Illusionology (Ologies) [Hardcover]

Albert Schafer (Author), David Wyatt (Illustrator), Levi Pinfold (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: March 13, 2012 | Age Range: 8 and up | Series: Ologies

Can you trust your eyes? The newest discovery in the ‘Ology series amazes and thrills as the closely guarded secrets of the illusionologists are revealed!

Do you wonder how Harry Houdini performed his amazing escapes? Are you burning to learn the art of making a beautiful woman appear to levitate? Look closely, for the secrets of the world's most famous magicians and illusionists — from the ancient Egyptians through the early twentieth century "Handcuff King" himself — are contained within! More than a fascinating history of magic through the ages, Illusionology is an indispensable guide unveiling step-by-step instructions for more than twenty-five astonishing feats. Master the classic cups-and-ball illusion! Mesmerize your friends with mindreading card tricks! Along with sundry flaps and booklets, readers will find
props for their own sleight of hand, including:
— A magical "dematerializer"
— A set of trick playing cards
— A pair of "disappearing spot" paddles
— A "levitating" card!

Editorial Reviews

Review

ILLUSIONOLOGY includes a visually dense array of interactive elements: flaps, 3D pop-ups, foldouts, sealed envelopes. Among its revelations: the secrets behind Harry Houdini’s straitjacket escape and needle swallowing tricks, the "science" of levitation and the trickery behind spirit mediums. But watch out: readers also learn dice and card tricks that require no special extrasensory ability.
—The New York Times

Purportedly written by magician Albert D. Schafer, who vanished in 1915, this handsome addition to the Ologies series, which mimics the look of advertisements and periodicals of the era, explores the history and practice of magic...Step-by-step directions and props let readers try simple tricks, while clues lead to the revelation of the author’s fate.
—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Emily Hawkins is a highly experienced writer and editor who also wrote the New-York-Times bestseller Oceanology. David Wyatt has illustrated books by world-famous authors including Philip Pullman, Alan Garner and Terry Pratchett. Levi Pinfold won the Booktrust Early Years Award (Best Emerging Illustrator) for his debut picture book The Django. Tomislav Tomic was the sole illustrator of Trick of the Tale and has contributed to Wizardology and Monsterology. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (March 13, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780763655884
• ISBN-13: 978-0763655884
• ASIN: 0763655880
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 1 x 12.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Social Science

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Illusionology: A Great Escape July 15, 2012

By Kendra Lacy

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

There is a scene in the movie "The Goonies" where the boys, bored on a rainy day, race up to Mikey's attic in the search of "rich stuff." Mikey and Brand's father is the curator of the local museum and apparently what doesn't make the cut at the museum winds up in the attic.

The attic is dark and dusty. The boys are all amusing themselves. Mouth destroys a painting and makes a crude joke. He's Mouth after all.

And then Mikey, all alone, finds something amazing. He finds a map to the pirate One-Eyed Willy's treasure. Thus the rainy day mystery begins. The setting, the tone, is all perfect for that initial discovery. The wiping of the dust from the glass, the discovery of the newspaper clipping of Chester Copperpot's search for the treasure and his disappearance.

What child doesn't crave this sort of thing?

Which I think is why the "ology" books produced by Candlewick Press are so popular. Books such as "Pirateology," "Egyptology" and "Dragonology" have all graced the bookshelves in my classroom and have all been so used and abused by curious hands, they are practically falling apart.

The brilliance of the "ology" series is that each book presents itself as a found journal. There are no authors per se. Each book is filled with interactive materials from "dragon skin" to old handwritten notes and letters.

The most recent "ology" book is "Illusionology." It is probably my favorite by far. The interactive materials include various magic tricks like playing cards and optical illusions. Though ultimately a work of fiction, "Illusionology" offers real and true facts about the art of magic, why it works, how it works, how your brain is fooled. It introduces real life illusionists and scientists, like Houdini and Tesla and explains their contributions to the art.

I'm still reading and rereading "Illusionology" finding new tidbits each time I do. It's fascinating.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars lag April 3, 2012

By lag

Format:Hardcover

I have purchased this entire collection in the past and loved them so much, I kept some for myself...I needed a little something extra for kids in my gift shop and they fly off the shelves..so well done.
lag

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Super book for kids of all ages! January 13, 2013

By Corinne

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was a Christmas gift for our daughter and she uses it all the time. It is filled with fun magic tricks and optical illusions that are fun and spark interest in learning new things. I was surprised at what I learned and found it very interest myself. We have many of the Ology books and this is one of the best. Highly recommend.