The Book That Can Read Your Mind

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.)