A coworker of mine has children in the 8 to 11-year-old range. They are very interested in magic and he (father) would like to get them the best book for them to learn. I thought of Tarbell, but I fear it is a bit too hard for that age.

In your assessment, what are the top two or three books for a serious magic student who just happens to be young?

Thanks,
Nick

The only books that I can think of are:

The Magic Book - Harry Lorayne
Magic For Dummies - David Pogue
Course in Magic - Mark Wilson

There might be better ones though.

Peo

I always say the best of quality is the Klutz Book of Magic. It comes with very, very good quality tricks, is easy to learn and has some brilliant props. It comes with a TT, a bracelet-sized chrome ring, a silk, a string and a couple of latex squares (you will want more, get some from the Klutz website or the dentist). I think this is the wisest choice. If you can, pick a cheap one on ebay, as it is not a real cheap item.

But Cyclopedia Of Magic by Mark Wilson is very cheap. It's a great little book that cover a lot of ground. From impromptu to illusions—you can't go wrong with this one!!!

Jesper

I would suggest the folling books for all beginners:

1. Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. The ultimate beginner's book.
   
2. The Amateur Magician's Handbook by Henry Hay. Although I don't know if this slightly heavy book is easy to read for an eight-year-old.
   
3. The Amazing Book of Magic/Card Tricks by John Tremaine. These are two brilliant and mostly underrated books, that are sometimes hard to find.
   
4. The Art of Magic and Sleight of Hand by Nicholas Einhorn. Another great book with many illustrations.
   
5. Self-Working...(fill in the blank space) by Karl Fulves. I would recommend these books first (for eight-year-olds) as they are easy to do, yet contain some good magic.

I hope this will be useful in your search.

Andre
ajcombri@telkomsa.net

Tarr—now you see it...

Aside from the above recommendations, I would suggest A Book of Magic for Young Magicians: The Secrets of Alkazar by Allan Zola Kronzek.

I received this book as a gift shortly after I started out and it helped me a lot. It's a good collection of simple magic that would be within the grasp of someone in the age range you mentioned. The unique thing about this book is that not only does it cover the methods to the tricks, it also teaches the basics of presentational skills: misdirection, patter, etc. Though suited toward younger readers, it's a good buy for any beginner.

You can find it at http://www.amazon.com for a cheap price.

I learnt from Harry Lorayne's book The Magic Book and look where I am now. Really brilliant reference, his style really lends itself to a young beginner.

Mark Wilson's Complete Course is another must which is a bit more detailed.

I agree with indridcold, The Klutz Book of Magic is an excellent introduction to magic for children of that age.

While many of the other titles mentioned would build a good foundation for a long-term approach to magic, The Klutz Book (complete with great props) provides quality effects in an easy-to-understand format.

I know it's effectiveness because I've given two as gifts. The end result being that one child (age 8) simply enjoys the Klutz effects and went no further, while the other (age 10) went on to study several "main-line" magic books. In both cases, The Klutz Book was a great starter.

Lorayne's the magic book is excellent, but I agree with the two users above. The Klutz Book of Magic was my first book and it did wonders. Tthe effects are actually pretty strong and would probably fool many people on this site. Stuff like ring slide, pang penetration, etc...just killer material for a kid.

Another good choice is The Magic Show by Mark Setteducati & Anne Benkovitz, a unique book that has 12 hands-on, interactive tricks built into its pages. It's beautifully designed, very engaging and lots of fun! You can find it in general book stores and at Amazon.com for about $13.

Also, see this earlier thread on magic books for youngsters for additional suggestions.

Good luck,
DaveS

I'm another who favours the Mark Wilson book. It covers the basics of most magic effects, cards, money, sponge balls, silks, etc. The drawings are very good and the routines are broken down into steps. And they are routines and not just short tricks. It gives a very good overall beginning to magic.

Eddie

Thanks all for some excellent suggestions!

Nick
http://www.stackview.com