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Magpie Magic: A Tale of Colorful Mischief
In this unique approach to teaching colors, the illustrations appear to be drawn by a set of young hands, until the sketched bird takes flight off the page and plays with each subsequently drawn object.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1999
1 person is currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
April Wilson
38 books29 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
For April Wilson, author of McIntyre-series etc, use two spaces to get theright author (April^^Wilson)
For April Wilson, author of McIntyre-series etc, use two spaces to get theright author (April^^Wilson)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 21, 2021
Still one of my favorite wordless books. Also meta, also rainbow. Also smart bird. So, yeah, hits all my buttons and highly recommended.
October 18, 2011
Around the start of third grade my son discovered wordless picture books. Previously he had been embarrassed to read them when he was struggling to catch up with his reading proficiency. By third grade though he was back on track and moving towards being an advanced reader. With those new skills came a new found confidence, one that allowed him the chance to enjoy the art of wordless books without feeling like he was cheating.
One of the first books he found and fell in love with was Magpie Magic by April Wilson. A young looking hand draws a magpie and does such a masterful job of it, it comes alive. The rest of the book is the unnamed artist's interactions with the bird, including trying to cage it and trying to erase it.
The bird though usually wins these artistic battles with his creator. When he's caged, he finds a way to erase some of the bars. When he's nearly erased he finds a way to redraw himself.
Throughout the illustrations are delightful, rendered in colored pencil. My son and daughter both went through the book about a half dozen times each, including having some one on one debates about what was happening the different pictures.
One of the first books he found and fell in love with was Magpie Magic by April Wilson. A young looking hand draws a magpie and does such a masterful job of it, it comes alive. The rest of the book is the unnamed artist's interactions with the bird, including trying to cage it and trying to erase it.
The bird though usually wins these artistic battles with his creator. When he's caged, he finds a way to erase some of the bars. When he's nearly erased he finds a way to redraw himself.
Throughout the illustrations are delightful, rendered in colored pencil. My son and daughter both went through the book about a half dozen times each, including having some one on one debates about what was happening the different pictures.
February 24, 2022
Although this is a wordless picture book, it is so easy to know what is going on in each page. It starts of with a child drawing a black and white picture of a bird that comes to life. He then draws cherries, which the crow steal from him. You can see that the child gets frustrated every time the bird takes away anything he draws. You know he is upset due to his semi-clenched hand, showing frustration. Although there were no words or could see the child's facial expressions, you knew exactly what was happening throughout the story. This would be a great book to get children to make predictions or make inferences of what is happening in each page.
March 20, 2024
A wordless story - it made me smile.
September 23, 2012
Wonderful illustrations in a wordless picture book, of a magpie who is drawn by a pair of human hands, and then comes alive. In fact, every drawing becomes real. And the human and magpie are at odds with each other, with the human attempting to erase the magpie altogether.
January 16, 2015
This is a beautiful and clever wordless picture book. I thought it was just OK, but my six-year-old son, who is more of the target audience, really liked it. So I'm giving it four stars instead of the three I would have given it based on my impression.
February 17, 2015
literally a picture-only book. but I love the movement of the characters. the bird is especially life-like.
July 5, 2021
Very fun and creative!
November 5, 2019
Though every picture may tell a story, in this colorful caper the pictures are the story. A child's hand puts a brand-new drawing pencil to paper, sketching first a feathered head, then a winged body. Then suddenly the sketched bird lifts off the page. What follows is a delightfully magical tale of art run amok as each newly drawn object becomes real, and fair game for the antics of the mischievous bird.
The beautifully detailed pictures can help children to observe each picture carefully and tell the story themselves as the plot leads them to the surprising ending. You can use this book with younger children, to introduce the concept of different colors while using their imagination to understand what is happening throughout the story.
The beautifully detailed pictures can help children to observe each picture carefully and tell the story themselves as the plot leads them to the surprising ending. You can use this book with younger children, to introduce the concept of different colors while using their imagination to understand what is happening throughout the story.
June 18, 2025
This overlooked work of art can be captivating for a range of ages. The drawings are breathtaking. There are no words, only pictures, but what a story they tell! When my son was very young, I told him the story. When he was a bit older, I asked him, page by page, what was happening. We talked colors. We talked birds. We talked about the little boy in the book who loves to draw. We explored magpies. Are they really feathered thieves? When my son was yet older, I let him tell me the story. We never failed to find the humor in the "punchline," which caused many giggles. I'm so surprised that this gem is out of print.
February 4, 2019
I love this book!!! So magical! The illustrations are amazing; and colorful! Great for a reading before an art class. Wonderful book!
August 8, 2019
A wordless picture book that starts with an artist drawing a magpie which then comes to life and interacts with the artist.
Beautiful — starts in black and white, then one color is added at a time.
Beautiful — starts in black and white, then one color is added at a time.
September 15, 2022
Cute funny story with beautiful art!
March 17, 2009
Illustrator: April WIlson
Publisher; Dial
Date of Publication: 1999
Genre: Picture book, Mystery, Science Fiction
Reading Level: age 4-8
Theme: colors, creativity
Curricula Use: teach children about the color wheel
teach children to be creative
Social Issues: diversity
Text & Pictures: This is a picture book so the pictures tell it all!
Summary: This is a tale of colorful mischief. In this wordless picture book, a child's two hands open a packet of colored pencils and get down to work drawing a magpie that is visible through a window. The child draws red cherries to entice the magpie down, but the bird soon makes itself a nuisance by popping a balloon and then, with powers of creation equal to the child's, gets down to a little drawing of its own.
Publisher; Dial
Date of Publication: 1999
Genre: Picture book, Mystery, Science Fiction
Reading Level: age 4-8
Theme: colors, creativity
Curricula Use: teach children about the color wheel
teach children to be creative
Social Issues: diversity
Text & Pictures: This is a picture book so the pictures tell it all!
Summary: This is a tale of colorful mischief. In this wordless picture book, a child's two hands open a packet of colored pencils and get down to work drawing a magpie that is visible through a window. The child draws red cherries to entice the magpie down, but the bird soon makes itself a nuisance by popping a balloon and then, with powers of creation equal to the child's, gets down to a little drawing of its own.
April 30, 2008
CIP: A wordless picture book that depicts a young artist who draws a picture of a magpie which then comes to life and interacts with a series of colorful drawings.
Kind of hard to get into and a slow start to a wordless, color-concept book. Nice illustrations and funny ending if you can grasp what is going on. Maybe it could fall into a twisted tale category because bird is partially erased at the end and has to redraw itself with colorful feathers. Maybe this would be appreciated by artistic readers/students.
Reviewed in Publishers Weekly (Apr 5, 1999) and School Library Journal (Apr 1999).
Kind of hard to get into and a slow start to a wordless, color-concept book. Nice illustrations and funny ending if you can grasp what is going on. Maybe it could fall into a twisted tale category because bird is partially erased at the end and has to redraw itself with colorful feathers. Maybe this would be appreciated by artistic readers/students.
Reviewed in Publishers Weekly (Apr 5, 1999) and School Library Journal (Apr 1999).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2012
This is a very colorful wordless story. The story is about a boy who draws things and they come to life. He draws a bird and it comes out of the page and causes mischief. The boy draws a cage to keep the bird in and a lock to lock him in with. The bird erases the lock with a pencil and causes more trouble. This imaginary story would be great for elemtary students because it is colorful. Students could write their own conversations and words that could be used in the book to tell the story.
October 29, 2012
Talking about artists in a story time? Use this ingenious book about a drawing that comes to life and wreaks havoc for the illustrator!
The bird eats the RED cherries, pops the ORANGE balloon, makes a YELLOW ring of flame, scribbles a BLUE puddle, which washes over the GREEN grass. The artist finally creates a PURPLE cage upon which he fastens a BROWN lock. He then makes the mistake of erasing the BROWN key and leaving the eraser within reach of the magpie. Oops.
The bird eats the RED cherries, pops the ORANGE balloon, makes a YELLOW ring of flame, scribbles a BLUE puddle, which washes over the GREEN grass. The artist finally creates a PURPLE cage upon which he fastens a BROWN lock. He then makes the mistake of erasing the BROWN key and leaving the eraser within reach of the magpie. Oops.
December 20, 2011
Excellent wordless book about a child who draws things that come to life. A mischeivous magpie somes to life and helps to draw or erase other things. Funny, cute, and beautiful. Pair with Thomson's Chalk.
February 5, 2008
Did I like it? Not so much.
It is a true wordless picture book though.
It is a true wordless picture book though.
August 13, 2009
A wordless book with amazing illustrations.
October 31, 2009
Wonderful illustrations and fun story without words.
May 7, 2011
Great to teach children who need to talk about stories and work on conversation, cause and effect.
About a magpie that is drawn and comes to life.
About a magpie that is drawn and comes to life.
June 14, 2012
This was a really creative story told through the illustrations--there are no words in it at all, which is nice for kids who can't read, but have big imaginations.
January 8, 2012
An amazing wordless picture book!
Reminded me so much of Brian Selznick's drawings. Outstanding job!!
Reminded me so much of Brian Selznick's drawings. Outstanding job!!
September 30, 2012
Hard to read a book to a toddler that doesn't have any words. Especially one with clever drawings. I think I will try reading this one when he is older. Then maybe he will understand it more.
August 8, 2013
A colorful, wonderfully fun wordless book about a magpie that gets involved with various art media.
August 18, 2013
Clever story told through the illustrations.
February 3, 2016
See blog for my review:
http://buildinglifelongreaders.blogsp...
http://buildinglifelongreaders.blogsp...
April 16, 2011
Wordless picture book about what happens when a drawing of a magpie comes to life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews