A Tricky Kind of Magic by Nigel Baines
Big Book Award 2024 shortlister:
Cooper is brilliant at magic tricks. Card tricks, clever illusions – he can do them all. His
dad, also known as the Great Eduardo, taught him the tricks of the magical trade before
he passed away. But the one thing Cooper can’t do is see his dad again.
So when a talking rabbit appears from his dad’s top hat, and reveals there is a place
where Cooper might find him, he jumps at the chance. Magic is about believing the
impossible, after all. And Cooper desperately wants to believe that he can see his dad
once more.
But what – and who – is waiting for them in the land where magic goes wrong?
Filled with filled with humour and emotion, this is an action-packed graphic novel about
finding magic when you need it the most.
Published by Hodder Children’s Books
About the author
Nigel Baines is an experienced illustrator and book designer who has worked on over 80 books, two of which won Blue Peter awards.
Nigel also does workshops for children on comic creation and was a speaker at the 2019 Worcester Illustration Symposium.
He is a keen walker and would like to spend half the year living on top of the Andes.
His other great loves are Grantham Town Football Club and any kind of travel. This is Nigel’s first graphic novel for children.
112 responses to “A Tricky Kind of Magic by Nigel Baines”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Registered Charity Number: 1120177
Website made by THE CURIOUS
TRICKY, NOT. It is a great book. If you like magic and/or comics, you will enjoy this book. 7/10
I liked this book, it was a really good graphic novel I would really recommend this book 10/10.
Good but not amazing
Really good loved the story line and the concept of the book.
I enjoyed the theme of this story and loved that it was a comic. 10/10 to the author!
This book was funny and I think it was really good.
I really like the book because I like the way it’s set out.
I loved this book it was very funny and it only took a couple of days to read π
I think this book is very good .But I would rate it a 3/5. It wasnβt the best book but I would read it again .I like the story line but it wasnβt my cup of tea.ππ¦₯
I really loved this book itβs so inspirational and funny π€£ and itβs interesting π
This was great; I would read it again.
This book was great π ππππππππππππππππππππππ
This book is about a boy who lost his dad, who was a magician . Cooper still loves his Dad’s magic tricks and shows all his friends even his younger brother. I like Cooper because he goes on lots of adventures and is brave.
I liked this book because it makes it feel like the pictures have colours but it didnβt have much writing. I rate the book a 7/10
I loved it! I liked it so much I actually thought there was colour the first time I read! My favourite bit was when Cooper went in the magic box and came out in this magical land with playing cards and rabbits with hats. I rate it 11/10!
I liked this book because how it is set out in a comic strip. I rate it a 5 star. I recommend this to others.
A Tricky Kind of Magic is an amazing book to read. I rate it 5 stars. I liked it because at the end they have to defeat the evil person that is rich and is a very powerful person, but they have been defeated.
Defo top 2. One of the best non superhero comics I have read i n all my life.
Fabulous
It was not that great. It’s not a book to remember. I give it 4/10.
I loved this book it was so cool; I like the magic rabbit, heβs so funny and it made me wonder what fizzy rainbow sticks. I would love to taste them, maybe you could make them – they would be banging. I love this story 10/10 and maybe you can make another book.
I like the fact it’s a comic book and I love doing magic, it’s amazing I give it a 11/10
I really like A Tricky Kind of Magic. 5/5 rating. I like when Copper went to find dad. When Copper came back and…[SPOILER ALERT]…to mom.
It’s ok but it was my least favourite book out of the shortlisted ones but it wasn’t bad it’s just that the others were better. 5/10.
This a good book and I like this book because itβs a comic and itβs magic is special book
I really liked this book I really ENJOYED it. This book was so fun .
This a good book and I like this book because itβs a comic and itβs magic . It’s special book
9/10 this book is so good
This book was really good because Cooper had really good character development and the Rabbit was really funny as well 8/10
I think this is so good. I read this in one day but I wish it was longer. 10/10
I really really liked the magic and the magic land and I liked the bad guy chasing Cooper and when the rabbit came alive.
This book is really cool. Because it has magic in it and I like fast books. My favourite so far is this book and I donβt like reading for too long.
My favourite character so far is Cooper. Because he is full of magic and adventures. I love this book.
This book was really good because it was a cool and really quick read for me and was still a super fun and really easy to get into which is good in my opinion
This book was really good because Cooper had really good character development especially after he came back to the real world after going to the magic land and the Rabbit was really funny as well but overall this book was really good 8/10
This book was AMAZING it was a great and funny book I would definitely recommend this for absolutely anyone. It was SO funny with lots of surprises, especially when he managed to get home even with the broken palanquin!
It is a quick read and itβs one of my favourite books Iβve read and the pictures are really cool and it was so hard to put it down
This book was amazing it did not take long to read. I liked the rabbit and fizzy rainbow sticks. I recommend 10/10
This book was amazing because it took 2 days to read. I was so excited to get it at first and I really got into it.
I really liked the rabbit character. I liked the magic land that Cooper went to. I liked the graphics as they really helped me read the tricky words.
It was very good. Very adventurous and packed with amazing action packed scenes and twists and turns
I loved this book. Normally I don’t like graphic novels but I really enjoyed this a lot and I want to read more of your books in the future.
I like rabbit because he is funny. I really like the character development 9/10
I really enjoyed this book because I like graphic novels, I find them easy to read. I liked how he met lots of different people while he was trying to find his Dad and I liked it when his rabbit came to life.
I loved the book, the highlight for me was when Cooper found himself in the land of magic 9/10
I loved the book, the highlight for me was when Conner found himself in the land of magic 9/10
I like Tricky kind of Magic, because it’s exciting and fast moving. Overall, I rate this book 8/10.
This wasn’t my favourite book I hadn’t read a graphic novel before I read this
book but I give it 7.5/10
Very good
It is very underrated
It is good because I like comics . My best part was the part where Cooper went to the land of magic to find his dad.
Unfortunately, I didnβt like this book.I found the comic format of both pictures and writing difficult to understand.
ππ₯’π€ π’π¦ππ₯π π ππ π π ππ π π ππ€π¨πππ ππ€ πππππ πππ€πͺ π₯π π£πππ π ππ£πππ₯ ππ£ππ‘πππ ππ π§ππ π¨ππ₯π πππ€πͺ π¨π π£ππ€ ππ π£ ππππππ£ππ.ππ§ππ£πππ π 7\10
This was a great book. I felt sad, excited and worried and more. You might feel different emotions. I rate this 15/10 : )
A good creative book but just needs a bit more detail and a slower ending.
This wasn’t my favourite book because I don’t really like graphic novels and the characters didn’t come to life well when reading. The front cover was interesting. I rate this book 5/10.
Very quick and easy read. I loved the way it brings awareness towards PTSD. My over all rating would be 7.5/10.
We thought that the book was ok because the storyline was too quick and the book was an easy read. We also thought that how Cooper thought that he could find his dad when he was dead was puzzling. We rate the book 47/100
Its a good book for others but in this case, for us it was ok
Negatives:
The joy of the book does not last long
There is not much description
It does not have much phrases
Positives:
Lots of pictures
Fascinating
A graphic novel
Fun and enjoyable pictures
We do not recommend the book we thought the storyline went too fast and we couldn’t imagine the characters in real life. How cooper thought he could find his dad when he knew that he died was puzzling and it was an easy read. we rate it a 5/10.
I loved this book, and I highly recommend it.
This book is fantastic itβs just what I was looking for. It has speech and not just loads of info that doesnβt make sense and it’s so life-like.
Amazing book I give it a 10/10 the pictures are incredible.
I think it was a bit all over the place, like one minute your here, next you’re not – like a magician.
I loved this book. It was so adventurous and it inspires me to keep doing what I love. For me this book is a 12/10. :);)
This book is like a rollercoaster of emotions. I love it! All the wording is so powerful and I can’t wait to finish the trailer for it.
Really good book. It probably will be my favourite because it really goes with my favourite books . I like the bit when the magician person says peform me a show and it was really god then he got angry.
I adored this book, it has a real sense of adventure. The reason why is, all the illustration are so detailed, and inspiring. The use of words are so astonishing, the comedy is so significant. So I rate this book a 10/10!
This book is an emotional rollercoaster full of surprises, shock and laughter! Cooper unfortunately lost his dad and he goes on the adventure of a lifetime to try and get him back. 9/10 book in my opinion.
I loved this book because it had adventure, action and comedy. I love picture books so I love it and thank you.
It was super intense especially the rabbit; extremely funny.
I found this very interesting and it definitely caught my attention. Would recommend to anyone that likes comics, comedic yet serious and engrossing books. I thought this book got better and better till the end, my favourite character was definitely the Rabbit and how he loves Fizzy Rainbow Sticks!! 9/10!
WOW!!! This book was amazing because of the mix of emotions and how Cooper explains how he struggles to show his real emotions and covers it up with laughing. We feel it’s so real and a lot of people, including ourselves, could relate to this story so much; love it, love it, love it. Please read this book, it proves that within a few paper rectangles can be magical. Nigel Baines – keep the amazing work up dude.
A Tricky Kind of Magic is a book that drags you in every time you read a page, you want to read another page. It’s an adventure book.
Really good graphic novel. I would love to have that funny bunny and eat fizzy sticks with him.
I love Piano at the Station because I love stories with a sad start then ends up with a lovely ending. I love this book because it is short so then I can move on to another story. I recommend this book to a person that likes pianos and adventurous stories.
-This book is about a boy called Cooper and he is trying to find his dad and he goes to magic land.
-This book is adventurous , funny and sad.
-I definitely recommend this book it is 10/10!
I would highly recommend this book itβs about a boy called Cooper who has been on a mission to find his magician dad who passed away and goes to a magical land to find him. 10/10 from me!!!ππ
This book is wonderful! I love the colours on the front cover I would definitely read this book again.If I had to rate the book It would be 10/10.
This book is amazing because of all the magic in it and because its a quiet short read but I love comic books so I would definitely recommend it.
100/100
Excellent, especially when Cooper found out the rabbit is magical. infinity/2!
Love it, it was the best. 5/5. I love graphic novels
…a nice book – 5/10
It’s really nice and I would give it 8/10 altogether.
Lovely story, especially when Cooper found out the rabbit can talk! infinity/2!
Best book I have read; 10 out of 10. Bunny loves his strawberry fizzy sticks.
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 rated ssssssssssssooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ggggggggggggggggggggoooooodd
Best book ever I love it. 10 out of 10!
This book is really funny. I also really like it because of how quick I could read it.
I love novelty, it’s my favourite kind of book. 1000000000000000000/10
Very good book; 100/100. Recommend it to…EVERYONE
This was an amazing book I loved the rainbow-fizzle strip loving rabbit
It was boring and did not catch me at any time. Not for me.
Very short read, but very good, I really enjoyed this one because it was nice and short meaning I could finish it quickly. I would definitely recommend!
I think A Tricky Kind of Magic was one of the best books I’ve ever read 10/10
Very good emotional story. Really good book 10/10.
This story can inspire young minds to look for adventure and do what’s right for your friends and family. Cooper lost his dad in a surprising trick that made him disappear forever. Cooper goes on an adventure to find his father and he makes some friends on the way to find his dad from a talking rabbit to a girl that looks extremely familiar.
I loved this adventure graphic novel. I would recommend this book to many of my friends an family.
A Tricky kind of Magic is a good story and has a lot going on, although we would like it more as a movie. It has twists and turns that are unexpected but good.
This was a very good book I loved the adventure in it about him finding his dad and a quick read 8/10.
This book is ….. really confusing and throws you off a lot
This book was not for me, as it was really sad. I would not recommend it to people because if you don’t like sad books don’t read it but if you like sad books go ahead.
IT WAS A GOOD BOOK IT WAS THE BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEST
I LIKED THE ILLUSTRATIONS
I LOVED THE CHARACTERS
A Tricky Kind Of Magic is a great book for all ages to read. The fact that it’s a comic book is great too because you can read it in about 2 days! Usually whenever I pick up a book, it’s really boring and just does not really tell a story. But, with A Tricky Kind Of Magic, it did tell a story and I read it fine. I really enjoyed this book! 8\10
A amazing book illustrations are great one off the best books I have ever read.
A Tricky Kind of Magic is an adventure story and it kind of drags you in because every page you read you want to read another
I LOVE THIS BOOK! I love it is a comic book I know it is black and white but I can picture the colours in my head. And I love the illustrations. For this book I will give this a 12/10
I quite liked this book since it was easy but I wasn’t too hooked so struggled.
7.5/10
It was really nice to read because it was a comic based book and I don’t know about you, but it felt I was in the book/story.
A Tricky Kind of Magic is amazing. I love the illustrations The story grabs you in and you can see the illustrations in your head.
A Tricky Kind of Magic was a good book and really good description. I want to learn magic now. 8/10
TRICKY KIND OF MAGIC IS AN AMAZING BOOK! LOVE THE ILLUSTRATIONS! I would recommend it to everyone!
I thought this book a good light read and the character ideas were very good like Tory and Glory looking identical but the changes between scenes were a bit hard to follow
6.5/10
Absolutely amazing, such a funny read. Even though it’s black and white I can still picture all the colours. So easy to read recommend to everybody. Definitely voting for this book. 11/10 for me!
– The characters seem believable.
– Encouraging theme.
– I liked for just the magic on its own.
– Graphics were appealing, we liked how it is set out and thought it would appeal to others
– We liked the boy’s personality
– We liked the humour (rabbit)
– Shows you how to deal with adversity.
– Reminiscent of a Disney Movie.
– hearing others recommend it would make others want to read it