Book Review: The Magician's Secret by Zachary Hyman, Joev Bluhm

The Magician's Secret is a picturebook written by Zachary Hyman and illustrated by Joe Bluhm. Charlie loves when Grandpa comes to babysit because he always brings his magical imagination. Grandpa was a magician who knows the most amazing tricks; he can pull a rabbit from a hat and make a coin disappear. But what Charlie loves most are his wonderful adventure stories, and they all begin with something his grandfather has saved in his Magic Story Chest. An hourglass is a reminder of how he defended the treasure in King Tut's tomb from raiders. A long white scarf inspires the story about Grandpa's dogfight with the notorious Red Baron, the great First World War fighter pilot. A coconut shell heralds the story about his encounter with a nasty Tyrannosaurus Rex. Charlie's parents, though, aren't too sure they like Grandpa's stories and warn Charlie that they're just "tall tales." What is Charlie to believe? How can his grandpa convince him that all you need to do is believe and a dream can be turned into something real?

The Magician's Secret is a wonderful story about intergenerational relationships, and the power of imagination. Charlie's grandfather tells him fantastic stories, and he love the bond they share. However, his mother worries that he is taking the stories too seriously when they could not have really happened, and tells him that they are all pretend. When I love that Charlie feels safe enough with his grandfather for clarification, too often connections with adults can have barriers that prevent this kind of honesty and openness. Grampa assures him that while he might not have actually lived the adventures, that does not mean the stories are not real. They come from dreams, from imagination, from exploring. I love tat this encourages Charlie to dream big, to read, to explore, and most importantly to have his own adventures and stories to tell. 

As lovely as the story is, and its message, I also loved the artwork. The illustrations have their own story to tell, and are crisp and lovely to look at in their own right. The book was a delight to read and I hope it becomes a favorite.