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The Wizard Who Saved the World
Diego dreams of being a wizard so he can make the world a better place by fighting global warming. When he realizes that he can't really perform magic, Diego thinks of ways he can help save the world by considering many potential careers and what it would take to achieve them. Filled with sidebars called "Big Kid Boxes" that explain the crucial scientific concepts that lie behind the scenes depicted, this inspirational story gives children an opportunity to exercise their own magical dreams.
- GenresScience
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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September 24, 2020A fantasy book about a boy named Diego who dreamed of being a Wizard and saving the world. Diego would often daydream about the different things he could do. He wanted to help everyone in the world by curing diseases, protecting friends from bullies, end wars, clean polluted water, and so much more. Diego had an exceptional imagination but throughout the book, he found other ways to save the world without magic. In school, Diego learned about one subject that he could not take his mind off of which was global warming. He knew that global warming is a major issue and that there were other ways to help and then he imagined all the possibilities of how he could do his part. This book was an insightful story about how one boy dreamed of changing the world.
Personally, I would share this book with 3rd through 5th grade. This book is an excellent example of children using their imagination. There are no rules to a child's imagination. Teachers could create mini discussions and brainstorm different ideas on how they can help with global warming. This book can get the students thinking about their futures. What do I want to be when I grow up? How can I save the world? This book could also be connected to science as students explore the causes of global warming and some ways to help resolve it. Overall this is a great book that gets students thinking about global warming.
Personally, I would share this book with 3rd through 5th grade. This book is an excellent example of children using their imagination. There are no rules to a child's imagination. Teachers could create mini discussions and brainstorm different ideas on how they can help with global warming. This book can get the students thinking about their futures. What do I want to be when I grow up? How can I save the world? This book could also be connected to science as students explore the causes of global warming and some ways to help resolve it. Overall this is a great book that gets students thinking about global warming.
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May 2, 2018Read by Astronaut Koichi Wakata on the International Space Station, in a video from Story Time From Space
July 24, 2012
The award winning book, The Wizard Who Saved the World" by Dr. Jeffrey Bennett teaches children about ht magic that can happen when we work together to curb global warming, develop renewable energy, and pursue education. Have you ever wondered what you can do to help save the world? in this delightful new story from Big Kid Science, THE WIZARD WHO SAVED THE WORLD tells the story of found Diego who takes a journey from his daydreams about glory and wizardry to real-life inspiration about what he can do to help everyone ild a better future. Beautifully illustrated by Roberta Collier_morales, children can't help but be inspired to form their own drams about how they can contribute to our collective future, and to make those drams come true.
The story begins with Diego's dreams of becoming a World Cup soccer player, a rock and roll star, an astronaut, or a scientist who receives a Nobel Prize. But most of all, he dreams of being a great wizard who could solve the many problems we face in today's world. Through Diego's imagination, we learn of how tiny and fragile our planet appears when seen against the Sun and the other planets in our solar system, and how fortunate we are to live at a time when Earth's climate is ideal of our civilization.
When Diego shares his dreams with his Great Grandmother Flora, she relates to him the many discoveries and inventions that she has seen in her lifetime and how those each seemed like magic when first introduced. Then after learning about global warming in school, Diego relates his lessons to his great-grandmother. with a focus on real science, and using actual data on the rise of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere, THE WIZARD WHO SAVES THE WORLD shares evidence about global warming in a way that is clear both to children and adults.
Recognizing the difficulty of solving a problem as big as global warming, Diego begins to daydream of being a wizard who can control the Earth's climate with a crystal ball. He seeks advice from his great-grandmother, and she tells him that even though he can't really do magic, you can still be a wizard if you work hard enough. As he considers her meaning, Diego begins to imagine the many real ways in which he could help change the world. He starts by focusing on small things, like recycling and using ore efficient light bulbs. Then he imagines a multitude of possible careers-including being a doctor, a farmer, a businessman, a politician, an engineer, a scientist and an astronaut--and in each case thinks not only about the career but also about how it contributes to making the world a better place. In the final scene, Diego glances at a mirror, and in the reflection he sees that he has become a wizard after all.
In addition to its inspirational and award winning story, THE WIZARD WHO SAVED THE WORLD features "Big Kid Boxes" on the sides of pages throughout the book. These boxes provide further explanation for the many scientific ideas that are presented in the story, offering children, parents and teachers a way to learn together. Topics covered in the boxes include Earth's size in comparison to our solar system, our place in the timeline of the Earth's existence, fossil fuels, weather and climate, renewable energy, nuclear fusion and more. In the back of the book are lesson ideas for classroom teachers, and a closing note from the author about how adults can also contribute to solving the problems discussed in the story. The book is also available in Spanish.
The story begins with Diego's dreams of becoming a World Cup soccer player, a rock and roll star, an astronaut, or a scientist who receives a Nobel Prize. But most of all, he dreams of being a great wizard who could solve the many problems we face in today's world. Through Diego's imagination, we learn of how tiny and fragile our planet appears when seen against the Sun and the other planets in our solar system, and how fortunate we are to live at a time when Earth's climate is ideal of our civilization.
When Diego shares his dreams with his Great Grandmother Flora, she relates to him the many discoveries and inventions that she has seen in her lifetime and how those each seemed like magic when first introduced. Then after learning about global warming in school, Diego relates his lessons to his great-grandmother. with a focus on real science, and using actual data on the rise of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere, THE WIZARD WHO SAVES THE WORLD shares evidence about global warming in a way that is clear both to children and adults.
Recognizing the difficulty of solving a problem as big as global warming, Diego begins to daydream of being a wizard who can control the Earth's climate with a crystal ball. He seeks advice from his great-grandmother, and she tells him that even though he can't really do magic, you can still be a wizard if you work hard enough. As he considers her meaning, Diego begins to imagine the many real ways in which he could help change the world. He starts by focusing on small things, like recycling and using ore efficient light bulbs. Then he imagines a multitude of possible careers-including being a doctor, a farmer, a businessman, a politician, an engineer, a scientist and an astronaut--and in each case thinks not only about the career but also about how it contributes to making the world a better place. In the final scene, Diego glances at a mirror, and in the reflection he sees that he has become a wizard after all.
In addition to its inspirational and award winning story, THE WIZARD WHO SAVED THE WORLD features "Big Kid Boxes" on the sides of pages throughout the book. These boxes provide further explanation for the many scientific ideas that are presented in the story, offering children, parents and teachers a way to learn together. Topics covered in the boxes include Earth's size in comparison to our solar system, our place in the timeline of the Earth's existence, fossil fuels, weather and climate, renewable energy, nuclear fusion and more. In the back of the book are lesson ideas for classroom teachers, and a closing note from the author about how adults can also contribute to solving the problems discussed in the story. The book is also available in Spanish.
January 9, 2012
Age Level: 7 and up / Grade Level: 2nd and up
What a wonderful free gift from GoodReads, the publisher, and the author! Unfortunately; the packaging was torn in shipping and so this lovely, signed book has a -very- torn dust jacket.
Is a better shipping carrier an option for mailing these books?
This book steps back and forth between the world of daydreams and the world of reality. Diego daydreams that he will one day become a powerful wizard and fix the problems of the world with a wave of his magic wand. As he sits and talks with his grandmother, he shares his growing concern about the difficulties the world faces as a consequence of global warming.
But in time he realizes that the world needs more help than a boy with a magic wand can provide. He begins to daydream about his own future, and what career he should choose so that he can make a difference in the future.
Each page has a sidebar to expand on the topic at an age appropriate level from a scientific point of view. Some of the sidebars include topics such as fossil fuels, the rising sea level, personal and international efforts toward reversing climate change, and how to learn more about it all on the computer.
I -love- the inclusion of Diego's grandmother and her stories about life when she was growing up. As time passes and the multi-generational families become less and less common; the ease of the interaction with his grandma, and the broader context of her time brings depth to the story.
This is the best children's book I have seen in a long time! Please take a look at it. And buy a copy to give to your child's school library!!
What a wonderful free gift from GoodReads, the publisher, and the author! Unfortunately; the packaging was torn in shipping and so this lovely, signed book has a -very- torn dust jacket.
Is a better shipping carrier an option for mailing these books?
This book steps back and forth between the world of daydreams and the world of reality. Diego daydreams that he will one day become a powerful wizard and fix the problems of the world with a wave of his magic wand. As he sits and talks with his grandmother, he shares his growing concern about the difficulties the world faces as a consequence of global warming.
But in time he realizes that the world needs more help than a boy with a magic wand can provide. He begins to daydream about his own future, and what career he should choose so that he can make a difference in the future.
Each page has a sidebar to expand on the topic at an age appropriate level from a scientific point of view. Some of the sidebars include topics such as fossil fuels, the rising sea level, personal and international efforts toward reversing climate change, and how to learn more about it all on the computer.
I -love- the inclusion of Diego's grandmother and her stories about life when she was growing up. As time passes and the multi-generational families become less and less common; the ease of the interaction with his grandma, and the broader context of her time brings depth to the story.
This is the best children's book I have seen in a long time! Please take a look at it. And buy a copy to give to your child's school library!!
December 14, 2011
I love how this book takes a politically sensitive topic and handles it in a truly scientific and clear way. It would be great to use with elementary school classes in lieu of the textbooks sometimes used to broach this topic.
The book is a wonderful reflection of Dr. Bennett's philosophy of science education. The BK science boxes are easy to read and could be used for building skills in reading informational text.
The inclusion of inter-generational characters helps the personal connections of the story. I hope that the wizard inclusion serves to make more kids just want to pick up the book as the inclusion of Max did in the other great science picture books by the author.
The book is a wonderful reflection of Dr. Bennett's philosophy of science education. The BK science boxes are easy to read and could be used for building skills in reading informational text.
The inclusion of inter-generational characters helps the personal connections of the story. I hope that the wizard inclusion serves to make more kids just want to pick up the book as the inclusion of Max did in the other great science picture books by the author.
October 13, 2014
A preachy politically correct sermon on man-made global warming masquerading as a children's story.
My son picked up this book thinking it would be a fun fantasy/sci-fi kind of read. I started reading it too him and realized it was a book about scientists as a type of "wizards" who can change the world through their work. This was not what I was expecting, but it was a reasonably interesting approach, and I'm all for encouraging kids to be interested in the sciences. About half-way through the book I understood the purpose of the book. To preach the truth of man-made global warming. I should have read the book jacket first.
My son picked up this book thinking it would be a fun fantasy/sci-fi kind of read. I started reading it too him and realized it was a book about scientists as a type of "wizards" who can change the world through their work. This was not what I was expecting, but it was a reasonably interesting approach, and I'm all for encouraging kids to be interested in the sciences. About half-way through the book I understood the purpose of the book. To preach the truth of man-made global warming. I should have read the book jacket first.
March 5, 2013
I picked this book up thinking it was written originally in Spanish. The translation was fine, however, I think this book is trying too hard and doing too much. It looks like a fantasy picture story book with the wizard elements, but is is very text dense. It has informational sidebars seemingly written for upper elementary students that seem out of place with the juvenile illustrations. Plus it has a strong theme of global warming. I'm always looking for quality children's books in Spanish but passing on this one at order time.
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July 23, 2016The Wizard Who Saved The World is a book designed to help students think about global warming. The book follows Diego, a boy who wants to learn about the world and what he can do to help protect the earth. Along the way, informative information is given to students to teach about global warming. The main purpose of the book is to give ideas to children about how they can play a part in protecting our planet. The idea of working our "magic" as wizards is fun for children and helps paint a picture of the universe as being magical.
January 17, 2012
I received this book through first reads and it was great. Easy to read and a great book for kids. It presents environmental and cultural issues in a kid friendly approach also very vivid illustrations.
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December 21, 2018I really like the concept, the illustrations are super, the tie between global issues and career choices is excellent, and I love the material in the back showing how you can use the book with different grade levels! Get more about the science concepts in the full review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews