Week 2

Week 2: Garden of Abdul Gasazi by Chris Van Allsburg

Book Summary:

Alan takes on the task of watching his neighbor’s mischievous dog, Fritz , and an adventure begins. Fritz escapes from Alan to Abdul Gasazi’s garden, and to Alan’s horror, is turned into a duck. The duck escapes with Alan’s hat, so he returns to his neighbor’s home empty handed. When Alan explains the disaster to Fritz’s owner, she tells him Gasazi played a trick on him. Alan, confused by the reappearance of his hat and Fritz, must decide if Abdul Gasazi is the true magician or if the trick is on him.

My Impressions:

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi is a clever book with beautiful illustrations that have the reader asking more questions about the mysterious garden, Mr. Gasazi, and Fritz. My favorite illustration from the book is when Allan and Fritz nap. Fritz sleeps under the couch with his nose poking out, and you can’t help but ask, “Why is he doing that?” The entrance to the garden looks magical making it is easy to believe Mr. Gasazi has the ability to change Fritz into a duck.

Professional Review:

“Those eternal picture book fixtures, adorable ducklings and idyllic clambakes, do not feature in Chris Van Allsburg’s darkly fanciful works, nor do the friendly steam shovels and tugboats of storybooks past. Van Allsburg’s books, starting with “The Garden of Abdul Gasazi,” published in 1979, and “Jumanji,” which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, instead offer wonder with an edge to today’s eerily savvy and media-smart children.” – Leonard Marcus

Library Uses:

After showcasing The Garden of Abdul Gaszi, hold a school wide contest challenging students to turn a dog into a duck. Allow students to use any medium such as paper, clay, legos, or recycled materials.

References: 

Van Allsburg, C. (1979). The garden of Abdul Gasazi. New York, NY: Houghton

Mifflin.

Marcus, L. (2011, November 10). Choose your own adventure [Review of the book The garden of 
            Abdul Gasazi by L. Marcus]. New York Times.

Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/ books/review/ the-chronicles-of-harris-burdick-14-amazing-authors-tell-the-tales-by-chris-van-allsburg-and-othersillustrated-by-chris-van-alls.html?_r=1