Review: Great Box of Magic

Magic kits are usually a numbers game. Most tout that kids can learn some 50 or large number of tricks. But when you open the boxes, you generally find that the number of props falls far short of the stated numbers. The manufacturers aren't actually lying, but I find the advertising to be misleading.

What You See is What You Get

Great Box of Magic (MSRP: $21.99) makes no such promises. It's a colorful magic kit for beginners that comes in a compact and well made cardboard box. Compared to the flimsy boxes in which most magic kits are packaged, this is a welcome change.

The box is sturdy enough to act as a kid's magic box to carry around his or her props. The kit also features a first rate book that teaches the tricks, but for a kit in its price range, this one is rather sparse on props.

Tricks Are For Kids?

Like many magic kits, this one comes with a plastic magic wand. For the price of the kit and the quality of the packaging, I think the wand could be higher in quality. There's a ball and vase to perform the standard trick. While this one is adequate, I would expect a higher quality prop.

The kit comes with a magic coin box and floating match. The remaining props include an adequate deck of cards for a couple of simple card tricks and three normal dice that are for a math-style trick that I found convoluted and inappropriate for kids.

Great Book

The 48-page book is colorful and features detailed explanations. I like the way that the book talks about the presentation of magic and offers the profiles of well known magicians from history and around the world. There were a few from Australia that I was unfamiliar with.

For tricks that don't employ the kit's props, the book is slightly different from those in conventional magic kits as it teaches tricks that can be used in stand-up, and not just close-up. I found this refreshingly different, but this also means that the props are more difficult for kids to find or purchase.

Some of the items necessary for the stand-up tricks included: 15-20 beads, metal rings, handkerchiefs, a padlock with five keys, a dictionary (which will be defaced) and a flag. I like the related tricks with these props, but the props are probably out of reach of most eight year olds.

Leaves You Wanting

I like this kit because of its great magic book, but for around $20, the kit could include a few more props at the price.