Tomorrow's Wizard: A Warm Fantasy Story for Kids (Ages 8-12) About a Wizard Who Wants to Be Human

by Patricia MacLachlan

Newbery Medalist Patricia MacLachlan explores what happens when a wizard would rather be human. “Notable for its elliptical style, which fosters a feeling of wonder, and its warm, affectionate view of life.”--The Horn Book

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade

66 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1982

About the author

Patricia MacLachlan was born on the prairie, and always carried a small bag of prairie dirt with her wherever she went to remind her of what she knew first. She was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb's Story; and Three Names, illustrated by Mike Wimmer. She lived in western Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, the short little and sometimes rather fractured stories themselves as they are presented by Patricia MacLachlan in her 1982 middle grade fantasy Tomorrow’s Wizard are with regard to their basic thematics and contents sufficiently fun and interesting enough for me to have kept reading with not total but still with more than necessary textual pleasure. However, and in my humble opinion, for ALL of the presented and original fairy tale like pieces of prose which Patricia MacLachlan features throughout Tomorrow’s Wizard, both my adult self and equally my inner child are definitely a bit disappointed and both needing and wanting considerably more content based detail from MacLachlan’s pen, more character building and much more of a solid setting of in particular place, leaving me decently enough entertained by but also not in any manner even remotely wowed or textually swept off of my proverbial feet with Tomorrow’s Wizard (and also kind of expecting more of a tie-in, more of a textual connection between the stories and the wizards of the surrounding narrative frame).

And furthermore, and yes, what has finally decided me on granting not three but only two stars for Tomorrow’s Wizard, while the lack of a real and palpable (as well as making common sense) connection between the presented stories for Tomorrow’s Wizard and the surrounding narrative frame is already more than a bit frustrating and annoying, even more of a personal reading issue is that while Patricia MacLachlan has certainly done a decent enough textual job on those featured tales, the narrating wizards of Tomorrow’s Wizard are not only tediously and totally uninterestingly penned, MacLachlan’s explanations of what separates humans from wizards and wizards from humans are never once even remotely adequately explained and analysed, leaving the reasons why Murdoch and Tomorrow (and what a weird name, even for a Wizard) actually want to, actually would rather be human majorly lacking and the combination of narrative background and the stories that are seemingly meant connect with and to the background and the wizards incomplete, choppy and feeling as though far too much is missing in action so to speak.

Finally, I also find Kathy Jacobi’s artwork for Tomorrow’s Wizard neither aesthetically all that pleasant nor really even a necessary accompaniment with regard to Patricia MacLachlan’s printed words. Because to and for me, Jacobi’s black and white pictures are stagnant and one dimensional, and if they are supposed to present a true and successful visual mirror to and for MacLachlan’s text, this certainly has not happened here, this is not really at all the case with Tomorrow’s Wizard.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a charming book though I felt it was a bit bogged down by convention/stereotype.

On one hand, there was much that drew me in. The characters were endearing: the grumpy wizard, the imperfect apprentice, the witty and wise (talking) horse. The main story was connected by chapters that each focused on an important human wish to be considered by the wizard. The stories were clever and covered a variety of themes: matchmaking, beauty, perfection, etc. The ending was poignant.

On the other hand, the main characters were male, and the secondary women characters seemed stereotyped as characters struggling with issues of beauty, marriage or politeness. Even the story on beauty, which had clever aspects, completely missed the point with the ending when it turns out the man who fell in love with her always pictured her without her "ugly" nose, which is why he thought she was beautiful, and her "ugly" nose is gone before they get married. Additionally, all the characters appear to be white ("pale", "soft and pink like a flower bud"), which is not necessarily a problem by itself, but adds to the general feeling that the author is not working very hard to challenge stereotypes with these stories. It was written in 1982, but still.

So if you are someone who enjoys traditional European fairy tales, but more oriented toward kids, told in an engaging style, and held together with kind-hearted characters, then I think you would enjoy this one. If you are looking for something that shakes up the conventions and doesn't sound like the same Grimm characters authors have been writing for over 200 years, keep looking.

Note: I think a 6 or 7-year-old would be able to follow this one. There is no violence in the book and the protagonists are not even sure how babies are born.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well worth reading if you like fractured fairy tales or fantasy short stories as I do. Not as good as those by Joan Aiken (The Last Slice of Rainbow and Other Stories) or Megan Whalen Turner (Instead of Three Wishes), for example, but with a unique charm. A mix of philosophical insight, humor, and sheer nonsense, for all ages.

Available on openlibrary.

(And yes, this is the author who wrote Sarah, Plain and Tall, then kept going with that successful pioneer theme. Back in the day she tried other things. Arthur, For the Very First Time is also worth reading.)

[Katharine Ott · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Tomorrow's Wizard" - written by Patricia MacLachlan and published in 1982 by Harper & Roe. I was underwhelmed by this slim chapter book written four years before MacLachlan's Newbery Award winning "Sarah, Plain and Tall." We are introduced to a couple of wizards and an apprentice and watch as they grant a few wishes, all along harboring their own wishes. "There's only a fine line between wizards and humans." The stories are fable-like, and MacLachlan knows how to tell them, but I found the book as a whole somewhat disjointed and unsatisfying.

[Amber the Human · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been love-love-loving MacLachlan's stuff. Sweet, understanding, understated. This ... confused me. It's sweet, but I spent a lot of time just staying ahead of being confused. Nice to see her write in a different genre than she's used to (fantasy as opposed to her norm reality/family stuff) but not my fav.

[C&C Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. She’s brought her real-life, emotionally subtle stuff to a wizard story. Short stories within a larger story (two wizards and a horse! Hanging out listening for wishes). Simply written but packs a punch.

[Joy Slykhuis · Rating 1 out of 5]

So disappointing from this author, contrived and silly.

[Tym · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story of a wizard and his apprentice answering wishes

[Tabitha Rayburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you see ever need a book that is like eating a really large scrumptious crispy cookie, this is the book for you.
Tomorrow is a wizard, Murdoch is his apprentice, and wizards grant Important wishes. (Why yes, I did mean to capitalize the I in important.) Each chapter is about a different wish, and it is a book with a common thread: what is important to different kinds of people? I would describe each chapter as 'a problem of the week' type of tone where interactions carry through and characters develop as each wish is granted. It took me two sittings to get through, and I was delighted by every page!!

[Nazifa Islam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had read this as a kid. Kids deserve to read this book. The prose is light and the book is full of whimsy and it just makes you smile. It's a smiley happy book for kids that isn't stupid. That's pretty great.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this from a library sale a long time ago. It is a vibe along the lines of never ending story and willow - very 80s, middle grade and enjoyable. The ending felt abrupt but maybe it’s just me being used to reading longer stories. Worth the read & will stay on my shelves 💕

[Lizz Axnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short read.

[Krystle Wainscott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great family read aloud

[Robin Helweg-Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wizards seen and unseen, a giant, a talking horse, and various pleasant and unpleasant people interact in a series of little stories with home-and-family-type problems and moral dilemmas. The writing is clear, evocative and gently moral. Thoughtful stories for 6 to 10 year olds, and worthwhile for a parent to discuss with them what they thought of the solutions.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for independent readers. Short chapters each tell a different episode each with its own moral. Fast-paced and great for kids.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid stories. Slightly silly, but excellent for reading aloud to kids (probably middle grade?) or to whichever parent read you fairytales, if they are now very ill.

[Adelaide Marker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moral: Your wishes are not what you think they are. Do you really want to get everything you wish for?