For kids who love magic (and what kid doesn't?) Hocus Jokus is a truly original guide that goes beyond its generous offering of clear, step-by-step instructions for tricks, to include tons of pointers--drawn on a long successful career in magic and comedy--on delivering patter, developing stage presence, inventing a stage personality, dropping one-liners, on how to dazzle, delight, distract, engage, or poke fun at an audience, even how to use humor to silence hecklers. While author Charney takes his craft seriously (he warns kids they'll look like shmoes if they don't practice and urges them never to disclose how the trick is done) his advice on what's funny and what's not makes you laugh so hard it's worth the price of the book even if you never pull one quarter out of anyone's ear.