First Book of Magic

by Edward Stoddard and illustrated by Rod Slater Edward Stoddard

Book Overview

An illustrated guide to performing simple magic tricks, using string, balls, money, handkerchiefs, cards, and your own mind and hands. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380492210
• ISBN13: 9780380492213
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

I loved this book when I was a child

I have the fondest memories of this book as a child in the late 50's. I remember putting on magic shows for kids in the neighborhood - all with tricks from this book alone. My favorite was the disappearing handkerchief (up the sleeve!) and the magic box (from which handkerchiefs appeared) which I made out of a cereal box, and painted bright green. There was also a classic "pull a rabbit out of a hat" trick, which I did with a stuffed toy bunny, as a kid. Years later, as a teen, I worked as a counsellor at a day camp on a farm, and I revived the old magic show, and for the rabbit trick, I used a real bunny! The camp kids loved it! Another great trick was the 'mind-reading trick' which involved audience participation - and sealed envelopes. This trick was always sucessful - it even stumped the adults, which was truly thrilling, both as a kid, and as a teenager! In short, this book did not lead me to a career in magic, but it is wonderfully written and illustrated, was one of my very favorite childhood books, and added an incredible amount of 'magic' to my childhood. Highly Recommended!

A Real Magic Book

As a professional magician who has never forgotten the first love affair with magic books, I recommend this to beginning magicians as an outstanding start-up. It's delightfully presented, the magic explained in a practical and intelligent way, and the book contains certain touches that mark out from the plethora of beginner's books on magic. There's stuff on the great magicians (who would want to be anything else if they had a wish?) and a few so-simple but so-important Do's and Don'ts which should be printed on every amateur magician's t-shirt. All in all, this book just might be the one that starts the reader off on the journey into the wonderful world of magic. I have my copy of this terrific book on my shelf along with the Vernon/Devant/Ganson/Scarne/Hugard/Bruce Elliot magic classics, because that's where this little gem belongs.