Harry Houdini for Kids

Unreserved readers (as well as aspiring troublemakers) will flock to this biography/manual hybrid about one of the most celebrated magicians who ever lived.

Even for those familiar with Houdini's fascinating story, Carlson's snappy writing style gives her new life. Immigrant-born Ehrich Weisz grew up poor and started with a circus act that he performed 18 times a week, but within 20 years he was the world's first death-defying escape artist making 1.800 a week.

According to Carlson, Houdiniaka Cardo, the king of cards or the king of handcuffs, exploited the public's distrust of authority figures by mastering everything from straightjackets to underwater restraints, while also acting as a film stunt pioneer, ghostbuster and US spy on the side.

Almost every page is animated with contemporary photographs, boxes of biographies and definitions, and most importantly, 21 magic tricks that will have the reader whipping out his deck of cards and practicing his sleight of hand.

Book English, 144 pages.