Description: A fresh and fascinating picture book biography about the iconic magician Harry Houdini, an avid book collector who lived and breathed the idea that books are magic, from the author of Caldecott Honor book The Noisy Paint Box.
Houdini is the world's most beloved magician, and he became famous for all of the amazing tricks he accomplished. Houdini knew just how to captivate his audience, whether it was leaping from a bridge or freeing himself from a straitjacket. But in true magician's fashion, he kept a secret so great that not many people knew about, and that was his love for books! As a young boy in Budapest, Harry learned to read at his father's knee. After the family emigrated to America, Harry grew up to be the amazing Houdini--but never lost his love of reading. He spent the rest of his life collecting all kinds of rare and unusual books, almost entirely about magic. With warm, inviting text and astounding art with miniature models constructed from paper, this extraordinary book opens a new page on the story of Harry Houdini.Review Quotes: ★ "[A] compelling and wholly original tale....Pure magic." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "The theme, that books were Houdini's great escape--and can be anyone's--is convincing and inspirational. This book has magic all its own." --Booklist, starred review ★ "A visual delight and excellent take on Houdini's life through his love of books and learning. Sure to be popular with book and magic lovers plus those interested in unusual illustration styles." --School Library Journal, starred review ★ "Mesmerizing account...The creative team's illumination of Houdini continually amazes in this elegant work about books as his 'greatest escape'." --Publishers Weekly, starred review "The details of Houdini's life are all ably related in accessible language, as are examples of his many escapes, but the focus on literature and paper shines, literally, in the art....the results are spellbinding." --The Bulletin