Theo Guignard, Labyrinth: find your way through 14 magical mazes, Murdoch Books/Allen & Unwin, March 2017, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781847809988
Labyrinth is a magical book of 14 mazes. Each large, double-spread maze is a different world with strange creatures, geometric shapes, neon lights, stairs, beach umbrellas, three dimensional landscapes and robots. They are brightly coloured and very clever illustrations.
The mazes are challenging in different ways with some being easier than others, and some being visually very tricky. One of my favourite mazes leads through a series of wildly imaginative rooms with each door leading to a different scene. There is so much happening in these illustrations that children will be captivated for a long time. There is also text at the bottom of each page listing things for children to spot along the way, adding an extra challenge. Solutions included in the back for children and parents who are really struggling.
The cover of the book is also worth mentioning. As well as being visually striking, it is textured, with a raised path through the maze for children to trace with their finger. My 4-year-old daughter, who is still a little young for the mazes, did enjoy this aspect of the book.
This is a great book for rainy-days, or for quiet times. A well-presented book with a feeling of quality, it would make a good gift for a child. It is suitable for primary-school aged children 5-12 years, depending on their interest and skills with mazes. These mazes will help children develop their eye-tracking and problem solving skills while having fun along the way.
Reviewed by Rebecca Blakeney