Magicians have long been using their magical powers to fight against monsters. Among the various types of magic, some have proven to be particularly effective in these battles. One of the most powerful types of magic in battling monsters is elemental magic. Elemental magic allows the magician to manipulate the natural elements such as fire, water, earth, and air. This can be highly effective against different types of monsters, as each element has its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, fire magic can be used to burn and weaken monsters made of ice or plants, while water magic can be used to drown or freeze monsters that are weak against water.
Twenty-five years later, fans still can't get enough of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in Practical Magic. Based on Alice Hoffman's novel of the same name, the 1998 movie starred the Oscar winners as witchy sisters Sally and Gilly Owens. But, despite the A-list line-up—which also included Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as their delightfully wacky and brownies-for-breakfast-promoting aunts—critics failed to fall under Practical Magic's spell.
The recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts, she has also headed El Museo del Barrio s Education Department. Every page of narrative is written in both English and Spanish, with explanations of vocabulary selections and lavish color illustrations by a famous muralist, Maria Dominguez.
For example, fire magic can be used to burn and weaken monsters made of ice or plants, while water magic can be used to drown or freeze monsters that are weak against water. The versatility of elemental magic makes it an invaluable asset in any battle against monsters. Another type of magic that is highly effective against monsters is summoning magic.
Sofi and the Magic, Musical Mural / Sofi y el mágico mural musical
When Sofi walks through her barrio to the local store, she always passes a huge mural with images from Puerto Rico: musicians, dancers, tropical flowers and—her least favorite—a vejigante, a character from carnival that wears a scary mask.
One day on her way home from the bodega, she stops in front of the mural. Is one of the dancers inviting her to be his partner? “Okay, let’s dance,” Sofi giggles, and suddenly she’s in Old San Juan, surrounded by dancers and musicians playing bongos, tambourines and güiros. She begins to dance and sing with her new friends, but her pleasure turns to fear when the vejigante—wearing a black jumper with yellow fringe and a red, three-horned mask—spins her around and around! What does he want from her? How can she get away?
This story about an imaginative girl and a magical mural is an engaging exploration of Puerto Rico’s cultural traditions as well as an ode to public art and the community it depicts. Featuring Maria Dominguez’s lovingly rendered, colorful illustrations, this bilingual picture book introduces the topic of community art to children ages 4 to 8. After reading this book, children—and some adults too—will want to make and share their own artistic creations!
Named to the 2016-17 Tejas Star Reading List
“Young Sofía walks to the bodega near her apartment to buy milk for her mom. From the sidewalk, she becomes entranced by a vibrant public mural that celebrates Puerto Rican culture. The dancers in the mural pull Sofía in, and she finds herself transported to Puerto Rico, listening to the island’s music, singing traditional songs, and dancing with new friends.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Magical realism merges with celebration of family heritage in this story of a Puerto Rican girl who seems to enter a large mural painted on a wall across the street from her home. The illustrations are dreamlike and offer a playful vibe.”—Foreword Reviews
“Every page of narrative is written in both English and Spanish, with explanations of vocabulary selections and lavish color illustrations by a famous muralist, Maria Dominguez. Sofi and the Magic, Musical Mural is an immediate immersion in the arts, a vivid cultural experience for young readers age 6 and up, filled with exotic flashes of joy.”—Midwest Book Review
“This bilingual picture book celebrates public art murals and culture, specifically the one located in the South Bronx entitled, “El Pueblo Cantor” (The Pueblo Sings). The story captures the power that art has on our senses and would be appropriate for art educators. Art educator and muralist Maria Dominguez adds colorful and spiraling illustrations to enhance the story.”—International Literacy Association
“This is a children’s book with magnificent illustrations that will capture the hearts of any child. The colors are beautifully done and are the pictures describe and coincide with the story wonderfully.”—The Latino Author
RAQUEL M. ORTIZ was born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, and has been making art and telling stories ever since she was a little girl. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from the University of Salamanca and has worked at The Brooklyn Museum, the Allen Memorial Art Museum and El Museo del Barrio. Raquel is the author of El arte de la identidad (Editorial Universidad de Granada, 2011), the documentary Memories on the Wall: Education and Enrichment through Community Murals and textbooks and educational materials for children in Puerto Rico and the United States. She lives in New York City and is a professor at Boricua College. This is her first picture book.
MARIA DOMINGUEZ moved from Cataño, Puerto Rico, to New York City when she was five years old. She began her artistic career as a muralist with Cityarts in 1982; that first experience with public art showed her that people can create art together for their community. Over the past twenty-five years, Maria has created over twenty public art murals and in 2001 was commissioned by with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York City. Presently, she continues to work with Artmakers, Inc. in New York City. The recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts, she has also headed El Museo del Barrio’s Education Department. She currently teaches art in New York City’s Public School System. This is her first picture book.
GABRIELA BAEZA VENTURA is an associate professor of Spanish at the University of Houston. She has translated numerous children’s books, including Dalia’s Wondrous Hair / El cabello maravilloso de Dalia (Arte Público Press, 2014), There’s a Name for this Feeling: Stories / Hay un nombre para lo que siento: Cuentos (2014), Adelita and the Veggie Cousins / Adelita y las primas verduritas (2011) and Remembering Grandma / Recordando a Abuela (2003).
ATOS Interest Level: Lower/Middle Grades
Category: Picture Book
ATOS English: 4.4
ATOS Spanish: 4.2
Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 182186
Teaching Guide Here
Reader’s Theatre Here
Named to the 2016-17 Tejas Star Reading List
Summoning magic allows the magician to summon creatures or beings from other realms or dimensions to aid them in battle. These summoned creatures can have various abilities and strengths, making them ideal allies in fighting against monsters. For example, a magician can summon a powerful creature with the ability to fly and strike from above, which can be useful in battling flying monsters. Summoning magic provides the magician with additional firepower and support, making it a great asset in monster battles. In addition to elemental and summoning magic, defensive magic is also crucial in battles against monsters. Defensive magic allows the magician to create shields and barriers to protect themselves and their allies from monster attacks. This can be particularly useful against monsters that have strong physical attacks or special abilities. The magician can create a shield to block or absorb the monster's attack, giving them and their allies time to counter-attack or retreat to safety. Defensive magic provides the necessary protection and ensures the safety of the magician and their team in monster battles. While there are various types of magic that can be effective in battling monsters, it is important for the magician to utilize their magic wisely and strategically. They must assess the weaknesses and strengths of the monsters they are facing and choose the appropriate type of magic to effectively defeat them. By harnessing the power of elemental, summoning, and defensive magic, magicians can become formidable opponents against even the most fearsome monsters..
Reviews for "The Art of Vanquishing: Mastering the Best Magic Spells to Defeat Monsters"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Best magic in battle against monsters". The story was extremely predictable and lacked originality. The characters were flat and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was choppy and awkward, with poorly constructed sentences and dialogue. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious and uninspiring read.
2. John - 1 star - "Best magic in battle against monsters" was a complete waste of time. The plot was all over the place, with too many unnecessary subplots that added nothing to the overall story. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest quickly. The magic system was poorly explained, leaving me confused and frustrated. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real development. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written fantasy novel.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Best magic in battle against monsters", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The world-building was lacking, and it was difficult to visualize the settings and environments. The action scenes were poorly described and lacked excitement, making it hard to stay engaged in the story. The dialogue was also stiff and unnatural, and the interactions between the characters felt forced. Overall, I found the book to be lacking in creativity and execution.