The magic trick version of "The Three Little Pigs" is usually presented exactly as Jack Hughes made it for Supreme Magic - a variation of the "Four Card Monte" which preceded it by many years. In the current Wizards' Journal (#32) I present a new version which in turn can spawn tricks with new characters for those who don't like pigs and Big Bad Wolves. However, I will explain it with the Three Pig story because most everyone knows it. It uses my new principle of "Attractive Cards" so that the three pigs no longer have to be identical, but can each be as different as you want them to be. The new principle also allows them to each be shown on both sides at the beginning, middle and end of the trick and to be held by spectators who assist you in telling the story and adding voices to the characters, if you wish. No longer do you "dispose" of the wolf at the beginning, but he is present and grinning his evil toothy grin right up to the moment that "Practical Pig" says "Presto Change-o" and makes the two of them transpose, PP to be with his brother pigs and the wolf to the pot of hot bath water on the fireplace inside the house. Besides the Brick House, which now has a large open window looking in on a portrait of Mama Pig hanging over the fireplace, there are houses for each of the brothers, one of straw and one of sticks, each with the large open window in the front. At the end of the story, all the cards are again shown on both sides and they can now be handed to spectators to hold (and examine as much as they want, although you would never suggest such a thing).

This new method frees you to tell the original story using the cards as characters to illustrate it, rather than requiring you to tell the story to fit what you can or cannot do with the old method holding you back.

Because you make the cards yourself using your computer & printer, you are free to use the methods and principles to revise the story to "The Cat and the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2" or "The Three Billy Goats Gruff", or "Goldilocks and The Three Bears", or make up a new story about a Scary Scarecrow and four kids out trick or treating. The number of characters can be increased to "Santa and his Nine Reindeer", or reduced to just two such, as "Superman and Lex Luthor".

Just found this and , once again, applaud you efforts and creativity

Awesome - I'll check it out. I'm always looking for routines and DIY props that I can customize and adapt to various venues.
Thanks!