THE SHADOWMAKER

by Ron Hansen ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 1987

Nearly everyone in town is happy--until a strange little man opens his shop and offers new shadows for sale. ""Don't be such scaredy-cats,"" he urges. ""You're looking at a guy who's got everything under control."" He makes a killing. People flock to exhange their dumpy old shadows for splendid new ones: the Mayor's wears a crown, one girl's sports a pair of angel wings, little children get gruesome monsters, petless apartment-dwellers buy puppy and kitten shadows. Almost everyone is pleased--but then the shadows begin to break down, behave oddly and develop quirks. The little man, not quite as able a wizard as he likes to think, surreptitiously folds his tent; but before he can steal away, he's caught by penniless young Drizzle and her older brother Soot. In exchange for a clean getaway, the Shadowmaker teaches his spell-making to Soot, who, being good with his hands, proceeds to open a Shadowmender's business. Now everyone is happy. A brisk, cheerful tale of magic gone just a bit out of whack, perfect fare for readers who enjoy Pomerantz's The Downtown Fairy Godmother and books of that ilk. Tomes' understated black-and-white illustrations have a wry humor that well suits the fantasy.

Pub Date: May 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 66

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1987

Categories: CHILDREN'S