Bizard the Bear Wizard

April 15, 2023
In the aftermath of a tornado, Bear becomes a wish-granting wizard. Bear is an average...well, bear--he spends his days eating honey, lounging about, and sleeping. When a tornado hits and a wizard's magic wand flies off and embeds itself in his head (making him look a bit like a unicorn or a narwhal), Bear becomes magically capable of making all of his--and his friends'--dreams come true. Against his will, the animals of the forest dub him Bizard the Bear Wizard and coerce him into opening up a wish-granting business. However, the wish-granting takes a turn when Bizard nonchalantly grants evil Wolf's wish for a wand more powerful than his own. With the help of his manager, Squirrel, and friends Fox and Owl, Bizard must take action to save the homes of the forest animals and stop Wolf and his sinister entourage once and for all. In the process, he realizes how rewarding it feels to step up and take care of others. The humor is just as lighthearted as the plot. Exaggerated cartoon illustrations match the silly tone of the text; however, Krebs also explores deeper themes--friendship, community, responsibility--that will resonate with young readers. Quirky fun, with a good message. (Graphic fiction. 7-10)

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June 1, 2023

K-Gr 2-When a magical wand lands on his head during a windstorm, Bear begrudgingly becomes Bizard the Bear Wizard. He reluctantly starts to help his friends and neighbors, but things quickly become complicated as more and more animals find out about Bear's magic. The story ends on a simple lesson about forgiveness, but the overall story feels sporadic, as subplots are suddenly introduced and wrapped up just as abruptly. However, the focus seems to be on the humor and the hilarious wishes the animal friends make, like a squirrel who wants to turn into a ninja, but then becomes a nut-creating a laugh-out-loud situation where Squirrel now finds itself delicious. Likewise, the simple word choice makes this ideal for readers who want to tackle longer graphic novels like "Dog Man," but don't yet have the vocabulary. Artwork feels equally simple and childlike, and matches the tone exactly. VERDICT Simple and silly.-Peter Blenski

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2023
Grades 2-4 On an uncharacteristically windy day in the woods, Bear wakes up to find a tornado right on his doorstep. The wind is violently blowing trees and other forest animals through the air. Somewhere in the distance, a wizard is working on a spell to stop the storm when, all of a sudden, his wand is ripped away from his hands and blown all the way over to Bear, where it plants itself directly on his head. Bear quickly realizes that the object stuck in his head is a wish-granting wand and uses it to help all the forest animals he's able to. But such unlimited power is dangerous, and soon Bear is contending with a handful of wily animals who want that power for themselves. Playful, cartoonish artwork matches the silly story in this easy-to-read graphic novel, which is full of jokes sure to keep elementary-schoolers giggling and a meaningful message about generosity, kindness, and being responsible. Episodic story structure and open panels will make this a good choice for emerging comics readers.

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