OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "William and the Wizard Waldo" by Joseph Schwary.]

Growing up, I knew my dad had my best interests at heart when he encouraged me to try different sports. I excelled at none, so he thought I could discover my strengths by participating in various games. As a parent now, my children prefer video games to active sports during their free time. Knowing the benefits of playtime to a growing mind, I encourage them to engage in outdoor sports instead of passive online games.

Joseph Schwary’s book—William and the Wizard Waldo—encourages children to participate in outdoor games. In the story, William is a sprint racer. He is practicing hard for the upcoming sprint race involving his school. His parents are incredibly supportive of his efforts. They have drawn up a training plan for him for a month. William is overly excited and thinks he will do well in the race. But is William’s preparation enough for him to excel in the race?

I liked this book because it explores the link between encouragement and success. William’s parents were supportive and encouraged him, but a mentor was needed so that he could serve as a positive role model to William. Waldo, as the mentor, was able to bolster William’s self-esteem as well as guide and support him to discover something about himself that was not apparent.

I recommend this picture book to parents so that they can learn how to encourage their children to do their best. However, this book’s storyline involves a stranger (Waldo) approaching a child who is alone. This may present an awkward moment for parents who have warned their children against trusting or talking to strangers. I disliked this bit about the book because it can encourage unsafe interactions between adults and children.

This book is exceptionally well-edited, colorful, and easy to read. However, I deducted a mark because of my dislike of the above issue. I rated the book 4 out of 5 stars.

******
William and the Wizard Waldo
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

This seems like an interesting children story. I hope there are pictures to make the story come to life.

The emphasis on encouragement in "William and the Wizard Waldo" sounds great. It's nice that the story highlights the importance of support in a child's success. The connection between William and Waldo as a mentor seems valuable for young readers. However, I understand your concerns about the stranger aspect; it could raise questions for parents. Overall, your thoughts on the book are very helpful!

It's great that you encourage your children to experience outdoor sports, especially considering how beneficial physical activity can be for their growth. It seems like you're passing on valuable lessons from your own childhood, even if your strengths weren't in sports.