Abracadabra!: Fun Magic Tricks for Kids
Written by Kristen Kelly and Ken Kelly
Illustrated by Colette Kelly
Sky Pony Press  6/21/2016
978-1-5107-0296-7
96 pages   Ages 7+

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“Summon your inner Houdini and learn simple magic tricks that will wow your family and friends!

“How did he do that? Have you ever racked your brain trying to figure out how that birthday party magician pulled a dove out of his sleeve? Well, what if there were a book that shared a magician’s secrets with you and showed you how to do magic, too?

“Eleven-year-old magician Kristen and her magician dad, Ken, reveal secret magic techniques with step-by-step photographs and demonstrate how you can perform tricks that look impossible but are, in fact, very simple to master! You’ll also learn one of the most important personality and presentation skills to enchant and amaze your friends and family. Choose from thirty of Kristen and Ken’s coolest tricks and learn how to . . . With Abracadabra, you’ll see that you don’t have to be an adult to perform magic!” [back cover]

Review
Ken Kelly has been making his living has a magician for the past thirty years. The tricks in Abracadabra are some of the same tricks he uses in his magical act. Kristen Kelly, age eleven, is Ken’s daughter. She is also a magician. The Kellys explain each trick in text, pictures, video (online), and then add tips for a little extra encouragement and help. In all, the pair offers the directions to thirty tricks. But these are not easy “pick-a-card-any-card” tricks.

The first trick, called “Anti-Gravity Coin,” transports coins magically from one hand to the other. The pair explains how to make a glass float, a spoon bend, and a pen levitate. The Kellys even offer the magical trick every great magician needs to understand: How to cut a woman in half. They really do. There is only one thing missing, which I thought was essential to a magic trick: saying, “Abracadabra!”

Sleight of hand is still an important aspect and it will take some practice to get many of these tricks to work for you. In addition to practice and practice, Ken Kelly stresses the importance of performing your tricks for others. Kids will get a kick out of understanding how some of these tricks actually work. While the illusion of magic will disappear, mastery these skills will excite kids. I found Abracadabra an amazing read. Never one to care much for magic, I have found a new respect for this trade. I love the pictures with Ken Kelly. He is not only a magician he is a clown. His goofy poses will make you laugh.

Do you like magic? Have you always wondered how a trick is accomplished? Are you interested in showing off your own magical skills? If you said, “Yes!” at least once, then pay close attention. Don’t take your eyes off the screen. Watch the letters form words right before your eyes, and maybe, just maybe you’ll find Abracadabra is the book for you.

ABRACADABRA! FUN MAGIC TRICKS FOR KIDS. Text copyright © 2016 by Kristen Kelly and Ken Kelly. Illustrations copyright © 2016 by ILLUSTRATOR. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Sky Pony Press, New York, NY.

Amazon—Indie Books—Apple Books—Sky Pony Press

Find Abracadabra! on Goodreads HERE.
Learn The Milk in a Hat trick HERE.

Kristen Kelly and Ken Kelly:  http://www.magiciankenkelly.com/   —  http://magictricksforkids.org/
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/magicvid
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MagicianKenKelly/    — https://www.facebook.com/MagicTricksForKids

Sky Pony Press:  http://skyponypress.com/
Follow on Twitter          @skyhorsepub

Sky Pony Press is an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing.

ANTI-GRAVITY RING TRICK

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Reprinted with permission from ABRACADABRA! FUN MAGIC TRICKS FOR KIDS © 2016 by Kristen Kelly and Ken Kelly, Sky Pony Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, Illustrations © 2016 by Colette Kelly.

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Copyright © 2016 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved

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ABRACADABRA! Fun Magic Tricks for Kids
Written by Kristen Kelly and Ken Kelly
Illustrated by Colette Kelly
Sky Pony Press 6/21/2016
9781510702967