The Sorcerer's Apprentice

by Barbara Shook Hazen, Tomi Ungerer (Illustrator)

 
In modern day Manhattan, one young man's life is about to take a surprising turn. When Dave Stutler wanders into a strange shop downtown, he can never imagine the consequences. It turns out that Dave is no ordinary boy--he is a Merlinian. As a descendent of the most famous sorcerer in history, Dave has untapped powers. The problem is, certain people don't want him to ever use them. Led by Horvath, a Morganian (descendents of the evil sorcereress Morgana), this group will stop at nothing to destroy Dave and unleash darkness upon the world. Dave will have to rely on the help of his mentor, Baltazhar Blake, to find his inner strength and help save the world.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fantasy, Magic

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a fun story, but published posthumously, with someone else's art, and is just wrong. I have no doubt that Gág was going to work on it further. For example, the use of the word 'wisdom' when clearly the learning is of knowledge only, no actual getting wiser is happening... and I'm sure Gág knows the difference and would use the right word if she had approved publication.

Another issue is that the jacket refers to Gág's work to adapt Grimm's tales, as if this is one of those. However, I cannot find an earlier version of this. It is most definitely not the story that Disney got from Goethe that he used in 'Fantasia.' I do not see it at SurLaLune (https://surlalunefairytales.blogspot....) or in the table of contents of The Sorcerer's Apprentice: An Anthology of Magical Tales (the Grimm tale there is a whole 'nother motif). I do recall something like this from T.H. White's The Sword in the Stone (but I'm not sure if my memory is correct).

So anyway, I find this to be disrespectful to the author's legacy, to be inappropriately illustrated, and to be not ready for publication. Not recommended.

Now, if any of you do know the story in which a sorcerer (or wizard, or magician) and an apprentice (or student) wage a battle by transforming themselves into successively more menacing creatures, until the youngster outwits the powerful, please let us know!

[Brillosaurusrex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hört euch das Hörbuch mit Rufus Beck an! Sehr cool.

[Terry Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a delightful read on several levels. Right from the beginning of the story the Sorcerer, setting out to find an apprentice, meets a boy and asks him, "Do you know anything about reading and writing?" To which the boy replies, "Yes." And the sorcerer tells him he has no need for a boy who can read and write. But the boy, thinking quickly, changes his response to say, "Oh I thought you said did I know anything about eating and fighting," and then claims he doesn't know how to read or write and so the sorcerer hires him on the spot. This exchange sets the stage for a tricky sorcerer and clever boy to match wits in a final show down of magic. Another aspect I found delightful is the size of the book. The copy I ran across is no bigger than my hand. Though seemingly small this telling of a Grimm fairy tale provides a good sized story as if it were magically compressed in a small package along with good illustrations from Margot Tomes. These are characteristics 4th, 5th and 6th graders would all find appealing. Perhaps the most delightful feature of the story is how the author makes the hero of the story a smart boy whose hidden ability to read empowers him to take on a deceptive evil sorcerer. The hero, who is never named in the story, is clearly a figure the audience can identify with and his ability, such as theirs, is like a hidden treasure that can set them on a path to accomplish amazing things. This story, unlike the popular animated Disney story of the same name, doesn't portray a hapless figure who gets himself into deeper and deeper trouble, but instead shows a child with a thirst for knowledge wisely make use of new found powers to accomplish good in the world.

[A YOGAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das Buch "Der Zauberlehrling" macht eindrücklich sichtbar, wie der Mensch Entwicklungen entfacht, die er weder kontrollieren noch seinem eigenen Willen vollständig unterwerfen kann – eine zeitlose Lektion über Macht, Verantwortung und die Folgen unbedachter Handlung.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay story. I was disappointed that it did not include illustrations by Wanda Gag.

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 1969, at a time when Ungerer was writing and illustrating prolifically, this book sees him take a break from the written narrative and providing the pictures for Hazen's retelling of Goethe's poem. Although the language is rich and engaging, you come to this book for Ungerer's utterly psychedelic illustrations. A far cry from Mickey Mouse's exploits, this is a place of severed heads, horned goats and infamous bloodied limbs in the corners of rooms: bloomin' marvelous.

There was so much that I loved about these illustrations. From the electo-sensitive frog on a bell-jar to the blue-eyed owl guardian, every page is a visual feast and puts other similarly illustrated books such as Haunted House to shame. This picture book (or illustrated book) has a wonderful ending which sees the lazy apprentice getting his comeuppance in the form of a whack on the behind from the broom.

[Jeff Lewonczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd been looking for this one for years, and it was SO worth it. The creatures! The colors! Ungerer is working at peak form here. Hazen's storytelling is great, but it's a scaffold for the spectacular pictures. The stuffed one-eyed crocodile alone is worth the price of admission. A new favorite.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes:
we have this on audio book and love her version -- need to find the actual book!

[Kleeniheleni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Der Zauberlehrling von Rufus Beck gelesen. Einfach super.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a really cute children's book with a clear message about the dangers of taking shortcuts to avoiding doing chores you don't like.