The Color Wizard (Bank Street Level 1*) (ISBN 0553346903)

a remarkably satisfying easy-reader:
I picked up a copy of THE COLOR WIZARD as I was searching for a short read-aloud story to accompany a pre-school lesson on color. I was SO surprised to find such a poetic and not-in-the-least-awkward text! Wow! Add to that, the ever-versatile Dillons' illustrations and, well, you get one of the highest quality (yet in tune with kids' sensibilities) books of this type that I'VE ever read... RECOMMENDED! The kids LOVED it! (parents, too)

Colorful & charming book for the beginning reader.:
The Color Wizard Wizard is tired of his gray life. He's a dull shade of brown when the book begins and everything around him is a dreary shade of gray. One day he decides to pick up a can of paint and goes wild. He paints his castle and everything surrounding it including dragons and any other creature that crosses his path. He even goes so far as to paint the sun a cheery shade of yellow. When the book nears its end Wizard is as colorful and animated as his surroundings. After this massive project Wizard stands back to admire his beautiful new world and takes a much needed rest! This is a cute, brightly illustrated story that's perfect for the beginning reader. The text is lively and easy enough for my six year old to read entirely by himself without any moments of frustration. The illustrations of the wizard, his castle, dragons and other assorted magical creatures enchanted both of my children. This one's a keeper! ~ Laurie Shallah

A Different Sort of Color Book - a review of "The Color Wizard":
Now Wizard Gray was having such fun that he stirred up a color as yellow as the sun. Mellow yellow! He painted his walls. He painted his chair. He painted a golden sun up in the air! This is a lively little book with a focus on color. The story begins with a wizard who lives in a very dull world of grays and browns. Soon enough though he decides to spice things up, and wonderful colors appear everywhere. "The Color Wizard" is designated as a 1.9 on the Accelerated Reading scale. Which means that it is generally suited for 1st Graders in the 9th month of school. {I'd probably count that as a book for kids reading at the 2nd Grade level.} Just so you know: The AR designation is a general "guide" that rates books on a relative scale of difficulty. Children can certainly read at levels above or below their group range, so that this number should only be used as a aid to help choose books that are appropriate and not frustrating. Four Stars. Good Read-aloud. The artwork is simple but interesting; starts out gray and gradually gets more colorful. The book is designated as a reader for fairly sufficient first graders (AR 1.9), but the story would probably appeal more to younger children. Pam T~