Rating: 
Summary: Chris Van Allsburg shows his artistry with a pencil
Review: "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi" was Chris Van Allsbrug's first picture book and it features exquisite drawings done with a carbon pencil on Strathmore paper. Young Alan Mitz is given the job of watching Miss Hester's dog Fritz for the day. During their afternoon walk they find a sign by a vine-covered wall that reads: "ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO DOGS ALLOWED IN THIS GARDEN" signed "ABDUL GASAZI, RETIRED MAGICIAN." Alan is more than willing to heed the warning, but at that moment Fritz snaps right out of his color and runs in to the garden of Abdul Gasazi. Alan tries and tries to catch up with Fritz, but with no success. Finally, he has to go and knock on the magician's door, apologize and get Fritz back. However, the magician has some good news and bad news. Alan can certainly take Fritz back, but because he despises dogs, Abdul Gasazi has turned Fritz into a duck. Or has he . . . ?It will not matter to young readers of this book that Van Allsburg was interested in applying fine-art drawing style and sensitivity to the problems of illustration. A note on the backpiece explains how these drawings represent the artist's attempt to explore areas of concern such as "creating a balance on the page by placing dark tones next to light for contrast" and "using a light source to provide a variety of tones to show form." I read this through, several times in fact, and flipped back and forth between the pictures, trying to make the connections between theory and practice. I believe I have some clue as to the principles involved in the execution of these drawings. However, the important thing is that the artwork is really neat and the guy did it with just a sharp little pencil. Yes, the story is little more than an excuse to do these drawings, but what is wrong with that? Especially if young readers race for pencil and paper after looking at this book to see what they can do.
Rating:
Summary: Chris Van Allsburg shows his artistry with a pencil
Review: "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi" was Chris Van Allsbrug's first picture book and it features exquisite drawings done with a carbon pencil on Strathmore paper. Young Alan Mitz is given the job of watching Miss Hester's dog Fritz for the day. During their afternoon walk they find a sign by a vine-covered wall that reads: "ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO DOGS ALLOWED IN THIS GARDEN" signed "ABDUL GASAZI, RETIRED MAGICIAN." Alan is more than willing to heed the warning, but at that moment Fritz snaps right out of his color and runs in to the garden of Abdul Gasazi. Alan tries and tries to catch up with Fritz, but with no success. Finally, he has to go and knock on the magician's door, apologize and get Fritz back. However, the magician has some good news and bad news. Alan can certainly take Fritz back, but because he despises dogs, Abdul Gasazi has turned Fritz into a duck. Or has he . . . ? It will not matter to young readers of this book that Van Allsburg was interested in applying fine-art drawing style and sensitivity to the problems of illustration. A note on the backpiece explains how these drawings represent the artist's attempt to explore areas of concern such as "creating a balance on the page by placing dark tones next to light for contrast" and "using a light source to provide a variety of tones to show form." I read this through, several times in fact, and flipped back and forth between the pictures, trying to make the connections between theory and practice. I believe I have some clue as to the principles involved in the execution of these drawings. However, the important thing is that the artwork is really neat and the guy did it with just a sharp little pencil. Yes, the story is little more than an excuse to do these drawings, but what is wrong with that? Especially if young readers race for pencil and paper after looking at this book to see what they can do.
Rating:
Summary: Children's lit doesn't get any better than Chris Van A.
Review: Brilliant full-bodied pencil drawings (no sketches here) combine with a magical story with an O. Henry twist on the last page to make another stunning triumph for the best in the business. Here is the true heir of N.C. Wyeth as supreme illustrator of children's books. You don't have to be a kid to fall under Van Allsburg's spell.
Rating:
Summary: Allsburg at his BEST.
Review: I have had this book for years and still enjoy readig it.I can not even edge the divinity of this magnificent work. To say the least, Gasazi is Allsburg's magnum opus. A wonderful read for all generations, especially children. I mean, the artwork is far better than regular children's litterary works. Then, a very rare story-line: A boy must venture far into the garden of a wealthy magician to retrieve his neighbor's canine. Far better than The Polar Express, in my oppinion. Now, don't get me wrong, the story-line is no Harry Potter, but still a good read.
Rating:
Summary: SO MUCH MORE THAN A BOOK
Review: If there were a so-much-more-than-a-book category, this title would head the list. The Garden of Abdul Gasazi written and gloriously illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, and read by Jason Robards is a standout. Threats are more menacing; adventures are higher when recounted in Robards' inimitable voice. This, Van Allsburg's first book, winner of the Caldecott Award and deemed Best Illustrated Book of the Year by the New York Times, is the imaginative story of a little boy and a very mean magician. Spectacular reading and listening!
Rating:
Summary: SO MUCH MORE THAN A BOOK
Review: If there were a so-much-more-than-a-book category, this title would head the list. The Garden of Abdul Gasazi written and gloriously illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, and read by Jason Robards is a standout. Threats are more menacing; adventures are higher when recounted in Robards' inimitable voice. This, Van Allsburg's first book, winner of the Caldecott Award and deemed Best Illustrated Book of the Year by the New York Times, is the imaginative story of a little boy and a very mean magician. Spectacular reading and listening!
Rating: 
Summary: the garden of abdul gasazi for ms voorhees book reports
Review: The garden of Abdul Gasazi begins when a woman leaves her mischeivous dog in the care of a young boy, when she pays her cousin a visit. The boy is very busy trying to keep the bad dog from doing things that would enrage the owner. Later, the boy takes the dog for a walk, he comes across an unusual sign that says "NO DOGS ALLOWED, HOME OF RETIRED MAGICIAN" the boy is about to turn back when the dog breaks the leash and runs past the sign down the path and into a garden. The boy spends a very long time looking for the dog, and decides he should ask the magician if he has or knows where the dog is. The magician reveals that all dogs that wander into his garden... he turns into ducks. He gives the boy the dog, in duck form. He says the spell will revert someday, whether it be a day or a year. The boy is on his way taking the duck home, when it takes his hat and flys away. He then returns to the home where it came from, all the while trying to think of something to tell the owner, when he reaches the door to her home, he knocks and begins to tell her the whole story, when he notices the dog walk up behind her. He had been duped. He walked home laughing at himself... And the woman forgot to give him his hat back... I really enjoyed this book, its one of the most well illustrated books by Chris Van Alsburg, but the story wasnt quite up to his usual standard, I expected it to be a little bit more ironic, but ah well. Im sure all younger readers and some just learning to read would enjoy this book very much.
Rating:
Summary: the garden of abdul gasazi for ms voorhees book reports
Review: The garden of Abdul Gasazi begins when a woman leaves her mischeivous dog in the care of a young boy, when she pays her cousin a visit. The boy is very busy trying to keep the bad dog from doing things that would enrage the owner. Later, the boy takes the dog for a walk, he comes across an unusual sign that says "NO DOGS ALLOWED, HOME OF RETIRED MAGICIAN" the boy is about to turn back when the dog breaks the leash and runs past the sign down the path and into a garden. The boy spends a very long time looking for the dog, and decides he should ask the magician if he has or knows where the dog is. The magician reveals that all dogs that wander into his garden... he turns into ducks. He gives the boy the dog, in duck form. He says the spell will revert someday, whether it be a day or a year. The boy is on his way taking the duck home, when it takes his hat and flys away. He then returns to the home where it came from, all the while trying to think of something to tell the owner, when he reaches the door to her home, he knocks and begins to tell her the whole story, when he notices the dog walk up behind her. He had been duped. He walked home laughing at himself... And the woman forgot to give him his hat back... I really enjoyed this book, its one of the most well illustrated books by Chris Van Alsburg, but the story wasnt quite up to his usual standard, I expected it to be a little bit more ironic, but ah well. Im sure all younger readers and some just learning to read would enjoy this book very much.
Rating:
Summary: A book of wonder and vivid fantastic illustrations
Review: This book is burned into my memory as one of my few early childhood memories. It's been 20 years since I last saw this book, but I could describe many of the vivid illustrations for you. Mystical and magical. Abdul Gasazi's garden exists in every town. All it needs is a child's imagination to bring it to life.
Rating:
Summary: Did Fritz really get changed into a duck?
Review: This children's book is about a dog named Fritz who runs off from the boy who is watching over him. The dog enters the garden of a retired magician who hates dogs. Yet, the boy has to get the dog back. Alan is shocked to discover that the dog may have been turned into a duck. The book was a 1980 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children. A book greatly enjoyed by children of all ages.
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