The Boy in the Biscuit Tin [US title = Ibby's Magic Weekend]

by Heather Dyer

When Ibby is sent to stay with her aunt, she discovers her two troublesome boy cousins, Francis & Alex, playing with an old box of magic tricks they found in the attic. Ibby is sure that magic isn't real - until she sees Francis sitting at the bottom of the biscuit tin, magically miniaturized by Alex. After that, nothing is what it seems.

Genres: Childrens, Magic

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2007

Reviews

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Ibby goes to stay with her aunt and cousins while her parents go away for work, she discovers her cousins can do magic after finding a set from the attic.



A mystery soon unfolds around their uncle Godfrey whom was a magician too and disappeared after performing a trick.



As the boys try invisibility, levitating, aging and more Ibby is intrigued as to why their family can do magic



However can the family reunite and will they share magic between them all?



A very unique book the title drew me in the story was a bit of fun and children will enjoy this I'm sure as the antics are fun and kids would wish they could make magic happen like in this book especially if they have a magic set it'll inspire their imaginations.

[Sarah Ahmimed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of magic. I love it when Ibby's mother faints, then faints again when she sees the supposedly long-lost madgician. Francis and Alex help Ibby as she helps to get back their uncle, a famous madgician.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

e o carte pentru copii, dar care reuseste sa te fistreze si pe tine, cititor adult.
e scrisa jucaus si amuzant, fara a fi o capodopera, ci, mai degraba, un mod placut de a petrece o dupa-amiaza. se citeste imediat.
iar in aceasta lume, un pic de magie si de inocenta nu strica niciodata.

[Tirnovan Emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are foarte multe intamplari amuzante...

[Tiya Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and great to read. I've read this so many times, and its always wonderful.

[Saipriya N · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for children on magic with suspense. 😌

[gem_reads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

a cute magical story that my year 2 class will love!

[miRunA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this kinda books when I feel like I miss childhood more than anything. Sometimes I just satisfy myself with such a simple pleasure. It really gave me the dose of innocence that I’ve needed and it helped me escape the teenage problems I constantly have.
Also, it would’ve been my favourite book in the 1st and 2nd grade if I read it back then:)

[Sarah Barrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a young girl called Ibby, who has gone to stay with her aunt and two cousins, Alex and Francis, for a couple of days. The children discover an old magic set in the attic, and immediately decide to try it out. This has disastrous consequences, resulting in Alex trying out levitation and ending up on the roof of a church, Francis disappearing and spending the night on a ferris wheel, and Alex trying out an aging spell that doesn't go to plan, amongst other things. We are told that the childrens uncle Godfrey had mysteriously vanished 5 years earlier during a magic trick, and so the children take it upon themselves to find out what happened, and hopefully bring him back.

Although I wasn't familiar with the author, Heather Dyer, this book was very enjoyable and written in a way that would make it easy for children to read and follow along with. The storyline is very fast-moving and it jumps into the action right away, when Francis has shrunk himself and become 'The Boy In The Biscuit Tin'. The characters are very relatable, Ibby in particular, as you can really understand her reluctance to get involved with the magic but feeling that she has to anyway.

I would recommend this book to children aged around 8 years and older, as although the storyline is very exciting, and would be interesting to younger children, the words used may be a bit too advanced. Although it wasn't the most descriptive story, it is a really fun book that children would love, with funny pictures drawn in it too. I would definitely use it in the classroom, as it is very imaginative and fast-paced, ensuring that children won't get bored whilst reading it.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story as it was fast paced and had lots of magic in it! A child called Ibby goes to stay with her aunt and two cousins which she is very apprehensive about she then finds the boys messing around with an old magic box which later they discover actually enables them to do real magic! Throughout the chapters the boys get themselves wrapped up in this magic and all the chaos it brings with it. Ibby gets taken along on the ride and although she seems mature something intrigues her... it is a book which makes you want to get to the end as there is a twist. I like how it brings a family together and how it could potential bring imagination to a child and they may see that nothing is unreachable and that they should aspire. I would use this book with ks2 in order to promote use of imagination in their writing and even a bit of acting/ role play. Encourage them to talk about their hobbies and interests as well. Exciting from beginning to end!

[Katy Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for the age group, but E. Nesbit did the same thing better with Five Children and It.
Nice idea, but did prefer Fish in Room 11.

[Patricia Kaniasty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Fun adventure for those who love a good magic act. Nice quick read too.

[Megan McFall]

Reading before my student reads. Was a very sweet story and a good link between actions and consequences.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there was more in this series of books. I liked the magic tricks. All the magic tricks were great. I really liked this. My favorite character was the person who found the magic kit.

[Jeremiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is about a boy in a biscuit tin so READ IT!!