Approximately 50 truly astonishing card tricks are demonstrated and explained in this unusual, beautifully photographed book for young and budding magicians. The distinctive feature of " Amazing Card Tricks " is the series of how-to photos, each close-up picture showing a pair of white-gloved hands in the step-by-step, sleight-of-hand process of manipulating a card deck to perform a magic trick. An opening sequence shows various ways to shuffle a card deckaand then to " false shuffle " in a way that gives the illusion of the real thing. Author Jon Tremain, a professional magician, also teaches his readers how to force a spectatoras choice in selecting a card. He starts his repertory of tricks with a relatively easy one called " X Marks the Spot. " A spectator chooses a card, remembers it, puts it back into the deck, then immediately retrieves it after the deck is thoroughly shuffled. The tricks grow more challengingaand more amazingaas young readers progress through the pages of this vastly entertaining book. Bonus features include the authoras method of fortune-telling with cards, and tips on creating a professional appearance while performing tricks.