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Anna, Banana #8
Anna, Banana, and the Magic Show Mix-Up
When preparing for a magic show, Anna and her friends find a talent for trouble instead in the eighth book of this “fast-paced, fun, and funny” (Megan McDonald, bestselling author of the Judy Moody series) illustrated chapter book series about the joys and challenges of elementary school friendships.
Anna, Sadie, and Isabel develop an interest in magic tricks when their frenemy Justin mystifies them with a cool card trick but refuses to tell them how he did it. Determined to figure it out for themselves, the girls set out for the best place to find answers—the library!—ready to learn every magic trick in the book.
But magic isn’t as easy as it appears, even with a book of instructions. When Anna goes to her neighbor Mrs. Shirley for advice, she finds out that while Mrs. S doesn’t know any magic tricks herself, her very favorite birthday party ever was a magician show where the magician pulled a rabbit out of a hat. With the neighborhood potluck coinciding with Mrs. Shirley’s seventy-sixth birthday, Anna and her friends decide to practice their own magic act to perform for her, but a whole slew of mix-ups ensue as they try to puzzle out how the tricks are done and how to figure out Justin’s secret, too. Can Anna and her friends perform some magic and get the mix-ups under control before— presto —it’s showtime?
Anna, Sadie, and Isabel develop an interest in magic tricks when their frenemy Justin mystifies them with a cool card trick but refuses to tell them how he did it. Determined to figure it out for themselves, the girls set out for the best place to find answers—the library!—ready to learn every magic trick in the book.
But magic isn’t as easy as it appears, even with a book of instructions. When Anna goes to her neighbor Mrs. Shirley for advice, she finds out that while Mrs. S doesn’t know any magic tricks herself, her very favorite birthday party ever was a magician show where the magician pulled a rabbit out of a hat. With the neighborhood potluck coinciding with Mrs. Shirley’s seventy-sixth birthday, Anna and her friends decide to practice their own magic act to perform for her, but a whole slew of mix-ups ensue as they try to puzzle out how the tricks are done and how to figure out Justin’s secret, too. Can Anna and her friends perform some magic and get the mix-ups under control before— presto —it’s showtime?
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2019
14 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Anica Mrose Rissi
20 books243 followersWriter, storyteller, editrix. Author of picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA. Fan of dogs and ice cream. Offers energetic, interactive presentations and writing workshops for students of all ages at libraries, festivals, and schools.
Anica Mrose Rissi grew up on an island off the coast of Maine, where she read a lot of books and loved a lot of pets. She now tells and collects stories, makes up songs on her violin, and eats cheese with her friends in central New Jersey, where she lives with her dog, Sweet Potato. As a former book editor turned writer and storyteller, Anica has spoken with kids and adults across the country about all pieces of the writing process. Her essays have been published by The Writer magazine and the New York Times, and she plays fiddle in and writes lyrics for the band Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves. Anica posts about bookish things at @anicarissi on Instagram.
Anica teaches in the Writing for Children & Young Adults MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts and is available for in-person and virtual writing workshops and presentations with groups of all sizes and ages. Find out more at http://anicarissi.com.
Author photograph (c) Kim Indresano
Anica Mrose Rissi grew up on an island off the coast of Maine, where she read a lot of books and loved a lot of pets. She now tells and collects stories, makes up songs on her violin, and eats cheese with her friends in central New Jersey, where she lives with her dog, Sweet Potato. As a former book editor turned writer and storyteller, Anica has spoken with kids and adults across the country about all pieces of the writing process. Her essays have been published by The Writer magazine and the New York Times, and she plays fiddle in and writes lyrics for the band Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves. Anica posts about bookish things at @anicarissi on Instagram.
Anica teaches in the Writing for Children & Young Adults MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts and is available for in-person and virtual writing workshops and presentations with groups of all sizes and ages. Find out more at http://anicarissi.com.
Author photograph (c) Kim Indresano
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 8, 2019
This book was magically fun to write! I hope you'll enjoy reading it.
What's it about? Friendship! Magic tricks! Secrets! Surprises! Problem-solving! Party planning! A lop-eared rabbit named Miss Fluffybutt! And Banana, the best dog ever.
When the Anna, Banana series debuted in May 2015, my secret personal goal was for the first three books in my four-book contract to do well enough that the publisher wouldn’t cancel the fourth. ANNA, BANANA, AND THE MAGIC SHOW MIX-UP is book eight in the series. Thank you, readers. I’m so grateful.
P.S. Cassey Kuo's illustrations in this one are extra adorable.
What's it about? Friendship! Magic tricks! Secrets! Surprises! Problem-solving! Party planning! A lop-eared rabbit named Miss Fluffybutt! And Banana, the best dog ever.
When the Anna, Banana series debuted in May 2015, my secret personal goal was for the first three books in my four-book contract to do well enough that the publisher wouldn’t cancel the fourth. ANNA, BANANA, AND THE MAGIC SHOW MIX-UP is book eight in the series. Thank you, readers. I’m so grateful.
P.S. Cassey Kuo's illustrations in this one are extra adorable.
March 29, 2021
This kids book was a fun read. I read it for a FB project I'm working on, because it is a kids book about kid magicians. Rissi goes well beyond just the typical formula for these books. Yes, she follows the usual formula of new magician/learn magic/perform some/do show/have trouble before-during-after show/ resolve the problems... but... published in 2019, Rissi does an excellent job of incorporating a reflection of the actual diversity of American society. She does that in a wonderfully subtle manner, through her illustrations and in the languages used in the text. Not once does she wave her hands and say, "Look! Look! This character is Black/Brown/Asian/foreign!" Instead, characters are introduced as real folks, with real lives, interacting with the people around them. Another positive angle is that the protagonist is a girl, and the male antagonist adjusts his attitude to befriend and honor her and her female magician friends.
The magic revealed in the story won't insult any secrets sensitive magicians (I don't think anyone worries about the 21 Card Trick!), while providing real inspiration for budding magicians.
The magic revealed in the story won't insult any secrets sensitive magicians (I don't think anyone worries about the 21 Card Trick!), while providing real inspiration for budding magicians.
June 12, 2025
Anna and her friends in this book want to find out the secret behind Justin's card magic trick while also wanting to put on their own magic show for one of the members of their street's birthday too.
However, can the girls learn the tricks and execute them ok too?
All about the joy of childhood friendship and fun together. Of course, not forgetting the focus on magic tricks too in this book a short joyful read.
However, can the girls learn the tricks and execute them ok too?
All about the joy of childhood friendship and fun together. Of course, not forgetting the focus on magic tricks too in this book a short joyful read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews