Houdini's Library
How Books Created the World's Greatest Magician
By Barb Rosenstock
Illustrated by Mar Delmar
Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 978–593-57013-5
Age: 4-8 years
Preorder from:
Bookshop.org | Amazon
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.
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.
Magicians Penn & Teller at the Library of Congress’ Houdini Collection
Houdini’s books at UT Harry Ransom Center
A Look Inside the Book
Reviews
“Anyone interested in magic has likely heard of Harry Houdini; less well known is the crucial role books played in his escapades … Rosenstock tells a compelling and wholly original tale, accompanied by Delmar’s stunning 3-D dioramas; created with cut paper and gouache, they employ multiple light sources to yield intricate interior and exterior scenes contrasting glowing illumination and shadowy depth … pure magic.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Resources for Houdini's Library
