Young Wizard's Handbook: How to trap a zombie, track a vampire and other hands-on activities for monster hunters by A. R. Rotruck

This is a fun, fun book. If you have any serious Harry Potter fans at your library (and of course you do) they are definitely going to be in need of the handy crafts in this book.

Interspersed with advice on tracking, capturing, and studying monsters are straight-faced craft instructions on creating a "monster-hunting pouch" (out of old jeans), "revitalizing draught" (mint tea), drawing a map, marking a trail, and most fun of all, creating and battling with slime! I totally want to have a slime battle on the library lawn now....come on, you want to too!

The crafts and information in this book are going to be most enjoyed by the 8-10 group, but if you do happen to find any teens in your area who aren't too stuffy, or even some Dungeons and Dragons fans, the activities would make a great all-ages program. Pull out some of the other Wizards of the Coast guides (Practical Guide to Dragons, etc.) for background information and get ready to hunt monsters!

Verdict: Highly recommended for library programs and for handing out to tweens. Might also be a fun teen program if you have the right patrons.

ISBN: 9780786955480; Published September 2010 by Wizards of the Coast; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates.