{"id":187,"date":"2012-02-24T11:14:11","date_gmt":"2012-02-24T16:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/?p=187"},"modified":"2021-08-14T09:46:41","modified_gmt":"2021-08-14T13:46:41","slug":"magicians-and-wizards-dumbledore-prospero-houdini-and-neuroscience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/magicians-and-wizards-dumbledore-prospero-houdini-and-neuroscience\/","title":{"rendered":"Wizards and Magicians"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Everyone (well, almost) loves Harry Potter \u2013 but Harry and friends are not the <em>only<\/em> wizards. There\u2019s also Gandalf, of J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s <em>The Hobbit<\/em> and <em>Lord of the Rings<\/em>; Schmendrick, the inept magician of Peter S. Beagle\u2019s wonderful <em>The Last Unicorn<\/em>; Ged of Ursula LeGuin\u2019s <em>Wizard of Earthsea<\/em>; Dallben of Lloyd Alexander\u2019s <em>Chronicles of Prydain<\/em>; and Merlin of the King Arthur tales. And many more.<\/p>\n<p>See below for wizard stories, magic tricks, the science of magic, and all about master magician Harry Houdini.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e9f4d5910cc\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e9f4d5910cc\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/magicians-and-wizards-dumbledore-prospero-houdini-and-neuroscience\/#FICTIONAL_MAGICIANS\" >FICTIONAL MAGICIANS<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/magicians-and-wizards-dumbledore-prospero-houdini-and-neuroscience\/2\/#A_SHAKESPEAREAN_WIZARD\" >A SHAKESPEAREAN WIZARD<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/magicians-and-wizards-dumbledore-prospero-houdini-and-neuroscience\/2\/#TRICKS_OF_THE_TRADE\" >TRICKS OF THE TRADE<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/magicians-and-wizards-dumbledore-prospero-houdini-and-neuroscience\/2\/#THE_SCIENCE_OF_MAGIC\" >THE SCIENCE OF MAGIC<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/magicians-and-wizards-dumbledore-prospero-houdini-and-neuroscience\/3\/#NATIONAL_MAGIC_DAY_is_March_24_%E2%80%93_that_is_Harry_Houdinis_birthday\" >NATIONAL MAGIC DAY is March 24 \u2013 that is, Harry Houdini\u2019s birthday.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FICTIONAL_MAGICIANS\"><\/span><strong>FICTIONAL MAGICIANS<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17098\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magicrabbit-300x258.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"258\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magicrabbit-300x258.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magicrabbit.jpg 754w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Annette LeBlanc Cate\u2019s <em>The Magic Rabbit<\/em>\u00a0(Candlewick, 2007) is the picture-book story of the Amazing Ray, a magician, and his best friend, Bunny, who \u2013 at the word \u201cAbracadabra!\u201d \u2013 leaps from Ray\u2019s top hat in a shower of glittering stars. When the two are separated, after a disastrous collision with a juggler and his dog, popcorn and a trail of golden stars help Bunny find his way home. Simple, but charming, for ages 3-6.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17086\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/garden-of-abdul-gasazi-300x245.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/garden-of-abdul-gasazi-300x245.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/garden-of-abdul-gasazi-1024x837.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/garden-of-abdul-gasazi-768x628.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/garden-of-abdul-gasazi-1536x1256.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/garden-of-abdul-gasazi.jpg 1904w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>In Chris Van Allsburg\u2019s picture book <em>The Garden of Abdul Gasazi<\/em>\u00a0(Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 1979), Alan has been put in charge of Miss Hester\u2019s badly behaved dog, Fritz, who \u2013 ignoring the \u201cABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO DOGS ALLOWED\u201d sign &#8211; dashes into the eerie topiary garden of the dog-hating retired magician Abdul Gasazi (and is just possibly turned into a duck). For ages 5-10.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17085\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/freddy-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/freddy-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/freddy.jpg 328w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>In <em>Freddy the Magician<\/em>\u00a0(Overlook, 2011), in Walter R. Brooks\u2019s wonderful Freddy the Pig series, the resourceful and hilarious Freddy \u2013 with the support of his animal friends at the Bean family farm \u2013 sets out to confound the swindling prestidigitator Senor Zingo by embarking on a career in magic. For ages 5-9. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.freddythepig.org\/\">Freddy the Pig<\/a> website has more information on Freddy and friends.<a href=\"http:\/\/www.freddythepig.org\/\"><br \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17097\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magicians-boy-Cooper-263x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magicians-boy-Cooper-263x300.jpg 263w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magicians-boy-Cooper-896x1024.jpg 896w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magicians-boy-Cooper-768x877.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magicians-boy-Cooper-1344x1536.jpg 1344w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magicians-boy-Cooper-1793x2048.jpg 1793w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>The Boy, the hero of Susan Cooper\u2019s <em>The Magician\u2019s Boy<\/em>\u00a0(Aladdin, 2006) is the unhappy employee of a magician who refuses to let him learn magic. Instead he polishes the magician\u2019s wand, tends his garden, feeds his rabbits, and operates the puppets for his performances of the puppet play \u201cSaint George and the Dragon.\u201d When the Saint George puppet is lost, the magician sends the Boy to the fairy-tale Land of Story to find it \u2013 and after dealing with dangers, difficulties, Red Riding Hood\u2019s wolf, and a dragon, he ultimately wins his heart\u2019s desire. A chapter book for ages 7-11.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17114\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/the-hobbit-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/the-hobbit-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/the-hobbit.jpg 331w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>In J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s <em>The Hobbit<\/em> (HMH, 2012), originally published in 1937, readers are first introduced to Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard, and Middle-Earth in an adventurous tale that involves dwarves, elves, goblins, and a dragon. For ages 7-12.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17111\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/wizard-of-oz-229x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/wizard-of-oz-229x300.jpg 229w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/wizard-of-oz.jpg 381w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 229px) 100vw, 229px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>L. Frank Baum\u2019s classic <em>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz<\/em>\u00a0(available in dozens of editions) was originally published in 1900, featuring \u2013 along with Dorothy and companions, an awful Wicked Witch, and some creepy Winged Monkeys \u2013 a totally bogus, but endearing, Wizard, who reached Oz by accident (from Omaha) in a hot-air balloon. There are fourteen books by Baum in the original series, though the Oz opus now numbers in the dozens, continued by Ruth Plumly Thompson, John R. Neill, and others.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17081\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/annotated-wizard-of-oz-256x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/annotated-wizard-of-oz-256x300.jpg 256w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/annotated-wizard-of-oz-872x1024.jpg 872w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/annotated-wizard-of-oz-768x902.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/annotated-wizard-of-oz.jpg 1022w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>For Oz enthusiasts, also see\u00a0<em>The Annotated Wizard of Oz<\/em>\u00a0(W.W. Norton &amp; Company, 2000), edited by Michael Patrick Hearn, which includes a detailed history of the book and its author, hundreds of notes and explanations, and period photographs and illustrations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20109\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/70039535-211x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/70039535-211x300.jpg 211w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/70039535.jpg 426w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>In the classic film version of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0032138\/\">The Wizard of Oz<\/a> (1939), Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale dances down the Yellow Brick Road with Ray Bolger (the Scarecrow), Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion), and Jack Haley (the Tin Woodsman). Margaret Hamilton, in green makeup, plays the Wicked Witch of the West. Rated PG, probably for the creepy Flying Monkeys.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17084\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/evil-wizard-smallbone-211x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/evil-wizard-smallbone-211x300.jpg 211w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/evil-wizard-smallbone-720x1024.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/evil-wizard-smallbone-768x1092.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/evil-wizard-smallbone-1080x1536.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/evil-wizard-smallbone-1440x2048.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/evil-wizard-smallbone.jpg 1688w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>In Delia Sherman\u2019s <em>The Evil Wizard Smallbone<\/em> (Candlewick, 2016), 12-year-old Nick, running away from his abusive uncle, stumbles into the bookstore owned by the possibly evil Wizard Smallbone. A delightful adventure featuring werewolves on motorcycles and a town of enchanted seals. For ages 8-12.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17082\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/dark-is-rising-207x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/dark-is-rising-207x300.jpg 207w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/dark-is-rising-706x1024.jpg 706w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/dark-is-rising-768x1114.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/dark-is-rising-1059x1536.jpg 1059w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/dark-is-rising-1412x2048.jpg 1412w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/dark-is-rising.jpg 1754w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Susan Cooper\u2019s <em>Over Sea, Under Stone<\/em> (Margaret K. McElderry, 2007), the first of the five-book Dark Is Rising series, is the story of Simon, Jane, and Barney Drew who, on a summer vacation at an old house in Cornwall, discover an ancient map. The map leads to a treasure associated with Arthurian legend, a key factor in the ancient battle between good and evil &#8211; and the children, with the help of their mysterious mentor Professor Merriman Lyon, must secure it before it\u2019s nabbed by the sinister Mr. Withers and his sister. (By the end of the story, the kids also discover who Professor Lyon really is.) For ages 9-12. Subsequent titles in the series are <em>Greenwitch<\/em>, <em>The Dark Is Rising<\/em>, <em>The Grey King<\/em>, and <em>Silver on the Tree.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17106\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/sword-in-stone-205x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/sword-in-stone-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/sword-in-stone-699x1024.png 699w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/sword-in-stone-768x1124.png 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/sword-in-stone.png 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>T.H. White\u2019s <em>The Sword in the Stone<\/em> (Philomel, 1993) is the stand-alone first section of White\u2019s longer re-telling of the Arthurian legend, <em>The Once and Future King<\/em>. Appropriate for ages 9 and up, <em>The Sword in the Stone<\/em>\u00a0is far deeper and more complex \u2013 and wittier \u2013 than the boiled-down Disney movie version. This is story of the boy Arthur \u2013 known as the Wart \u201cbecause it more or less rhymed with Art, which was short for his real name\u201d \u2013 and his most unusual education by Merlin, with the help of hawks, owls, fish, ants, wild geese, and Robin Wood (yes, Wood) and his Merry Men. It ends as Wart pulls the sword from the stone and is revealed as King Arthur.\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The story continues in <em>The Once and Future King<\/em> with \u201cThe Queen of Air and Darkness,\u201d \u201cThe Ill-Made Knight,\u201d and \u201cThe Candle in the Wind,\u201d generally recommended for ages 13 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20112\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/51VXTYRSE2L-211x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/51VXTYRSE2L-211x300.jpg 211w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/51VXTYRSE2L.jpg 352w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>The Disney cartoon version of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0057546\/\">The Sword in the Stone<\/a> is rated G.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/prydain-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/prydain-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/prydain-679x1024.jpg 679w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/prydain-768x1158.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/prydain-1019x1536.jpg 1019w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/prydain-1358x2048.jpg 1358w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/prydain.jpg 1421w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Lloyd Alexander\u2019s <em>Chronicles of Prydain<\/em> (Square Fish, 2011) is a five-book series \u2013 <em>The Book of Three<\/em>, <em>The Black Cauldron<\/em>, <em>The Castle of Llyr<\/em>, <em>Taran Wanderer<\/em>, and <em>The High King<\/em> \u2013 loosely based on Welsh mythology. A wonderful fantasy series for ages 9 and up. As in all good fantasy series, there\u2019s an assistant pig-keeper, a princess, a bard, a dwarf, and a wizard.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20115\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/large_zAVFiWqc042EvsWzfW2md93koSA-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/large_zAVFiWqc042EvsWzfW2md93koSA-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/large_zAVFiWqc042EvsWzfW2md93koSA.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>The Disney animated movie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0088814\/\">The Black Cauldron<\/a> (1985) is loosely based on the first two books of the series. Rated PG.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20123\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81iqZ2HHD-L-209x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81iqZ2HHD-L-209x300.jpg 209w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81iqZ2HHD-L-712x1024.jpg 712w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81iqZ2HHD-L-768x1105.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81iqZ2HHD-L-1068x1536.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81iqZ2HHD-L.jpg 1240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 209px) 100vw, 209px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>J.K. Rowling&#8217;s <em>Harry Potter and the Sorceror&#8217;s Stone<\/em> &#8211; now available in many languages and editions &#8211; is the story of the orphaned Harry, raised by a dreadful aunt and uncle, who finds that he&#8217;s actually a magician and has been accepted into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The first of a seven-book series for ages 9 and up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20125\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/10617-338-211x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/10617-338-211x300.jpg 211w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/10617-338.jpg 338w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0241527\/\">Harry Potter and the Sorceror&#8217;s Stone<\/a> (2001) is the first of eight movies based on the seven books. Rated PG.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17109\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/the-magicians-elephant-hardcover_1_fullsize-202x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/the-magicians-elephant-hardcover_1_fullsize-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/the-magicians-elephant-hardcover_1_fullsize-689x1024.jpg 689w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/the-magicians-elephant-hardcover_1_fullsize-768x1142.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/the-magicians-elephant-hardcover_1_fullsize.jpg 1009w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>In Kate DiCamillo\u2019s <em>The Magician\u2019s Elephant<\/em>\u00a0(Candlewick, 2011), ten-year-old orphan Peter Augustus Duchene visits a fortune-teller and learns that his long-lost sister Adele is still alive and that an elephant will lead him to her. That very evening the elephant arrives, crashing through the roof of the town opera house, inadvertently conjured up by a magician. It\u2019s a somewhat dark tale, in which a collection of eccentric characters \u2013 among them a beggar, a soldier with a wooden foot, a crippled noblewoman (the elephant fell on her), and a carver of gargoyles \u2013 deal with issues of truth, hope, compassion, and ultimately, love. For ages 10-13.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17110\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/wizard-of-earthsea-183x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"183\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/wizard-of-earthsea-183x300.jpg 183w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/wizard-of-earthsea.jpg 304w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 183px) 100vw, 183px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>In Ursula K, LeGuin\u2019s <em>A Wizard of Earthsea<\/em> (HMH, 2012), the first of a series, Ged, the greatest wizard in Earthsea, in his youth recklessly loosed a terrible shadow upon the world, and now must hunt it down. For ages 12 and up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17092\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/last-unicorn-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/last-unicorn-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/last-unicorn.jpg 315w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>Peter S. Beagle\u2019s <em>The Last Unicorn<\/em> (Ace, 1991) features Schmendrick, an inept magician, who accompanies the unicorn on her quest to find others of her kind \u2013 and eventually to confront King Haggard and his Red Bull, who drove the unicorns from the land. For teens and adults.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20118\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81ThK2YkKxL._SL1500_-213x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"213\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81ThK2YkKxL._SL1500_-213x300.jpg 213w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81ThK2YkKxL._SL1500_-726x1024.jpg 726w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81ThK2YkKxL._SL1500_-768x1084.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/81ThK2YkKxL._SL1500_.jpg 1063w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>The animated version of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0084237\/\">The Last Unicorn<\/a> is rated G.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4><strong>A SHAKESPEAREAN WIZARD<\/strong><\/h4>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17107\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/tempest-burdett-247x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"247\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/tempest-burdett-247x300.jpg 247w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/tempest-burdett.jpg 260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Prospero, Shakespeare\u2019s famous magician, rules the enchanted island on which the action takes place in <em>The Tempest<\/em>. If your kids are too young for the original play, see Lois Burdett\u2019s <em>The Tempest\u00a0<\/em>(Firefly Books, 1999) in the Shakespeare Can Be Fun series for ages 5-9. These books, illustrated with terrific children\u2019s drawings, convey Shakespeare\u2019s plots through a kid-friendly rhyming text. It\u2019s not the Bard\u2019s language, but readers will get the general idea.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17103\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-Marcia-Wms-248x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"248\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-Marcia-Wms-248x300.jpg 248w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-Marcia-Wms-846x1024.jpg 846w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-Marcia-Wms-768x930.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-Marcia-Wms.jpg 1012w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>Marcia Williams\u2019s <em>Tales from Shakespeare<\/em>\u00a0(Candlewick, 2004) for ages 6-10 has whimsically illustrated comic-strip versions of seven plays, among them <em>The Tempest<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17104\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-packer-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-packer-230x300.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-packer.jpg 382w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>For ages 9-13, Tina Packer \u2013 Shakespearean expert and director of the Shakespeare &amp; Company theatre group \u2013 provides prose versions of ten of the best-known plays, among them <em>The Tempest<\/em>, in <em>Tales from Shakespeare<\/em>\u00a0(Scholastic, 2004). The book is beautifully designed \u2013 each play is introduced with a full-page painting \u2013 and the dialogue preserves some elements of Shakespearean language.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17102\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-Ch-and-M-Lamb-186x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-Ch-and-M-Lamb-186x300.jpg 186w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shakespeare-Ch-and-M-Lamb.jpg 497w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>Charles and Mary Lamb\u2019s classic <em>Ten Tales from Shakespeare<\/em>\u00a0(Dover Publications, 2003) for ages 9-12 includes a prose re-telling of <em>The Tempest<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td>For many more resources, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/shakespeare-2\/\">Shakespeare<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h4><strong>TRICKS OF THE TRADE<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>\u200b<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17091\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/kids-make-magic-300x233.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/kids-make-magic-300x233.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/kids-make-magic.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Ron Burgess\u2019s <em>Kids Make Magic!<\/em>\u00a0(Williamson Publishing, 2003), subtitled \u201cThe Complete Guide to Becoming an Amazing Magician,\u201d includes instructions for performing 35 different tricks (plus instructions for making your own magician\u2019s top hat).\u00a0 Recommended for ages 9-12. (Put on a show!)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17094\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-sci-kit-250x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-sci-kit-250x300.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-sci-kit-854x1024.jpg 854w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-sci-kit-768x920.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-sci-kit-1282x1536.jpg 1282w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-sci-kit-1709x2048.jpg 1709w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>Scientific Explorer\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Scientific-Explorer-POOF-Slinky-Science-Activities\/dp\/B000NQMAFO\/\">Magic Science for Wizard\u2019s Only kit<\/a> includes all the materials for 11 different \u201cmagical activities,\u201d variously involving colored smoke, color-changing potions, and slime.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-20650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/images.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"221\" \/><\/td>\n<td>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.instructables.com\/id\/How-to-make-a-Cardboard-Top-Hat\/\">Instructables<\/a> website has illustrated instructions for making a cardboard magician-style top hat.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td>Check out these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artistshelpingchildren.org\/wizardsmagicwandsartscraftsideasprojectskids.html\">Wizard &amp; Magic Crafts for Kids<\/a> \u2013 including wands, potion jars, a spell book, and assorted pointy hats.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17115\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Harry-Potter-Homemade-DIY-Wands-Craft-207x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Harry-Potter-Homemade-DIY-Wands-Craft-207x300.jpg 207w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Harry-Potter-Homemade-DIY-Wands-Craft.jpg 650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>Make <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redtedart.com\/harry-potter-craft-magic-wands\/\">Harry-Potter-style magic wands<\/a>! You\u2019ll need a chopstick, hot glue, and paint.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-17116\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/logo.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"162\" height=\"194\" \/><\/td>\n<td>Seriously into magic? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.magicsym.com\">The Society of Young Magicians<\/a> \u2013 the youth branch of the Society of American Magicians \u2013 publishes a monthly online magazine, offers email mentoring, and sponsors magic camps for aspiring magicians ages 7-17.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h4><strong>THE SCIENCE OF MAGIC<\/strong><\/h4>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17096\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-science-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-science-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-science-717x1024.jpg 717w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-science-768x1097.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-science.jpg 952w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Jim Wiese\u2019s <em>Magic Science<\/em>\u00a0(John Wiley &amp; Sons, 1998) is subtitled \u201c50 Jaw-Dropping, Mind-Boggling, Head-Scratching Activities for Kids.\u201d The activities are categorized under Matter, Reactions, Water, Air, Force and Energy, and Electricity and Magnetism, and each comes with clear illustrated instructions, a scientific explanation, and hints for performing before an audience. For example, kids can make a density tower and a magic seesaw, cause coins to disappear, and &#8220;magically&#8221; turn solutions different colors.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17093\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-naturally-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-naturally-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/magic-naturally.jpg 308w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Vicki Cobb\u2019s <em>Magic\u2026Naturally!<\/em>(Trophy Press, 1993) is out of print, but can still be tracked down (and it&#8217;s worth it) through libraries and used-book suppliers. The book is divided into five sections \u2013 \u201cMechanical Wizardry,\u201d \u201cFluid Fascinations,\u201d \u201cEnergy Enchantments,\u201d \u201cChemical Conjuring,\u201d and \u201cPerceptual Puzzlements.\u201dIn each section, Cobb gives instructions for five different \u201ctricks,\u201d along with a scientific explanation of why each works. Kids learn about inertia, buoyancy, surface tension, electrostatics, chemical reactions, and more through such magical feats as \u201cIntelligent Eggs,\u201d \u201cThe Writhing Snake,\u201d \u201cThe Blue Flashback,\u201d and \u201cThe Possessed Pendulum.\u201d\u00a0 For ages 9-12.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17101\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/science-of-harry-potter-182x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"182\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/science-of-harry-potter-182x300.jpg 182w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/science-of-harry-potter-623x1024.jpg 623w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/science-of-harry-potter-768x1263.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/science-of-harry-potter-934x1536.jpg 934w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/science-of-harry-potter-1246x2048.jpg 1246w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/science-of-harry-potter.jpg 1557w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 182px) 100vw, 182px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Roger Highfield\u2019s <em>The Science of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works<\/em>\u00a0(Penguin, 2002) discusses the science, history, and mythology behind the Harry Potter books. (Does the Sorting Hat operate on brain waves? Was John Dee, conjurer to Queen Elizabeth I, the inspiration for Albus Dumbledore? Is the magical entrance to Platform 9 \u00be a wormhole?) Fascinating and fun reading for older teenagers and adults.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17088\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/hiding-the-elephant-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/hiding-the-elephant-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/hiding-the-elephant.jpg 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\u00a0Jim Steinmeyer\u2019s <em>Hiding the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear<\/em> (Da Capo Press, 2004) is a fascinating history of stage magic from the mid-19<sup>th\u00a0<\/sup>century to the 1920s, with a spectacular cast of characters. The title refers to a famous performance in 1918 when Harry Houdini made Jennie, an elephant, vanish from a circus wagon on the stage of the New York Hippodrome. For teenagers and adults.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17105\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/sleights-of-mind-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/sleights-of-mind-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/sleights-of-mind.jpg 445w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td><em>Sleights of Mind<\/em> by Stephen L. Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde (Henry Holt and Company, 2010) is subtitled \u201cWhat the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Everyday Deceptions.\u201d The authors explain how magicians exploit the normal workings of our brains to fool us, and how our brain function can similarly play us false in daily life \u2013 via visual, cognitive, multisensory, and memory illusions, false expectations and assumptions, illusory correlations and superstitions, and more. Forewarned is forearmed, sort of. For older teenagers and adults.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td>From Scientific American, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/magic-neuroscience-cognition-illusions\/\">What Can Magicians Teach Us About the Brain?<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4><strong>NATIONAL MAGIC DAY is March 24 \u2013 that is, Harry Houdini\u2019s birthday.<\/strong><\/h4>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/picture-book-of-houdini-adler-300x256.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/picture-book-of-houdini-adler-300x256.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/picture-book-of-houdini-adler.jpg 476w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>David A. Adler\u2019s <em>A Picture Book of Harry Houdini<\/em>\u00a0(Holiday House, 2010) \u2013 one of Adler\u2019s extensive Picture Book Biography series \u2013 is a simple 32-page biography for ages 5-8, with rich color illustrations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17089\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/houdini-Krull-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/houdini-Krull-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/houdini-Krull-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/houdini-Krull.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Kathleen Krull\u2019s <em>Houdini: World\u2019s Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King<\/em>\u00a0(Walker &amp; Company, 2007) is a dramatic picture-book biography for ages 6-10 that gives a sense of Houdini\u2019s showmanship. (\u201cWelcome! Enter! Prepare to be dazzled!\u201d the book begins.) Biographical information is interspersed with framed descriptions of Houdini\u2019s most famous tricks.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17083\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/escape-Fleischman-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/escape-Fleischman-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/escape-Fleischman-717x1024.jpg 717w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/escape-Fleischman-768x1097.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/escape-Fleischman.jpg 952w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Sid Fleischman\u2019s <em>Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini<\/em>\u00a0(Greenwillow, 2006), a photo-illustrated biography for ages 9-14, tells how young Ehrich Weiss, a poor Jewish boy from Budapest, Hungary, managed to transform himself into one of the greatest magicians of all time, capable of making elephants disappear and escaping from high-security lock-ups at Scotland Yard. A fascinating addendum describes Fleishman\u2019s own visits with Madame Houdini.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17112\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/houdini-box-selznick-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/houdini-box-selznick-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/houdini-box-selznick.jpg 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Brian Selznick\u2019s <em>The Houdini Box<\/em>\u00a0(Atheneum, 2008), a fiction book for ages 7-11, pairs the story of Houdini with that of ten-year-old Victor, who yearns to be a magician. After a chance encounter with Houdini, Victor visits his house \u2013 only to learn that the great man has just died. He has, however, left Victor a mysterious box \u2013 which just may hold the secret to Houdini\u2019s famous escapes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17090\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/I-Houdini-206x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"206\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/I-Houdini-206x300.jpg 206w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/I-Houdini.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\" \/><\/td>\n<td><em>I, Houdini<\/em>\u00a0(Yearling, 2003) by Lynne Reid Banks is the tale of Houdini\u2019s most unusual namesake: a brilliant hamster escape artist who \u2013 leaving chaos in his wake \u2013 eventually pulls off the ultimate escape and sets out to explore the great outdoors. A fun and funny read for ages 8-11.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17087\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/harry-houdini-for-kids-300x232.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/harry-houdini-for-kids-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/harry-houdini-for-kids-1024x791.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/harry-houdini-for-kids-768x593.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/harry-houdini-for-kids.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rg_ilmbg\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Laurie Carlson\u2019s <em>Harry Houdini for Kids<\/em> (Chicago Review Press, 2009) is an informational activity book on the life and times of the world\u2019s most famous magician and escape artist, illustrated with wonderful period prints and photographs. The accompanying \u201c21 Magic Tricks and Illusions\u201d include learning to tie a magic knot, tackling the Magic Key trick, building a box kite, cracking a secret code, writing an invisible message, and whipping up a batch of ectoplasm. A helpful resource list includes supplementary reading suggestions and related web sites to explore. For ages 9 and up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20653\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/51rQgbWb20L-213x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"213\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/51rQgbWb20L-213x300.jpg 213w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/51rQgbWb20L.jpg 355w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>From PBS&#8217;s American Experience series, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/wgbh\/americanexperience\/films\/houdini\/\">Houdini<\/a> has a film transcript, video clips, a gallery of Houdini posters, a timeline of Houdini\u2019s life, and associated background information.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20654\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/loc-american-memory-300x161.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/loc-american-memory-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/loc-american-memory-768x413.png 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/loc-american-memory.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>The Library of Congress <a href=\"http:\/\/memory.loc.gov\/ammem\/vshtml\/vshchrn.html\">American Memory<\/a> project has a\u00a0Houdini biography linked to historical images from the Library\u2019s collection.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Everyone (well, almost) loves Harry Potter \u2013 but Harry and friends are not the only wizards. There\u2019s also Gandalf, of J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s The Hobbit and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[785,779],"tags":[601,599,598,607,604,608,600,596,606,602,605,603,597],"class_list":["post-187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fantasy","category-literature","tag-books-about-magic","tag-books-about-magicians","tag-books-about-wizards","tag-harry-houdini","tag-magic-arts-and-crafts","tag-magic-teaching-resources","tag-magic-tricks","tag-magicians","tag-national-magic-day","tag-science-of-magic","tag-society-of-young-magicians","tag-wizard-arts-and-crafts","tag-wizards"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187"}],"version-history":[{"count":104,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20656,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions\/20656"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}