The War of the Wizards: 9a Magical Hologram Book

Like a movie carried by its special effects, this picture book may not offer much in the way of an original story line, but its visuals are positively compelling. When a pair of foolish rival wizards engage in a battle of spiteful tricks to put each other out of business, their spells backfire and they find themselves simultaneously banished to inner earth. Their servants of magic-a genie and a goblin-agree to release them only on condition that they end their feuding. Mystical twilight hues of plum, sapphire and emerald lend an appropriately eerie cast to Heller's artwork, but the centerpiece of these spreads are holograms. As in Wyllie's Ghost Train, the holograms get extra milage from the use of die-cut windows on otherwise unadorned pages. The 3-D impressions of the genie in the crystal ball, the goblin in the mirror (with a bat and a spider thrown in for good measure) will keep readers riveted. Call it high concept, call it gimmicky, but kids will likely call it awesome. Ages 5-up. (Sept.)