Harry Houdini for Kids: His Life and Adventures with 21 Magic Tricks and Illusions    by Laurie Carlson Order:  USA  Can Chicago Review Press, 2009 (2009) Softcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch I have a budding magician at home, so I was very intrigued by this very comprehensive book about the world's most famous magician, Harry Houdini. This book, in a word, is fascinating. Not only are we treated to a biography of the master magician's life, but we are drawn into a long vanished world of dime museums, vaudeville and the traveling circus, many of which were venues that allowed Houdini to climb to the height of his fame. We learn that Ehrich Weisz (who later changed his name to honor his idol, French magician Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin) was a Jewish immigrant from Hungary, who promised his dying father that he would always care for his mother. It was fate that landed him an apprenticeship with a locksmith - his ability to pick a lock sparked an interest that led to his becoming one of the most famous escape artists of all time. The book is well-researched, well-written and very extensive; it covers a lot of detailed information about Houdini's early years, his struggle with and eventual rise to fame, his marriage, his movie career, and his ultimate death on Halloween, 1926. It also discusses, in great depth, many of his famous tricks and illusions. While I appreciated the highly detailed biography, I don't know if a younger child would be inclined to read every word, although they might be interested in the timeline of Houdini's life at the beginning of the book. What children will likely appreciate the most, though, are the magic tricks sprinkled throughout the book, which are explained in detail. They include the Magical Money Trick where money is made to appear out of thin air; Mind Reading with Secret Code; Dissolving Rings Trick; and Write and Invisible Message. Priceless old photographs round out the book, which will appeal to older children as well as adults. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews