Wizard at Work [Bargain Price] [Hardcover]

Vivian Vande Velde (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003

The wizard has big summer plans: To garden, fish, and nap. The only thing better would be if he had someone nice to share the days with. But the only people who show up want him to rescue yet another princess, lift the usual vile curse, confront a fearsome ghost, deal with a pack of magical hooligans, harvest a crop of golden cucumbers, and on and on. . . .
With everything he has to do, it's no wonder the wizard is all by himself! Who'd want to help him do all of that?

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-On his very first day of a much-anticipated summer of relaxation, a young wizard has an unpleasant encounter with a witch, who tells him that he won't find true happiness until he learns to be less judgmental and to see beyond the surface of things. Only wanting peace and quiet, not true happiness, he is nonetheless pulled into a series of magical adventures, each of which teaches him how important it is not to assume things. Readers will enjoy the many fun characters, from marauding adolescent unicorns to a sassy magic mirror to any number of princesses whose appearances belie their true natures. The wizard, while appropriately kind and patient, has blind spots of his own that keep readers rooting for him. Perfect for kids who want a breezy, humorous fantasy, this book won't gather any dust on library shelves.
Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-6. Along with expecting a star-spangled robe and a conical hat, people expect wizards to look old, so Vande Velde's young wizard makes himself seem just that. During the summer, when the students at his wizard school have gone home, he'd like to garden peacefully, but someone who needs a wizard always seems to be tromping up the path, stepping on the vegetables, and asking for trouble. Vande Velde tells a complete story in each chapter, with each following the previous one as winsomely as a tumble of summer afternoons. A lot of fairy-tale conventions are turned on their heads: the rampaging beasts of one chapter are adolescent unicorns; in another, a princess imprisoned by a dragon isn't at all sure she wants to be rescued. Shards of familiar tales turn up in unexpected ways, and there's even a shaggy-dog sort of explanation for the Loch Ness monster. The language sparkles with sunny good humor, and at the very end, an unruly princess named Teddy finds just the right man, though he isn't a prince. Lighthearted and sly. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• ISBN-10: 0152045597
• ASIN: B000C4SY3E
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,135,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wizards work is never done!, August 23, 2004

By 

Melissa Sack (georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wizard at Work (Paperback)

This book is about a wizard who is a teacher to young wizards. He is looking forward to his summer vacation. He is dreaming of doing things like working in his garden, fish and take LOTS of naps. While on vacation he has many interruptions. First he has to resuce a princess, then lift a curse. Evey time he tries to relax someone needs his help! Will the wizard ever get any rest before school starts back? Read this fun book to find out!


The book moved at a fast pace. It will hold the attention of young readers well.


We recommed this to children who enjoy fantasty books. This is a good one to start with because it's only 134 and can be read fairly quickly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Kids & Adults Alike, August 26, 2006

By 

Amy Graham (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wizard at Work (Hardcover)

Oh...now I so enjoyed this one!! A light, humorous and well written book of related (by the main character) short stories. The main character, a young wizard instructor on his summer vacation (who incidentally disguises himself during the school year and occasionally at other times as an aged wizard, because as he says, no one believes that a young man can be a wizard). Throughout the story, we find this wizard just trying to get some gardening done and enjoy his vacation...but he is dragged away from home over and over again in what amounts to some very slyly told adventures!

I think this author is one we will definitely be reading again! Both my kids enjoyed it and it was a nice twist on some of the better known fairy tales and even a little bit about the origins of the Lock Ness Monster...very cute! I laughed out loud in a couple of places...but mostly it was sly in way that kids can relate to if they've already heard all the standard tales.

A few illustrations would have been nice, but the cover provides enough of a beginning visual and while this intended audience is kids and teens from about 8-14, the language is vivid and expressive enough to pull off a good telling even to younger kids, if you do the voices and tell it in an expressive way. Heck, as an adult I certainly enjoyed it...maybe more than I should have. I give this one an A+ and both the kids gave it two thumbs up! This is a keeper!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enchanting book, December 20, 2004

By 

M. A. Bechaz "bookaholic" (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wizard at Work (Hardcover)

This is a short, sweet, sensational book that should appeal not only to fans of Harry Potter but also lovers of classical fairytales. Wonderfully written and fast paced, it is both witty and wickedly funny. Almost more like a series of short stories than a novel, each chapter sees the hero of the story, a young wizard, embarking on a new adventure--or misadventure.

This is an easy read for the 8 to 12 year old market, and should tempt even the most reluctant of young readers, but in my view it will also definitely appeal to any older teens and adults looking for a good read as well.