Big Magic for Little Hands

Book by Joshua Jay
19.95 In stock.
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Big Magic for Little Hands

19.95 usd

Book by Joshua Jay (19.95)

In stock.

Kids love magic. They love to see it and they love to do it. Vanishing Inc. co-founder Joshua Jay started doing magic when he was 7 and was named champion at the World Magic Seminar (the Olympics of Magic) by the time he was 16. His Big Magic for Little Hands is packed with 25 astonishing illusions for kids ages 7 and up. In other words, it's sleight of hand for the small of hand.

These are tricks that require little prep time and dexterity yet are guaranteed to deliver a big payoff. The large format, oversize text, and black-and-white vintage-style illustrations make Big Magic kid-friendly and particularly easy to follow. Kids will learn how to levitate their sibling several feet off a bed or escape, Houdini-like, from tightly bound ropes. There are also impromptu effects that can be performed anytime, anywhere, like Spook-Key, in which an antique key mysteriously rotates in your hand. Each easy-to-perform feat is clearly illustrated with step-by-step drawings and accompanied by insider tips.

Joshua Jay is a master who guides his apprentices through every aspect of the magician's art, from the first step - taking the Magician's Oath - to how to minimize nervousness (Rule #1: Rehearse. A lot).

The book is fully illustrated in black, red and white and has 100 pages. It is oversized at a giant 11" x 14". Though it's expensive to ship internationally, the really big size is what makes it so appealing to youngsters as they learn Big Magic for Little Hands.

 

Customer reviews for Big Magic for Little Hands

Reviewer
VI Monthly
Member

Robert

A great beginner book that has a nice variety of material. This collection avoids simply repeating the same two dozen tricks/stunts that seem to dominate beginner books and focuses on actual performance worthy but simple routines.

 
Reviewer

Mark

Joshua has produced a fantastic book for younger magicians.

My 8 year old boy absolutely loves this book, and together we have got to work on several effects.

The book is very nicely produced with large, clear illustrations and excellent written instruction.

This is the first magic book I have bought for my little apprentice, and it is giving him a wonderful insight into different methods which will aid him in his growth as a magician.

It reminds me of the better books I had when first starting out many, many years ago and I’d recommend this to any young budding magician.

Once my boy has gone through this book and learned from it, he’ll be moving on to one of my favourite magic books of all time - Mark Wilson’s Encyclopaedia of Magic. I believe study of Joshua’s excellent book will prepare him for the next stage of his magical journey.

Very highly recommended.

 
Reviewer

James

The teaching and writing in this book is perfect for a young magician! I bought if for my 10 year old and we’ve been going through it together. It’s so much more than the same old “kids book” tricks published over and over. This book is fantastic

 
Reviewer

Oliver

I bought it for a present and the family just loved it! The kid is reading the book everyday and performing the routines Joshua teaches to all of his friends. Great choice and great start for the future generations.

 
Reviewer

Marc

I'll add my review here. Full disclosure, I read this book at a bookstore (yes they still exist) while searching for some age-appropriate magic material for my 6.5 year old. Spoiler alert, though I thought the book was excellent, I did not ultimately buy it. Why?

In the end, I felt that this would be PERFECT for a slightly older (or more mature/developed) kid getting ready to perform for a talent show at school. All good magic requires patience and practice, plus this one required at least a small amount of construction, crafting AND sometimes an assistant. Don't get me wrong, these are important things for kids to learn, but you've got to have the right kid at the right developmental stage to make it work.

A kid or parent who wants instant gratification is not going to love this book. And while I definitely value the importance of teaching these kinds of lessons to my boy, I've already got him in three other after-school activities where structure, focus, discipline and working together is required, and I wanted something a little "easier" for him to manage/explore by himself.

(By way of reference/comparison, In my mind, the "perfect" beginner magic trick for young and old alike is the Buddha Papers. Simple to handle, EXTREMELY visual, clever and feels like real magic, very satisfying, even to the presenter.)

This book is filled mainly with big, showy tricks for the stage. Which in a way is nice. A lot of "kids magic" tricks are small devices/pieces that might show well up-close for family and friends at a party, but get lost (and be virtually invisible) on the big stage.

That said, the writing in this book is excellent, steps are clear and a fair amount of attention is focused on the presentation or patter. A nice feature that is normally, and frustratingly absent from other "beginner magic" kits and the like. Kids (adults too frankly) need all the help they can get with the presentation, building drama, in magic tricks. Put more simply, they need to know what to say. Some kids may be natural presenters, can develop a story/narrative to go along with the magic, but most, I'm going to guess, not so much.

I expect, if my boy continues to enjoy magic, this book will eventually find its way onto our shelves. Maybe when he's in 2nd grade though!

 
Reviewer

John

This is an excellent book for a wide age range of kids, even as young as age 6 or 7 and up to mid to late-teens*. There is a nice variety of classic themes of effects which could serve as a jumping off point for discussion if the book were to be used interactionally between and older/oldsters and younger kids. As well a child too young or isolated to really coordinate some of the production details (such as the levitation) would still have as much fun, probably more, looking and imagining as we all did with the Abbott Catalog. Probably more fun because the effects are explained and the illustrations are very clear, relevant and keep rhythm with the written word. The large format and production quality are top notch. (*My basis for this developmental assessment is my 38 year career as a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist). I'll be using this in my therapy room. The 3-vol. Sankey is a good resource but hard for little kids to look through.

 

Community questions about Big Magic for Little Hands

Have a question about this product? It's possible others do too. Ask here and other Vanishing Inc. Magic customers will be able to respond with assistance! Alternatively, email us and we can help too.

  • Erik asks: is it possible since Joshua said in the trailer, that he signs a book? thank u

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: We are not able to have Joshua sign the book due to his travel schedule.
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