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Le livre secret de l'apprenti sorcier
Fleurus, 2004, ISBN 2-215-07563-5
$26.95 CDN
An old magician of 600 years of age delivers his knowledge to young readers (from age 7 to 10). In this book, we can find a lot of information on the subject of magic: how to make magician clothes (hat, dress, invisible cloak), how to make tools and magic decorations (magician's staff, precious globe, witch's broom), how to realize a spot of ground for carnivorous and medicinal plants, magic potions recipes, divinatory arts like astrology, palmistry, recipes for a magician's feast and more! This is a book kids will enjoy very much. Some parts are hilarious while others are a bit scary. Throughout all of the proposed activities, the reader will come across anecdotes, legends, stories about ancient magicians and kings from all over the world and also several texts related to science like: art of alchemy, description and properties of certain plants, world of animals, some of which were the companions of the magicians (toads, rats, spiders) and others which are more mystical (unicorns, werewolves, tritons, griffons...) and even astronomy: did you know that 4000 years ago the brightest constellation in the dark sky was the Dragon one and that the constellation of the hydra was linked to Hercules' legend?
Kids will be stimulated on the creative plan but will also learn a lot. Le livre secret de l'apprenti sorcier is suitable both for boys and girls, for every kid who wants to pretend to be little magicians or witches. At the beginning of the book, the author specifies that some activities must be done with an adult or with an « old witch » when cooking some material or using a knife for example. These specific activities are identified by a spider hanging from a thread (there is 26 in total). And if the kids would do something silly, BE CAREFUL! The old magician could very well decide to transform them into toads! This book offers tons of fun for little magicians as well as for their parents. A perfect gift for Yule!
(Reviewed Yule 2004)
Nathalie is 41 years old and has a diploma in Education Science. She has been working with kids of all age for 23 years.
Review translated by Freya.
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Book reviews © 2004. Permission to reprint, with full credit, must be
granted by the author. If you would like to reprint this review, please
email WynterGreene.
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