Written and Illustrated by Dallas Clayton
Make Magic! Do Good! is a darling book of poems written by Dallas Clayton that I really enjoyed reading. The cover is the reason I chose it, and the illustrations throughout were equally delightful, brightly colored and whimsical. The poems range from silly to life lessons, at times poignant with clever turns of phrases and fun rhyming. It starts with a poem about a boy with a beard who at age 6 decides to never grow up. The title of the book comes from the last poem that the first stanza says: “Do magic, be good. Be who you are. Be what you should. See what you can. Live like you could. Take a stand. Be understood.”
My favorite poem was “The Whole Wide World,” that in part said “when you live in a world that’s full of dirt and full of sun, and full of hurt, and full of fun and full of worse, it’s easy to get confused and curse, it’s easy to get all runny”…. “When you live in a world with so many things, it’s easy to see all the trouble it brings, but when it hurts remember the sun, and when there’s dirt remember the fun, and when it’s worse remember the ones who need your help ’cause their stuck too, and maybe together you’ll make it through”. This is a book that can book enjoyed by young and old alike! Highly recommend.
Reviewed by Rachel Whicker, Librarian, Arcadia Elementary
Review shared in March 2025
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades K-5
Make Magic! Do Good!
Written and Illustrated by Dallas Clayton
Candlewick Press
97 pages
Release Date: October 15, 2024 (paperback reprint- originally published in 2012)
ISBN: 9781536238266 (paperback)
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
