For a child grappling with the allure of quick fixes and the true value of belonging, this Polish folktale offers a whimsical journey with a profound lesson.
When your child is dazzled by the idea of instant fame or feels that grand gestures are the only way to overcome loneliness, this book offers a gentle cautionary tale. This classic Polish folktale tells of a brilliant but isolated magician in the city of Cracow who yearns for glory. He makes a deal with a devil to achieve his ultimate dream: to be the first man to fly to the moon. The book explores themes of ambition, community, and the true cost of fame. For ages 6 to 9, its intricate illustrations and timeless message provide a beautiful starting point for conversations about what makes a life truly meaningful, beyond spectacle and praise.
The magician's ambition is both understandable and a tragic flaw, leading to his downfall.
Sensitive Topics
The story involves making a deal with the devil. This is handled in a classic, metaphorical folktale manner, not a religious one. The devil is a trickster, a "prince of darkness," not a figure of theological horror. The resolution is bittersweet and cautionary. The protagonist is punished for his hubris with a lonely, permanent exile, which is a somber rather than a hopeful ending.
Ideal Reader
An imaginative, thoughtful child aged 7 to 9 who is starting to grapple with abstract concepts like fame, legacy, and consequences. It's particularly resonant for a child who sometimes feels overlooked and fantasizes about doing something spectacular to get attention, without fully considering the potential costs.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared for the sad ending. The magician does not get to come home. It is useful to preview the devil's depiction (stylized, not terrifying) and the final pages showing the magician on the moon. The book benefits from a follow up conversation about choices, loneliness, and what community means. It can be read cold, but the discussion is where the value lies. A parent hears their child express a strong desire for fame ("I want to be famous!") or sees them tempted to take a shortcut to gain praise. The child might also say things that suggest they equate being noticed with being valued, like "No one will remember me unless I do something amazing."
Age Experience
A younger child (6-7) will likely focus on the plot points: the magic, the flight, the trickery of the devil. They will understand the basic lesson that he made a bad deal. An older child (8-9) can better grasp the subtler, more profound themes of hubris, the emptiness of fame sought for the wrong reasons, and the poignant irony of his lonely fate.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many children's stories that reward ambition with success, this is a classic cautionary folktale that explores the dangers of ambition rooted in vanity. Its unforgettable, bittersweet ending where the consequence is permanent is unique and powerful. The Caldecott Honor winning illustrations, with their intricate detail rooted in Polish folk art, make the book a visually stunning and culturally specific experience.
Read plot summary
A skilled but lonely magician in medieval Cracow, driven by pride, desires to fly to the moon to achieve lasting fame. He summons a devil to help him build a magical flying creature. The devil agrees but tricks him with the wording of their pact. The magician achieves his goal of reaching the moon but is subsequently trapped there, eternally looking down at the city and people he left behind, serving as a permanent cautionary figure in the sky.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Why do you think the magician was so lonely even though he lived in a busy city and had amazing powers?
2
The magician wanted everyone to remember his name. At the end, people do remember him, but how do they see him? Is this the kind of fame he really wanted?
3
If you could have given the magician some advice before he made his deal, what would you have said to him?
4
The devil tricked the magician by following the exact words of their deal but not the true meaning. Why is it important to be careful with promises and agreements?
