| Booktalk
#1
Poor Henry. His life
just seems to have no direction. He wasn't quite sure what he wanted
to be and had gone through many ideas. When he mentioned, half-heartedly,
that he might want to be a wizard, his mother pounced on the idea.
Before he knew it, Henry was off to Wizard's Hall to become a wizard.
He hadn't really been serious about this but here he was. His wizard
name was Thornmallow but many of the faculty couldn't remember it.
He was the 113th student at Wizard's Hall and the faculty seemed to think
that was a big deal. Thornmallow was a bit of a disappointment at
school though. He seemed to have no real talent for wizardry.
When he overheard the faculty talking about the dark wizard who was
coming back to take over the school, he was very afraid. Somehow,
the faculty believed that Thornmallow could save the school!!! To
find out what happens, read WIZARD'S HALL.
Booktalk #2
Like most growing children,
Henry’d had many different ideas about what he’d like to be when he grew
up. He was mostly interested in outdoor work, like being a tree warden
or a juggler, but he’d never definitely decided on anything. Then
one day, when Henry was 11, he mentioned wizardry to his dear ma and she
thought it was an excellent idea. “Good steady work,” she said.
And before Henry knew it she had packed his bag, prepared some food for
his journey, and sent him on his way. He tried to explain that he
really wasn’t sure he would be a good wizard, but his mother replied. “It
only matters that you try.” “Don’t forget to write.”
What was Henry to do? He was a good boy who did what he was
told. So he set off down the road. Getting to Wizard Hall was
not a problem; every child knew where it was. The road was even marked
with helpful signs: THIS WAY TO WIZARD’S HALL.
Still, as Henry traveled he became more sure that he would be a better
farmer or maybe a cook than a wizard and decided to return home.
The problem was that the road wouldn’t let him. When he tried to
go home his feet stuck to the road! There was no help for it. Henry
would have to go on to Wizard’s Hall. He remembered his mother’s
words, “It only matters that you try.”
So Henry became the 113th student at Wizard’s Hall. Just as he suspected,
he really had very little talent for wizardry, but he did try very hard.
And he was needed at the Hall. A threat lies over Wizard Hall and
all of the countryside around it. The powerful and evil Wizard Nettle
is coming. He’ll bind the souls of all and sundry into the hide of his
terrible quilt monster unless the inhabitants of Wizard Hall can find a
way to stop him. All they can do is to try. (Alice Brice, abrice@sc.rr.com,
Media Specialist, Baron DeKalb Elementary, Camden, SC) |
