Spooky Tricks

by Rose Wyler, Gerald Ames, Talivaldis Stubis (Illustrator)

Learn the secrets of these dazzling tricks and put on a Halloween show that's sure to bewitch your friends. You will be able to make cards rise, a girl disappear, and a boy float!

Author Biography: Rose Wyler and Gerald Ames also wrote the I Can Read Book MAGIC SECRETS. They were inspired to create this book by their young friends in their building in New York City.

S.D. Schindler has illustrated many books, including CATWINGS by Ursula LeGuin and Children of Christmas by Cynthia Rylant. He lives in Philadelphia, PA.

Genres: Halloween, Childrens, Magic, Nonfiction, Picture Books

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authors tend to be long-lived and since I too aspire to long life and authoring; my career choice is encouraging indeed! I advocate that physically printed books are enormously valuable. Even those out-of-print can be discovered anew at garage sales and other unexpected places; costing almost nothing. They too live long, to garner fans each time they are passed around: such as “Spooky Tricks”. It was written in 1968 by a husband and wife team, Rose Wyler & Gerald Ames.

I like hearing about authors I enjoy and was sad to find that Rose died in 2000 at age 90. The age of this Hallowe’en-themed manual exceeds mine and my respect for older publications has me accustomed to the news of authors passing away. I read that this title is Rose & Gerald’s most popular of all and am not surprised. The cover is compelling, the illustrations inside are very bold and vibrant, and the hoary tricks taught on each page can be achieved very successfully in any home. Some of them are no-brainers that we have heard of long ago but they are explained very clearly and the new activities are worth learning. They are geared for children, each page only taking moments to absorb, so they are accessible to everyone.

Adults can roll up their sleeves. Many like creating interesting Hallowe’en festivities and it’s worth exposing the olden day language and ideas to today’s youngsters. Rose Wyler loved collecting rocks and plants as a child and decided at 11 that there should be more books about nature and science for children. Her heart was dedicated to teaching them. That would resonate in any of their books we are fortunate to encounter. I am giving this to my nephew. My whole family in Toronto will find it a hoot!

[Denise Spicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This “I Can Read Book” from 1968 explains simple magic tricks kids can do. The first chapter explains how to be a spook with an extra finger, a pincushion thumb, and x-ray eyes and how to stop your pulse. In another chapter Willie The Ghost writes a lemon juice message, sleeps in a matchbox, and ties a knot. The Haunted House chapter teaches the way to make a mummy finger in a box, electric cat and disappearing girl. The groovy purple and green drawings are by Talivaldis Stubis.

[Alan Stucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid, I devoured this book and read it cover to cover repeatedly. As an adult looking back on it, they are definitely low level tricks. But man were they great when I was 10.

[Cowgirlgem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for kids about 8 or so who want to learn magic trick.
There are a few tricks from this that I can still remember a few tricks I learnt through this book.

The tricks are quite good beginners magic tricks for people of any age, with simple, clear writing.

The pictures are simple and spooky and sweet.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a kid! Some great magic tricks and wonderfully appealing illustrations. Willie the Ghost is a friend for life.

[Jacob Wiegmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the creativity of the tricks. and people float

[Little Seesaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn't only for young readers it teached you lots of spooky magic tricks.

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book with a bunch of spooky tricks that kids can do to impress their friends. There are a couple that I wouldn’t recommend for children The string chewing one seems dangerous for choking, and the one with the match just sounds like a bad idea waiting to happen. Cute book though.

[Anthony · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book filled with slight of hand, and other illusions with explanations on how to perform them. An early "how to do it" tutorial for the budding magician.

[Guia Tagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this was the most borrowed book in my childhood library. All the kids were taking turns! This book will always take me back to those days. I hope I can still find a copy.

[Zipporah Tulett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that I grew up reading, one of the first few I ever read. I still have this book. I never realised it before, but I've got the original 1968 copy!!! Yes! Admittedly it has seen a lot of wear and tear and stains and a few missing pages, but this book will always be special to me.

[Mhizterbimbo]

i dont know ?

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of the new illustrations at all. Schindler needs to learn that the bolts go on the monster's neck, not its head.

[Nebulosus · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST Halloween book when I was a kid.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the defining books of my childhood. I remember sitting on the floor and trying to do the magic tricks it tried to teach you how to do, and failing at them. I just love it though due to nostalgia.

[Patrick]

First read sometime in the early-70's.