The Wizard of Washington Square

One day, while playing in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, David and Leilah are thrilled to discover a real wizard living behind the little black door in Washington Square Arch. Alas, he is only a second-class wizard, he tells them, and sometimes he has trouble with his spells. So when the Wizard accidentally turns David's Scottish terrier, D. Dog, into a statue and the statue is stolen by Mr. Pickwell, a nasty antiques dealer, it's up to David and Leilah to get D. Dog back--before Mr. Pickwell sells him!

Jane Yolen is the distinguished author of more than 250 books for children, teens, and adults. She has earned many awards over the years, including the World Fantasy Award, two Nebula Awards, the Society of Children's Book Writers Golden Kite Award, three Mythopoeic Society Aslan Award, two Christopher Medals, the Boy's Club Jr. Book Award, the Garden State Teen Book Award, the California Young Reader's Medal, New York State's Charlotte Award, the Daedalus Award, a number of Parents' Choice Magazine Awards, four Honorary Doctorates, and many more awards and citations for her work. Ms. Yolen lives in with her husband in Hatfield, Massachusetts, and St. Andrews, Scotland.

"I'm the Wizard of Washington Square."

From behind the door, into the sunlight, stepped the weirdest little man David had ever seen. He had a long, silky white beard that was parted slightly off center and flowed down to his waist. He was no taller than a four-year-old. He wore a robe of inky blue and a pointed hat that sparkled with stars.
"How do you do," said the little man to David in a voice full of apologies. "I'm the Wizard of Washington Square."
David meant to say "How do you do" back, but he just stood there with his mouth open. Even D. Dog was too surprised to bark.