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Children’s books
Similar to America’s Funniest Home Videos, children's books are also a fantastic resource for any "Children’s Entertainer." If you perform magic for kids, these books not only provide ideas for material suited to different age groups, but they’re also great for building routines and deciding what to say during your performance.
For instance, when I’ve wondered what tricks are best for children ages 3-5, I’ve turned to books written for that age group. They offer plenty of ideas that can inspire a list of tricks. Take One Fish, Two Fish—it could translate to a trick like "One Sponge, Two Balls." Or Red Fish, Blue Fish, which could inspire a "Yellow Ball to a Red Rabbit Sponge." Dr. Seuss's The Foot Book even sparked the idea to use the shrinking glove illusion for that age group.
Plus, these books provide you with storytelling elements, which are priceless for creating a thousand different stories for your act. They can serve as a huge source of inspiration for your performances, helping you engage kids and make the magic even more fun!
Children's books can be a great source of inspiration for constructing your show in creative ways. A great example is Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party, a book that focuses on repetitive words to help young readers follow along. In the story, Pete and his friends add wacky toppings to a pizza, with each page dedicated to a different topping. By the end, they’ve created a "party pizza" with toppings like pepperoni, pretzel, pistachio, pickle, popcorn, and papaya. Notice the repeated "P" sound in that statement!
What if your magic show could be constructed the same way? Each trick could represent a different element that comes together under a specific theme, like a letter (such as "P") that ties everything together in a grand finale. For example, you could design 6-7 tricks that all start with the letter "P," and they come together at the end to create something special—like a "Perfect Magic Party."
Here’s an example based on the "P" theme I call The Perfect Magic Party, in order to have the Perfect Magic Party we need:
- Popcorn: Start with a popcorn production trick as the first element to get things popping!
- Surprise : Maybe perform a surprise with a ping pong ball manipulation, or a 20th Century Silk where a pickle silk pops out in the middle.
- Prize: Give away a twisted balloon or do a balloon-related trick—balloons can "pop" for the "P" theme!
- Colors: Use a Peppa Pig coloring book to add some color to the show.
- Pizza: Do a pizza box sucker routine to continue the "P" theme and add some humor.
- No Pickles Please: Use the multiplying pickle sponge effect, showing that the pickle just won’t leave the party—perfect for a fun moment of surprise.
- Puzzles: Introduce a Chinese stick as a puzzle routine, adding a challenge to the mix.
Finally, for the grand finale, you could do something like a game or Cups and Balls trick using the 3 P’s, or you could end with a "Perfect Magic Party" message.
Notice how all of these tricks tie together with the letter "P," just like the repetitive elements in Pete the Cat. Each trick brings the audience along with the theme. Also you can incorporate an evolving Magic Word reportingly, just like the book:
- After the first trick: the magic word is “It’s the Perfect Magic Party!”
- After the second trick: “It’s the Perfect Magic Popcorn Party!”
- After the third trick: “It’s the Perfect Magic Popcorn Ping Pong Party!”
- After the fourth trick: “It’s the Perfect Magic Popcorn Ping Pong Peppa Pig Party!”
- And so on: “It’s the Perfect Magic Party with Pickles, Puzzles, and Peas!”
- and so on
This repetitive format helps keep kids engaged and excited throughout the show, while also creating a structure that’s easy for them to follow. Drawing inspiration from an educational children's book like Pete the Cat adds tremendous value, as it gives a sense of rhythm and predictability, which is something young audiences really enjoy.
Now, it’s your turn to create your own show! Choose 6-7 tricks that follow a similar link—whether by letter or theme—and watch how the show comes together with a clear, exciting format that children will love.