Nelson The Magician
MY THOUGHTS
I may be showing my age here, but there was a time when the hottest addition to a birthday party was a magician! As a child, we would watch magic shows at local fairs, astonished and amazed at every trick. We would try to analyse and figure out how it was done, and then, frustratingly, dismiss it as cheating. I even got a box of magic tricks as a birthday present once; I’m yet to blossom into a magician.
Nelson the Magician by Menaka Raman brought back a flood of memories for me. Nelson comes from a family of magicians who have all made a name for themselves, and all he wants to do is be like them. But he is yet to find out what sort of magician he is! When he is invited to do his magic show at a little girl’s birthday party, he is forced to face the unfortunate truth. Nelson is a clumsy magician. How will he make a name for himself as a clumsy magician?
Nelson the Magician is a beautiful picture book that subtly drives home the point that everyone needs to find out who they really are. It addresses family pressure and adult expectations through humour, allowing children to have these tough conversations with their parents. It highlights that everyone has a unique talent and that imperfections can be turned into something special too! Nelson’s attempts to win over his tough audience are endearing, and you find yourself rooting for him. I loved the Indianised magic spells; they are so fun to say! This picture book also has two special pages that reveal themselves like a magic trick, making a read-aloud fun, interactive, and magical!
Hitesh Sonar’s bright pink and yellow colours make the book stand out from all the others. It is instantly arresting and pulls you in to find out more. Nelson’s thin frame can be seen slinking away and hiding in pages where his tricks don’t work. And you can see his body contorting into the weirdest shapes while he enthusiastically executes his tricks!
This is a book that is all heart and can be read over and over again without getting tired of it. It is a Level 2 Pratham book and works very well for a read-aloud. Bring it out on a rainy day, let the colours and magic wash over you! Get your copy at the link today!
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