Houdini's Library
Amazing!
Yes, Houdini was a magician and an escape artist. Even though he was born in 1874, most of us still think of him when magicians are discussed. He was world famous. My lungs ache when I think about his underwater escapes from chains and straitjackets. But that’s not what this book is about.
Harry Houdini was a reader.
I seldom find historical figures who were as addicted to reading as I am. My grandfather often said they’d better bury me with a book in my hands or St. Peter wouldn’t recognize me. Houdini was one of US!
I have to take a sidestep to say that anticipation of a new Barb Rosenstock title makes my heart palpitate. She always finds something to write about that I didn’t know, creating a book that I remember ever after.
In particular, The Secret Garden about Nek Chand’s rock garden in Chandigarh and The Noisy Paint Box about Kandinsky’s synesthesia and The Camping Trip That Changed America about the creation of our national parks top my list of her books. (You’ll be glad you sought them out.) Those are just a few of her 23 books about wide-ranging topics. Each one fills me up with learning something new, something vital.
Houdini’s Library is essential reading for all of us who are rallying to preserve our public libraries and free our beleaguered librarians.
Houdini understood the importance of books. So much so that he added 15,000 of them to his library along with thousands of prints and theatrical bills. The focus of his collection was “magic, theater, and history.”
Although Houdini had very little formal education, the boy who became the man was always a reader. He had access to the world!
He even “hired his own librarian. Alfred Becks lived in Houdini’s house, sorting and cataloguing the magic collection.”
There is so much to learn from this book, not only about Houdini’s life on the world stage, which provides context, but about his life with books. That matters even more to me. Rosenstock’s writing shines.
Intrinsic to the story, the art provides great drama. Mar Delmar creates drawings, then cuts paper, then … I’m not going to ruin the discovery for you. The lighting of the scenes in the book is wondrous, theatrical. Photos and descriptions in the Illustrator’s Note will find your eyes widening, your jaw dropping. What could be more fitting for a book about the incredible Houdini?
The book’s design and layout are reminiscent of a time long ago and yet the techniques provide a modern perspective. There’s so much to look at! To absorb! The art adds depth to the reader’s understanding of this man’s life.
There’s a double-page spread near the end of the book in which every one of us readers will recognize ourselves. I find that thrilling.
There is so much to admire about Houdini’s Library but at the heart of it: I know now that the world-famous celebrity was a READER. I will never forget that.
Houdini’s Library
written by Barb Rosenstock
illustrated by Mar Delmar
published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2026
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Reading is a kind of magic. It can transport us anywhere in a moment.
Oh geez - another one! You are keeping me busy. I have it on hold at the library. Also sent your post to one of our nephews kids. He is a bit older but into magic and reading so thought he might have fun with it. We will see what he says. We are still exploring 102 at our house. Our grandson is constantly going back to the end papers to read the names of the beans. Also wondering what country some of them might have come from. Books are great fun!