The Sorcerer's Apprentice

You may recognise the style of these illustrations, because Thomas Taylor was cover illustrator for the first Harry Potter. Perhaps that may have suggested him as suitable for this earlier tale of magic and mayhem. But neither author nor illustrator makes the most of the possibilities in the story. Grindley's retelling is straightforward without aiming for any distinctiveness. Often, the illustrations merely repeat the details of her text, without extending it in any way, or adequately conveying its meaning and drama. Although the shadow of Disney is everywhere, Taylor's realisation of the setting and characters is imprecise. The relationship between apprentice and sorcerer, essential to the story, is barely established. Best to go back to Disney, or, for a new angle, try Ted Dewan's brilliantly updated robot version.