Rotruck, A. (2010). Young wizards handbook: How to trap a zombie, track a vampire, and other hands-on activities for monster hunters. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast.
Interest Level: Ages 9 to 12
Genre: Fantasy, Non-Fiction
Subjects/Themes: Monsters, Hunting, Survivial Skills, Dungeons & Dragons, Activity Book, Role-Playing
Plot: Teaches young wizards in training how to gather supplies, survive their surroundings, and hunt monsters through a variety of different food, game and craft making activities. The last pages contain an index of monsters that describe them by sight, smell, and sound as well as gives information about where they are located, hostility levels, intelligence levels, and tactics to use against them. The book also contains common sense tips and safety advice such as never eat any local berries, fruit, or plants without asking an adult first.
Personal Thoughts: This is a wonderfully inventive way of encouraging older children to try certain crafts. Some crafts include: how to make a backpack out of an old pair of jeans, how to make invisible ink, and how to make lantern. Children are taught how to construct and play different thematic games, such as Goblin Coin Toss. The book is set up for a single child to try different activities or for a group of children to work together. The book is filled with informational charts and step by step instructions. The illustrations are a mixture of color graphics and pencil sketches. My local library actually has the book shelved in the J Graphic Novel section. This book would make a good gift to a child interested in role-playing, wizards or monsters. It might also be helpful to a parent looking to throw an organized "wizards & monsters" birthday party.
Website: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/
Similar materials: The Book of Wizard Craft: In Which the Apprentice Finds Spells, Potions, Fantastic Tales, and 50 Enchanting Things to Make (2001) by Janice Eaton Kilby. (New York, NY: Lark Books).
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