrow's Wizard (Paperback)

This is a delightful little book. A LITTLE book. I really wish it had been longer, because of the excellent nature of the material, but at least it's got gorgeous paper and cover art.

It follows the story of a few wizards, including Tomorrow Wizard (yes, that's his name) and his apprentice Murdoch. The two couldn't be more different--Murdoch doesn't just want to help humans, he wants to BE human.

It's a beautiful little story with enjoyable characters--the grumpy wizard thing is a bit overdone, but McLachlan manages to make it fresh and enjoyable. Murdoch is a delightful character. Both are written well, their dialogue sticking very well to their personalities.

Frankly, even without the story, I think I would have bought it alone for the cover art. It's expertly done and well-colored, so be sure to savor it.

This is a sweet (if short) read for fantasy buffs, especially those of you who love wizard stories.

5.0 out of 5 stars Innocent, funny and very nice !, November 22, 2010

By 

Linda B. (West Dundee, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tomorrow's Wizard (School & Library Binding)

This is a mystical little collection of short tales about a wizard, an apprentice wizard, a horse, and the people of a village. These stories are sweet and innocent and funny. There is nothing evil or scary in these stories. The illustrations are wonderful. This is a great read-aloud for kids who aren't yet ready for the complexity, scariness and length of the Harry Potter books.

4.0 out of 5 stars cute book, May 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tomorrow's Wizard (Paperback)

I read tomorrows wizard when I was in 3rd grade and loved it. This book basicaly involves the training of a youg wizard by tomorrows wizard. I found this book very amusing and should be read by the light at heart. Allthough this book isn't exactly a replacement for Harry Potter or the circle of magic it is certinly and wonderful book.