Magic: An Imagination Book

by Pam Adams

A good wizard and a bad witch try to influence children regarding such things as watching television, playing in the street, and eating sweets. Features die-cut pages.

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Pam Adams (1919-2010) was a British children's book author and illustrator, and a graphic designer. Born in Swindon in 1919, she was educated at the Swindon Art College and at the Central School of Art in London, and worked for many years as a graphic designer in the advertising field. In the 1970s she returned to Swindon, and teamed up with Michael Twinn, who had recently founded the publishing house Child’s Play. Her first children's book, There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly, was published in 1972, and remains a bestseller for the publishing house. After writing and illustrating countless other picture-books, Adams died in 2010, at the age of 91.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wicked witch and a kindly wizard battle it out in this imaginative tale from prolific English picture-book creator Pam Adams, with a group of children being the prize. The witch encourages the children in all sorts of bad behavior, from littering and playing in the street to starting fires and watching too much television. Each time the wizard steps in to turn the tables on the witch - in the littering scene she turns into a litter bug, in the fire scene her broom catches flame - and to show the children a better way...

I have been familiar with Pam Adams for many years, and have run across her picture-book presentations of such classic childhood songs as There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and Old MacDonald Had a Farm many times. That said, I've never really taken the time to look at her work closely. Magic: An Imagination Book is the first of her books I have truly read, spurred on largely because it features a witch, and witchy picture-books are a pet project of mine. I'm so glad that I did pick it up, as I discovered a wonderfully fun little volume, one that is well designed and instantly engaging. The book itself is quite short (maybe 2.5 inches?), and quite long, and features brilliantly colorful artwork that jumps off the page. The pages themselves are of a vibrant hue, and the cartoon-like figures also, while die-cuts on each page create a more interactive reading experience. The back and forth of the story is amusing, communicating the overall message about good behavior and healthy habits in a fun way. If half stars were available, this would be a 3.5 star book for me. It was originally published in 1978, and has a vintage feeling to it, but I think some picture-book readers today would still enjoy it, if they can track it down. For my part, I hope to read more of Pam Adams' work!