Review: `With pinches of stardust I take from the air...'
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 18, 2014
This new book, WIZARD BILL'S SECRET, is not only written by Anat Umansky but this time it is also illustrated by her!  And as always the book offers entertainment and some fine lessons for children.Each night Bill the Wizard comes to the closed zoo, carrying his snake wand: he is able with magic potions and elixirs to grant wishes for all of the animals. Each of the animals in the long line awaiting Bill's skills wishes for something to make them different than they are - the rhino want a giraffe neck, the tortoise wants rabbit ears, the zebra wants pink stripes, the lion wants glasses, the leopard want a new set of clothes, and the giraffe wants a set of wings. Only the wise old owl sighs at the magic madness and says `It's all a mistake, you'll regret it, I warn, Creatures should stay just the way they were born.'Up comes the morning sun and every creature is back to his normal look - waiting and wishing for night and the magic for Bill the Wizard to return.  Anat Umansky writes this little story is rhyming verse - just a bit of magic to accompany her colorful illustrations. Another fine book from this author/artist! Grady Harp, January 14