Wizzil (Bloomsbury Paperbacks) [Paperback]

William Steig (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bloomsbury Paperbacks

Wizzil is bored. She has nothing to do and she NEEDS something to do. So she sets off down to Frimp Farm to annoy old DeWitt Frimp. She does this by turning herself into a fly. Soon things have got out of hand and she has turned herself into a glove to annoy him even further. When DeWitt finally realises that the glove is bewitched he dumps it in the river. But witches hate water and soon DeWitt has to come to her rescue - a rescue in more ways than one as Wizzil and DeWitt soon find that antagonism turns to romance. Illustrated with wit and effervescent energy by one of Britain's best loved illustrators, this lunatic and wonderful 'love' story is totally enchanting. "Brilliantly realised by Quentin Blake in his typically laugh-aloud illustrations." - "Independent". "William Steig, a wonderfully off-the-wall American writer is perfectly partnered by Quentin Blake in "Wizzil". - "Sunday Telegraph". "Knockabout humour and saucy surprises fill the pages of William Steig's "Wizzil". - "Junior Education".

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Wizzil the horrible hag is bored stiff until her parrot not-so-sweetly suggests that she amuse herself by making somebody suffer, specifically the Frimps. Taking the bird's advice, she transmogrifies into a common housefly and zizzes over to Frimp Farm. Old DeWitt Frimp, who deplores flies, is armed with a flyswatter and misses the fly-witch by a hair. Wizzil vows revenge.

Now, at least no longer bored, she decides to turn herself into a glove and lie in wait for the unwitting DeWitt. Sure enough, he puts it on right away, considering himself a lucky man to have made such a discovery. With the glove on, he soon finds that he can hit everything but flies with his flyswatter. Worse yet, Fred and Florence Frimp begin to experience "unbearable itches in unexpected places." When meatballs begin to explode, DeWitt finally realizes that the rash of bad luck started with the glove, and he throws it in the river.

How could he have known that the glove would transform into the hideous Wizzil as soon as it hit the water? Or that Wizzil, unused to water, would start to sink? DeWitt, a good soul, jumps right in to rescue her, even though she is quite nasty. But what's this? Her nastiness washes downstream, and Wizzil is left a sweet old lady in his arms. "Needless to say, Wizzil and DeWitt fell completely in love, and wound up an old married couple who stayed together on the farm." And Wizzil was never bored stiff again. (Though the parrot found her new life with humans a bit humdrum.)

William Steig--New Yorker cartoonist and creator of numerous picture books, including the Caldecott Medalist Sylvester and the Magic Pebble --is up to his usual tricks in this quirky story. Made-up words like "zizzes," odd colloquial expressions, and goofy plot twists add up to not only unmitigated delight but a complete lack of condescension in his writing for young readers. British illustrator Quentin Blake's scratchy, fluid, comical pictures--loaded with as many knee-slapping details as the story--are the perfect accompaniment to Steig's silly, romantic tale of the power of love to vaporize boredom and mean-spiritedness. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Two masters of children's literature turn in an amiable, if not groundbreaking, performance in this madcap witch story. Bored, Wizzil the witch heeds her pet parrot's suggestion to "go make somebody suffer!" She transforms herself into a fly and relentlessly pesters an ornery old coot named DeWitt Frimp. Observing that DeWitt is a leftie, Wizzil returns the next day in the form of a left-handed work glove; when DeWitt puts the "happy harpy on his hand," his arm misbehaves. The moment of truth arrives when DeWitt hurls the glove into the river, whereupon Wizzil is revealedAand true love blooms. Steig, whose Made for Each Other took a clear-eyed look at sentiment, cuts the romantic sweetness with an ample squeeze of sour lemon. He toys with tongue-twisters and kid-pleasing insults (DeWitt is a "bald-headed fuddy-dud"; Wizzil's a "hateful hag"). Blake (Clown) composes spiky, energetic line-drawings of DeWitt, who flails clumsily at the offending fly, and Wizzil, who struggles and spits when she lands in the water. In the wryly happy ending, newt-brown and froggy-green watercolor hues give way to sunny shades of yellow and blue. Steig and Blake start with unrefined nastiness, then blindside their characters (and readers) with a comical but sincere look at love. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens Books (October 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747550980
• ISBN-13: 978-0747550983
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,711,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Steig (1907-2003) published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, and received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (978-1416902065) in 1970. His works also include The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book, and Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books. His most recent books published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux are Shrek! (released by DreamWorks as a major motion picture) and Wizzil, illustrated by Quentin Blake. School Library Journal named Shrek! a Best Book of 1990 and said of it, "Steig's inimitable wit and artistic dash have never been sharper or more expertly blended."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A marriage of two greats: Steig and Blake, August 11, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wizzil (Hardcover)

I am so in love with William Steig's books that I was a little bit startled to see that Quentin Blake had illustrated "Wizzil"--but since I adore Blake also, that was only a momentary setback. "Wizzil" is an unusual witch tale in that the witch ends up not only changing for the better, but having a pretty darned good life for herself once someone takes a moment to show her some kindness.

Steig pulls out all the stops here--don't you love the character names? Let's see, there's Wizzil the witch, DeWitt Frimp, Florence and Fred Frimp (try saying THAT three times fast!), and of course, a parrot named Beatrice. It's a happy combination of offbeat, cranky text and the loosey-goosey pen-and-ink illustrations of the inimitable Quentin Blake. Too good to miss!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book well worth the money, June 30, 2001

By 

sherry (Akron, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wizzil (Hardcover)

I found "Wizzil" at the local library and thought it would be just another picture book to share with my children. As I started reading it, I was instantly hooked on the writing style of author William Steig. This book is "awesome" and "highly entertaining." I am also a children's writer myself trying to break into the business, so I have read and studied many children's picture books--this one by far stands out as being one of the best written. The imagination of William Steig is very comical as well as highly entertaining. His writing style is one of the best. You can't help but love his characters and sink into the story. I am going to purchase my own copy of this book--this is one story my kids will want to hear over and over. It is a purchase well worth the price. I was amazed to find out he also wrote "Shrek." What a talented writer!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wizzil Watch, November 4, 2000

By 

Mary-Louise Newling (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wizzil (Hardcover)

This book is an engaging departure from all that is tried and tested in witch stories for children. A surprise ending introduces a theme not often seen in this type of literature. The illustrations are well done and very humorous. The pet parrot's sideline commentary is hilarious. I have had this book for under a week and already it is a big leisure reading favorite with my fifth graders who are rapidly acquiring the English language.