Vegara's Harry Houdini explores the life of this most famous of magicians. Born Erik Weisz in Hungary, his family moved to the US when he was just four years old. Forced at age 9 to work to help his family, Houdini was a trapeze artist and developed a love for entertainment. As an adult, he worked as a locksmith, giving him valuable skills in shaping a world-renowned escape artist.

The entire Little People, Big Dreams series is an awesome introduction to biographical reading for young audiences. Not only that, but they focus on the most inspirational of people from science, entertainment, sports, politics and more. It's also a very diverse series.

At the end is a section with more detailed information on his life, suitable for older readers. Inspirational and educational both, this entire series is great, and full of delightful art to engage younger audiences!

This is another great book to add to the Little People, Big Dreams collection!

I love this series as they are perfect introductions to young people about some of the most famous and influential people from our past and present and are also a reminder about how these people have also changed our history - this book stars Harry Houdini!

It is 4 stars from me for this one, highly recommended and I am delighted that my daughter is now getting involved in the series too and learning about these fantastic, and sometimes truly amazing people!

Before Dynamo, Criss Angel, David Blaine and Derren Brown there was Erik Weisz. Better known as Harry Houdini, Weisz was one of the greatest illusionists to ever have lived and his seemingly impossible feats still baffle the world today.

When a little Jewish boy moved to America at the age of just four he was ready to seize all of the opportunities on offer. But life was hard, his parents could not afford his studies and the street performers became his education. Mastering the trapeze and learning card-tricks was fun but it was not enough to impress his audience. But his lock-picking skills, learnt whilst working as a locksmith, would amaze. Harry Houdini - escape artist - had been born and there was no chain, padlock or handcuff strong enough to keep this entertainer trapped…

Lots of kids love magic, there is something utterly compelling about seeing the impossible happen before our very eyes and Harry Houdini was one of the best at wowing his audiences. His life story, that is delightfully captured in this enthralling picture book biography, is magical in every sense.

Like many immigrants, Harry Houdini thought his family’s migration from Hungary to America would provide the opportunities he never had at home but life was far from easy. The family lived in poverty and the streets were not paved with gold. What were on the streets though were performers, and these would change Harry’s life forever.

Houdini’s story from immigrant to street performer to global entertainment superstar is thoroughly enjoyable but what will really capture children’s imaginations are his incredible tricks. His ability to make elephants disappear, survive being buried alive, escape from the belly of a whale and to break out of countless locks and restraints are what will leave readers mesmerised. One of his more useful tricks and something I had never heard of before was teaching soldiers how to escape from restraints if they were ever captured during the war.

The secret world of magic is a difficult one to enter and many would try to discourage one from choosing it as a career path. For those children who do have magic in their heart and love performing impossible feats and illusions, Harry Houdini is an incredible example to have and provides encouragement for young performers.

Delightfully illustrated with bright and bold artwork and with a story told in short and simple sentences, this is a magical read about the man who entertained the masses and proved that the impossible is possible. At the back of the book there is a short overview of his life which includes key facts and dates and a historical timeline featuring photographs.

With thanks to Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy that was received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 5+.

A brilliant title in the Little People Big Dreams series, introducing the life of Harry Houdini, who many may have heard of but know little about. Told in child-friendly language this book gives a brief but accessible introduction to the life of Houdini for young readers.

Quick read about the life and career of Houdini, lots of little points about his life, marriage and service during World War 1. Illustrations are attractive and I liked the part about the disappearing elephant! The real life bio at the end was useful too.

We have no knamed our 3 year old Houdini so I was quite intrigued to read the life story of Harry Houdini.
As usual, it didn't disappoint and this book is just as good as all the others in the series.

This is a short, illustrated biography of Harry Houdini, one of the most well-known magicians.

These biographies are age appropriate; inspiring and interesting, but not overwhelming. They have bright, beautiful illustrations, striking covers, and look great on a shelf together. I love the diversity of the people featured in this series. Artists, athletes, authors, activists, actors, explorers, entertainers, musicians and scientists.

Thank you NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fab insight into the mysterious world of Houdini! I was intrigued to read about his childhood as well as his stage name!

I say it with all my reviews - I love this series of books. The little people, big dreams books are just so warm and cosy - just perfect. This book was no exception.
I loved the illustrations - and they felt a little different from other books in the series - not sure if it is a different illustrator this time.

I learnt a lot about Houdini and I think young people will love this book - particularly those into magic!

Another fantastic addition to the popular Little People Big Dreams series, this latest title tells the story of how little Erik Weisz, a Hungarian immigrant from a poor background, became the famous Great Houdini.
My children were intrigued by how Houdini turned a difficult childhood into a career. They admired the image of Ehrich as a trapeze artist and loved that his job at a locksmith’s lead to him becoming an escape artist. Juliana Vido’s illustrations capture the drama of the circus and stage performances perfectly. This new title really is magic.
Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for giving me access to an eARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you so much to Quarto/Frances Lincoln Childrens and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review

Wow I honestly never knew this much about Harry Houdini and I’m even more amazed by him now knowing these facts. It’s amazing that even when he was young he was fascinated in doing these types of tricks and learning more ways to create an illusion is amazing.

He performed so many incredible feats in so many strange ways, it’s amazing really when you think about how he managed to figure out these tricks and do them with no one else having any ideas how to solve them.

What an incredible book this one was, loved learning all about him as I didn’t realise how little I did know previously. As always when I read these books I love them and always highly recommend them for children to read, they teach so much about other people and how they became who they were, it’s also great at instilling inspiration to many young readers. I love this series.

A great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series of books. Everyone knows of Harry Houdini and this book tells his wonderful, inspiring story.

Thankyou so much to Frances Li Coln Children's Books and Netgalley for this arc.


I absolutely Love this series of books, they must be one of the best little books to purchase for children (or even adults) these are the best-selling series of books that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists.

This latest book is about Harry Houdini, it is so beautifully illustrated from start to end. When he was four, little Ehrich emigrated with his family from Budapest Hungary to the USA (which I had no idea about).
Ehrich started working at a young age due to his family living in poverty, and when he was 9 he started working as a trapeze artist.
As Ehrich grew older he became fascinated by card tricks, but soon realised he audience would want to see more to become a master at escaping locks, chains, handcuffs, knots and more. He toured the world showing everyone his tricks and when the war broke out he even gave the military trips on how to escape. He even made an elephant vanish.

This is how the great Harry Houdini came about.

This book features stylish, colourful and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the entertainer’s life.

I just Love this little books by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, must be one of the best little books to purchase for children, these are the best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.

So, this latest book is about Harry Houdini is one of the latest of her books and this is so beautifully illustrated from start to end. When he was four, little Ehrich emigrated with his family from Hungary to the USA. Although they had reached a world of great opportunity, the family lived in poverty and Ehrich had no choice but to go to work from a young age. When he was just nine, Ehrich worked as a trapeze artist, and this experience led him into a life of entertainment. As he grew older, Ehrich continued to play to audiences with fascinating card tricks. But when working as a locksmith by day and honing his magic skills at night, Ehrich realized that he would need more than a deck of cards to really “wow” people... and so, the great Harry Houdini came to be. As Houdini, the escape artist who could free himself from handcuffs, chains, and knots like no one else, he toured the world and became known for his incredible death-defying stunts. This book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the entertainer’s life.

I am so glad these books are being published and I highly recommend all of these books

Many thanks to Quarto’s Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest reviewRuth Bader Ginsburg by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara