Once a Wizard: A Story About Finding a Way Through Loss

by Curtis L. Wiebe (Author & Illustrator)

This wordless children’s book has the potential to create many imaginative storylines. It empowers children to tell their own stories and explore the meaning of their own experiences of loss. The book includes helpful tips, questions, and activities to support parents and caregivers as they help children navigate their way through loss.

NOTE: While children 5+ will enjoy looking at this book on their own, Once a Wizard was designed as a resource for counselors, helpers, or parents to read with children.

ABOUT THE STORY: While attending Uncle Wizard’s funeral, Ari sees some striking images: a snow-covered statue that resembles Uncle Wizard, a memorial candle with his picture on it, and his body displayed in an open casket. That night, Ari meets Uncle Wizard in a dream. Together, they embark on an adventure through a snowy land, encountering a magic candle, a living stuffed toy, and a goblin, before finally meeting an unstoppable giant. Through this journey, Ari learns to explore their feelings and awakens with the comfort that their memories of Uncle Wizard will live on.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

72 pages, Hardcover

Published February 22, 2021

About the author

Curtis is a sculptor, animator, award-winning filmmaker, costume designer, puppeteer, and musician, but his first love has always been drawing. He has worked with children in a variety of settings and currently teaches art to middle-years students at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. He lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with his wife and son.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had beautiful illustrations, but unfortunately, we could not (I think due to the format) enlarge to get a better look at the pictures or read the "Note to Parents" or any other words in their that may have helped us understand the story better. We were left with lots of questions as to what 2 creatures were (a little brown thing with features resembling a human but with huge ears, and a giant) and what the meaning of them were. What we could gather was that a little girl lost her bunny and the wizard was able to reunite her with it, and all this was apparently in a dream the girl had. So, because the having missing blanks to the story, my rating will be based on what we could see of the illustrations, which were beautiful.

[Rahaf Kanaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grieving of a loved one

The Loss a Loved one for children, is very stressful to handle. They go through a continuous emotional roller coaster, to finally settle into peace and acceptance.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfectly timed book.

Please note: I received a copy of this book at no charge.

As someone who works with the bereaved, I found this book a pleasant surprise and perfectly timed given the pandemic. We are always needing new and creative grief resources, especially for children. I am excited to see how different children with different lived experiences narrate their own tales of grief and reach a different level of understanding. Parents too can learn something from their children as they work their way through this beautifully and thoughtfully-illustrated book.

I think this would be a wonderful addition to the bookshelf of any parent, caregiver, educator, death doula, or mental health professional.

[Sharon Gallup · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS A WIN ON GIVEWAY. Now this is the first time in my life that I read a book with out words.
The first time i read this story. I read it as a little boy who had lost his stuffed rabbit. on his journey to find the rabbit he runs into a man like god who took him on an adventure to find it.
Then the second time I read it I ended up with a whole different story. how this man took him to heaven but it wasnt his time so he was sent back to the world he came from but in this journey he meet a giant that chased him and the man into a garden of flowers where his rabbit was .
I could go onto a different story every time I looked through the pages.
This book would open up the imagination of a child to make up his own stories.
What a different way to read a book.

[Karen Gedeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once a Wizard by Curtis L. Wiebe – a wordless picture book designed for readers of all ages to deal with grief. While the reader sees a child attend a funeral, go to a graves site and remember the deceased, everything else is up for interpretation by the reader making this a unique experience for each reader. Even parents who read it with their children will walk away with different thoughts and feelings. The black and white illustrations have little color disbursed throughout drawing the reader’s attention here and there. Overall a nicely crafted book for any age to aid in the grieving process. Included are Tips for Helping a Young Person Read This Book, Curious Questions, activities, additional free resources, a note about being a wordless book as well as a note from the author.

[Christina Reimer]

This magical picture book engages the imagination and provides an opportunity for readers, old and young, to explore feelings of grief and loss through images and shapes. The illustrations are evocative and allow the reader to experience the story in a way that is less prescribed than word-driven books. I have a son with autism who has reading challenges and the images in this book invited him to enter into the narrative in a way that was both accessible and meaningful. Highly recommended to everyone!

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the Crisis and Trauma Resources Institute for providing me with a copy of this book.

This wordless book offers a clever way for children to explore and loss and grief. The illustrations, color pallet, and the use of a dream to tell the story are brilliant. The resources included in this book offer interesting and creative ways for adults to help children move through their grief.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The images in this book are simply beautiful and my 5-year-old has loved looking through the book. It arrived shortly after her great-grandma passed, and I feel like seeing loss in the pages helped normalize her recent experiences. What I like best is that there are so many options of ways to connect to the story -- it almost seems like every time we open it, we find a different story.

[Rachel Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Once a Wizard" is a wordless picture book in which the main character reacts to grief and loss. Partially because it is wordless, there are many entry points into the story, and the reader can interpret it in a variety of ways. I could see this book being used as a conversation starter between an adult and a child as the child processes loss.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a picture book, so the kids can help with interpreting the storyline. I found it difficult to understand where the book was headed from the pictures, so our interpretation was way off. I had to give these 3 stars because it took way to much effort to work with my niece,6, and nephew, 5, to get through the pictures to come up with a story that was nothing like the actual story.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nonverbal children’s book having the potential to generate many story lines – in their own words and ways of being. Author has also provided some wonderful learning activities on a web site that makes the book fun for even young children, as well as us ancient oldsters! The web site also adds many ways of using the book to help discover one’s inner self. A book for all ages!

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

unusual wordless storybook designed to help children weather loss. Wordless books allow the reader to absorb the author's story while using the readers own words to describe what us happening. illustrations are detailed and cute.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was received as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
The feelings of loss, hope, and comfort are felt plainly through the illustrations. It portrays the often-felt desire to run away to happier times. It was a quick, easy book.

[Edie Walls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Once a Wizard has the potential to be a very important book. It's a lovely little story about loss, grief, and the resiliency of children. Very different than anything else I've read so far this year.

[Alex Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is a book for children, as an adult I was very moved. The illustrations are beautiful and provide a creative way for you to explore and understand your own grief.

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best since Peanuts Vol. 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!