Houdini's Library

How Books Created the World's Greatest Magician

Illustrated by Mar Delmar
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$18.99 US
RH Childrens Books | Knopf Books for Young Readers
24 per carton
On sale Feb 17, 2026 | 9780593570135
Age 4-8 years
Reading Level: Lexile 750L | Fountas & Pinnell Q
Sales rights: World

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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, from the author of Caldecott Honor book The Noisy Paint Box.

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.
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★ "[A] compelling and wholly original tale....Pure magic." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "The theme, that books were Houdini’s great escape—and can be anyone’s—is convincing and inspirational. This book has magic all its own." —Booklist, starred review

★ "A ­visual ­delight and excellent take on ­Houdini’s life through his love of books and learning. Sure to be popular with book and magic lovers plus those interested in unusual illustration styles." —School Library Journal, starred review

★ “Mesmerizing account…The creative team’s illumination of Houdini continually amazes in this elegant work about books as his ‘greatest escape’.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The details of Houdini’s life are all ably related in accessible language, as are examples of his many escapes, but the focus on literature and paper shines, literally, in the art....the results are spellbinding." —The Bulletin

Classroom Activities for Houdini's Library

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

About

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, from the author of Caldecott Honor book The Noisy Paint Box.

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.

Photos

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additional book photo

Praise

★ "[A] compelling and wholly original tale....Pure magic." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "The theme, that books were Houdini’s great escape—and can be anyone’s—is convincing and inspirational. This book has magic all its own." —Booklist, starred review

★ "A ­visual ­delight and excellent take on ­Houdini’s life through his love of books and learning. Sure to be popular with book and magic lovers plus those interested in unusual illustration styles." —School Library Journal, starred review

★ “Mesmerizing account…The creative team’s illumination of Houdini continually amazes in this elegant work about books as his ‘greatest escape’.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The details of Houdini’s life are all ably related in accessible language, as are examples of his many escapes, but the focus on literature and paper shines, literally, in the art....the results are spellbinding." —The Bulletin

Guides

Classroom Activities for Houdini's Library

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)