"The Kids' Guide series offers fully illustrated introductory books on a broad variety of topics. The many colorful photos, often smaller than two-inch squares, show young people demonstrating the activities described in the text. Charney, a professional magician, opens Magic Tricks with three simple rules and 17 easy-to-find props for novice performers. He presents 10 magic tricks by breaking each one down into smaller steps of preparation and performance. In the photos, a boy or girl demonstrates each numbered step. Charney's detailed instructions and tips help ensure that, with plenty of practice, young magicians can baffle their audiences. Sign Language leads off with a brief introduction to American Sign Language and a hand-sign alphabet chart. Clay encourages beginners to go beyond finger spelling by learning signs for basic words and practicing simple phrases. The small size of the illustrations occasionally makes it difficult to see the hand and finger positions clearly. Still, the kid-based conversational gambits, like "I'm in ___ (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th) grade" and "I want to eat ___ (hot dog, hamburger, pizza, fruit, ice cream)," are well chosen. These slender titles present topics in a brief, practical manner that readers may find helpful." - Booklist

February 15, 2013