The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

by Tom Skinner, illustrated by Annie White, Audio CD read by Antonia Kidman

New Frontier Publishing. Australian, Children. Hardback with CD RRP $27.95

Music Box Series is an excellent way to introduce young children to classical music and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is the third book of this series.

Rizwan is a young apprentice at the Wizard Car and Camel Wash. Rizwan is like most children – looking for an easier way out, and when he starts to cast his own magic on the mayor’s camels and long car, you just know it isn’t going to

end well for him.

The story is a funny tale that has some lessons gently embedded in it. The narration will help young readers follow the words with Paul Abraham Dukas’ music playing in the background – perfect for car travel. The tension rises as the magic and Rizwan’s mistakes reach a crescendo. The illustrations by Annie White tie the story together into a wonderful package. Readers and listeners will want to repeat the experience. Fantastic!

The Reading Stack reviewed Flight of the Bumblebee in March 2009 and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in August 2009.