A Picture Book of Harry Houdini
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Readers will be mesmerized by this captivating biography of one of the most celebrated escape artists and magicians in history.Harry Houdini astounded audiences around the globe with his death-defying acts and illusions. With his wife, Bess, often by his side, he freed himself from ropes, handcuffs, straight jackets, and prison cells. Though Harry was always intrigued by magic, his life was not always so glamorous. As a boy he shined shoes to help his family make ends meet. Yet a career in magic was always in the cards. Includes a selected bibliography, source notes, important dates, and recommended websites.Children's LiteratureIn this book, David and Michael Adler have written a succinct story about Harry Houdini, a magician and escape artist who became famous for his death-defying feats. He was born in 1874 in Budapest, Hungary and moved with his family to the United States when he was a young boy. When the circus performed in his town, he enjoyed watching the magicians. When he was older, he joined a circus and performed his own escape tricks. His real name was Ehrich Weisz, but when he read a book about a French magician named Robert-Houdin, he changed his name to Harry Houdini. He and his wife traveled to Europe, where Houdini performed his act. When he came back to America, he was an international star. In time, Houdini's acts became more and more dangerous. Handcuffed, he jumped off bridges into icy waters and stepped inside boxes that were nailed shut and thrown into deep water. In spite of these obstacles, he would typically free himself within less than a minute. It seemed Houdini was invincible, but that changed one night in 1926. Some daring students came to his dressing room and asked to test his physical strength by punching him in the stomach. Houdini agreed, but was punched before he could tighten his stomach muscles. Two days later, Houdini collapsed. His appendix had burst from the blow, and it became infected. He died on October 31, 1926. Back material includes source notes, a bibliography, and a list of websites. Many full-page illustrations add to the text with their rich, lifelike qualities. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi
