Download this Media Kit

http://halloweenscience.co.uk/images/MediaKit.pdf

Book Data

Title

Halloween Magic & Silly Science
First Volume of the “Silly Science” Series from Penny Press.

ISBN

9781871281217

Publisher

Penny Press Ltd
176 Greendale Road
Coventry
CV5 8AY
United Kingdom
https://www.pennypress.co.uk

Contact

Philip Brown
Publisher
philip@pennypress.co.uk
+44(0)1223969333

Publication date

1 October 2012

Price

$1.99

Website

http://halloweenscience.co.uk

Cover image

http://halloweenscience.co.uk/images/HalloweenMagicCover.jpg

1 paragraph summary

This ebook takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to help children realise that even magic has a scientific basis. It explains how to perform ten magic tricks which can easily be done with materials found in most homes and will amaze your friends.

1 para author bio

Wyken Seagrave is a professional author writing websites, fact and fiction books to explain the history of the Universe in simple terms, so helping people see themselves in perspective and learn a little basic science. His latest project is epic adventure Time Crystal.

Extracts from reviews

“It helped bring a bit of sparkle into my classroom.” A school teacher
“It taught me a bit of science, let alone my kids.” A parent
“I thought the silly science was a great way to get children asking questions about the what is true and what is fantasy.” A scientist

Synopsis of Book

Halloween is a great time for having fun and experimenting with all things supernatural. This new ebook takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to help children between 6 and 10 years of age realise that even magic has a scientific basis. It explains how to conduct ten magic tricks which can easily be performed with materials found in most homes and will amaze friends and parents.

It then gives a mocking but scientifically accurate account of what a scientist might say about the physical basis for the trick.

Great fun for all ages, but especially for the 6 to 10 age range, the book is available for purchase from the website devoted to the science of Halloween: http://halloweenscience.co.uk

List of Tricks

1. Vampire Bomb. The vampires are coming! You need to frighten them away with a loud explosion, but all you have are the things in your house. Here is what you do.

2. Ghoul Drowner. A ghoul has come into your house. You already know that ghouls die when they touch water. Frighten the ghoul away by threatening to drown him.

3. Little Devil’s Flute. The little devil who lives in the woods wants to summon the witches to his party but he has forgotten his flute. He comes into your house and threatens to take you to hell unless you can make him a new one. No worries. Here is what you do.

4. Ghost in a Bottle. A ghost has come into your home? Here is how you capture him in a bottle!

5. Foaming Potions. The evil spirits of Halloween have come a long way to see you and they are very thirsty. If you don’t give them a drink they will be very angry. You must make a potion which evil spirits love.

6. Weighing a Ghost. Some people think ghosts float because they are weightless, but this trick proves they are wrong. Of course, some boring people think they can explain it with science. Fools!

7. Dracula’s Dagger. How to turn a straw into a Count Dracula’s dagger by magic.

8. Magic Diving Wand. Make a magic want which will obey your instructions but nobody else’s!

9. Magic Balloons. Only you, the wizard, is able to stop the balloon exploding.

10. Dragon’s Eggs. Dragon’s eggs are extremely strong. This trick lets you make and test one!

Q&A

Why did you write this book?

Wyken Seagrave: Halloween is obviously a very popular event with children, involving magic and mild wickedness and fun. It’s a great opportunity to engage them with practical activities which seem to involve magic and yet can be explained by science.

Why do you talk about “Silly Science”?

WS: I don’t want to turn kids off by saying “here is the apparent magic and here is the real explanation”. That’s boring. But if you can take a slightly cynical approach in keeping with the spirit of Halloween and pretend that scientists are all stupid, then you can get the message across in a fun way.

What age group will these tricks appeal to?

WS: We’ve tried them with children from six upwards, including adults, and they work. I think that over ten children are becoming a bit too cynical for this book, so I recommend six to ten.

Are they suitable for use in schools?

WS: Absolutely. To make it easy for schools to distribute these tricks to their children the publisher has included an option to buy a multiple copy licence. So for example a school could distribute 100 copies for only $21.99.

How can teachers buy this licence?

WS: From the website at