Victor is forever trying to master the tricks of the great magician, Harry Houdini, with little success. Who knew walking through walls and escaping from locked trunks could be so very difficult? Victor fears he may never learn magic, but then a chance encounter with his idol allows him to ask many questions and become the keeper of a tightly locked box. Does this wondrous box hold the secrets for the greatest magic ever performed?
Oh, I love it when great books are reissued, although this one was certainly a no-brainer given Selznick's Caldecott success with The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Still, if you're looking for a last minute Christmas present for a child obsessed with magic, then this is truly the perfect gift. A short biography of Houdini has been added to this edition, as has an illustrated magic trick and some additional sketches. And certainly there is no denying that Selznick's renderings are amazing. So amazing, in fact, that I can't look at the cover for too long. Selznick has captured the intensity of Houdini's eyes a little too well. I feel as if they are boring into me. For children who are too young for The Invention of Hugo Cabret, The Houdini Box is a wonderful introduction to the astounding art and mind of Brian Selznick.
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