The Book That Can Read Your Mind

by Marianna Coppo

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

A truly unique reading experience that is as much fun for parents as it is for kids. With magic at its heart and a challenge that never gets old, this is engagement at its finest.

Prepare to be amazed by this magic trick in a book!

This is not an ordinary book—it’s a magical one! Lady Rabbit goes beyond pulling a rabbit out of a hat or making herself disappear. For her next act, she will READ YOUR MIND! That's right: You pick a member from the magician's adorable audience—don’t tell which one you’ve chosen—and this book will guess who it is!

Inspired by 17th‑century magic books, this interactive game in a book will enchant readers of all ages, compelling them to pick among many intriguing, illustrated characters and play over and over (and over) again. Now, without further ado . . . let the magic show begin!

A MAGIC TRICK—AND GAME!—IN A BOOK: This book is pure fun—perfect for fans of Press Here, Bunny Slopes, and Tap the Magic Tree. Turn the pages and prepare to be amazed! Kids will interact with this book and experience many different and delightful outcomes.

CELEBRATES THE MAGIC OF BOOKS: This picture book is brimming with energy and interactivity. An ideal alternative to screens, it is a celebration of the book as “an experience.” Kids won’t want to put it down!
 
PERFECT FOR INDEPENDENT READING AND SHARING: Kids who are reading independently will find joy in interacting with this book, trying to outsmart it, and delighting in what it does. Parents will find joy in reading it repeatedly with their children and sharing in the book’s literal magic. And, speaking of “sharing,” kids will also enjoy sharing this book with their friends!
 
A STANDOUT GIFT: With its magical hook, irresistible illustrations, and delightful interactivity, this picture book is the perfect gift.

Perfect for:

• Kids who love magic and magic tricks
• Parents, grandparents, and teachers seeking a fun and interactive picture book for young children
• Fans of critically acclaimed author-illustrator Marianna Coppo
• Gift givers looking for a game in a book

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781797229010
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	03/12/2024
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	4,032
Product dimensions:	11.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Marianna Coppo is the author‑illustrator of Such a Good Boy, A Brave Cat, Fish and Crab, and Petra. She studied editorial illustration at Mimaster in Milan, Italy, and lives in Rome.

Editorial Reviews

11/27/2023

Coppo presents a literal interpretation of the idea that books contain magic with this interactive “mind-reading” tome. A white, nearly featureless bunny in a tux welcomes “prestigious readers” to a stage show and attempts to persuade that this title is “magical.” Aware that typical tricks don’t pack an on-the-page punch, the magician takes a different tack: “What if I told you that I could read your mind?” Prompted to select an audience member from a spread of creatures (including a fork, mushroom, skeleton, and more), readers then follow a pick-your-path-style format as they turn to different pages depending on their choice’s location. Working with a limited palette of rose, green, black, and white, Coppo’s vintage-styled illustrations are framed by botanicals. Though the trick takes up a lot of pages, the end result is indeed head-scratchingly ingenious—enough so to prompt many rereads. Includes an afterword about the history behind the magic. Ages 5–8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

[H]ead-scratchingly ingenious—enough so to prompt many rereads.” — Publisher's Weekly

“Young puzzle masters may try the trick over and over—and be satisfied every time.” — Booklist, Starred Review

“Kids will warm to amusing audience members such as Shroom, Yeti, and Unknown and will delight in the various mini-creatures adorning each page… Inspired and prettily designed.” — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2023-12-16
Coppo adapts a 17th-century Italian magic trick for her latest meta excursion.

Tuxedoed Lady Rabbit welcomes her audience, acknowledging that wow-level magic is difficult to pull off in a book. Making something appear as if out of nowhere…well, “any book can do that!” But the titular claim bears out in cleverly designed pages. First, readers are told to scan a page of audience members (36 charmingly unique denizens arrayed in six rows) and to choose one member. Lady Rabbit then asks kids to identify the row of their seated pick by turning to a specific page. Uh-oh! Every audience member has changed seats! Again directed to a particular page based on their choice’s new row, readers will discover that Lady Rabbit has guessed their pick. All nine answer pages include the characters and the instruction: “I guessed it, didn’t I? Now go to page 39.” There, with a “TA-DA!” and a bow, the white rabbit invites kids to turn back to pages 12-13 to try again. Coppa’s finely inked floral borders and decorated proscenium arch, colored in black and white and muted greens and salmon, emanate a vintage feel. Kids will warm to amusing audience members such as Shroom, Yeti, and Unknown (a smiling question mark) and will delight in the various mini-creatures adorning each page. One downside of the trick’s interactivity: The six pages that redirect readers to the solution pages are visually identical.

Decidedly one-trick yet inspired and prettily designed. (historical note) (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews