Title: The Houdini Box
Author and Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: 2-5
Rating: 4 out of 5
Inspired by the work of Houdini, young Victor devotes himself to copying the work of the great magician. Despite failure Victor continues to lock himself in a trunk, holding his breath while submerged in his bathtub and attempting to walk through walls. One day he runs into Houdini at a train station and not wanting to reveal his secrets in public Houdini promises to send Victor something in the mail. This is how Victor comes to own a mysterious locked box with the initial E.W. inscribed upon it.
It is not a book I would usually choose for myself but I still really enjoyed it. Victor is a great, lively boy that you could find in any household. His curiosity and passion for a boy at his age is very realistic. I also really loved the parallels between Victor and Houdini. The beginning flipped between the two magicians and is a good lesson on comparing for students.
While the story is fiction I enjoyed the historical facts and real-life fliers about Houdini. As a reader I got to read an interesting and fun book while also learning some history. A lot of the time students at this age level don't like to read historical fiction books and so a book like this could be a good way to show them that history can be fun!
It is not a book I would usually choose for myself but I still really enjoyed it. Victor is a great, lively boy that you could find in any household. His curiosity and passion for a boy at his age is very realistic. I also really loved the parallels between Victor and Houdini. The beginning flipped between the two magicians and is a good lesson on comparing for students.
While the story is fiction I enjoyed the historical facts and real-life fliers about Houdini. As a reader I got to read an interesting and fun book while also learning some history. A lot of the time students at this age level don't like to read historical fiction books and so a book like this could be a good way to show them that history can be fun!
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