#BookReview: Harry Houdini (The First Names Series) by Kjartan Poskitt, Geraint Ford

Synopsis: Discover the man behind the magic and see how Houdini pulled off his most daring escapes

Before Harry Houdini (1874–1926) became the greatest magician in the world, he was just little Ehrich Weisz, a Hungarian-born immigrant who moved to America with his family and performed stage tricks for a little extra cash. He started off with card tricks and then eventually began performing the escape acts that would make him famous. Known for his daring and death-defying illusions, he would do some of the greatest tricks ever: escaping from a milk can, being buried alive, and being locked inside a crate and thrown into a river. He conquered each of these seemingly impossible feats and showed the world the power of a little magic. Fun, fast-paced, and highly illustrated, Harry Houdini tells the story of the curious boy who became the world’s greatest magician and reveals how Houdini did some of his most stunning escapes. It includes a timeline, glossary, and index.


Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Review: I didn't really like the cover to this one. I felt it was kind of cartoony and I am not a baby and would have liked to have a real picture of Houdini on it. But for younger kids I think this cartoon picture would work well. 

The book was an easy to read title. I think this would work great in the classroom. I am donating my copy to my class. It was a really interesting blend of story, artwork, comics, and more. It was loaded with information for you to learn. I will more than likely read this one again once I get my own copy. 

If you have to do a paper on a history figure I would say that this one would work well. I hope I get the chance to read more of these!

Review

**STARRED REVIEW**
"In line with the series premise and overall informal tone, the author refers to him throughout as "Harry" (his stage name). Andrew Prentice does likewise for his free-spirited subject in the co-published Amelia Earhart (illustrated by Mike Smith), taking "Amelia" (or, in childhood chapters, "Millie") from homemade backyard roller coaster to final disappearance . . . Together with its companion, stimulating portraits of two colorful, driven historical figures."

, Kirkus Reviews

"This informative biography is a chatty and engaging read for the uninitiated as well as for those who thought they knew everything about one of the greatest magicians of all time."

, Booklist

"A lighthearted and easy look at some of the world’s most famous celebrities . . . The illustrations may prove to be comforting for fiction readers who enjoy diary style series like Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Rachel Renée Russell’s Dork Diaries."

, School Library Journal

About the Author

Kjartan Poskitt is an award-winning author who has written more than 80 children’s books. He lives in York, England, with his wife, four daughters, and a whole array of musical instruments. Geraint Ford is an illustrator who has worked on everything from magazines, to comics, to children’s books. He lives in England.
 

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 Disclaimer: "All opinions are 100% honest and my own."  Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information. Buying via these links allows my site to get a % of the sale at no cost to you. 

FTC Guidelines: In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. If am compensated for any reviews on this site I will state that post has been sponsored. 

Posted in: 4 Stars, Childrens, Review