Rabbit Magic

October 24, 2016
Magician Monsieur Lapin’s rabbit assistant, Houdini, keeps the rest of the rabbit troupe in line: he has “a knack for bringing the team together,” and he’s happy with his lot. So when Houdini grabs Monsieur Lapin’s top hat and wand one night and turns his boss into a rabbit, readers know that it’s an accident and not a power grab. With the spell seemingly irreversible, Houdini dutifully uses his powers to please fans: “The more daring his tricks became, the more the crowd loved him.” Monsieur Lapin, meanwhile, is demoted to assistant status. Houdini graduates to tricks involving padlocks and a shark tank before deciding that the life of a magician is too onerous. Wry understatement provides giggles (“Not everyone is a born performer,” writes newcomer McLaren, as Monsieur Lapin stumbles backward onstage, a terrified rabbit clinging to his nose), but it’s the prolonged investigation of the reversal of power that gives this tale the substance of a graphic novel. It’s like an update on “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”—one in which the apprentice succeeds. Ages 4–7.

October 1, 2016
A magic show turns upside down in McLaren's delightful backstage romp. No magician's act is complete without a wand, top hat, and, of course, a white rabbit. This is certainly true for Monsieur Lapin's act, where white rabbit Houdini steals the showliterally. A natural choice for a magician's assistant, Houdini helps bring the other rabbits together and makes sure all is ready before the show: "Houdini took care of everyone and everything." Things change abruptly, however, when Houdini steps in after an onstage mishap and, with a potent flick of the wand, accidentally turns the white magician into a gray-and-white rabbit surrounded by a collapsed tuxedo. But the show must go on, and while at first Houdini flourishes in the limelight, with his wonderful and daring tricks, the excitement dwindles as Houdini sees how much the former magician misses the stage (and being human). With the help of the other rabbits, Houdini restores the magician to his human form, and they both come to realize that the spotlight is at its most magical when it is shared. McLaren hits all the right notes with this spare but exhilarating text, bringing it to rich visual life with dynamic and comically energetic illustrations. No page turn goes unrewarded, and readers of any age will rush to see the rabbits ironic background antics. A study in leporine whimsy with lingering poignance. (Picture book. 3-7)

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February 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-Houdini the rabbit is a natural performer. He closely assists Monsieur Lapin in his magic shows, rallies the rabbit entourage in rehearsals, and makes sure everyone goes to bed on time. However, during a show, the magician slips on a leftover banana peel and drops his wand, which lands in front of Houdini! Being the natural magician's assistant he is, he takes up the wand and "SHAZAAM!," he turns Monsieur Lapin into a rabbit. Houdini takes over, doing show after show, and spectators are thrilled by a rabbit magician. However, everyone is suffering from the new fame of Houdini. The other rabbits are disorderly, and Monsieur Lapin misses the spotlight. Can Houdini reverse the spell? This captivating telling isn't a typical pulling-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat tale. McLaren uses digital techniques to create cartoon panels and sequencing, along with cool hues, to unify and help move the plot forward. Young readers will not only enjoy the narrative but will also pick up the hidden cues woven into the illustrations. VERDICT A recommended read-aloud for those looking for an unusual yet simple magician story.-Briana Moore, Elmont Memorial Library, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2016
Preschool-G Houdini, a hare, was the star assistant for Monsieur Lapin's magic show. A born performer, he also attended to every detail backstage, keeping the team of rabbits functioning smoothly. But when Houdini's and Monsieur Lapin's roles are magically reversed, Houdini becomes the star, while Monsieur Lapin, now a rabbit, is relegated to the sidelines. Although Houdini is a great success, he tires of stardom and becomes aware that Monsieur Lapin misses the spotlight. Realizing that life is truly magical when you share it, Houdini transforms Monsieur Lapin back into a human and is rewarded when he and the rabbit team are given star billing. The razzle-dazzle magic performed by the two lead characters and the sizable cast of chubby rabbits is adeptly captured in the whimsical illustrations. A palette of mostly muted colors allows the action to take center stage and specific details, highlighted in red, to pop off the page. While entertaining, a lack of clarity in the theme and character development keep this from being truly magical.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)