Willy the Wizard [Hardcover]

Anthony Browne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 1996 | Age Level: 3 and up

Anthony Browne's mild-mannered chimp teams up with a group of gorilla soccer stars in his first new picture-book appearance in five years.  Willy has much to overcome.  Not only is he a midget next to his burly teammates, he is convinced that his skill at soccer is due to a pair of magic shoes--which he forgets on the day of the big game!   How the irrepressible Willy finds the confidence to lead the gorillas to victory will have everyone cheering. "Willy is a winner with surefire appeal for anyone who wonders if attaining a goal is possible."--(starred review) School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Browne's (Willy the Wimp) fourth book featuring his ingenuous, remarkably human chimp mingles soccer and magic, two topics of indisputable appeal to kids. In wry, splendidly detailed pictures and a characteristically assured narrative, the author/artist relays the story of Willy's soccer breakthrough. Since he can't afford to buy soccer "boots," the chimp is ignored by the other players (shown here as gorillas). Then he encounters an ethereal yet curiously familiar figure dressed in old-fashioned soccer clothes, "like the clothes Willy remembered his dad wearing." The two kick around a soccer ball, and the stranger unlaces his cleats and passes them to Willy. At the next practice, the shoes transform Willy into a star. But when Willy forgets to bring his special shoes to the big game and has to wear another pair, he nevertheless plays like a "wizard," stunning the opposition and scoring the winning goal. With admirable subtlety, Browne delivers a beneficial message to all youngsters-soccer-playing or not. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-This "field of dreams" for the juvenile soccer set features a smaller-than-average chimp who, lacking cleats, is never picked for the team. An encounter with a stranger, another chimp dressed in old-fashioned gear that Willy's father might have worn and surrounded by an aura of white, yields the longed-for shoes. Willy dazzles the players, makes the team, and maintains a rigid and hilarious bedtime and waking regimen in an attempt to preserve the magic. On the day of the big match, he sleeps in, foregoes the rituals, and forgets the lucky shoes. Readers will not be disappointed in the pint-sized hero. Browne uses textures, scale, and page design to great effect as he contrasts the team's hairy hulks with his downy pipsqueak and alternates multiple frames with single views to hasten the action or build suspense. Willy is a winner with surefire appeal for anyone who wonders if attaining a goal is possible.?Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (February 6, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679976442
• ISBN-13: 978-0679976448
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,720,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for the superstitious child, April 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Willy the Wizard (Paperback)

This is a cute story, and would be an excellent ice-breaker for a child who might be a bit superstitious or obsessive-compulsive. After reading this book to the child, the adult could follow up with a discussion of the story's moral which is that it was Willy's skill and not magic that made Willy a great player.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book, March 1, 2008

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Willy the Wizard (Paperback)

I'm 7 years old and I love to read. When my teacher read this book to me I wanted to read it over and over and over again. If my dad would let me buy it I would buy it. Willy the wizard is a very good kids book. I'll ask my dad over and over. I want to say to anthony browne thank you for making such a wonderful book.

Alida Underwood

4.0 out of 5 stars One superstitious little monkey, May 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Willy the Wizard (Paperback)

Willy is the ultimate boy, uuups, sorry, monkey that still lives in most of all. Full of insecurities, full of dreams, full of fears. Its very easy to relate to him, specially by every little child who at least once in his or her short life has felt left out. In Willy the Wizard, Willy isn't good enough to be a part of the soccer team, but more than that he is a supertitious little monkey who feels that if he doesn't follow his rituals, well, who knows?. Full of love, full of magic, with wonderful illustrations, the Willy series is a must have in every little child's library.