Nick Bland (text) and Stephen Michael King (illustrator), Trick Number Two, Scholastic Australia, September 2021, 24 pp., RRP $17.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760971076
Who could resist a collaboration between two of Australia’s most loved picture book creators, Nick Bland and Stephen Michael King? Trick Number Two tells the enchanting story of three young wizards, Wizard Yellow, Wizard Blue and Wizard Red. These young wizards have no tricks, not a single solitary one. They meet One Wise Wizard who has more than eighty-six tricks and performs them all with style and panache. The three young wizards beg him to teach them just one.
What follows is a beautiful story about perseverance, patience and the consequences of your actions. For some of us, patience is hard whether we’re 2, 12 or 52, Trick Number Two could provide readers the opportunity to talk about what they’re waiting for and whether they’re finding the wait hard or easy. Overall, the text avoids being preachy and the illustrations are a joy to behold, colourful and zany, they contain hidden delights. For example, Wise Wizard is actually a dog in what appears to be a toga aided at times by mechanical fairy wings!
This book would appeal to preschool and young primary readers. I can easily imagine it becoming a fast favourite that is read until the reader knows the text by heart. I can’t wait to see future collaborations by Nick Bland and Stephen Michael King.
Reviewed by Anne Varnes
