How to be... a magician

From improv to magic tricks, the volumes in the How to Be . . . series encourage young readers to explore the early stages of a variety of interesting hobbies. Detailed, step-by-step instructions and helpful tips combine to make a series full of ideal beginner's guides. A Magician gets the reader started with basic card and rope tricks while also elaborating on the importance of misdirection and preparation. These aren't career guides per se, although they do acknowledge the possibility of jobs in the field. Each volume is thoroughly filled with photos and cartoons, and although the drawings do come across as somewhat silly, they also effectively illustrate the concepts they're paired with. Back matter provides several online resources that promise a little more than just the basics for readers whose interest has been whetted.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2016 Booklist