Today it is my pleasure to review a beautiful new picture book The Rabbit’s Magician, written by Shae Millwood, illustrated by Andy Fackrell and published by Ford Street Publishing. This post is part of a Books on Tour promotion.

About the author Shae Millward

Shae Millward is an enthusiastic advocate for literacy. She aims to inspire through a love of books, the joy of reading and writing, and the art of storytelling. Shae enjoys writing picture books, poetry, song lyrics, inspirational quotes, short stories and more. Shae’s other books include A Boy and a Dog and Koalas Like To…

About illustrator Andy Fackrell

Andy Fackrell is one of the most awarded and recognised multi-dimensional creatives in the world. A career in advertising earned him the highest honours, including the Cannes Grand Prix in film for his work for Nike. A true creative nomad, living and working in all continents — Antarctica excepted — he is now a film maker exploring documentaries on social and environmental issues. Andy lives by the beach in Sydney. This is his second book.

About The Rabbit’s Magician

The Rabbit’s Magician is a gentle story of love, loss and comfort for 3 to 8 years olds.

The blurb

Ziggy’s beloved magician has performed an amazing disappearing trick. But just where is The Amazing Albertino? Ziggy waits. And waits some more. Has something gone wrong with the trick?

What I like about The Rabbit’s Magician

I was quite intrigued by the title of this book. We’ve all heard of the magician’s rabbit, right? But a rabbit’s magician — that was a different take. I wondered if it was to be the usual magic tale with the characters in reverse. It was not.

The cover shows a beautiful full moon, that looks as if it is being held up by the rabbit’s ears, and a magician holding up four rings. When we turn to the first story page, the rabbit is gazing at a crescent moon in a deep blue sky. He refuses an invitation to meet new friends because he is waiting. But waiting for what? For the full moon to appear again?

It takes another few invitations and another few phases of the moon before we find out; and that’s only because, when the moon is full in the sky, the owl asks Rabbit why he is waiting and offers to help. Rabbit accepts Owl’s offer.

I think there is a wonderful lesson in that already — if you see someone in need, ask, listen and offer to help.

Ziggy introduces himself and explains that he is the companion of an amazing magician Albertino, Alby, who can change things and make things disappear and reappear.

But now his magician has done a truly astonishing trick, something he has never done before. He has made himself disappear. Ziggy is worried that he may never reappear again.

This is where the real magic of the book begins because wise Owl knows what Ziggy and we don’t. Owl knows that the magician’s last trick was

Continue reading: The Rabbit’s Magician by Shae Millward and Andy Fackrell – readilearn