Best Magic Tricks Books for 9 Year Olds (2026): 5 Picks Compared
Five magic trick books for 9 year olds compared by trick count, illustrations, videos and listed reading age, from card-only guides to mixed trick books.

At a glance
Top picks
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A child who has just seen a card vanish wants to know how it was done, and the best magic tricks books for 9 year olds answer that curiosity. We compared them by trick count, illustrations, videos and listed reading age.
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Quick picks
Best Overall Big Book of Card Tricks by Todd: 30 illustrated card tricks with a video course for kids Check price on Amazon
Best for Video Learners Tricks Made Easy by Clemons: 54 tricks with bonus videos and step-by-step instructions Check price on Amazon
Best Card Tricks Card Tricks by Frost-Sharratt: 101 card tricks using mathematics and mobile phones Check price on Amazon
Best for Grandparents Grandpa Magic by Kronzek: 116 tricks, brainteasers and stunts to share with grandkids Check price on Amazon
Best Self-Working Tricks Self-Working Tricks by Fulves: Self-working card tricks that need no sleight of hand Check price on Amazon
The picks
| # | Product | Shelf Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Book of Card Tricks by Todd | 9.7/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 | Tricks Made Easy by Clemons | 9.7/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 | Card Tricks by Frost-Sharratt | 9.5/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 | Grandpa Magic by Kronzek | 9.5/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 | Self-Working Tricks by Fulves | 9.4/10 | Buy on Amazon |

Big Book of Card Tricks by Todd
A kid-friendly card trick book with illustrations and a video course for a young beginner; non-card readers should skip it.
Pros
- 30 illustrated card tricks, step by step
- Bonus video course included
- Reading age 7 to 11 years, marked as from customers
Cons
- Book 1 of 4, so later books follow
- Card tricks only, no everyday-object tricks
- Reading age marked as from customers only

Tricks Made Easy by Clemons
A 54-trick book with bonus videos for a young reader who wants variety beyond cards; card-only readers should skip it.
Pros
- 54 tricks across many kinds of magic
- Bonus videos at the start
- Reading age 6 to 12 years
Cons
- No grade level stated
- Mixed types mean fewer card tricks
- No next volume named

Card Tricks by Frost-Sharratt
A card-only trick book for a reader who loves cards and mathematics-based tricks; readers wanting other props should skip it.
Pros
- 101 card tricks in one volume
- Step-by-step mathematics-based tricks
- Illustrated edition stated
Cons
- No reading age stated
- No grade level stated
- Card tricks only, no everyday-object tricks

Grandpa Magic by Kronzek
A trick, brainteaser and stunt book for a grandparent entertaining grandkids; a child choosing alone should skip it.
Pros
- 116 tricks, brainteasers and stunts
- Step-by-step illustrations included
- Illustrated edition from Workman Publishing
Cons
- No reading age stated
- For grandparents, not solo reading
- No grade level stated

Self-Working Tricks by Fulves
A self-working card trick book for an older reader who likes mathematics-based card tricks; young beginners needing illustrations should skip it.
Pros
- Self-working tricks need no sleight of hand
- Tricks work with a borrowed deck
- Tricks adapted from professional routines
Cons
- Reading age 10 years and up, above age 9
- 1976 publication date, oldest edition here
- No illustrations stated
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More picks to compare
Easy Magic Tricks by FuryEveryday-object tricks with coins, straws, pens and rings for beginners.Check on Amazon
Magic Tricks For Kids by GibbsThirty household-prop tricks with step-by-step illustrations for young performers.Check on Amazon
Magic Trick Answers by WarburtonQuestion-and-answer magic explanations for curious readers ages 6 to 12.Check on Amazon
Compare the picks
| Book | Shelf Score | Author | Pages | Reading age or grade | Series | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Book of Card Tricks by Todd | 9.7/10 | Jasper Todd | 145 | 7 to 11, from customers | Book 1 of 4 | View on Amazon |
| Tricks Made Easy by Clemons | 9.7/10 | Darien Clemons | 126 | 6 to 12 | Not stated | View on Amazon |
| Card Tricks by Frost-Sharratt | 9.5/10 | Cara Frost-Sharratt | 176 | Not stated | Not stated | View on Amazon |
| Grandpa Magic by Kronzek | 9.5/10 | Allan Zola Kronzek | 208 | Not stated | Not stated | View on Amazon |
| Self-Working Tricks by Fulves | 9.4/10 | Karl Fulves | 128 | 10 and up | Not stated | View on Amazon |
Book details as published on each listing, collected 25 October 2026.
How we scored them
The Shelf Score weighs fit, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. Three picks list a reading age. How we pick explains the weights.
| Book | Shelf Score | Fit /35 | Contents /25 | Value /25 | Age/level /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Book of Card Tricks by Todd | 9.7 | 32 | 22 | 21 | 7 |
| Tricks Made Easy by Clemons | 9.7 | 30 | 21 | 21 | 7 |
| Card Tricks by Frost-Sharratt | 9.5 | 29 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| Grandpa Magic by Kronzek | 9.5 | 28 | 22 | 20 | 0 |
| Self-Working Tricks by Fulves | 9.4 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 4 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.
How to choose the best magic tricks books for 9 year olds
Match the trick type to the reader
Some readers want cards only, and others want a mix: the Todd, Frost-Sharratt and Fulves books teach card tricks, while the Clemons and Kronzek books mix types. For more choices, browse magic books for kids learning tricks.
Check the listed reading age
The Todd book lists 7 to 11 years, marked as from customers, the Clemons book lists 6 to 12 years, and the Fulves book lists 10 years and up, while two picks state no reading age. For more choices by level, browse all middle grade books.
Look for illustrations and videos
Illustrations and videos change how fast a trick is learned: the Todd book pairs illustrations with a video course, and the Clemons book adds bonus videos.
Before you buy
- Check the ISBN and edition: the Fulves book dates to 1976, while the Todd book is a 2022 second edition.
- For a series, buy Book 1 first.
- Compare the listed reading age with the reader.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which magic tricks book should a 9 year old start with?
The Todd book lists 7 to 11 years, marked as from customers, with 30 illustrated tricks.
Do any of these books include videos?
The Todd book includes a video course; the Clemons book includes bonus videos.
What reading ages do these books list?
Todd lists 7 to 11 years, Clemons lists 6 to 12 years, and Fulves lists 10 years and up.
Related lists
See every middle grade list and all kids and teens lists.
More lists: scary books for 9 year olds, science books for 9 year olds, dinosaur books for 9 year olds.