A Miscellany of Mischief and Magic: Discover history's best hoaxes, hijinks, tricks, and illusions in Bloomington, MN

Welcome all rascals and tricksters to this marvellous miscellany of mischief and magic!
*2024 CBC Children's FAVORITES*
This playful book explores the world of deception and trickery – both the good and the bad.
Learn the
secrets of infamous magic illusions and tricks
and discover the stories of some of history’s most notorious
hoaxes, pranks, and cons
. While some are great fun, others contain a serious lesson . . . after all, understanding scams of the past can help protect you in the future.
Meet
infamous pranksters
such as
Marcel Duchamp
(the French artist who pranked the art world),
renowned illusionists
and
escape artists
Adelaide Hermann
(one of the first female magicians), and
cunning con-artists
George C. Parker
(the American who "sold" the Statue of Liberty).
The themed spreads explore a range of topics such as
made-up monsters, alien conspiracies, doctored photos
,
disguises and pseudonyms
April Fool's Day pranks,
and much more.
If you’re feeling mischievous, you can even follow the steps and tips spaced throughout the book to
try your hand at some pranks and magic tricks of your own!
But keep your wits about you,
because
fake hoaxes are included
within the pages for
eagle-eyed readers to try to spot!
Perfect for readers young and old
who delight in a bit of mischief.