THE MAGICIAN’S BOY

The Boy works for a magician: feeding rabbits, polishing magic wands, weeding the garden, and washing dishes. But when pulling the puppets’ strings in a production of “Saint George and the Dragon,” the Boy is horrified to find that Saint George is missing, and the Boy must travel in the Land of Story to find him. There, he encounters characters from nursery rhymes and fairy tales. He helps the Old Lady Who Lives in a Shoe get her children back from the Pied Piper, warns Red Riding Hood about the wolf, and gets help from four-and-twenty blackbirds. Pinocchio is there, as are Jack, the Giant, and Father Christmas, all in each other’s stories to help the Boy on his quest. By story’s end, the Boy comes into his own and finds his name: George. Riglietti’s magical illustrations perfectly complement the lively text, and large print and generous white space create a pleasing, spacious design. Perfect for reading aloud, the tale will encourage readers and listeners to revisit familiar fairy tales and nursery rhymes. (Fiction. 8-12)