A heartwarming picture book that shows young readers how much fun there can be in trying something new.
Winslow is a wizard with a very efficient magic wand. Each day, he swishes his wand to get things done. Time for breakfast? Swish. Teeth need brushing? Swish, swish. But today is different. Today, Winslow decides, is a day for trying new things. Instead of wielding his wand for every task, he sets aside magic in favor of doing things for himself. And what a day it is! His morning routine features a few broken eggs and a crooked pointy hat, but Winslow eventually gets the hang of things. He decides to venture beyond home to see what else he can learn. Peter the Painter teaches Winslow how to paint, Chef Charlotte offers him baking tips, and Max the Mailman even lets the eager wizard deliver letters all over town. Sure, he gets a few sprinkles in his long beard, and there is pink paint on his flowing robe, but it just adds to his cheerful look. Happy and tired from such a busy day, he heads home to rest his legs. But he isn’t alone for long! Soon his friends arrive to thank Winslow for his help. Charlotte shares her delicious cake, and the group talks about all the satisfying things the young wizard learned to do without his wand.
Conceived by mother-daughter team Jessica and Lucy Egan, Winslow the Wizard is an energetic story that teaches young readers that it’s okay to step out of your comfort zone. It could get messy, and you may not get everything right the first time, but it can also be a lot of fun. For kids, the lesson is clear: accidents will happen, but just keep trying. A spill here or a mistake there doesn’t ruin the moment or stop Winslow from trying all sorts of new and wonderful things on his own. It only takes a few pages to conclude that Winslow might be the world’s most adorable wizard. The tidy, colored-pencil artwork brings him to life and captures his happy little neighborhood in vivid detail. Winslow lives in an alphabet town where the buildings are giant letters, each representing its occupant or purpose. It’s not hard to imagine how much children will enjoy guessing who might live in each letter-shaped home. His charming friends are cleverly drawn as the tools of their trades: Peter is a paintbrush, Charlotte a chef’s hat, Max an envelope with round glasses. The artwork is delightful, and the lessons for children are even more meaningful. A standout stretch comes when Winslow delivers the day’s mail on foot, his legs growing tired even as he admits he likes seeing everybody along the way. That relatable moment represents the book’s warm idea that doing things the slow way can be tiring and rewarding all at once. Written and drawn with humor, messiness, kindness, and sprinkles, Winslow the Wizard is a heartwarming picture book that shows young readers how much fun there can be in trying something new.
