Freddy the Magician facts for kids
First edition cover showing Jinx livening Freddy's performance
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| Author | Walter R. Brooks |
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| Illustrator | Kurt Wiese |
| Country | U.S. |
| Language | American English |
| Series | Freddy the Pig |
| Genre | Children's novel, Comic novel |
| Published | 1947 Knopf 2002 The Overlook Press |
| Media type | Print (hardback, paperback) |
| Pages | 256 (pp. 3 - 258) |
| ISBN | 1-58567-310-2 (Overlook Press hardback) |
| OCLC | 50881813 |
| LC Class | PZ7.B7994 Frk 2002 |
| Preceded by | 'Freddy the Pied Piper |
| Followed by | 'Freddy Goes Camping |
| (1947 hardback) | |
Freddy the Magician is a super fun book from 1947! It's the 14th story in the popular Freddy the Pig series, written by Walter R. Brooks and drawn by Kurt Wiese. In this adventure, Freddy the pig is super excited to learn amazing magic tricks from a real magician. But soon, he finds out that this magic might be part of a secret plan to find some missing money. Can Freddy and his animal friends from the Bean farm use their own magic and smarts to outwit the tricky magician, both on stage and behind the scenes?
Contents
What Happens in the Story?
A Storm, a Circus, and a Rude Magician
After a big storm hits Centerboro, the animals from the Bean farm help clean up Mr. Boomschmidt's circus grounds. Freddy is thrilled to meet Signor Zingo, the circus magician. But Zingo is very rude to Freddy's friends, which makes Freddy upset.
Zingo's rabbit, Presto, gets fired. Freddy decides to take Presto back to the farm to learn magic tricks from him. Freddy gets really good at magic, but Presto can be rude, just like his old boss.
Presto's Secret and a Magical Hat
Leo the lion, from the zoo, visits Freddy. His mane is all messed up from a bad trip to the beauty parlor! Leo warns Freddy that Zingo used Presto in some shady deals. He also says Zingo was fired and is now staying at Mr. Groper's hotel.
Freddy learns simple tricks and even wants to try the "sawing a girl in half" trick. Jinx the cat suggests he and his sister Minx do it. The magician's special hat was lost in the storm. Presto won't go back to Zingo until it's found.
Once the hat is found and put in the bank vault, Presto claims it's truly magical and makes him invisible. He even shows Freddy! Freddy is confused, both believing and not believing the hat's power. He asks Old Whibley, the wise owl, for advice. The owl tells him to "look at it" closely. Freddy does, and finds a secret false bottom in the hat. But Presto still doesn't rush back to Zingo.
Freddy's Big Magic Show
Freddy decides to rent the town theater for his own magic show. He visits the jail, where the sheriff and even the people staying there are his friends. It's a very friendly place! When Freddy finds someone who took things without permission among the guests, the sheriff says they must leave.
Jinx's sister, Minx, arrives. She's as talkative and boastful as ever. While setting up the show, Freddy learns that Presto has been seen with Zingo again. The show begins, and Presto suddenly offers five dollars to anyone who can explain a trick. Zingo is in the audience and explains many of Freddy's tricks. Luckily, some of Freddy's new tricks can't be explained. Still, Zingo takes more money from Freddy than Freddy earns.
The Bean animals catch Presto. He admits he only came to the farm to get their help finding the magician's hat. While being questioned, Presto accidentally gives Freddy clues. Freddy figures out that Zingo took Mr. Boomschmidt's money and was fired for it.
Minx's Prank and Zingo's Tricks
Minx truly believes the hat makes her invisible. So, the animals play a joke on her. They put her in the hat and pretend they can't see or hear her. The farm animals act like she's not there and even say how nice it is with her gone. Convinced she's invisible, Minx boldly eats food from Mrs. Bean's table. Mrs. Bean, not fooled, chases her out of the house with a broom! Minx vows to get even.
Zingo announces his own magic show, challenging anyone to explain his tricks. Freddy visits the sheriff and learns Zingo is staying at the hotel. Zingo refuses to pay his bills, claiming there are bugs in his food (which he secretly put there himself!).
Freddy decides to check into the hotel in disguise as Mr. Groper's nephew. He brings a suitcase full of mice, spiders, and Jinx to spy on Zingo. They watch Zingo and learn that Minx plans to help him rob the animal bank.
Traps, Tricks, and a Showdown
The animals are warned and trap Zingo in the bank. But he forcefully escapes! Freddy's disguise makes Zingo suspicious, and they start playing dirty tricks on each other. Zingo tries to frame Freddy in a department store by putting unpaid items in the pig's pockets. Zingo says he will forgive Freddy only if he gets his hat back. This makes Freddy suspicious. When they check the hat, Mr. Boomschmidt's missing money is found inside!
Freddy and his team hide in rooms under the stage where Zingo will perform. They secretly change Zingo's magic equipment. During Zingo's show, one trick after another goes wrong. Freddy even exposes some of the tricks that do work. They keep making fools of each other until Zingo gets really angry and physically attacks Freddy.
To settle their argument on stage, Freddy challenges Zingo to an ESP (Extra Sensory Perception) contest. They have to guess what objects assistants in the audience are holding. Freddy uses insects to get accurate and detailed information. The audience decides Freddy wins! Leo the lion even says Freddy is "three times the magician Zingo is — I don’t know but four times."
Zingo's Defeat
Since the jail is too nice for Zingo, the animals want to force him out of the hotel and out of town. They use his own dining room tricks against him. Friendly bugs appear in his food, and when Zingo complains, they disappear before anyone else can see them.
Defeated, Zingo goes to the bus station. The townspeople and animals make him return the rest of the missing money. Zingo apologizes, but unlike in most stories, Freddy doesn't believe he's truly sorry this time. Mr. Groper thanks Freddy for getting rid of his hotel problem.
Who are the Characters?
Freddy lives on the Bean farm with many animal friends, including a cat, dogs, cows, chickens, rabbits, and lots of birds and insects. Many of them help out in this story! The main new character is the magician Zingo, who is very unpleasant. Mr. Groper, the hotel owner, also returns. He uses very fancy words, so even adults might need a dictionary to understand him!
About the Pictures
The book has 38 black and white drawings by Kurt Wiese. There are also special pictures inside the front and back covers that show a theater with Freddy performing. Each chapter begins with a half-page drawing, and a full-page drawing is placed near important events in each chapter. The full-page picture from Chapter Nine is also shown at the very beginning of the book. The colorful cover shows Freddy and Jinx finishing a magic trick. It's a bit confusing that the picture on page eleven shows the lion's messed-up mane before it actually happens in the story!
