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The Missing Trick
Meet Louis… Every little thing he does is MAGIC!
Louis is a young street magician. He is setting up for his show but he can’t find his rabbit anywhere. He looks inside his hat but finds only a bouquet of flowers, which is caught by a passing woman as he throws it away in disgust. He looks under his cups, spilling out dozens of balls, which are pounced upon by a group of kids. An endless string of scarves comes out of his sleeve and is wrapped around the neck of a posh lady.... With each trick, his audience grows, and unbeknownst to Louis, his show is unfolding brilliantly... But WHERE could that pesky rabbit be hiding???
Finally, Louis looks in his bag…. climbs in it…. and disappears. Now the rabbit AND Louis are missing! The audience hold their breaths until, POOF! Louis appears on the table in a puff of smoke. They erupt in a roar of applause. Louis, bemused, notices them for the first time. He takes off his cap to take a bow. The rabbit is sitting on his head.
This is funny but also empowering story about a child, unaware of his own talents, who creates a diverse community around him, delighting in his show.
Louis is a young street magician. He is setting up for his show but he can’t find his rabbit anywhere. He looks inside his hat but finds only a bouquet of flowers, which is caught by a passing woman as he throws it away in disgust. He looks under his cups, spilling out dozens of balls, which are pounced upon by a group of kids. An endless string of scarves comes out of his sleeve and is wrapped around the neck of a posh lady.... With each trick, his audience grows, and unbeknownst to Louis, his show is unfolding brilliantly... But WHERE could that pesky rabbit be hiding???
Finally, Louis looks in his bag…. climbs in it…. and disappears. Now the rabbit AND Louis are missing! The audience hold their breaths until, POOF! Louis appears on the table in a puff of smoke. They erupt in a roar of applause. Louis, bemused, notices them for the first time. He takes off his cap to take a bow. The rabbit is sitting on his head.
This is funny but also empowering story about a child, unaware of his own talents, who creates a diverse community around him, delighting in his show.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 5, 2021
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 18, 2022
A cute picture book about a boy named Louis who is trying to put on a magic show. When he starts to set up he realizes he can't find his rabbit. He begins to search his magic hat and then his bag and then his pockets. He ends up finding everything but the rabbit. As he pulls out magic flowers, rope, and bouncing balls from the cups more and more people are attracted to his show and stay to watch. When he finally finds his rabbit he has quite the crowd.
It's a happy story that will make you smile.
Rating: 4 stars
Thanks to Edelweiss and Cicada Books for the review copy.
It's a happy story that will make you smile.
Rating: 4 stars
Thanks to Edelweiss and Cicada Books for the review copy.
October 21, 2021
Louis has lost his rabbit for his magic tricks.
As with all other books from Cicada that I’ve read, The Missing Trick is another top quality children’s picture book. It’s beautifully produced with a solid, robust cover and illustrated end papers that fit the story brilliantly so that there’s a feeling of luxury attached to it. The durability of the cover means this book would be perfect for both home and pre-school settings.
The story is charming as Louis pulls all kinds of items out of his pockets, sleeves and cloak as he searches for the missing rabbit. I can imagine children having great fun predicting what might emerge and The Missing Trick is great for developing vocabulary as all kinds of items appear that children can name. There’s also a lovely joke as Louis also disappears as well as the rabbit.
Other jokes are visual as the fantastic illustrations underpin the story superbly, such as the bunch of flowers ending up with the couple obviously in love. The illustrations as just wonderful – vibrant, colourful, engaging and so well balanced against white space. Louis’s expressions would be perfect for exploring feelings and emotional literacy with young children. However, what I loved most about The Missing Trick was the diversity included in the illustrations. When Louis finally reappears out of his bag of tricks, the audience is filled with people of colour so that all children will find someone to relate to in the story. It really is wonderful, and sadly infrequent, to find such diverse ethnicity in children’s books.
I loved too, the underpinning message that we may have talents that we’re unaware we have. Louis is surprised by the crowd’s reaction to his antics in searching for the rabbit as he entertains them unwittingly. It’s a super idea to show children that how we see ourselves may not be how others see us and it’s a boost to confidence.
The Missing Trick is a delightful picture book full of fun that young children will adore.
As with all other books from Cicada that I’ve read, The Missing Trick is another top quality children’s picture book. It’s beautifully produced with a solid, robust cover and illustrated end papers that fit the story brilliantly so that there’s a feeling of luxury attached to it. The durability of the cover means this book would be perfect for both home and pre-school settings.
The story is charming as Louis pulls all kinds of items out of his pockets, sleeves and cloak as he searches for the missing rabbit. I can imagine children having great fun predicting what might emerge and The Missing Trick is great for developing vocabulary as all kinds of items appear that children can name. There’s also a lovely joke as Louis also disappears as well as the rabbit.
Other jokes are visual as the fantastic illustrations underpin the story superbly, such as the bunch of flowers ending up with the couple obviously in love. The illustrations as just wonderful – vibrant, colourful, engaging and so well balanced against white space. Louis’s expressions would be perfect for exploring feelings and emotional literacy with young children. However, what I loved most about The Missing Trick was the diversity included in the illustrations. When Louis finally reappears out of his bag of tricks, the audience is filled with people of colour so that all children will find someone to relate to in the story. It really is wonderful, and sadly infrequent, to find such diverse ethnicity in children’s books.
I loved too, the underpinning message that we may have talents that we’re unaware we have. Louis is surprised by the crowd’s reaction to his antics in searching for the rabbit as he entertains them unwittingly. It’s a super idea to show children that how we see ourselves may not be how others see us and it’s a boost to confidence.
The Missing Trick is a delightful picture book full of fun that young children will adore.
November 2, 2021
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
THE MISSING TRICK is a cute picture book read about embracing the unexpected. A young magician, Louis, is getting ready for his show, but he cannot find his rabbit. As he searches all his magical places, he checks his out, only to pull flowers out. He checks under the cups, only to produce a bunch of bouncing balls. He checks in his bag, only to climb in and disappear himself. As he searches each place and provides a magical show, his audience grows until they are applauding the unexpected show he has produced. When he gives a bow, you'll never guess where the rabbit has appeared.
What I loved: This was a cute and silly story about producing something great out of your unexpected mistakes. Readers will be charmed by Louis and his search for his rabbit, as he produces magical tricks that delight crowds and grow his audience. The ending with the rabbit is giggle-worthy and gives all the satisfaction of a job well done - and the finding of something lost in the last place you'd expect (anyone who has searched for their glasses only to find them on them and other such things will definitely find that this resonates).
This book is great for toddlers and preschoolers, who will get the humor and appreciate the quickly turning pages. The search for a lost item is a game of hide-and-seek that most of them will be familiar with, and the simplicity of the story, told in part through the illustrations, helps with early reading comprehension. The text is clear, large, and easy to read, making this a great choice for bedtime and reading aloud. The simple illustrations capture the story well.
Final verdict: A sweet picture book read about embracing the unexpected, THE MISSING TRICK will delight young readers with its simplicity and magic. Recommend for toddlers and preschoolers.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
THE MISSING TRICK is a cute picture book read about embracing the unexpected. A young magician, Louis, is getting ready for his show, but he cannot find his rabbit. As he searches all his magical places, he checks his out, only to pull flowers out. He checks under the cups, only to produce a bunch of bouncing balls. He checks in his bag, only to climb in and disappear himself. As he searches each place and provides a magical show, his audience grows until they are applauding the unexpected show he has produced. When he gives a bow, you'll never guess where the rabbit has appeared.
What I loved: This was a cute and silly story about producing something great out of your unexpected mistakes. Readers will be charmed by Louis and his search for his rabbit, as he produces magical tricks that delight crowds and grow his audience. The ending with the rabbit is giggle-worthy and gives all the satisfaction of a job well done - and the finding of something lost in the last place you'd expect (anyone who has searched for their glasses only to find them on them and other such things will definitely find that this resonates).
This book is great for toddlers and preschoolers, who will get the humor and appreciate the quickly turning pages. The search for a lost item is a game of hide-and-seek that most of them will be familiar with, and the simplicity of the story, told in part through the illustrations, helps with early reading comprehension. The text is clear, large, and easy to read, making this a great choice for bedtime and reading aloud. The simple illustrations capture the story well.
Final verdict: A sweet picture book read about embracing the unexpected, THE MISSING TRICK will delight young readers with its simplicity and magic. Recommend for toddlers and preschoolers.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
October 9, 2021
As anyone who's ever beheld a magic show knows, it's just not complete without a rabbit being pulled out of a top hat. But when Louis, a street magician, begins setting up for his show, that rabbit is nowhere to be found. He looks everywhere, but all he finds are various props, including a bouquet of flowers, scarves, rope, and other assorted paraphernalia. With each discovery, the crowd around Louis grows larger and more engaged. In a last gasp effort, Louis looks inside his large satchel, and even disappears to the consternation of his audience. He eventually reappears at the table where he first started searching, and when he takes a bow to the applause of onlookers, he doffs his green cap, and there is that rabbit. And the crowd goes wild. With its colorful crowd scenes and that diverse audience that can't look away during the search, this picture book has plenty of kid appeal. Readers will be left wondering about the meaning of the book's title and whether that rabbit was ever really missing or was all this part of the young magician's bag of tricks. Either way, Louis pulls all this off seamlessly.
March 25, 2021
A strong four stars for this fun little read, although I did see it with half the artworks missing, which didn't exactly help with the amount of visual storytelling we get here. Our hero Louis is trying to set up his pitch as a magician, but cannot for the life of him find his prop rabbit – but what he can do is pull off so many tricks and gain such a large audience, all inadvertently. So there's little in the way of moral, it's just a casual fun entertainment, although you have to have your wits about you – often there is the itch to turn the page when there's only a sentence in sight, but that would miss out on a lot of narrative in the cartoonish illustrations, as first this and then that delights the gathering crowd. I recommend this, for it's got just the right kind of wit for a book for this young audience, but beware that it's one you'll have to spend your time with too, in order to point out all the relevant details.
January 18, 2022
Simple, brief text and wonderful illustrations tell the story of a young magician setting up for a magic show. But Louis becomes frustrated that he cannot find his rabbit – he finds flowers, cups, a wand, balls, a flock of doves, a lamp and myriad things that really should not be able to fit in his magician’s bag, and tosses them out in frustration. Meanwhile, the people passing by are delighted by all of the things magically appearing from the bag, and an appreciative crowd gathers. When Louis finally takes a bow and doffs his hat to acknowledge the crowd’s attentions, the rabbit appears – it was under his hat the whole time!
This is an adorable story, complemented by energetic, fun illustrations. The art excels at showing the growing happy crowd of diverse spectators enjoying Louis’s capers, and it’s hard not to smile and shout “Hooray!” along with them.
Most kids probably won’t know about the magic trick of taking a rabbit out of a hat, so caregivers will need to explain it.
This is an adorable story, complemented by energetic, fun illustrations. The art excels at showing the growing happy crowd of diverse spectators enjoying Louis’s capers, and it’s hard not to smile and shout “Hooray!” along with them.
Most kids probably won’t know about the magic trick of taking a rabbit out of a hat, so caregivers will need to explain it.
October 16, 2021
Oh my gosh -- what a lovely, silly story that will absolutely make you smile! This book, aimed at 2-6 year olds, pairs simple text with wild and vivid illustrations with lots to capture. Louis, a magician, is setting up for a magic show but simply cannot find his rabbit. As he searches and searches, he inadvertently does a number of magic tricks (pulling scarves from his sleeve, etc.) that gain more and more attention. Little by little, more and more people watch and wonder at Louis' magic show, even though he has no idea he's actually performing or wow-ing an audience until the very end when they all give him a grand applause, he bows, and ... naturally, that rabbit finally appears (it was under his hat). This is fun and one children will see themselves in, and want to read again.
***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Publisher's Spotlight. Opinions are my own.
***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Publisher's Spotlight. Opinions are my own.
October 10, 2021
Louis sets up his magic show but can't find his rabbit. He looks everywhere, pulling out magic flowers, scarves, ropes, even birds from his pockets and bag - unaware that a large crowd has gathered around to watch him.
Rather fun and inclusive picture book with busy illustrations featuring lots to explore.
Rather fun and inclusive picture book with busy illustrations featuring lots to explore.
October 15, 2021
Such a cute fun read. This is a fun way to put things into perspective. Sometimes you're unaware that things are falling into place while your wondering why things are going wrong. Even though the book is made for children adults can enjoy as well.
March 6, 2022
Chaotic but cute, and a great pick for young magicians or those who like visual humor with their stories.
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October 14, 2021Note: I accessed digital review copies of this book through NetGalley and Edelweiss.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews