Magic Camera

by Daniel Pinkwater

A little boy is presented with an old camera that seems to have a special magic.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

35 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Daniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Pinkwater has also illustrated many of his books in the past, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife Jill Pinkwater.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The magic of something as simple as a camera and a sick kid - really good story. It's books like this that made me love reading when I was young. The art matches Pinkwater's writing from this time in his career perfectly.

[Miriam Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my faves for sure, of Pinkwater’s oeuvre. Simple, curious, whimsical, and surprising.

[elstaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounds up to four stars for me

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very early book by Daniel Manus Pinkwater, published with the author name Manus Pinkwater.

It’s completely different than the other books of his that I’ve read. I’ve really enjoyed this author’s Bad Bear books and it was fun to read something written by him so many years earlier.

It’s a short fantasy story, with more text than pictures. All the pictures (except for the front & back cover art) are monochrome black & white & gray. It was a sweet little story and certain lines made me smile. It’s 35 years old and even though it’s very tame for a fantasy story, I think that today’s young readers could find it enjoyable.