SOLVED. Illustrated 80s (?) children's chapter book about a boy wizard and his friends (including a female jack-in-the-box) - pre-Harry Potter and possibly a British book. [s]

[Mel]

UPDATE: I finally found this book - it's called Little Whizz and the Weather Spell by Ruth Thomson. Not sure how I can change the status of this to 'solved'?

I read a book as a child in the late 80s/early 90s about a young male wizard (pre-Harry Potter and for younger kids). It was a middle grade chapter book with illustrations. The wizard had dark hair and wore a dark blue/purple cloak with stars on it and a matching tall pointed wizard-like hat. He had some friends and one was a female jack-in-the-box - she looked like a doll but she was a jack-in-the-box.

I think it was a British book and it might have been a series, I remember the first chapter of the book I had featured an illustration of the boy-wizard asleep in his bed and bedroom window was open so you could see it was raining outside. Any ideas?! Thanks in advance,

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Check out these other threads which are/were looking for books with wizards, pre-Harry Potter. One was solved.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Mel]

Thanks for the other threads - I've had a look and it isn't any of the books suggested in these.

[Ayshe]

William, the Wizard who Wasn't by Irena Sibley maybe?

[Ayshe]

I found this description:
William, the Wizard who Wasn't is about a reluctant wizard who lives at Waiting Dog Creek. While most of his spells are bungled, he is able to bring about a meeting of the world powers when a war threatens.
in The Oxford Companion to Australian Children's Literature

[Mel]

Unfortunately that's not it but thanks so much Ayshe!

[bookel]

A book by Enid Blyton?

[Mel]

No it wasn't by Enid but thanks!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Mel, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Taelle]

The Wizard Of Rondo perhaps? No Jack-in-the-box the box, but there is a music box that is a key part of the story.

[Mel]

Still haven’t found it Lobstergirl! 😔

[Mel]

Taelle, don’t think it’s Wizard if Rondo but thanks! 🙏

[Rainbowheart]

Wizard's Hall?

[Mel]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Wizard's Hall?"

Thanks Rainbowheart but that's not it. Your reply actually got me thinking about this book again so I started googling it in different ways and I FINALLY found it. It's called Little Whizz and the Birthday Surprise by Ruth Thomson. I found it on ebay and Amazon but it's not listed on Goodreads.

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Whizz-W...

[Becca]

Well done for finding it! I've just added it to Goodreads. Here's the link - Little Whizz and the Weather Spell

[Becca]

Sorry, you actually said it was Little Whizz and the Birthday Surprise - I've added that one too.

[Mel]

Becca wrote: "Well done for finding it! I've just added it to Goodreads. Here's the link - Little Whizz and the Weather Spell"

Thanks Becca - I made a mistake and mentioned two different books by the same author but thanks for adding both! The one I remember reading as a child was Little Whizz and the Weather Spell.

[Rainbowheart]

Yay, glad you found it!