(3) 4-6 Brain Benders series. The eye and brain can be fooled, Moore demonstrates, with a variety of optical illusions, including negative images, ambiguous pictures, color perception tricks, grid illusions, and so on. Some illusions may be familiar to readers, such as the Rubin's vase/face image. Straightforward text and clear visuals are presented, with helpful hints and answers appended. Ind.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 How to Art Doodle series. "Art doodle" refers to tightly spaced, ornate patterns made with pens and color media (paint, markers, etc.) that add texture and depth to art projects. Each volume introduces a few projects and techniques (e.g., printing, collage) for young creators. Some volumes are basic (Color Patterns); some more difficult (Portraits); none are for beginners as the directions and examples are too general. Glos., ind. Review covers the following How to Art Doodle titles: Color Patterns, Fabulous Things, Optical Illusions, Portraits & Animals, Printing & Other Amazing Techniques, and Simple Pattern Building Techniques.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 This tie-in to the National Geographic Channel's program of the same name is divided into five chapters covering processing, memory, emotion, decision-making, and movement. Combining anatomical information with optical illusions, physical and mental challenges, puzzles, quizzes, and more, the volume is highly engaging, but design details, such as tiny white type on bright backgrounds, make it visually exhausting. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Art with Math & Science series. Color photographs and diagrams combine with simple texts to explain the featured mathematical or scientific concept. Brief introductions to the topics are followed by four art projects that turn theory into practical application. Sidebars provide supply lists, applicable terms, and photographs to complement the step-by-step instructions. The overuse of exclamation points in the texts is unfortunate. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cool Art with Math & Science titles: Cool Flexigon Art, Cool Optical Illusions, Cool Paper Folding, and Cool String Art.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Young readers learn to differentiate seeing and perceiving. Each oversize spread introduces an illusionary technique, then provides an exemplary work (from Escher and Magritte paintings to installation and performance art) and a related activity to foster contemplation. The reproductions unfortunately lack identifying captions, though they are listed at book's end. A unique, if overly cerebral ("How real is reality?"), art appreciation volume.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 Part history and fiction, part science and how-to, this latest addition to the series provides a generous amount of information for the magician-in-training. The scrapbook format in sepia tones includes pockets, pull-outs, and pop-ups with a well-balanced assembly of illustrations and text boxes. This appealing presentation will invite frequent browsing. No back matter is included.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) 4-6 This latest volume in the attractive art appreciation series focuses on the ways that "art is deception." Organized by type of illusion--including concealed messages, surrealism, hyperrealism (tromp l'oeil), contrast and color tricks, and spatial illusions in architecture--this large-format book contains thorough text, leading questions, sidebars, and captioned reproductions of works from throughout history that exemplify the intriguing concepts. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 This book explores many examples of painterly optical illusion, from Magritte's The Treachery of Images and Escher's Waterfall to Chuck Close's pixelated portraits. Unusual perspectives, designs that appear to move, and mysterious portraits-within-portraits illustrate painters' special effects. Interspersed "eye test" puzzles draw attention to visual tricks and deceptions. Notes, puzzle solutions, and projects to be cut out or photocopied are appended.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Ringmaster P. T. Vermin and his circus crew present "a parade of performances that will puzzle the peepers." The text's grandstanding narrative, complete with copious exclamation points, matches the exuberance of the optical-illusion illustrations. Most are cleverly executed and not too difficult to see, though readers may have trouble manipulating a few of the pages as intended. A "mysteries revealed" page provides explanations.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Art off the Wall series. This series provides information about various art- and design-related professions. Although the content and writing are acceptable, the books suffer from some repetition, both within each book and across the series. Also, generalized statements and vague explanations may undermine the reader's confidence in the material. Each book contains do-it-yourself tasks and a reference guide. Photos and other pictures illustrate most pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Art Off the Wall titles: Illusion Art, Computer Game and Film Graphics, Cartoons and Animation, Comics and Graphic Novels, and Design and Technical Art.

Reviewer: Becky Levine

(3) K-3 More than just a simple concept book, this ambitious and beautifully designed undertaking also introduces more advanced aspects of color theory, optical illusions, and color tricks. The authors ask questions that will encourage readers to explore and experiment; adults who don't have art backgrounds may wish there was an afterword providing explanations and correct answers.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson

(2) 4-6 Each of the twenty-nine full-page paintings in this oversize book contains an anomaly or an illusion. A single word above the painting extends and often deepens the layers of meaning. Some pictures are immediately accessible; others run the risk of becoming overly challenging when combined with a difficult word--mimetism, calefaction. The art is breathtaking, and it's easy to see this used for creative writing assignments.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2003

(3) 4-6 An appealing format offers one illustrated puzzle per page. Some of the stumpers are number problems, while others involve finding hidden pictures, moving objects into patterns, and comparing items of various shapes and sizes. All require the reader to think outside the box, looking at things from different perspectives. The colorful, reader-friendly design will make the book irresistible to browsers. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Frances Zweifel. Scientific concepts behind tricks that play with our perception of motion, depth, shape, and size are revealed in this well-organized experimental guide. Although the layout is cramped and gray, with dark line drawings and diagrams, the book contains complete directions for making a wide variety of optical illusions, each matched with concise explanations of how particular illusions occur. Ind.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(3) 4-6 Page after page of visual images demonstrate how the eye and brain can be confused by tricky perspectives, varicolored patterns, and comparative lines and shapes. Most of the illusions can be appreciated at first glance, though some--including a zootrope and flip book--require the reader to do some photocopying, cutting, and pasting. Scientific explanations for the illusions are provided in this browsable volume. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(2) K-3 A scatterbrained inventor has a mishap with every turn of the page. The episodic plot serves as a springboard for a set of lessons on color theory and optical illusions. Playful cut-paper collage, accented by loose black line drawings, work well to illustrate most of these concepts. Priceman provides simple explanations (in small print) within the story, wisely waiting until the end to explain the more mysterious and complex effects.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2001

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Dianne Eastman. Ideal for browsing, this volume is loaded with a variety of diversions, including riddles ("How can you identify a dogwood tree?" "By its bark"), trivia, knock-knocks, logic problems, and optical illusions. The layout is visually appealing, although some of the dark illustrations resemble poorly reproduced photocopier art.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(1) 4-6 Wick's elegant yet bold style of photography is ideally suited for the task of visual deception. The illusions range from simple mirror and geometric paradoxes to Escher-like visual trickery. Paired with each full-page color photo are well-matched descriptions that point the observer to key elements of the illusions. The book provides scientific concepts that are rigorous without diminishing the intrigue and fun.

Reviewer: Daniel Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1998